Dear Members and Friends,

The Sailing Season is well underway and we look forward to a glorious weekend out on the Sound. Thank you to all that responded to the Event Questionnaire that Teddie sent out. In response to that we have many exciting events planned at Sound Sailing Center for our Members and Friends. Below is outlined our new Weeknight Lesson and Racing Series Format. We have added an educational component to the Weeknight Sailing which will be sure to improve everyone’s sailing skills, and the Wednesday Sailing Series can even lead to your Basic Keelboat Certification! In response to the unanimously positive Full Moon Sails, we have planned them for the Full Moon Evenings starting in July and running through September. And we hope you all will come help us celebrate Sound Sailing Center’s 20th Anniversary on June 14 and June 15. We are planning Sailboat Rides for Charities from 1 pm to 4 pm, a light lunch and a short presentation on Saturday Evening from 6-8. I am very proud of all that we have accomplished over the course of Sound Sailing Center’s 20 year History and would like to thank everyone for helping us become the Premier Sailing Center that we are.

Best Regards,
Martin van Breems

Summer Weeknight Sailing Series

Summer Evening Series
Our Evening Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday programs include both racing and cruising options and offer an affordable way to sail and learn with a great group of people. The goal of our programs is to help you become a better sailor while enjoying our local waters with minimal environmental impact. Unlike being on someone else’s boat where they drive and you typically cover one job like the main sheet, you will rotate through different positions including steering the boat to give you the complete picture.

For More Information on this Event and to Sign up, go to:
http://www.meetup.com/Group-Sailing-at-Sound-Sailing-Center-Norwalk/

Tuesday Evening Intro to Sailing – June 10 – September 9

If you are starting out and looking either to learn and refine your basic sailing skills, or just get out there more often, these are the sessions for you. Beginners are of course welcome. This series is designed to have an educational component, so in addition to improving your sailing skills, we will practice basic skills like sailing blind and sailing by the heel. There will be an instructor on each boat, and we will rotate the crew through different positions. 8-10 evening programs are about equivalent to our Intro to Sailing course, and are an excellent, flexible way to start your sailing adventure. Once you can competently steer the Ensign’s and correctly trim the sails you will be ready for Basic Keelboat if you wish to become a skipper.

These sessions are also perfect if you want to get out on the water and relax on a sailboat for a modest fee. You can be as involved in the sailing of boat as you wish, or just relax and enjoy an evening sail. Of course, if you wish to become a better sailor or Captain, you will need to be involved, but our instructors work hard to make this fun for everyone. You are welcome to pack a picnic basket. If sufficient interest, we will offer women’s only, singles or rainbow boat. Please email us for further details. Boats will be staffed with SSC instructors.

The Tuesday evening series starts on June 10, 2014, and continues for every Tuesday till September 9th, for a total of 14 evenings. The cost is $40 per night for non-members or $10 for members looking for a brush up.

For More Information on this Event and to signup, go to:
http://www.meetup.com/Group-Sailing-at-Sound-Sailing-Center-Norwalk/events/186997702/
Wednesday Evening Basic Keelboat – June 11 – September 10

Like to enjoy sailing through the Norwalk Islands or on the Sound while brushing up on more advanced skills or techniques? This program is for you. This is designed as a follow up program to our Tuesday evening Intro to Sailing Courses. These sessions are also perfect if you just want to get out on the water and relax for a modest fee. You can be as involved in the sailing of boat as you wish, or just kick back and relax. You are welcome to pack a picnic basket. If sufficient interest, we will offer women’s only, singles and a rainbow boat. Boats will be staffed with SSC instructor, and we will rotate the crew through different positions. Each cruise will be about 2.5 hours long, and we will strive to explore different parts of the Norwalk Islands.
Typically, 14-18 of the Weds and Thursday evening sessions will bring you to the point where you can pass the Basic Keelboat Certification. The cost for certification, including a 3 hr solo practice session, a 2 hour private on the water checkout, the US Sailing test, Log Book, Membership and Certification is $360.- You will also qualify for a 10% discount on Sound Sailing Center membership, for a savings of about $200.
The Wednesday evening cruise series starts on June 11, 2014, and continues for every Wednesday till September 10th, for a total of 14 evenings. The cost is $40 per person for non-members or $10 per person for members who can use this this a brush up or refresher mini-course. Non-members may purchase a 6 pack of sessions for $180.

For More Information on this Event and to signup, go to:
http://www.meetup.com/Group-Sailing-at-Sound-Sailing-Center-Norwalk/events/187000332/
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Thursday Evening Racing Series – June 12 – September 11

The racing series is welcome to all, and like all our events is designed to have an educational component, so in addition to improving your sailing skills, we may also practicing advanced skills like navigation, reefing and man over board drills, by incorporating them into the race! Of course, one design racing is far and away the best way to refine your sailing skills, and learn how small differences in sail trim or steering have a big impact on speed. Plus learning to working together effectively as a team and grow is rewarding in any endeavor.

If you wish to steer, you must have completed our Intro to Sailing course, either via the weekend or Tuesday night program. Each boat will have one or 2 captains, who will be SSC members. The SSC members will do the starts and about half the driving upwind and downwind. If you have completed the Intro courses, you will qualify as a helmsman and you can and will do some of the steering as we will rotate through positions. We try to set up the courses to get in 4 or more starts, helping you refine your strategy on the line.

Boats start leaving the dock at 6:00 pm. We have in the past and will continue to offer women’s only boat as often as possible, along with singles or rainbow boats if sufficient interest. Since we race close to the dock, you often can jump on a boat at any point up to the last race. The races will be cancelled if small craft warnings are posted, the winds are over 18 knots, gusts are over 22 knots, or there is moderate to heavy rain or lightning. We normally look at the New Haven and UConn Western Long Island Sound weather stations for wind strengths.

The Thursday evening racing series starts on June 12, 2014, and continues for every Thursday till September 11th, for a total of 14 evenings.

For More Information on this event and to signup, go to:
http://www.meetup.com/Group-Sailing-at-Sound-Sailing-Center-Norwalk/events/187000972/

Summer Full Moon Sails

Sail Under The Stars

Mark your calendars! This Summer we are so excited to offer our first ever Full Moon Sails. We will be sails on the following evenings:

Saturday, July 12

Sunday, August 10

Tuesday, September 9

Wednesday, October 8

More details in future newsletters

Arrival Date for our new VAr37

Our new VAr37 will be delivered to Sound Sailing Center on July 4th. We are anxiously anticipating the arrival of this incredible yacht. Please come welcome her to our fleet on July 4th weekend.

Mystic Blues Festival

Mystic Blues Festival
June 27 – 29

Highly Recommend — Always Great Fun!!
SSC 20th Anniversary Father’s Day Benefit Weekend

Come Celebrate 20 Years of SSC

We will be offering Sailboat Rides to raise money for Greenpeace, Pivot House and Relay for Life. The Festivities are underway Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, June 15 from 1 – 5 pm. Members will be offering Sailboat rides in 23′ Boats for a $30 donation and the 30′ – 37′ Boats for a $60 donation. Please email Teddie at sscsailing@gmail.com to book a sail. We will also be serving a light lunch. Martin will be giving a Presentation on some of his Extraordinary Open Water Sailing Adventures on Saturday from 6 – 8 pm. We hope to see you all there!