Welcome to The Cruising Club of America

Welcome to the Cruising Club of America. For questions about the Club, please contact the secretary. Please send any comments or suggestions about the site to our webmaster.

"Rod on Sailing, Lessons from the Sea"
We have come across a rather special book by Rod Stephens, subtitled "Rod on Sailing, Lessons from the Sea". It is unpublished and unfinished, but it is interesting and informative and can be downloaded in pdf format from the S&S website. Rod, a former commodore of the CCA, was working on this book when he died in 1995.

What Inflatable PFD Should I Buy?
This response was prepared for US SAILING by Ron Trossbach to answer the question 'What inflatable should I buy?'  It also serves as a reminder to review our personal life jacket situation as we go out on the water this spring. See our Safety at Sea section for this and more.

A True Thrash to the Onion Patch in 2008
With 198 entries, the 2008 Newport Bermuda Race enjoyed the second largest fleet in its history, trailing only the vast squadron of 265 in the centennial 2006 race. Forty-one of the 2008 entries were owned and sailed by Cruising Club members, with at least one CCA entry in each of the five divisions. -- by John Rousmaniere - read more

Travelling to Canadian Waters?
This is a useful web site from the Canadian government for recreational boaters visiting Canadian waters.

Prestigious Blue Water Medal to William (Scott) Piper III, MD
The CCA's prestigious Blue Water Medal was awarded to William (Scott) Piper III for 12 years and 180,000 miles of adventurous cruising aboard his J/40 Pipe Dream VI and J/160 Pipe Dream IX.

Rod Stephens Trophy to Susanne Huber-Curphey and Tony Curphey
The 2008 Rod Stephens Trophy for Outstanding Seamanship was presented to Susanne Huber-Curphy and Tony Curphey, a married couple and solo sailors who live together while in port but sail their own boats around the world, for an outstanding feat of seamanship on their boats on a South Pacific passage.

Far Horizons Award Presented to John Harries and Phyllis Nickel
The Far Horizons Award was presented to John Harries and Phyllis Nickel for their extensive cruising and some racing aboard Morgan's Cloud, which they have lived aboard for 15 years and sailed some 100,000 miles. The Far Horizons Award is one of some 20 awards presented at the Club's Annual Awards Dinner in New York.

CCA Members Awards Presented
More than 20 awards were presented to CCA Members at the Annual Awards Dinner on January 13, 2008. In photo at left, Ron Trossbach, recipient of the Richard S. Nye Trophy, with his wife Kathy.

Charlie Weiner Receives Stamford Sailing Foundation Award
Given in tribute to Weiner's loyalty, advocacy and support by Foundation Chairman Captain Henry Marx. The Foundation uses sailing and the sea to advance academic and personal goals for low-income children.

USCG Helicopter Rescue Pamphlet Posted
Along with the USCG helicopter rescue video that is available, we have posted a new USCG Helicopter rescue pamphlet that all crews venturing offshore should be familiar with. It should be aboard all offshore yachts.

Westflight added to The Boats We Sail
A 60 year-old 14 ton Gauntlet built by the Berthon Boat Company, Lymington, UK, Westflight has been added to the collection "The Boats We Sail."

Clean Boating Act of 2008
The Environment of the Sea Committee encourages members of the CCA to learn more about this situation by going to www.boatblue.org. Read more about the Clean Boating Act, World Ocean Day 2008, and how to get involved on the Environment of the Sea Committee pages.

DSC Distress Communications Form
The use of Digital Selective Calling (DSC) in VHF and SSB radios is relatively new and not widely understood.  This paper will give the reader a broad view of what DSC is and how it applies to recreational boats. Web site links and references are included for more detailed explanations. A simple form to guide you incase of emergency is included.  See other Safety at Sea resources and Offshore Communications resources.

2008 Notes on the Environment Posted
The Committee believes a personal sense of stewardship for the oceans is important. See resources and information on the issues, and the section on "Ocean Stewardship - Stay Informed & Get Involved."

Digital Selective Calling and Search & Rescue Areas
Important information on Digital Selective Calling, MMSI, AIS and Search and Rescue areas in the Atlantic and Pacific. In the fast-moving world of marine electronics, this is an important, comprehensive review of how to make the most of your DSC-capable VHF and SSB, and how to use the technology available to maximize your chances for a successful rescue at sea.

Permanently Installed Preventer Can Prevent Tragedy At Sea
With the tragic death due to head injury in the 2007 ARC, the CCA Fleet Surgeon draws attention to the importance of having a permanently installed preventer.

Fleet Surgeon's Documents
Visit the Fleet Surgeon's web page for a revised "Fleet Surgeon's Memorandum for an Offshore Yacht," as well as the new "Case for a Permanently Installed Boom Preventer" and statistics of injuries and illnesses in the last five Newport-Bermuda Races.

A Berth to Bermuda, by John Rousmaniere
"A Berth to Bermuda" is a history of the famous Bermuda Race, published by the Cruising Club of America and Mystic Seaport in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first Bermuda Race. For more information, and to order your own copy, visit Mystic Seaport Stores or call 800-331-2665.

Updated June 2, 2009