Seven Seas Cruising Association 2023 Annual GAM/Cruisers Conferences in Melbourne, Florida
by Seven Seas Cruising Association 19 Jun 2023 14:50 PDT
November 10-12, 2023
Melbourne GAM host Anne Posner with Sallie, John at sunset between Be´iers and Colombiers © Seven Seas Cruising Association
For three days in November, Seven Seas Cruising Association members unite for seminars, information sessions as well as gatherings in Melbourne, Florida.
The SSCA Annual GAM will be held November 10-12, 2023 at the Front Street Civic Center, Melbourne Florida.
The Keynote will be given by international sailors, Commodores Dave and Sherry McCampbell (www.svsoggypaws.com), who have graced SSCA Cruiser's Bulletins with their travels of long-distance cruising. Their passages started first with their mono-hull, and now a new vessel, a catamaran. Both are named sv Soggy Paws. Dave is well known as a contributor to voyaging publications such as Ocean Navigator and Noonsite; as well as SSCA Cruisers Workshop. Also, they will be sharing their knowledge of OpenCPN and the ways to utilize the charts of the Pacific and Caribbean now available to assist your passages. Event Registration opens August 15, 2023 at www.ssca.org.
Other cruising seminars include speakers on marine topics of interest, and "hands-on" sessions for attendees to be actively involved. For weather, attend a seminar from Marine Weather Center, Chris Parker. Rudy and Jill Sechez will update attendees on best practices for anchoring and mooring, providing a hands-on activity with lines and ropes.
Deb and John Rapp, well known for their passages to Canada/Bermuda and now exploring the North Atlantic, learn about their adventures. Engineer SSCA Commodore Scott Berg will cover the favored topics of energy systems and basics of communication offshore. Circumnavigators and Commodores, Jeff and Ann Posner, discuss their voyages through the canals of Europe/ 2023. SSCA Member of the Board, Bill Cullen, presents new cruising gear and suggestions to make cruising easier. Bill is well known as an instructor for the American Sailing Association, is a licensed Captain, and provides exceptional knowledge of 'boat gadgets". His articles can be found on the World Cruising Club site and other publications such as Sail Magazine.
This is all during three days of seminars and hands-on presentations. We will have several SSCA Cruising Stations hosts, such as Bahama Black Point's, Lorraine Rollo, attend as well as Trinidad and Tobago's, Jesse James. Expect current updates, and more. Hands on will include provisioning topics as well as what to do with those new to some 'ground provisions." The new venue also offers an excellent meal menu, which we will describe in the next Bulletin, as well as provide a listing of seminar topics, such as cruisers hands on seminars, weather, and more. On Thursday, Nov. 9 we have planned a happy hour and Meet and Greet, so come and join us.
Melbourne Florida will be the location this year as members have asked for a more southerly location. This is in part due to the weather and the need for a nearby anchorage. As a nod to past GAMs/Conferences, the First Street Civic Center, Melbourne, FL, will be the location for our event. Anchorages are nearby, and we have been told the First Street dinghy dock will be in service. For those not familiar with this venue, Waterway Guide's Skipper Bob's Anchorages Along the Intercoastal Waterway, offers the following, for Melbourne:
Mile 918.2 N 28 05.237 W 080 35.315
"Anchor in protection of the causeway either north or south of the clause way bridge."