Registration Now Open For 2017 Salty Dawg Fall Rally™ to the Caribbean

Salty Dawg Logo

Aug 9, 2017

Heading to the Caribbean this winter – here’s a way to have some company on the way.

Registration is now open for the 2017 Fall Salty Dawg Rally™ to Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands and other Caribbean destinations.

Hosted by the nonprofit Salty Dawg™ Sailing Association, this rally for blue water sailors will depart, weather permitting, on November 2 from Bluewater Sailing Center in Hampton, Virginia and other points along the US east coast.
Click here for more information and to register for the Fall Rally.

With an emphasis on safety, communication, education and camaraderie, over 550 boats and more than 2,100 sailors have participated in Salty Dawg rallies since the organization was founded in 2011.

The Fall Rally includes extensive planning and information prior to departure, and support offshore. Comprehensive checklists and reference material are provided for sailors to prepare for an offshore passage. Talks and demonstrations in Hampton help prepare sailors for their offshore passage. Guidance and assistance is obtained from the many highly experienced Salty Dawg sailors in the fleet.

“For the first time the USCG will provide inside information on their comprehensive search and rescue techniques. Sailors will be really amazed by this presentation,” said Salty Dawg Director of Rally Management Rick Palm.

Daily briefings by weather router and forecaster Chris Parker are provided to all who register, both before departure and offshore. Daily nets and satellite tracking devices track location of vessels and offer help on any issues or questions that participants have.

The Rally is able to provide this extensive range of support and services at minimal cost to participants due to the many seasoned blue water sailors who volunteer their time to staff the rally and the generously donated products, services and funds from over 40 sponsors.

The Salty Dawg Sailing Association is an educational organization that hosts several rallies, rendezvous and blue water sailing seminars. Memberships in the Association are available for anyone interested in blue water sailing or long distance cruising. Salty Dawg burgees are found on vessels around the world.

For more information and to join the Salty Dawg Sailing Association, visit the SDSA web site.


Video Gallery

Neptunus 650F Review

Neptunus 650F 400

By Andy Adams

Over the years Canadian Yachting has had the pleasure of doing several boat review articles on new Neptunus models and we are familiar with the qualities that Neptunus is famous for. They have all been exceptional yachts, but this is the one I would most want to own myself. It’s a personal choice and a matter of taste as to whether you would prefer to have a sedan express model or a flybridge but in my opinion, the flybridge layout offers some wonderful attributes.

We met with Neptunus Managing Director Jan Willem De Jong this past fall to take the new Neptunus 650F out in Lake Ontario. 

Read More

Destinations

The Other Virgin Islands

Sunset off St John

By Mark Stevens

I was first seduced by the United States Virgin Islands during a ferry ride from St. Thomas to Tortola to begin one of our earliest British Virgin Islands charters nearly twenty years ago.

A perfect sunset off St. John with St. Thomas views for backdrop.

Clearing Pillsbury Sound, surrounded by voluptuous emerald mountains as the ferry sliced through royal blue waters, I was struck by the unspoiled ambiance of St. John, the island gliding past our starboard beam and the irresistible charm of a village called Cruz Bay visible from our quarter stern.

Read More

Lifestyle