Summer Sailstice - just 18 days to go for a Supermoon

by John Arndt/Sail-World Cruising on 6 Jun 2013 There are just 18 days to go to Summer Sailstice, and founder John Arndt wonders who are the furthest north south east or west so far to celebrate? Well, that depends on where you are sitting, but he sails in San Francisco waters, I guess we start from there.

So according to John, while not all events are actually posted, the furthest East event is in Antibes, France, and the furthest North perhaps the Jeanneau rendezvous in Poet's Cove, British Columbia, not far from Vancouver. Now that's not very far north - what about all those sailors up in the North West Passage this year? There are reputed to be more than 20 trying to transit the Passage in 2013 - haven't they got the word yet?

The furthest West is said to be in Bora Bora, Tahiti. Well, I don't know, John, what about all those sailors in Shanghai who sail the Summer Sailstice every year in spite of the smog? - or do you count them as east?

The furthest South is in Paracas, Argentina. Hang on, aren't they and Bora Bora in the Southern Hemisphere? How could they be celebrating the Summer Sailstice? I guess the weather might be so nice in Paracas and Bora Bora that they're happy to celebrate at any time of year.

The highest concentration of events is thought to be the Chesapeake or Lake Michigan and the middle of all Sailstice events might just be the Grand Lake celebration in Oklahoma.

Wherever you sail, I hope it is in clear skies, because if you stay around after dark there will be a 2013 bonus celestial event on the solstice weekend - a Supermoon!

Yes, the upcoming full moon on June 23, 2013, will be the closest and largest full moon of the year, presenting the moon's closest encounter with Earth for all of 2013.

It occurs on June 23 at exactly 11:32 Universal Time. So if you're out celebrating Sailstice very late on Saturday night, you'll also witness the biggest moon of the year.

So no matter where you are, especially if you are further north, east or west - whatever they mean - than the locations John has nominated, don't forget to be sailing on that weekend, preferably overnight, and share that Supermoon around the world!