Summer Sailstice with the American Sailing Association
By Tom Varley
It was early morning, and we were waiting to catch the departing flight from Antigua. What a week it had been. Charlie Nobles, executive director of the ASA, was commenting in the terminal, "What a great and successful event. I thought 2005 was incredible, and didn't think it could be topped - and we did."
The announcement came over the speaker, and it was time to board the Eagle bound for San Juan, Puerto Rico. Taking to the sky and settling in, I couldn't help but wish we had one more week; the time flew by. As the plane banked over the water, the mind-blowing aqua-marine hue which only the Caribbean can produce was in full view. My thoughts drifted back to the past week, as I looked below at the islands, reefs, and harbors we were sailing in and around. One of the best memories was watching new-to-sailing ASA members become accomplished sailors, on those beautiful Sunsail/Beneteau Oceanis 473s.
Learning together
"That's exactly it - you've got it!" There was a lot of that phrasing going around, accompanied by big smiles. Several of the participants had little (or no) sailing experience; while others were seasoned, experienced sailors with many ocean miles in their wake. And between the two groups were those who had some time on the water prior to the demands of families and careers. Collectively, all were ASA members: members who took the plunge and signed up for the week looking to gain more experience and knowledge or just have a great sailing getaway. All of the above was accomplished. Several of the very experienced sailors admitted that they learned a few new tactics during their time on the water in Antigua: a hefty compliment to the ASA instructors. Each instructor brought their own style of passing on information to the table, qualities to be shared and received. That's the beauty of sailing with others - no matter the level of experience, everybody can learn a new (and perhaps, more efficient) way to reef under sail, new anchoring techniques, navigating; the opportunity for growth is practically unlimited.
Learning the fundamentals of sailing, or honing advanced skills and experience, is part of the ASA package and philosophy. Watching a person transform from, "What does this thing over here do?" to "I'll trim the mainsheet," is the best part of 
the week. Two ASA couples arrived from Oregon, each couple had a partner with minimal sailing experience. Were the inexperienced ones fairly reluctant, maybe even hesitant? You bet. By the end of the week, they were in the midst of the action, part of the crew and having a great time. The entire concept of sailing was demystified and they were having a blast! There was an ASA group from Japan who attended the event, and a couple from England.
Eating up island life
Life ashore was easy and breezy. Club Colonna/Sunsail is a nice, relaxing venue for the entire family; and for those looking to escape - a romantic getaway. The staff is incredibly accommodating; from the local Antiguans who make their livelihoods there, to the U.K. staff having a good time in a new latitude, the welcome mat was in place for our arrival. An all-inclusive resort, there was little to think about when it came to dining. Buffets for breakfast, buffets for dinner; and lunch was prepared daily for those planning to extract every minute of sailing time. Yes, they had box lunches prepared to take aboard. For those with special dietary needs, the crew at Club Colonna were very considerate. Vegetarian? No problem, with the Rasta (dreadlock) population, there is an understanding (and respect) for the importance of nutritional diversity. How was the cuisine? If the freshest seafood, fruits, meats, and incredible desserts (oh, that island ice cream is the best!), sound enticing, you're in the right place! The AM highlight was the coffee machine, a push-button, serve-yourself espresso machine. Latte, Café au Lait, Café Mocha, Americano, Café Regular - it was all there, and refills were only limited to fortitude and effort. Evenings were spent rehashing the day on the water, hanging with a few of the characters (read locals) who add to the flair of Antigua, or just quiet time. One night was filled with a soca-induced band (jump-up style band), with the dance floor coming alive - true down-island flavor! Days were spent relaxing by the Caribbean sea, the pool, or for those looking for action, there were daysail opportunities aboard the Oceanis 473s, windsurfing, small boat sailing, snorkeling, hiking, sightseeing, shopping - whatever you wanted, it was there. An absolute delight for a spouse or partner looking for a break from sailing!
Those avid sailors looking for more time on the water were delighted even more when it was announced that an overnight sail was available - just add your name to the list - a true experience in the cruising lifestyle. The chance to navigate through those beautiful waters to a new destination, spend the night on the Oceanis, and sail back to Club Colonna the following day! Talk about time at the helm! Two Oceanis 473s set out for Jolly Harbor, located on the west coast of Antigua. Each boat had (up to) eight people onboard, and it was an exciting journey. (Amazingly, the ages ranged from late 20s to a couple in their early 70s). Charlie Nobles was the skipper/instructor of an Oceanis, and I was on the other. We had a "buddy boat" cruise. It was a hoot for each boat, watching each other under sail, and taking in the beauty of the Antigua coastline.
Enjoying the local flavor
Making landfall, (it was a relatively short sail - two hours), we motored up the Jolly Harbor channel, and pecked around for an anchorage. There wasn't much opportunity for a comfortable anchorage, so Charlie contacted the harbor master for options. We found our option: Tying up to the dock, we had access to restaurants, pubs, showers - even a pool! The general consensus amongst the crew: "This is cool, and I'm so happy to be here! If this is what the sailing lifestyle is like, I am definitely hooked!"
Friends and acquaintances were made at Jolly Harbor. Charlie made a friend at the pool and named her, "Jolly." She was one of the sweetest dogs you'll ever meet. He went as far as ordering a cheeseburger for her - talk about a dog's life. Had we not been set up with an incredible array of foods from Club Colonna pre-cruise, I'm sure many of the crew would have jumped at that burger. Not the case for us. They provisioned us with fresh meats, fish and vegetables; and meals were prepared by the crew and skippers. Why is it that food always tastes better while cruising? Is there a reasonable explanation? The same hunk of fish just wouldn't be as tasty at home!
After dinner, our boat had a special dessert for our buddy boat, accompanied with a special song and dance: "Dove Bar in Paradise." Sung to the tune of, well, you know. They were quite surprised, and I was quite proud of the crew's talent! Post-dessert found several of us at the casino. Talk about meeting great people; I met a guy who could have been out of a Caribbean novel - a true "local" Antiguan. He has a friend in the import/export business and had many stories to tell about navigating at night, sans charts or running lights! (Not a class found in the ASA curriculum!) He was very friendly and directed us toward the Dog Watch pub, a laid-back place with a predominant English (U.K.) clientele.
Morning came once again, and it was time to get the crew and the coffee going, and the boat ready for the trip back. First stop was the fuel dock. The trip back was true-spirited sailing; we sailed under a double-reefed main with a little jib rolled out, and still had plenty of power. Talk about getting your money's worth! The Oceanis 473s provided by Sunsail were fun! When visions of the Caribbean are conjured, we think of warm water, flat seas, with wine and cheese served. Sometimes, but not always. It was a wet, windy sail back to the club - and we loved it!
The following night, it was summer solstice and a special time to be on Antigua with new friends. ASA threw a party in conjunction with the Summer Sailstice event happening around the planet, and Tom Varley (wait, that's me!), performed music for the event.
Time to go home
As the week drew to a close, it was obvious that expectations were met and exceeded. Many had the chance to experience big boat sailing; others were there to receive their various ASA certifications (and did - congratulations to all of you!) Some arrived not knowing what to expect, and found more than they dreamed of. Others found themselves with incredible prizes from the ASA giveaway on closing night! Suffice it to say, everybody had the time of their lives.
For many, this was the second time around; they attended last year, and plan to be there in 2007. And for those 
attending for the first time in 2006, they will be the veterans to the new attendees in 2007. See how this works? To quote Robert Evans, "There are three sides to every story: Your side, my side, and the truth. And no one is lying. Memories shared serve each differently." Memories shared. That was Members' Week.
As the turbo-twin leveled off, the bells chimed, indicating we passed 10,000 feet. On the horizon a squall has formed, creating a perfect rainbow from the rains. Reclining my seat, I press the play button and Chris Martin of Coldplay is singing, "We live in a beautiful world ..."
Wake me when we get to San Juan.
Tom Varley is not your typical singer/songwriter. Sure, his heart and soul are in his music, but his passion also lies in sailing, new horizons, and adventure.
American Sailing Week was created to encourage broad participation in the sailing lifestyle. It was originally developed for the members of the American Sailing Association. The event now focuses on introducing new sailors to the sport.
Get Ready for American Sailing Week 2007
The American Sailing Association is pleased to announce that they have finalized plans to repeat their week-long ASA members' sailing week in 2007 in the Caribbean! Next year's event will take place from Friday, June 15, to Friday, June 22, 2007, and will once again be held at Sunsail's exotic destination resort, Club Colonna, located on the northern end of the island of Antigua in Hodges Bay.
For more information about this exciting event, check out ASA's website at: www.asa.com or e-mail Kathy Christensen at kc@american-sailing.com