We are members of the Seven Seas Cruising Association - the world's largest and oldest association dedicated to the furtherance of cruising under sail. The SSCA is a non-profit organization, and most of the work of the Association is done on a volunteer basis by sailors, for sailors. The mainstay of our Association is the monthly "Commodores' Bulletin" which contains letters from our members around the globe describing their cruising experience, and passing along important practical information. The SSCA brings experienced cruisers together with folks interested in sailing so that they too may enjoy the wonderful lifestyle of living aboard a cruising sailboat and exploring the world's oceans - or whatever part of the world they are interested in. Entrance into the cruising lifestyle has a very steep, and expensive, learning curve; for over half a century the SSCA has been helping folks ease the transition from life ashore to life afloat. Our assets include: the monthly Bulletin (paper or electronic, indexed over the year by cruising area and by boat); the Equipment Guide List (one smart purchase will pay for your membership dues); multiple GAMs (annual get-together's attended by hundreds of cruisers to swap experiences and information); live web training sessions conducted by cruising experts; discounts for SSCA members by maritime related merchants; and much more. The difference between the SSCA and most Internet sailing sites is that at SSCA the information is originated by experienced sailors currently out cruising, and it is vetted by a knowledgeable editor. Don't be put off by the Commodore title we bestow upon our members - it is actually a tongue-in-cheek poke at the blazered yacht club set. In the early 1950's when the SSCA was established in Coronado, California, the dozen or so founding members looked across the bay at the San Diego Yacht Club, and all of its finery and entitled officers, and said, "In OUR disorganization, EVERYONE will be a Commodore!" When it comes to sailing, there is absolutely no substitute for experience, and the SSCA contains more actual cruising experience than any other organization that we are aware of. If you are thinking of committing your hard earned savings to buying a cruising sailboat, and even more importantly, spending your valuable time cruising, then we think that you will benefit by checking out ssca.org.
Tom & Lilly
S/V Tiger Lilly
Whangarei, New Zealand