Category Archives: Summer Sailing

June 27th Newsletter: Racing Tonight, Summer Sailing, Weather or Not?

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Racing starts today!

Our Thursday Evening racing series starts this evening at 6 pm!   See below for more information.  We urge members and everyone to check it out. Racing is one of the best ways to improve your sailing skills. You will quickly realize that over-trimming your sails really does make you slow, plus it’s lots of fun!

Weather or not to head out?!!

The first thing we teach our students about what to consider before heading out is the Weather. Nothing else has as great an impact on the safety of you and your crew.

Getting Ready to Head Out!
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June 19th Newsletter: Father’s Day Open House at Sound Sailing!

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Fathers Day Open House, come on down, see the fleet and go for a sail – 1-4 pm.  Our grill will be fired up with burgers and hot dogs from 1-1:30 pm. Thereafter we will be offering free mini-lessons and sailboat rides with instructors and members.  Please call to reserve a sailboat ride in advance.

Why Take Lessons at Sound Sailing Center?

After over 25 years, Sound Sailing Center has a proven record of offering the highest quality instruction.  Our program is unique in that we are almost 100% on the water practicing the skills you need.  We also believe in lots of repetition until primary skills, like reefing or MOB’s are automatic.  Each student will have practiced reefing 6-8 times in Basic Keelboat, for example. They also will have observed their 2 classmates doing the same.  

Speaking of classmates, your time is valuable, so we never have more than 3 Students per class.  In a 5 hour lesson, you get almost 50%  more time on the helm with 3 instead of 4 students (1.5 hours vs 1.1 hour).   

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July 21st Newsletter

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A lovely sail on the VAr 37.

 

Summer Sailing is Here!
Summer is here and as usual, some of the larger boats in the fleet will be making extended passages.   The Contest 36 and VAr 37 will be making several one week cruises.   The Contest is already in Mystic Shipyard East, and the VAr 37 will join her in August.  Mystic Shipyard East is a lovely, resort style marina with a pool just steps away from our slip.   From Mystic, Shelter Island or East Hampton / Montauk are less than 2 hours away, while Block Island is just 3 hours away.
The Sweden 340 is available and perfect for longer passages, with all the gear and lots of availability for that week long August cruise.   There are only 5 days reserved in August so far.  There are only 3 days reserved on the Hanse 320 in August, so lots of availability.

 

Martin’s kids discover new uses for the sailbags !

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Harlem Yacht Club Open House a Huge Success

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Dear Members and Friends,
The Open House hosted by Harlem Yacht Club on Sunday, August 10th was a wonderful success. We had 40 Members from both Clubs sharing delicious wine and snacks, as well as sailing on the VAr with me. Harlem Yacht Club is a fabulous facility, with great sailing and, as you can see from the photos, and amazing view of the syline of New York City.  I am thrilled that SSC Members have already been taking advantage of our Ensign “Intrepid” that we have moored there to discover this new sailing vista. Visit www.hyc.org for more information on this storied yacht club.
Due to Popular Demand, Teddie has created an “SSC Members Board” on the SSC website. We are listing members who are looking for other members to sail with or looking for crew. Please contact Teddie for more information and to get your contact information listed.
Have you been putting off taking our Basic Cruising Course? Well, now is the time to sign up! We have 2 unique opportunities coming up to get your Basic Cruising Certification. I am sailing the VAr to the Newport Boat Show on September 5th and am conducting a Basic Cruising Class in conjunction with that sail. We depart the morning of Friday, September 5th and follow the curriculum of our Basic Cruising Course throughout the trip. On Saturday evening the lucky students will get to sail the VAr to Block Island for their Practice Sail/Overnight. We will arrive in Newport by late Sunday afternoon. We have 1 spot left in that class for the first person to sign up online at our Website www.soundsailingcenter.com. Then I will be sailing the VAr down to the Annapolis Boat Show on Friday, October 3rd during which I will again follow the curriculum of our Basic Cruising Course on that trip. We will arrive in Annapolis late Sunday afternoon. You can sign up for that Basic Cruising Course online as well. These trips are some of our Members’ favorite memories of Sound Sailing Center.
Our classes are filling up for the rest of the season as well. If you would like to improve your sailing skills to prepare for a Winter Charter Cruise in the Islands or get your spouse into a class to find her passion for sailing (and to help you crew) – sign up on our website at “Instruction”. Teddie has also been scheduling weekday classes for all levels, if you would like to take a “sailcation” from work this Summer, please contact her.
We really appreciate the efforts of our Members in following the procedures to sign up for their boats on our online appointment system, as well as taking the boats they are assigned and not taking another boat from the dock. Many Thanks!!
The Dories Camp was a huge success this Summer! We have never had so many young sailors at SSC and we are excited to start planning next Summer’s Curriculum as this season comes to a close for our Junior Dories.
Happy Sailing!
Martin van Breems

 

 
Summer Sailing Camp Draws to a Close this Week

Dories Camp 

We would like to thank all of our Junior Sailors as well as our fabulous Instructors this Summer, Kelly Weigold, Peter Nestor, Kat Nohre, Martin van Breems II and Richard Roosen. We had an amazing Summer of happy, smiling, wet and salty Junior Sailors all Summer and can’t wait to see everyone again next Summer! Please enjoy these pictures of the kids having fun on our Ensigns.