Sailing Shorts: March 20 2024

Mar 20, 2024

Last Sail Canada IDE Training Session

Sail Canada’s fourth and last bilingual Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Training Session, named “Wind of Change: Sailing through the waves of anti-racism”, will be held Tuesday, March 26, at 7pm (ET). Details and register now HERE.

By then, you can watch the recordings of the first three sessions HERE, under Resources/Sail Canada Inclusion, Diversity and Equity training series.

The three first sessions were:
– The Future of IDE and Sailing
– What does welcoming new participants mean?
– Sailing Beyond Sexism: Navigating Gender Equity Challenges in Sport

LOOR Returns to (YYC) – June 15-16, 2024

LOOR (Lake Ontario Offshore Racing) is returning to Youngstown Yacht Club (YYC) for its weekend in June. This is after an absence of some years because of high water and a pandemic of some sort. With the length of time, many may have forgotten the details of crossing the border. The US Government has made major improvements. The following links will help jog our memories and cover any changes.

Note: A US Customs Cruising Decal is required if your boat is 30 feet or longer.

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
CBSA Web Site
CBSA – Reporting requirements for private boat operators

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
CBP Web Site
CBP – Pleasure Boats
CBP – Decal and Transponder Online Procurement Systems
CBP – Video “BORDER CROSSING”

Please remember that there are lead times in obtaining some items such as the cruising decal.

The Salty Dawg Sailing Association is announces that registration is open for all the 2024 Salty Dawg rallies. Each rally offers sailors the opportunity to cruise-in-company, fostering safety, camaraderie, and passage-preparation assistance at minimal costs and requirements. It’s a chance to forge new friendships and reconnect with old ones, with both kids and pets warmly welcomed aboard.

Homeward Bound Rally: Departing from Nanny Cay, BVI or Marsh Harbor, Bahamas on May 10 (weather permitting), heads for Hampton, VA and various ports along the US East Coast. 

DelMarVa Rally: Designed to help cruisers become comfortable with longer distance runs, Cruise with fellow Salty Dawgs and experience overnight offshore sailing in the Atlantic by completing a counterclockwise sail around the Delaware, Maryland, Virginia (DelMarVa) peninsula. Departure from Hampton, VA on June 1st. (weather permitting)

Downeast Rally: With three legs, this rally sets sail from Hampton, VA July 5, then progresses to Newport, RI and concludes in Rockland, ME around July 16. Cruisers can join at any port, with meetings, socials, and rendezvous held along the way. It’s the perfect opportunity to gain ocean sailing experience in the company of fellow Salty Dawg boats and experienced shoreside staff support.  This rally is often used as a qualifying passage for those wishing to participate in our fall Caribbean Rally.

Caribbean Rally: Departing from Hampton, VA and Newport, RI around November 1, this cornerstone rally offers a choice of destinations: the Bahamas or Antigua. Late October meetings, seminars, and Q&A sessions prepare cruisers for the journey ahead. Antigua typically takes 10-14 days to reach, while the Bahamas crossing is around 7-8 days. Upon arrival, anticipate a wealth of social and educational activities, making it the most enjoyable transition from the US East Coast to the Caribbean.

The January Jump to the Bahamas: The Salty Dawgs are planning to host the first ever “January Jump” from Florida to the Bahamas in mid January, 2025. This rally is perfect for those who want to stay in the states for the holiday season or will be crossing the Gulf Stream for the first time. 

Each rally will benefit from weather support and routing by Chris Parker and the Marine Weather Center, along with shoreside support and an emergency response team comprising experienced cruisers to ensure a safe and well-run rally for all participants. New for the 2024 Caribbean rally, all boats will have around the clock comprehensive “concierge” style 24/7 emergency medical support from GW Maritime Medical Service from George Washington University, included in the rally fee.  

For rally registration and further details, visit www.saltydawgsailing.org/rallies.

Sarah Flanagan elected Sail NS President

At the Sail NS Annual General Meeting, membership elected Sarah Flanagan from the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron to a three year term as President. Sarah joined the board in 2020 and since that time has assisted on the Risk, Strategy, and Governance side of things. She is a certified Learning Facilitator and has taught sailing for many years. 

Also elected by the membership to the Board is Grace Flemming from RNSYS and the Hubbards Sailing Club.

You can find the complete list of 2024 Sail NS Board of Directors here. 

Annual Cruising Instructor Update

Sail Canada will host its annual Cruising Instructor Update session on March 27 at 7 pm EST.

All cruising instructors and stakeholders are invited to register for this online seminar.

Updates to the Cruising, Keel, Power, Nav, PCOC, and ROC(M) systems will be discussed and attendees are invited to bring any questions concerns, or comments to the seminar.

More details and register HERE.