FROM THE HELM

By Bob Osborn, SV Pandora, President SDSA

SALTY DAWGS GROWS UP

The last three years as President of Salty Dawg have been a wonderful experience and at the October dinner in Annapolis, I will pass the baton to my successor and fellow board member Mike Benjamin.  Mike, a lifelong sailor, will be the first president of our group who is a live-aboard cruiser and he will be making the run to Antigua this year with his wife Ronna aboard Exodus, their Hylas 57, leaving Hampton with one of our largest fleets ever. 

In a few short years membership in SDSA has grown to a level that was unimaginable with nearly 1,700 paid members up from only a few hundred not that long ago.  And this newsletter, now monthly, goes out to nearly 8,000 every month.  This is also a high-water mark with our reach in the cruising and blue water sailing community at an all-time high. 

We have more rallies and greater participation than at any time in our history, including our first ever trans-Atlantic Azores rally departing from Bermuda next June, following feeder rallies from Hampton and St Martin.  Participation will be limited to 25 boats so that we will not overwhelm the facilities in Horta upon our arrival in The Azores.  If you are interested in learning more about the rally follow this link. 

Additionally, volunteerism has seen new highs with dozens contributing their time in many ways, including leading rallies, participating in the organization of events and for managing and submitting articles to make this newsletter possible.  

The leadership of Salty Dawg has never been stronger, with a dedicated and hard-working board of directors who contribute countless hours, helping us expand our reach, educational and other member activities year after year. 

While I will be stepping down as president, I look forward to working closely with Mike and the rest of the board in the role of Rally Director.  Working with skippers and crew who are getting ready for the “big run” is particularly rewarding to me.  I also enjoy talking to more experienced skippers and crew as they look for ways to help those coming in their wake.   These many conversations are among the most rewarding of my tenure, and I look forward to continuing in that role.   

As I prepare for my 8^th season in Antigua, I am very excited about returning there from Trinidad and welcoming the fleet, especially the many skippers and crew who are coming to Antigua for the very first time.  I still remember the wonder that I felt when I first laid eyes on the iconic Nelson’s Dockyard when I learned more about its place in the history of the Caribbean.  I have grown to love the island and the many people that I have become friends with over the years.  I expect that I will arrive early enough to be able to welcome everyone as my run is an easy one, coming north from Trinidad where Pandora has undergone a major refit this summer. 

Next June I will be taking Pandora to the Azores as a participant and leader in our Azores rally.  Over the next few years Brenda and I will spend time exploring the Med.  After that, who knows? We are excited about the next chapter in our cruising life with the Dawgs. 

Salty Dawg has come a long way since Bill and Linda Knowles hatched the idea of what would become SDSA in the cockpit of their boat Sapphire.  Our longest serving board member, George Day has been with us since the beginning and has seen the group grow from a “kitchen table” project to a group that is much more than any of us might have imagined.  George will be transitioning to an emeritus role and will surely continue to contribute and provide much needed “institutional memory” to help keep us grounded.

Yes, we have come a long way from that first rally in 2011 with about 30 boats heading to the BVI, and I am proud to be a small part in helping to make SDSA the vibrant group that it is today.