PAGE 2 • AUTUMN 2007 THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SAILING ASSOCIATION
The Charley Noble
T
hanks to the many of you who called and emailed
us in response to our request for members to help
write book and product reviews for our magazine!
Since we plan content for future editions of our
American Sailing Journals many months in advance, we
still need a few more volunteers.
Additionally, we are looking to our
members for some of our special
columns such as “Living the
Dream,” “Adventures in Cruising,”
and our newest column, “Sailing
ASA Member Event 2008
Lessons,” which gives you a
Yes, we are already planning for our fourth annual ASA
chance to share your personal
Members Week, which will take place sometime in June
adventures in learning how to sail.
at Club Colonna in Antigua. Check the ASA website for
exact dates. Although we considered moving the event to
If you are interested in helping with any of these, please
a different location, everyone enjoyed the arrangements
contact Kathy Christensen, ASA’s Membership
so much that we decided to heed the old saying, “if it
Coordinator by email at kc@american-sailing.com or by
ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” We hope you can join us this
phone at (310) 822-7171. As I mentioned last month, With its turquoise waters and rolling hills, Antigua makes a perfect place for an ASA event. Sailors used to breaking out the heavy-duty foul weather gear will
year. Many attendees said “it was the best trip we have
publishers send Kathy the newest sailing books, all of find this island paradise a welcome change from their colder home waters in the north.
ever been on!” It can’t get much better than that. Check
which are waiting to be read and reviewed. Likewise, we
the ASA website for all the 2008 details and see photos
have a number of sailing products that come our way. We
FEATURE STORY
rattling of the sails and blocks cease and all you hear
continued from page 1
is the hiss of the water and slight flutter in the sails. A
and reviews from past events or e-mail Kathy at
can get you one of these to try out and review as well.
day or a life under sail is cause enough for
kc@american-sailing.com.
Created in 2001, Summer Sailstice is an annual event
celebration.
Our member profiles give you the chance to share the
held on the weekend closest to the solstice connecting
A number of those who attended our event in June are
unique way you enjoy our sport, whether it’s a weekend
the sailing community in a global celebration of sail. All
Amongst the many folks enjoying non-stop, tropical sailing
already chomping at the bit to sign up for 2008, so we
trip with the kids or a passage across the Pacific. Even if
sailors, regardless of where or what they sail, are
fun in Antigua with ASA was Cecilie Ann Witt. She started
feel confident in telling you that everyone who attends
you don’t want to share your story, we welcome good,
encouraged to declare their participation and create
just over a decade ago with a sail in Provincetown, Mass.,
will have a great time. We had over 80 attend in 2007.
high quality photos for inclusion in future ASJs. We will
parties, events and celebrations all posted on the event’s
and has since become an almost non-stop sailor after
Let’s get over 100 next year and fill the resort with ASA
credit you and send you some great ASA merchandise if
host website at www.summersailstice.com. While the
acquiring her own Catalina 25 now sailed out of
members!
yours is selected for publication.
AMERICAN
SAILING
RASSOCIA ASA trip to Antigua may be one of the most desirable
Alexandria, Va. In fact, she’s now so addicted, she sails all
ways to revel in the sailing lifestyle, numerous others
year round except perhaps when it’s snowing. Fortunately,
ASA Winter Flotilla
“Charley Noble” is the old time nautical name for the
were creating their own Summer Sailstice parties and
this wasn’t a problem in Antigua.
smokestack over a galley ... So I’ll try to keep any “hot air”
events in all corners of the sailing world. This is the third
There are a few spots still available for ASA’s winter
in the American Sailing Journal confined to this column.
year ASA has scheduled its American Sailing Week to
flotilla in the British Virgin Islands. This year the event
Cecilie had the good sense to sign up early on the
coincide with Summer Sailstice, the start of the summer
will be taking place from Saturday, December 1, to
Summer Sailstice website for 2007 and also had the
sailing season and the longest sailing days of the year.
Saturday, December 8. If you are interested in attending,
good fortune to be the chosen winner for a free trip to
please call ASA and ask to speak with Brenda Wempner. THE AMERICAN SAILING JOURNAL
ASA’s American Sailing Week courtesy of ASA and
We will be planning and holding more flotillas soon, so
Sunsail. Beyond getting every sailor on the planet to
check the ASA website regularly for updates.
www.american-sailing.com info@american-sailing.com
The Joys of Life Under Sail
connect for a global sailing party, Summer Sailstice
What is it that makes sailing worth celebrating? Drop
provides a long list of prizes contributed by sailing
Address Changes!
into any rum soaked sailing party or slip into the
businesses that like the idea of supporting everyone’s
ASA PRESIDENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cynthia Shabes
cockpit of a comfortable daysailor ghosting along
“random act of sailing.” This past year, over 60
If your mailing address has changed, you will need to
during an evening sunset to ask why they enjoy being
companies donated more than 300 prizes, awarded by
contact Sailing Magazine directly to avoid having your
ASA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR . . . . . . . Charlie Nobles
on the water under sail and you’ll likely get some very
random drawing, to sailors signed up and sailing on the
subscription go to your old address. They can be
common answers – freedom, escape, beauty, nature,
solstice and the weekend closest to it.
reached either by phone at (800) 895-2596 or through
ASA EXECUTIVE EDITOR . . . . . . . . Heather Watt
adventure. Despite the fact that some sailors like to
their website at www.sailingmagazine.net. Also, please
STORY EDITORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . Heather Watt
cross oceans single-handed while others windsurf and
As an avid Virginia sailor, Cecilie manages a regular
update your address with ASA by emailing us at
Kathy Christensen
still others search for that perfect, gentle breeze for an
schedule of coastal sailing in the variable mid-Atlantic
jm@american-sailing.com. Please be sure to include
Charlie Nobles afternoon on the bay, most sailors love that moment
weather. Antigua couldn’t have provided a better contrast.
your old address so that we can locate you in our
when the engine is cut, the sheets are hauled in, the
database.
ART DIRECTOR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathy Christensen
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