BREAKING NEWS!!

Azores Rally

Starts from Hampton, VA and St. Maarten for Bermuda:  May 18, 2025
Start from Bermuda for Horta: June 1, 2025 (weather permitting)

Set sail on an unforgettable adventure across the North Atlantic! Join us for an exhilarating rally to Horta on the island of Faial in the Azores, departing from Bermuda on June 1, 2025. Whether you're sailing from the US East Coast (Hampton, VA) or the Caribbean (St Maarten), our feeder rallies promise an exciting start to this epic journey. Is exploring the Med on your boat for a season or two on your bucket list? Benefit from the expertise of our seasoned members and organizers who have been there.

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March 2-11, 2025

Join us for our 2nd Annual BVI Rendezvous.  Come for all 10 days, or come for a few days.  Come by boat, or come by air and stay at the Nanny Cay hotel and jump aboard a friend's vessel. 

March 2/3 to March 6: Stay at Nanny Cay Marina and enjoy all  the amenities.  Welcome Party on March 3rd. ( Reserve your slip today: [email protected] or by phone on +1 284 394 2512, ext 1.  Let them know you are with SDSA.). 

See full schedule and learn more

P.A.Y.S Salty Dawg Rendezvous, Portsmouth, Dominica

February 13 - 20, 2025

Combine exploration of the natural beauty of the island with volunteer efforts to an island project. Usually each night brings social gatherings, cookouts, pot-lucks and other creative evening gatherings on the beach. Get ready for lots of fun! Invite your cruising friends and join us for all or part of the week. 

Learn more 

And don't forget the Ship's Store!

Would someone on your list like a Salty Dawgs Burgee for Christmas?  Check out the Ship's Store for other ideas!

Ship's Store

WE HAVE A PROBLEM

Written by John Hagen, SV Ileana

“We have a problem,” said Jeff. I had passed out on my bunk after finishing my shift at 1 a.m. when he awoke me.

What now? I thought.

The boat was gently rocking on the swells and the soft sound of slicing through the seas seemed to indicate the boat was moving well. I quickly slipped on my shorts and shirt and climbed up through the companionway and glanced at the sails. The mainsail had 3 reefs, although the wind felt gentle at about 12 knots. We were still recovering psychologically from the raging seas the night before. We were reluctant to shake out the reefs until at least daylight.

“Look at this,” said Jeff. He pointed the flashlight over the stern of the boat. A long string of fishing buoys dragged behind the boat. “I think it must be struck on the keel or rudder. It’s slowing us down.”

THIS MONTH IN PICTURES

Salty Dawgs in Hampton, preparing to sail south

MEET THE DAWGS:  Camille and Mark Hill

Boat Name and Type:  Oasis is a 2006 Tayana 48DS  

Home Port:  Oasis is at Herrington Harbor South, North Beach, MD. We show Oasis' home port as Syracuse, NY on our CG documentation as we live just outside Syracuse in Lafayette, NY

Where are you now?:  We are back and forth between MD and Syracuse. We also have a J Boats J28 we keep on a lake near Syracuse that we enjoy sailing and racing while in Syracuse

THE SALTY DAWGS APP

The new members-only app is available on both iPhone and Android platforms. (Non-member rally crew may access the app for a limited time before, during and after each rally.  SDSA membership is required for continued access.) The app combines many SDSA membership benefits in one easy-to-access program that includes the following:  

• Messaging your fellow Dawgs (similar to WhatsApp),
• Posting information and photos (similar to Facebook),
• Membership directory, 
• Member and rally tracking maps and
• Library of Zoom education recordings

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