El Niño is now firmly established, with the tropical Pacific ocean and atmosphere increasingly reinforcing one another. NOAA reports a 97 percent chance that the event will continue into early spring 2027 and an 81 percent chance that it will become very strong during October through December 2026.

The report reviews both historical years, and current conditions across the Pacific, including severe flooding in Chile, rapid warming of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, above-normal tropical cyclone outlooks in the eastern and central Pacific, and significant typhoon impacts in the Mariana Islands. It also examines increasing drought, water-supply, agricultural, and wildfire concerns in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. SSCA members find full report in SSCA Forum posts and via their email.

The Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) is pleased to announce that acclaimed author, yacht broker, and lifelong cruiser Melanie Sunshine Neale will serve as keynote speaker for the 2026 Chesapeake Gam, taking place October 2–4, 2026 at the Maryland Yacht Club in Pasadena MD.

In November 2025, Bill and Michele Frost departed Hampton, Virginia, aboard Wavelength, their 42-foot gray aluminum OVNI ketch, bound first for Bermuda and then the U.S. Virgin Islands with only the two of them as crew. The voyage quickly became far more challenging than planned as they encountered difficult offshore conditions, 15- to 20-foot seas, repeated cockpit flooding, severe fatigue, and major damage to the vessel’s steering system. After more than 18 hours of manual steering, they reached Bermuda, where they coordinated repairs with the boatbuilder in France, local marine specialists, and shoreside support before preparing to continue south. Their experience became a powerful story of seamanship, endurance, communications, weather decision-making, and how HAL became part of the crew when reliable information mattered most. Read the full story of Wavelength in upcoming issues of the SSCA Bulletin and Caribbean Compass.

Dominican Republic Entry Update — Field Report from CSH host Denise Simpson/Ocean World

Cruisers arriving in the Dominican Republic are reporting closer checks on departure documents. Continue to Read More for update of arrests/releases and resolutions of May and August immigration events.

From The Bahamas, a valid current Bahamas cruising permit may be accepted in place of a separate zarpe, especially when obtaining one would require major backtracking.

From Puerto Rico, U.S.-flagged boats should carry written proof that CBP was notified before departure. A printed copy of the sent email, plus any CBP reply, may help document where and when the vessel departed.

Carry vessel papers, passports, crew list, cruising permits, Customs receipts, marina receipts, and printed and electronic copies of all documents.

Cruisers Helping Cruisers: Successful Rescue Underway Off Trinidad. A disabled sailing vessel drifting north of Trinidad received timely assistance today after a coordinated response involving local maritime contacts, the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, and a fishing vessel dispatched to provide a tow.

SSCA is pleased to partner with Marine Weather Center (MWXC) and renowned marine meteorologist Chris Parker for a comprehensive 12-part weather education series beginning July 28 and continuing through September 8.
The series begins with Weather 101, an essential introduction to the fundamentals every

The Seven Seas Cruising Association invites cruisers to a complimentary Best Practices webinar on Health and Evacuation Insurance for Cruisers.

Clean Wake is one of SSCA’s most cherished traditions. It reflects respect for others, respect for the environment, and care for the communities that welcome cruising boats. It is the belief that those who follow in our wake should be warmly welcomed because cruisers before them acted with kindness, responsibility, and practical help.

"What's that?" Not because you don't understand the individual pieces. But because the pieces have come together in a way you haven't seen before. The first automobiles looked like horseless carriages.
The first websites looked like electronic brochures.
The first smartphones looked like telephones with extra buttons. People could see the components but not yet recognize the new category.

The Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) has launched a new monthly Zoom Webinar training series supporting fundamentals and introducing members and guests to HAL (Hybrid Applied Layer) — SSCA’s AI-assisted decision-support framework designed to help cruisers interpret conditions more clearly, recognize risk earlier, and make better operational decisions afloat.

Annapolis Cruisers' Monthly Lunch
SSCA is proud to announce continuation of our monthly luncheons at Leeward market in Eastport, MD.