Seven Seas Cruising Association announces 6th Annual Essex Summer Solstice Gam
by Barbara J. Hart 18 Mar 2018 13:10 UTC
22-24 June 2018
On the deck at Essex Yacht Club © Robert Osborn
Held at The Essex Yacht Club, one of the co-sponsors, this Gam is accessible to those who arrive by land or by sea. Boaters at anchor can participate in the traditional SSCA dinghy raft-up and cocktail party on Friday evening.
Throughout the weekend, attendees will be able to enjoy numerous workshops and speakers on cruising destinations in Maine and in the Leeward and Windward Caribbean Islands; as well as tips on Preparing for an Offshore Passage, Cruising Rallies, Safety and Safety Equipment, and Weather Forecasting. In addition, there will be workshops on Splicing Exotic Fibers, Examining your Rigging, Lengthening the Life of your Dinghy, and a planned demonstration by a US Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter.
On Saturday evening, Paul Farrell, author of Tugboats Illustrated: History, Technology, Seamanship will present the keynote address after dinner. In Tugboats Illustrated, Paul traces the evolution, design, and role of tugboats, ranging from the first steam-powered tug to today's hyper-specialized offshore workboats. His address will be of interest to all cruisers who have met tugs at sea and in the ICW.
SSCA's Essex Gam also offers those who attend the opportunity to purchase great boat gear at bargain prices in a silent auction. Our generous sponsors have offered many items for the auction to help us raise funds for SSCA.
In addition, attendees will be invited to visit the Connecticut River Museum, one of the co-sponsors of this SSCA Gam.
Located just five miles up the Connecticut River from the Long Island Sound, Essex is the quintessential New England town on a beautiful river setting. Of course, you will want to make time to visit some of the local sights, including the Connecticut River Museum, The Essex Steam Train and the Griswold Inn which has been in continuous operation since 1776 for their Monday night Sea Shanties, a hugely popular weekly event with locals and visitors alike.
For more information and registration visit Seven Seas Cruising Association website at www.ssca.org or contact Karen Nettles at .
The Seven Seas Cruising Association is the oldest and largest worldwide organization supporting the live aboard cruising lifestyle. Founded in 1952 by six live aboard couples in California and now with members worldwide, today's SSCA remains true to the traditions of its original members—sharing cruising information, fostering camaraderie, and leaving a clean wake. Today, SSCA has over 4,000 members around the world, with nearly 1,000 of them from the Northeastern United States.
In days of old when whaling ships encountered one another in calm seas they would heave to and the crew would line up at the railing to shout news across to one another. This was called a Gam. An SSCA Gam is a get-together of members, with an emphasis on camaraderie, education and the sharing of cruising information.