In 2020 The Salty Dawgs began their Homeward Bound rally bringing hundreds of COVID-19 stranded cruisers to the United States for the summer. The rally has continued and this year there are some exciting changes. In the past the rally began in St. Thomas, USVI, and it will still do so, but this year there are other options. Rally participants can also choose to leave from Antigua, Marsh Harbor, Bahamas or from Bermuda. The rally includes weather routing by The Marine Weather Center, position tracking by PredictWind, and an extensive level of coordination and support by the SDSA support teams during the offshore passage.
This past autumn many of the SDSA Caribbean Rally participants wanted to stop in Bermuda on their way south but weather made that option difficult, so Bermuda is now an added option for the north-bound Homeward Bound participants. After an April 29 departure dinner in Antigua the rally boats will head to their northern departure points. SDSA president Bob Osborn will lead the group going to Bermuda on or about May 1 for an extended visit that will likely include much Salty Dawg Socializing. Boats meeting up in the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands will have pre-departure social and security meet-ups and head to the US on or about May 10. The Bermuda to U.S. departure date is scheduled for May 14.
As always, the Dawgs have a busy summer sailing season scheduled with rallies up the US East Coast from Annapolis to Nova Scotia with the Downeast Rally and the Maritime Rally, and rendezvous in Essex CN, Newport RI, and Rockland ME. The summer rallies are a great way for sailors to gain off-shore sailing experience while they have a great time meeting Salty Dawgs and learning about their mission to help sailors become cruisers.
Registration is open for all these events.
All Salty Dawg rallies and events are led by seasoned sailors who volunteer their time and knowledge to help cruisers realize their dreams. The Salty Dawg Sailing Association is a Rhode Island registered 501c 3 non-profit organization dedicated to fostering safe seamanship, safe passage-making, and camaraderie in the cruising community.
More information about the Homeward Bound Rally can be found at: https://www.saltydawgsailing.org/east-coast-rally
More information about the Downeast Rally can be found at: https://www.saltydawgsailing.org/downeast-rally
More information about the Maritime Rally can be found at: https://www.saltydawgsailing.org/maritime-rally
More information about the Bermuda Excursion can be found at: https://www.saltydawgsailing.org/east-coast-rally
and information about the Rendezvous can be found at: https://www.saltydawgsailing.org/rendezvous
