Our December 21, winter solstice newsletter brought several responses from across the US where sailing continues despite the shortest day of the year. In fact, since the solstice was on a Saturday, like it will be in June, many sailors were out on the water. The normally hearty, midwinter team racing sailors of the Seawanhaka Yacht Club in Oyster Bay, NY were treated to warm midwinter breezes and were able to race in near summer conditions. The chilly days of winter will surely return but nice to have days like this in December!
Winter solstice at the Seawanhaka YC in Oyster Bay, NY. Is there a bright side to global warming?
Sailing at the Branched Oak Yacht Club near Lincoln Nebraska was just a memory for Dan Brown on the winter solstice - but a good one! This picture from September 2013!
Debra, from the Pacific NW, wrote in to say:
'Tonight my crew and I are having a bonding and bonfire to prepare for our big sailing charter in Turkey next May as well as dream about our Pacific NW summer sailing. I hope to organize a South Sound event for 2014. Thanks for hosting this event.'
Debra L. Glasser, M.D., Liberte Newport 30 'The joy is the journey, so enjoy the ride.'
Turkey in May and Puget Sound, South Sound, the San Juan Islands, Gulf Islands and more for the summer sounds like perfect plan. There are two events already planned for the Pacific Northwest, The Sailing Foundation's Summer Sailstice event planned for Blakely Harbor and Marine Service Center's CanAm Jeanneau Rendevzvous in Poet's Cove on Pender Island. But there are lots of sailors and lots of harbors in the area so room for loads of Summer Sailstice celebrations.
Lorraine Garnier from Hobie, a multi-year supporter and prize donor to Summer Sailstice, wrote in to say, 'I will attach some of these links to my overview come January to all Island Clubs and recommend that they put the 21st of June on their calendars again and use the new easy link to register a group for that day.
I wanted to send you Holiday greetings from our house to yours and thank you so much for all of your efforts in the promotion of Sailing in general.
I am so happy to have begun what I feel will be a long friendship.'
Nice photo from the Hobie Island club too:
From somewhere in the chilly North, Yngve Gustafsson, sent this photo and comment:
'Thanks. For my concern, this is the winter season sailing.' There are just too many fun ways to sail!
San Francisco Bay racer Doug Storkovich wrote in from Seattle to say, 'Snowed here in Seattle, Thursday-Friday, now just mist and cold … grey sky at night … sailors take flight (like go south), would make a winter like saying! Happy winter, looking forward to opening day (on San Francisco Bay) … The 3BRF (Three Bridge Fiasco race in January) and then on to the Rob Moore Regatta in February. Best wishes for a happy prosperous new year & keep up the good work.
Cheers, Doug
In the midst of the snow there's still sailing dreams and, luckily, some sailing in the near future.
Muli-year participant, Daria Blackwell, wrote in from Ireland with a classic British Isles solstice photo:
'Happy Winter Solstice! We’ve made it out of the darkness and into the light. From ancient and contemporary places of spirituality.' - Daria
Barb McVeigh, the executive director of Sailing Education Adventures in San Rafael, CA wrote in to say: 'I'm beginning to make some plans for an event at our marina and schedule it for summer sailstice.'
From Florida John Malone wrote in to say 'Right now, at 1512EST in Miami on 12/21, it is 82F with winds off the ocean at 15-22 mph. Nice sailing day. '
John Lynch wrote in from Venice, Florida and the Venice Sailing Squadron to say they had a fabulous day of racing, 'What a great race day, especially since it was the Solstice, the start of winter and balmy 74 degrees on the Gulf! JAPSDIP (just another perfect sailing day in paradise - ed), if there ever was one. The wind was, according to the NOAA instruments on the Venice Pier, in a narrow range of between 11–13 knots from the SSE throughout the race period. I felt there was a bit more variation than that, but it was steady.
After the first clump finished we watched C’est Sea Bon, Quest and Air Supply all come in in a tight bunch, all finishing within 2 minutes and, if Quest had been able to fetch the line without tacking, it would have been much closer. After handicaps were applied, Quest was 4th, Blew Bayou was 5th, Air Supply was 6th and C’est Sea Bon 7th. All of the results can be found on the VSS racing page at http://home.comcast.net/~venicesailor/VSSracing/VSSracing.html.
From William Buchanon in Florida, 'This is the way to spend your Winter Sailstice....with the grand kids and Snoopy, Woodstock and the Christmas lights.'
From the Pacific Northwest to Florida, New York, Ireland and LA, sailors were either sailing or dreaming of sailing on the winter solstice. Southern Hemisphere sailors are enjoying summer sailing right now and, up North, we're on our six month countdown to Summer Sailstice 2014. Make and post your plans now - and squeeze in some sailing when you can.
Fair Winds.
More photos from the Seawanhaka YC solstice team racing:
Shorts in Oyster Bay, NY on the winter solstice.
Seawanhaka YC Lasers also enjoyed the warm, NY sound breezes:
Xmas came a few days early...21 boats and warm breezes! from Fred Abels on Vimeo.
full rigs vs radials...to be continued in January from Fred Abels on Vimeo.
