American Sailing Journal - Volume 36, Issue 5, May 2019

American Sailing Journal

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Volume 36, Issue 5

May 2019

It’s May and that means that the ASA offices are bustling with activity as the sailing season ramps up throughout our network of schools.

As Memorial Day Weekend approaches we would like to reach as many of our veterans as we can with a reminder that our Veterans Sailing Education Program is going strong with discounts for both retired and active duty military personnel.

We would also like to remind you to do your part as caretakers of the waters upon which we sail. Our Plastic Pollution Purge campaign is going strong and ASA continues to promote the responsible use of plastic with the mantra, “Bring back more plastic than you take!” Or better yet, make it your mission to take little or no plastic onboard if possible. Get involved and share your photos on social media with the tag #ASAPlasticPollutionPurge

Cindy Shabes, ASA President

ASA Initiatives Update

Veterans Program

Last year the ASA launched its Veterans Sailing Education Program to promote sailing among veterans and to give back to those who have served in our nation’s military. Over 100 schools are participating and numerous veterans across the country have taken advantage of the discounts provided by ASA to learn the art of sailing.

Take a look at how a couple of our ASA Affiliated Schools, Warrior Sailing and the Veteran Sailing Association, are participating in the program.

Women On The Water

Back in March, the American Sailing Association announced a new education campaign: “Women Wake Up Zone.” It is designed to erase the stereotypes and eliminate the fear some women have that sailing is too expensive and physically demanding, the initiative aims to create more women sailors. “With the advances in technology, sailing has truly become a gender-neutral sport,” says Cindy Shabes. “We just need more women to get involved and spread the word!”

Learn More >>

Our Environment

Your Boat’s Spring Cleaning

It’s just about time to pull off those winter boat covers and set sail into the warmer season! Whether you’re just getting started in the ASA 101 course or you regularly cruise in your own vessel, learning to properly care for a sailboat is an important and necessary skill to have.

Can Overboard

If you think that your canned beverage can be disposed of by throwing it overboard because “it’s just metal- it will break down naturally” - you need to change your habits. You might be surprised to learn all the different reasons why this behaviour is problematic!

This documentary, which is free to watch, follows the transformation twenty students experience after sailing for 40 days in the Caribbean Sea. It’s directed, produced, and filmed by Soraya Simi who ASA interviewed earlier this year.

Read The Interview with Soraya | Watch Documentary >>

Sailing Vacation Tips

Choosing A Charter Company

When you took your first ASA 101 course this is the moment you were dreaming of. The sailing vacation where you are captain and the entire family is your crew. You could see it happening as you first picked up your Sailing Made Easy textbook. When you took ASA 103 it became all too clear that no matter what happened for the rest of your life, your excursion would not be complete until you chartered your own boat. After ASA 104 all the confidence you had gained led you to this moment when you began your search for a charter boat.

Mediterranean Mooring

The Mediterranean Moor is a hybrid of anchoring, rafting, and docking used in regions where there is little room and tidal range. It takes its name from an old Mediterranean custom of mooring stern-to along a town’s quay or sea wall and it allows a lot of boats to fit in a small place.

If you plan to charter in the Med then knowing how to this, and most importantly, practicing how to do this, will be the key to a happy and relaxing vacation

Watch the International 12 Metre World Championships from the Megayacht Arabella

Pull up a chair and take the best seat in the house aboard the luxurious 157-foot three-masted schooner Arabella for a cruise from New York Harbor to attend the International 12 Metre World Championship being held off Newport Rhode Island from July 8th -13th. That’s right! ASA and the Arabella crew are teaming up again to offer you the best view on the racecourse for the 12 Meter Worlds in Newport.

Learn More >>

You can find more online resources to improve your sailing skills & knowledge on our Sailors Resources page.

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