Sailing Science Center News
September 2021
Vol. 5, No. 1
|
|
Welcome to the September issue of the Sailing Science Center News! In August, the SSC held two in-person, pop-up exhibitions, got its first glimpses of the new SSC trailer, and recorded its first podcast. All of this leads us to feel great inspiration, which is the theme of this month's newsletter. It is a fitting theme, as we spotlight John Arndt, the publisher of Latitude 38, the Bay Area sailing magazine that has inspired us and thousands of others in our sailing adventures.
|
|
Set your life on fire and seek those who fan your flames.
— Rumi
|
|
September Spotlight - John Arndt & Latitude 38 |
|
We are privileged this month to spotlight John Arndt, the owner and publisher of Latitude 38. For those unfamiliar with Latitude 38, it is the Bay Area’s—and I would say the West Coast’s—premier sailing magazine. We are also privileged to have John on the SSC’s first ever podcast.
A transplant from the East Coast, John started building his sailing resume in utero the summer before he was born. His mother’s family lived in Maine and had a Rhode’s 19 that is still in the family today, something that helped inspire John and his three brothers to become lifelong sailors. His progression through boats has included a Styrofoam Sea Snark, a 10-foot Turnabout, a 420 that he and his brother bought together, a Ranger 33 named Summer Sailstice, and his current boat, a Sabre 38.
|
|
John began to show his leadership leanings at the University of Vermont, where he was the president of the university sailing club. Then, taking a year off from his studies, he set sail with his brother and a friend aboard his uncle’s Camper Nicholson 35, voyaging from Maine to Venezuela, and all through the Caribbean, navigating with a plastic sextant. |
Sailing is really hard to parallel... |
|
John and brothers in their Sea Snark. |
|
John came to California in 1984, and by 1987 had signed on as an ad salesman for Latitude 38. The magazine, which had been started ten years earlier by Richard Spindler and his wife Kathy, had earned a place as the irreverent voice of the West Coast sailor. John fueled the magazine's growth throughout the 1990s helping it establish itself as the hub of the West Coast sailing community.
In 2001 John founded Summer Sailstice, a new World Holiday that encouraged everybody to go sailing every June on the solstice weekend. In 2009, during the depths of the financial crisis, he founded the Sailing Renaissance, an industry group dedicated to promoting sailing. In 2015, John was honored with the Distinguished Service Award at the Annapolis Boat Show, and in 2016 he purchased Latitude 38 to become its owner and publisher. |
|
We like to write about things people are doing,
rather than things people want to buy.
|
|
Another tradition started by Latitude 38, is their Crew List Party, held in the spring and fall. These have been a terrific place for sailing crew to meet boat owners, both for racing and cruising. Their first party since the pandemic is this month, on Thursday, September 9 th, from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm at the Bay Model. If you have never met John in person, this is your opportunity to do so. At the Fall Crew List Party in 2019, John became the first person to sign the Sailing Science Center’s Endorsement Letter. We are proud and honored to know John, and to have his support and the support of Latitude 38. Over our decades-long acquaintance with him, John has always shown himself to be someone of high energy, good cheer, and the best integrity. |
|
John and his wife, Leslie, at the SSC 2019 Gala atop Salesforce Tower. |
|
Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground.
— Teddy Roosevelt
|
|
The SSC held two pop-up exhibitions in August, serving a total of about fifty elementary- and middle-school aged children. The first of these was on August 5th at the Treasure Island YMCA. The second was just over a week later, on August 13th, at the Treasure Island Sailing Center.
What was noteworthy about the exhibition at the YMCA was that the audience was comprised almost entirely of children who had no prior experience with sailing or sailboats. The concept of the SSC has always been to create a museum by sailors for non-sailors, but until August 5th the concept was untested—we didn't know if a non-sailing audience would find sailing science exhibits engaging. We can now set that question to rest and say, unequivocally, that it works!
As we ramp up our delivery we need more volunteers to act as docents and explainers to put on these pop-up events. Click below if you are interested in getting involved .
|
|
Victoria Marcus Joins the SSC Board |
It gives us great pleasure to announce the election of Victoria Marcus to the SSC Board of Directors. Victoria has been one of the SSC's most dedicated and active volunteers, going back to January of 2019. When challenges have arisen, Victoria has consistently been one of the first to step up.
In her professional life Victoria is a Senior Corporate Development Analyst at Franklin Templeton in San Mateo.
|
|
On August 24 we inspected what is soon to be the SSC's new trailer. This is one of the SSC's most exciting events this year! Once it is outfitted the trailer will expand the SSC's outreach to kids and adults by enabling us to carry more exhibits and to setup and breakdown events more quickly and easily.
We are offering trailer sponsorship opportunities at both the individual and corporate level. Sponsors will get their name and logo on the trailer and receive other benefits. Please contact us at info@sailingscience.org if you are interested in being a sponsor.
|
|
|
|
On August 31 st the SSC produced its first-ever podcast, An Interview with John Arndt, owner and publisher of Latitude 38, (see above). The podcast was produced and edited by Charlie Deist, SSC volunteer and professional podcast producer. |
|
|
Crew List Party, September 9 |
September 9 th marks the resumption of the Latitude 38 Crew List Parties. The Sailing Science Center will be there with volunteers, board members, and exhibits. Meet the people behind the SSC, comingle with other sailors, and generally have a good time. This is an outdoor event being held at the Bay Model in Sausalito from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Sign up here! |
|
We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.
— Maya Angelou
|
|
California Coastal Cleanup Day, September 18 |
Saturday, September 18 th, is this year's Coastal Cleanup Day. The SSC, the Treasure Island Yacht Club, the Treasure Island Sailing Center, Alameda's Island Yacht Club, One Treasure Island, the Stanford Sailing Team, and the Cal Sailing Team have all said they would participate in this year's cleanup effort. We will be meeting on Treasure Island and cleaning up from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Click here to sign up!
|
|
On August 19 th we sent out a Save-the-Date notice for the SSC's November 4 Gala. We are putting together a fun-filled Thursday evening at the Bay Model (COVID-permitting), with a desert island, castaway theme. Be prepared for music, tropical drinks, Mary Ann's famous coconut cream pie, live and silent auctions, games, prizes, videos, and more. |
|
This Month's Newsletter Banner |
|
The crew on a classic wooden sloop sets a bright yellow spinnaker on a lake in Germany, while a sunburst breaks through the clouds.
The simplest displays of nature can be the most inspiring, if we just lift our heads from our phones to absorb our surroundings.
|
|
|
Wanted for the Sailing Science Center |
|
|
|
Photos
Do you have photos to share? The SSC is looking for great shots to use on our newsletter banner and elsewhere. Photographer attribution will be given.
Volunteers
The SSC needs all manner of volunteers, but especially volunteers who can staff one-day, pop-up exhibitions as docents. Training, lunch, and SSC logo polo shirts are provided. We are currently holding events at the rate of one per month, but this is planned to increase as we assemble multiple exhibition teams.
|
|
Here is the schedule for the next few months. We hope to see you at some of these events.
Sep 9th - Latitude 38 Crew Party
Sep 18th - Coastal Cleanup Day
Sep 19th - Talk Like a Pirate Day! Arrrr!
Sep 22nd - The Autumnal Equinox
Oct 17th - Call of the Sea Gala
Nov 4th - SSC 2021 Gala
|
|
These are things YOU can do to make a difference and Move the Needle
|
|
Leadership Corner - Inspiration |
|
Joshua Slocum. Harry Pidgeon. Vito Dumas. Robin Lee Graham. Francis Chichester. Tania Aebi. Robin Knox-Johnston. Karen Thorndike. Ellen MacArthur. Bernard Moitessier. Krystyna Chojnowska-Liskiewicz. Naomi James. Teddy Seymour. Kay Cottee. Laura Dekker. Jeanne Socrates.
|
|
We want to give a big shout out to the people who raised their hands to volunteer in August: Ed Schoenstein, David Haines, Hank Lindemann, Jacob Sailer, Marlen Hazel, and Vader Hazel. We are excited and grateful for the help everyone has offered! |
|
|
|
Vader at the SSC's August 13 Pop-Up Exhibition |
|
That's all for this month.
Cheers!
Jim Hancock
President and Founder
|
|
The San Francisco Sailing Science Center is a Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation recognized under IRS Section 501(c)(3), Tax ID 82-3631165. Your donation to the Sailing Science Center is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. |
|
AN INTERACTIVE HANDS-ON LEARNING CENTER:
DELIGHTING “KIDS” FROM 5 TO 95
PROVIDING STEAM* LEARNING EXPERIENCES
FOCUSING ON THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATH
AND KEEPING IT FUN!!!
*STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math
VOLUNTEER EVENT COORDINATOR
Victoria Marcus
|
|
The Sailing Science Center News is published on the first business day of each month. It is sent to team members, partners, volunteers, sponsors and supporters of the San Francisco Sailing Science Center. You are receiving this because you are considered to be in one of these groups. If you wish to be removed from the mailing list, please click the Unsubscribe link below. We do not sell, share or otherwise give out our mailing list beyond our organization. |
|
San Francisco Sailing Science Center
One Avenue of the Palms, Suite 16A
San Francisco, CA 94130
510.390.5727
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
