June 8 is World Oceans Day, the official UN-designated international day of ocean celebration and a day which emphasizes the importance of oceans in our lives and how we protect them. This year’s theme is “Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet” and there is a focus on taking action for the prevention of plastic pollution in our oceans. The Environment of the Sea Committee encourages all sailors to take the message of this theme to heart and to consider your commitment to stewardship of our oceans. For more information see: ...
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Rousmaniere Interviewed
Sail Magazine has published an interview of our John Rousmaniere. Check it out.
Cardiac Emergency at Sea
Members Elaine Cashar and Rick Jablonski address and overcome a life-threatening emergency while offshore. Planning for known risks, proper use of communications channels, and a cool head helped this cruising couple survive heart failure to sail again.
Multihulls Welcomed into Bermuda Race
Commodore Jim Binch of the Cruising Club of America, Commodore Leatrice Oatley of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and Race Chairman Jonathan Brewin issued a joint statement:
“We are very pleased after careful study and consideration of the unique and challenging characteristics of our race to welcome multihulls of 58 feet and longer.”
See the full article here.
Willauer Wanders
Sailing Scuttlebutt has done a nice write-up of Vice Commodore Willauer's planned family entry in the Marblehead-Halifax race. Read all about it here.
Awards at CCA Annual Meeting
Our members assembled at the New York Yacht Club in Manhattan to recognize their outstanding sailors for 2016 at our annual Awards Dinner on March 3, 2017.
Representing a broad array of sailing achievements, the recipients of the 2016 Blue Water Medal, Rod Stephens Trophy, First-Ever Young Voyager Award, Far Horizons Award, Royal Cruising Club Trophy and Richard S. Nye Trophy were celebrated for their accomplishments....
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Rich Wilson Finishes Vendée Globe Feb. 21
The CCA is particularly proud of member Rich Wilson’s accomplishment in the just completed Vendée Globe race. Sailing solo for nearly 27,500 miles aboard Great American IV, Wilson finished the planet-rounding competition in just over 107 days, returning to the west coast of France on Tuesday, February 21, 2017 after having started there on November 6, 2016. He finished 13th out of 29 boats and thus became the fastest American to race solo non-stop around the world.
“As a club made up exclusively of talented and accomplished blue...
Great Lakes Online Safety Course offered
SAFETY ON THE INLAND SEAS
Cruising Club of America and Great Lakes Cruising Club School Collaborate on New Webinar
If exploring inland lakes and waterways or coastal waters is in your plans for the upcoming boating season, a new webinar, geared to sail and power boaters alike, should be part of your preparations. Presented jointly by the Great Lakes Cruising Club and the Cruising Club of America, the two-part webinar – on April 4 and April 6, 2017 – will draw from US Sailing’s Safety at Sea and CCA’s...
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The Storm Trysail Foundation to conduct its Hands-on Safety-at-Sea Seminar
The Storm Trysail Foundation to...
Cruising Club of America Grant to Support the Offshore Racing Rule
We are pleased to announce that the Cruising Club of America has approved a significant grant to the Offshore Racing Association (ORA), owner of the Offshore Racing Rule (ORR), for the continued support of the ORR.
“Since the founding of the CCA in 1922 there has been an inherent interest in the development and maintenance of handicapping systems,” explained CCA Commodore James Binch of New Canaan, Conn. “Beginning in 1926, and forming what is now called the Bermuda Race Organizing Committee in partnership with the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, there has been a need for the CCA to be...
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Member Wilson in Vendee Globe
Longtime CCA member Rich Wilson is racing in the Vendee Globe race around the world. Great American IV left Vendee on November 6 and is the only American boat in the race.* Rich has gone to great lengths to share his experience with the world, particularly including K-12 students. His website, SitesAlive.com does a splendid job of narrating the race. You can see his daily positions here.
Best wishes to Rich. Make us proud!
...
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Getting Around Niagara Falls
Past CCA Commodore Lhamon shares some notes about getting around the Niagara Falls area. Folks sailing this region may wish to take note of this well-written cruise mini-note.
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Circumnavigation Complete
They say what goes around comes around. Member Joe Harris just completed a solo circumnavigation in 152 days, not counting two repair stops. He accomplished this feat aboard his Gryphon, a 40-foot monohull, finishing Thursday, May 5. Read about it here.
Congratulations, Joe!
Newport Bermuda Plaques
Bob Darbee, long-time Newport Bermuda Awards Chair, has accumulated a miscellaneous stock of the (standard-sized) 3 1/4"x 4 1/2" brass Participant Plaques traditionally given to each finishing vessel which reads: "For Successfully Completing . . . the Newport Bermuda Race" with the specific year.
Over the years many skippers have inquired about additional Plaques for their trophy room, to replace a damaged one aboard, or to give to a shipmate who did the Race with them.
Bob is running a "garage sale" on this surplus stock. They can be had for $60 each,...
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Piracy in the Carribean
The otherwise delightful cruising area has been marred by criminal acts. Our friends at OCC have shared the details of incidents of piracy against private yachts in the are between Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada. An alert has been issued. Read the release for more information.
"Biodegradable" Plastic Bags and Sea don't Mix
It is well known that most plastics are virtually indestructible. They are, as the saying goes, forever. Sadly, today our oceans are littered with enormous quantities of plastic, much of it in now notorious vast gyres. We all know that plastics should not be thrown overboard. However, the recent development of so-called “biodegradable" plastic bags might suggest that this is a product which can be safely discharged at sea. But read on.
The label “biodegradable” notwithstanding, a recent United Nations study has concluded that on the balance of available scientific evidence found in...
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