Singles On Sailboats Inc

SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR SINGLE ADULTS WHO WISH TO SAIL. PROGRAMS INCLUDE SAILING ON THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AS WELL AS OCCASIONAL EXTENDED TRIPS IN OTHER AREAS. EDUCATION AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDE SEMINARS ON SAILING SKILLS, WINTER BRUNCHES, AND PARTIES THAT ARE GENERALLY HELD AT WEEKEND SAILING DESTINATIONS. SOS IS A VOLUNTEER BASED ORGANIZATION OF APPROXIMATELY 500 MEMBERS.

BAREBOAT CRUISES - THIS MAJOR PROGRAM ORGANIZES TRIPS OUTSIDE THE LOCAL SAILING AREA FOR A WEEK OR MORE ON CHARTERED SAILING VESSELS. SOME TRIPS REMAIN IN US WATERS, OTHER ORIGINATE IN FOREIGN DESTINATIONS (LAKE CHAMPLAIN AND THE CARIBBEAN THIS PAST YEAR.) HEAVY VOLUNTEER INVOLVEMENT IN PLANNING THESE TRIPS LIMITS COSTS.

CRUISING ON THE CHESAPEAKE: THE CORE ACTIVITY OF THIS ORGANIZATION IS TO FACILITATE SAILING BY MEMBERS. SAILING EVENTS ARE HOSTED MOST WEEKENDS FROM APRIL THROUGH NOVEMBER AS WELL AS SOME WEEKDAYS. MEMBER SKIPPERS PROVIDE THE BOATS, AND OTHER MEMBERS PROVIDE CREW FOR THE BOATS AND COORDINATE THE SAILS. THIS IS BOTH AN EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL EXPERIENCE. ALL PARTICIPANTS VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND EXPERTISE. USE OF THE BOATS IS AN "IN KIND" DONATION BY THE SKIPPER MEMBERS, WHO RECEIVE NO REMUNERATION FOR THE USE OF THEIR BOATS.

SOCIAL: SIX MAJOR SOCIAL EVENTS AND FOUR BRUNCHES WERE HELD IN 2018. SOME OCCUR AT WEEKEND SAILING DESTINATIONS WITH AN AVERAGE PARTICIPATION OF ABOUT 80 MEMBERS. SOCIAL EVENTS INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS TO SHARE THEIR ENTHUSIASM ABOUT THE SPORT OF SAILING AS WELL AS ALLOW MEMBERS TO MEET WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE SIMILAR INTEREST, PARTICIPATE IN SAILING ACTIVITIES, AND SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT SAILING. VOLUNTEERS ORGANIZE, FACILITATE AND OVERSEE THESE EVENTS. SMALLER REGIONAL SOCIAL EVENTS ARE HELD DURING THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR.

EDUCATION EVENTS: IN THE WINTER AND EARLY SPRING THE ORGANIZATION FOCUSES ON EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF MEMBERS TO IMPROVE SKILLS FOR THE COMING SAILING SEASON. A MAJOR TRAINING DAY IS GENERALLY HELD EACH SPRING AT A LOCAL COLLEGE; MANY CLASSES ENGAGE MORE THAN 100 PARTICIPANTS. VOLUNTEERS ORGANIZE AND MANAGE THESE EDUCATIONAL EVENTS FOR MEMBERS AND FOR THE COMMUNITY. WINTER SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS AND MONTHLY WINTER BRUNCHES ARE ALSO PART OF THIS ENDEAVOR.