Chatham Sailing Club

We're proud to say we use washable cups and silverware, etc. at our Friday Sundowner (and Fire Friday) and carry our refillable water bottles! The plastic we use goes in the recycle bins! We are Sailors for the Sea!

Sad news.

BREAKING: An early-morning fire destroyed 7 boats and damaged 3 others at Palmetto Bay Marina on Hilton Head Island. More info: http://www.wjcl.com/article/palmetto-bay-marina-boat-fire-hilton-head-island/73295224

The Orcas are at it again. Sank one and disabled others.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Gznk9f6Vq/

🚨 **MARITIME SAFETY ALERT: GALICIA COAST

Attention all blue-water cruisers and vessels transiting the northwest coast of the Iberian Peninsula. We are currently tracking a severe and highly localized cluster of orca interactions resulting in critical rudder destruction in the A Coruña province.
Over a 48-hour window (July 23–24), the Finisterre Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (CCS) coordinated multiple emergency responses between Asturias and Cape Ortegal:
⚠️ **The *Idem* (July 23):** Completely sank 1.3 NM off Estaca de Bares after the pod destroyed its rudder and breached the hull. The crew was safely rescued by a nearby motorboat.
⚠️ **The *Vai* (July 24):** A 14-meter yacht disabled roughly 20 km NW of Punta Candelaria. Successfully towed into Celeiro by the coastguard.
⚠️ **The *Kador* & Others (July 23):** Struck in the same sector.
The *Kador* managed to limp into Viveiro unaided, while another yacht was left completely crippled and required a tow.
Navigating this sector right now requires extreme vigilance.
A reminder that official mitigation guidance currently conflicts: Spanish authorities recommend motoring away as fast as possible toward shallower waters, while Portuguese guidelines advise stopping the vessel to remove rudder resistance.
Assess your vessel's capabilities and plan your routing carefully.

Keep a sharp watch, review your emergency broadcast protocols, and stay safe out there!

Somebody invited you sailing, and you're about to learn that "a relaxing day on the water" is one of the great lies of modern hospitality — because you're also signing up for a floating classroom where the captain quietly judges your shoe choices, your jewelry, and whether you know that those skinny wires around the deck are not, in fact, handrails. From the etiquette violation that ends careers (yes, it's the shoes) to the snack you should never bring aboard to the one phrase that guarantees you get invited back, this is the guide every first-time sailing guest needs before they set foot on someone else's deck. Don't be the cautionary tale told at the yacht club bar. Check out the link in the comments! ⛵