Events

Here in this island nation of Ireland, we so often turn our gaze inward. Yet, there’s a magical sea all around us just waiting for us to venture out and enjoy its natural beauty, its amazing wildlife and its never ending plays of light and dark, shades of blues and greens, and undulations between winds and waves. For a fortunate few, a passion for the sea drives them toward it.  Some make a living out there. Others just go to satisfy a need. The Volvo Ocean Race showed us what can happen when we turn our gaze toward the sea and how sailing can make everything right again. They’ll be coming back to Galway in 2012. So how do we get our fix until then? One way to take part is to join a global event known as Summer Sailstice, where sailors all over the world go out on the longest day of the year to do what they love most – sail.

Summer Sailstice 2011 will be the weekend of June 18th.

In 2010 sailors in 50 US states and 47 countries connected in a global celebration of sailing.  Their stories are on the website http://www.summersailstice.com/. Summer Sailstice is a global holiday celebrating sailing held annually on the Saturday closest to the summer solstice, the longest sailing days of the year.  It’s easy to participate in Summer Sailstice and its free!  Simply register, go sailing and automatically become eligible to win one of over 400 prizes, from a yacht charter with The Moorings to sailing gear from your favorite marine suppliers. Thousands around the world are planning to join in already this year.

There are many different ways to enjoy sailing. Sailing can take the form of racing, cruising, or just messing about like in The Wind in the Willows. Even each of those has its many different iterations for all tastes and interests.

Does the thrill of a melee of charging racing boats at the start line get your blood going? Or are you more likely to enjoy a slow silent glide into the sunset, feeling the wind gently caressing your face as it powers the sails? Does the idea of chilling out in a small dinghy exploring your local bay or inlet sound like the ideal weekend pursuit?  Or is the challenge of beating your pals across the finish line in performance racing dinghies more your style?  Whatever your interest, this is your chance to go out and rekindle that love of the sea.

Racing, for example, can involve a group of friends getting together on weekday evenings to crew aboard one of a dozen boats that go out most weeks from the local sailing club, enjoy an hour or two of racing, followed by the prize winning and storytelling at the clubhouse. Such evening club racing is mostly about the camaraderie and the shared enjoyment of being on the water, with a bit of competition thrown in for good measure. 

Dinghy racing is for the young and young at heart who enjoy the pursuit of speed and glory. Some race in one-person boats, while others prefer two or more crew in highly technical racing machines.  Yet dinghy racers all have a need for speed that gets them tweaking their gear for optimum performance. They often travel the country and the world to match their skills against others.  They form a global club of dinghy class enthusiasts that share an instant bond wherever they meet.

Cruisers on the other hand tend to sail for the sheer joy of it. Perhaps they feel the need to unwind with a gentle sail around the bay after a tough week at work. Maybe they enjoy being out with family and friends, dropping anchor in remote harbours and exploring new destinations every week.  Whether they go out for the day, the weekend, or the weeklong journey they bring their holiday home along with them. They sleep onboard, take their meals on deck or below, and dream about sailing off into the sunset towards foreign shores.

The best part is that going sailing doesn’t mean you have to own a boat.  One way is to join a sailing club and sail on other people’s boats. They have the responsibilities and you have all the fun! There are plenty of boat owners who need crew for racing or are willing to take along an extra pair of hands on a cruise. So check out your local sailing club today! All you need is a bit of initiative and you can acquire a new skill that you’ll enjoy lifelong.

But if you have your own boat, use Summer Sailstice as an excuse to dust off the cobwebs and turn your gaze back towards the sea. If you haven’t been out there yet this year, get out there on June 18.