When Jody & I sailed the world one of the first things we did was to join the SSCA. The Seven Seas Cruising Association. Over the years we were out cruising, we found the SSCA Bulletins to be invaluable when planning our routes. The input from hundreds of cruiser’s all over the world gave us an insight on where the best cruising grounds were.
The founders of SSCA were six liveaboard couples whose boats were berthed in Coronado, California: the Carstarphens, Shellback; the Maertins, Evening Star; The Minors, Tropic Bird; the Nissens, Norwind; the Rumseys, Black Dolphin; and the Slasors, Stardust. When Evening Star and Tropic Bird went cruising and sent back reports of their experiences to the remaining four, their letters were copied and sent to an ever-widening circle of liveaboard cruising friends. Thus the concept of the Bulletin was born.
SSCA, “a disorganization of sailboat liver-aboarders,” was born, “not as a club, with no official clubhouse, roster of officials, constitution, nor ‘bored’ meetings, but based on a single idea–that liver-aboarders, both local and abroad, enjoy hearing from and about each other and that their experiences and discoveries can benefit all.”
The requirements for entry into this loose-knit association were simple: “Ownership and residence aboard a sailing vessel in as much as said vessel is the home of the owner, and full acceptance by the Association.” Upon attaining membership, “all members become Commodores with full privileges of the flag” (a tongue in cheek gesture toward overdone club officialdom which at times so alters yacht clubs that the yacht is no longer important and only the club remains).
The boats of the six originators, all ketches, were relatively large, averaging 40 feet in length. The expanding group lived at one or more marinas in the San Diego area and used marina, yacht club, and shore-side facilities to put together the Bulletins and to hold parties. Camaraderie has been an important feature of SSCA from the early days. The intention to go cruising, whether locally or worldwide, was extremely important to the membership. Their expectations were that “SSCA will be a large enough and strong enough Association to provide tangible aid and assistance to members cruising in all parts of the world.”
For more info, go to ssca.com, and see how they can help you in your cruising lifestyle! They are a fun group!
