Planning Your Passage — Food Preservation & Pressure Canning On Board
Hosted by Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) as a public service for cruisers.

When: May 8, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Location: Online — COMPLIMENTARY Zoom Webinar
SSCA members and non-members, Join us!
Register in advance:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xdGdrcBXQfudx0C1uE1IpA

Special Guest Speaker: Behan Gifford, SV Totem
Located: Pacific Ocean — Currently Sailing the Marshall Islands
Website: www.sailingtotem.com

About This Event:
Cruisers know that food preservation is a critical skill when planning long passages or anchoring in remote locations. Join the SSCA for this complimentary webinar featuring experienced cruiser and master food preserver Behan Gifford, sharing her expertise on Pressure Canning On Board — a game-changing technique for provisioning at sea.

Our SSCA booth will be at the Annapolis Spring Sail Boat Show April 25-27. Come join us at the show, ask equipment questions of the SSCA volunteers/mentors. Visit the booth, sit and chat, and join us for after show chats. Sign up at the button at top of page if you would like to help!

Hope Fleet is partnering with the Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) and their Clean Wake Projects. Work is being donated. Local builders will construct a Community Restroom Facility overseeing the build, ensuring a high-quality and sustainable solution for the community. The facility will connect to existing water and sewer lines for safe and sustainable sanitation.

What We Are Doing

Many boaters travel between the US and The Bahamas frequently throughout the year. Hopefleet is facilitating the gathering and transportation of building materials and receiving funds for the project. To donate go to
www.hopefleet.org/ssca-blackpoint.

Please help us fund this effort with lumber, electrical wiring and concrete is needed for a volunteer project to add to a cleaner environment for the community of Black Point. We also hope to encourage similar efforts in other communities in the Exumas or Out Islands where there are similar needs, thanks to Hopefleet.

Lorraine Rolle with daughter Laurie, and SSCA Lead Joni Thomas did it ;again. The Fourth Bahamas Gathering at Black Point, with close to 100 vessels in the harbor--Bahama Gathering VHF Net, music, Emerald Mermaid, BBQ, dingy raft up, fellowship and more! For three days of partied at a Black Point Exuma Gathering! March 13,14, and 15 , 2025. Cruises had raffle, BBQ, A Class C Schooer Race, music and more music with DJ, Dr Joshua brought music and Junkanoo, along with a wonderful Gospel Choir to sing. What a St Patrick's Day Weekend at Black Point! Photos and write ups to follow, but a BIG THANK YOU to all the volunteers and the members of the Black Point community! To give back see www.hopefleet.org/ssca-blackpoint as we try to build a public restroom at the beach. For 2025, again Lorraine's Cafe hit a home run with this event. Watch for the photos and descriptions as they are sent to HomeBase!

2025 Chesapeake Bay SSCA GAM at the Maryland Yacht Club, Pasadena MD
September 26 to 28, 2025
Key Note Speaker: Nigel Calder
Expert Knowledge on Boat Electronics and Mechanics

Come by car or boat to hear from cruising services leaders and wide-ranging cruisers. There will be ‘hands-on’ sessions, plus social and happy hour events! New this year will
be an option for Safety for Cruising Couples. The GAM/Conference is open to SSCA members and non-members. Save the dates!
From Friday Potluck BBQ, CPR, cruising topics, boat mechanics..three days of fellowship.

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

The Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) is excited to announce the return of its 2025 Annual Cruising Conference (GAM), set to take place from November 14-16, 2025, at the Front Street Civic Center in Melbourne, Florida. This event will bring together cruising enthusiasts, experts, and maritime professionals for three days of seminars, workshops, and networking opportunities.
The SSCA GAMs are highly anticipated events for cruisers congregating at harbors and ports. GAMs or gatherings offer sharing of valuable insights on a variety of topics crucial to the cruising lifestyle. This year, the event will feature an exciting lineup of speakers, including experts in electronics, weather forecasting, boat maintenance, and more. Notable speakers include Commodore Scott Berg, weather guru Chris Parker, and Bob Sherer, known for his work on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). Attendees will also have the chance to hear from insurance professionals, boat surveyors, and other industry leaders.

SSCA Islesboro GAM Returns to Maine – August 2025
Islesboro, Maine – August 2025
The Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) is excited to announce the return of its Islesboro GAM in August 2025. This year’s gathering will once again take place at the beautiful family home of Molly and Barry DeGrasse on Islesboro Island, Maine. Now hosted by Richard DeGrasse and Nita Villarreal this event is located in the scenic Penobscot Bay, Islesboro provides a perfect backdrop for the SSCA’s ongoing tradition of hosting regional gatherings for cruising enthusiasts. Join Richard and Nite as they continue the Degrasse tradition on Islesboro Island. Join us! Regsitration opens June 1, 2025. for details email office@ssca.org.

SSCA Gathers in Half Moon Bay – October 10-12, 2025
Half Moon Bay, California
The Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) is excited to announce its upcoming Cruiser's Gathering at the Half Moon Bay Yacht Club in Half Moon Bay, California, from October 10-12, 2025. This event will be coordinated by Captain Bill Cullen, known as 'Captain Billy' of the site https://www.thebookofsail.com.
The SSCA Gathering will feature a mix of seminars, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities, providing an ideal setting for both seasoned cruisers and those new to the cruising lifestyle. Attendees will have the chance to connect with experts in sailing, navigation, and boat maintenance while enjoying the beauty and charm of Half Moon Bay.

Starting April 18, 2025, the processing of French visa applications in the USA will transition from VFS Global to a new service provider, TLSContact. The application process remains the same, but applicants will need to book appointments at the new TLSContact centers in ten US cities.

https://washington.consulfrance.org/change-of-service-provider-for-visa-applications

Find contacts for USA Visa applications described here:
https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/united-states-of-america

Fees are also projected to change, TLSContact will charge 45 euro for a short stay visa and significant increase to 220 euro for a long stay one.
(image https://france-visas.gouv.fr)

Dave and Sherry McCampbell discuss the advantages of using satellite imagery with OpenCPN for close-in navigation in remote areas.

All Cruisers' Workshop articles can be found on the SSCA website in the Document Library and accessed from the Publication Menu's Cruisers' Workshop page as well. The McCampbell article may be found in the workshop's Navigation and Underway section.