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Summer Sailstice Fun This Saturday

Making weekend plans? Don’t forget that Saturday marks the worldwide celebration of Summer Sailstice. Summer what? If you’re new to the concept, the idea is simply to get out on the water and celebrate the pleasures of sailing — on the longest day of the year — wherever you happen to be. Yeah, we know, in the Southern Hemisphere it’s winter solstice, but as you’ll see on the event’s website, sailors on the lower half of the globe are embracing the Sailstice tradition also.

The boatbuilding contest – and post-build demos – will be a highlight of the Encinal YC Sailstice festivities.

© Summer Sailstice

Participation in Summer Sailstice has grown from humble roots to involve roughly 4,600 boats and 17,000 sailors annually. It’s free to sign up, and doing so makes you eligible to win a wide variety of prizes. As you’ll see on the website, sailing clubs, waterfront business and individuals all over the globe are hosting Sailstice parties and special events. The biggest one locally is at Encinal YC — aka Sailstice’s Bay Area headquarters. There’s going to be all sorts of nautical fun, including a crazy boatbuilding contest, educational seminars (including one on Latitude 38 rallies, at noon, and another on how to get your captain’s license at 1 p.m.). And Goslings’ Dark ‘N’ Stormy cocktails will be the featured beverage at the club bar.

The lawn out in front of the Encinal will be the hub of Saturday’s celebration. Many other Sailstice events will also take place throughout the Bay Area.

© 2014 Summer Sailstice

Here’s a sampling of other Bay Area Sailstice events:

  • ‘Dinner and a Movie’ at Sausalito’s Dunphy Park — to benefit the nonprofit Cass Gidley Marina’s Sausalito Community Boating Center, and featuring Maidentrip, a documentary about Dutch teen Laura Dekker’s record breaking solo circumnavigation, plus live music by Fiver Brown and friends, plus free boat rides. Tall ship Matthew Turner High Noon Sailstice Celebration
  • At the tall ship Matthew Turner build site in Sausalito, "well wishes, good luck charms, and blessed items will be sealed into the ship’s keel at high noon."
  • Tradewinds Sailing Club Open House; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Check out the facility, mingle with staff and members. Free drinks, snacks and hot dogs. $20 for a two-hour sail (call to reserve).
  • Cal Sailing Club Open House featuring free boat rides. The club offers dinghy sailing lessons, windsurfing lessons and women’s sailing clinics. 
Free boat rides are a key attraction to many Sailstice celebrations around the world.

© Summer Sailstice

Many more local events can be found on the website. And if you don’t find one that suits your style, you can sign up for free to create your own. So happy Sailstice!

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VIIRS day-night-band image of hurricane Cristina from Wednesday evening. Colorado State
©2014 Latitude 38 Media, LLC It’s now hurricane season in both Eastern Pacific (i.e.