Seven Seas Cruising Association -SSCA

[missaussierules]

Hi all,

I have heard that it can be a benefit to those of us travelling south, from British Columbia, through the states, to get free moorage here and there, to have a SSCA or Bluewater Cruising Assn Burgee flying, as the various yacht clubs feel more confident you are actually moving on and are really going to do the jump...not just trying to mooch and loiter forever. The plan is to join a yacht club at the coast (we are from Kelowna, BC) and hopefully get reciprocal (up to 3 days) moorage, as needed. Does anyone have opinions if having a SSCA or BCA burgee would help with this?

[colemj]

On the East Coast US, we have never experienced that benefit. Some places do give a small discount on fees for members, but they also do for membership in BoatUS, SeaTow and many other organizations. For most of them, you only need to SAY you have a membership. YC reciprocal privileges are also hit and miss - we never found any real benefit of our YC membership.

I promise you - if any yacht club felt like you were going to mooch and loiter, you will be gone. Most only allow 1-3 days on their moorings for any reason.

Mark

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by colemj

On the East Coast US, we have never experienced that benefit. Some places do give a small discount on fees for members, but they also do for membership in BoatUS, SeaTow and many other organizations. For most of them, you only need to SAY you have a membership. YC reciprocal privileges are also hit and miss - we never found any real benefit of our YC membership.

I promise you - if any yacht club felt like you were going to mooch and loiter, you will be gone. Most only allow 1-3 days on their moorings for any reason.

Mark

Yacht Club reciprocals are often of negligable benefit. Often all it means is that they'll let you into their dining room so you can buy an expensive meal from them.

[Tellie]

Originally Posted by Rakuflames

Yacht Club reciprocals are often of negligable benefit. Often all it means is that they'll let you into their dining room so you can buy an expensive meal from them.

ain't it the truth.

[Roy M]

Originally Posted by Rakuflames

Yacht Club reciprocals are often of negligable benefit. Often all it means is that they'll let you into their dining room so you can buy an expensive meal from them.

Unless you pull into Southwestern Yacht Club in San Diego, where Frank S. will probably drive you to Costco or Downwind or in search of injector repairs, or someone else with an end tie will let you tie alongside when all the available guest berths are full, or the anglers will help you get your fishing gear tuned up, or .......... I guess Right Coast folks are different than Lefties.

Just walk into the bar and stand in front of the chart of Baja California for a few minutes. Someone will walk up and ask where you are going and do you have any questions. We're the Cruiser's Club, especially when the Ha-Ha hits town.

[missaussierules]

Originally Posted by Roy M

Unless you pull into Southwestern Yacht Club in San Diego, where Frank S. will probably drive you to Costco or Downwind or in search of injector repairs, or someone else with an end tie will let you tie alongside when all the available guest berths are full, or the anglers will help you get your fishing gear tuned up, or .......... I guess Right Coast folks are different than Lefties.

Just walk into the bar and stand in front of the chart of Baja California for a few minutes. Someone will walk up and ask where you are going and do you have any questions. We're the Cruiser's Club, especially when the Ha-Ha hits town.

Wow, that is great to know! We will definitely stop in, then. I am a transplant from New Brunswick and Dave is from Sydney, Australia, so I guess we are both easterners and I have to say we are both quick to help fellow sailors and just about anyone else. It is great to hear of others doing the same.

It is THE best part about cruising or travelling anywhere, meeting like minded kind and generous folks, who will share a local treasure that may otherwise get missed.

Fair winds!

[boatman61]

There are some nice friendly places like Beaufort NC where you can get the use of a free car for a few hours to do shopping etc across the bridge at the big stores in Moorehead... mind that was a few years back in 04/5... dunno if they still do it...
Nothing to do with SSA... just nice local folks...

[Randyonr3]

Originally Posted by Rakuflames

Yacht Club reciprocals are often of negligable benefit. Often all it means is that they'll let you into their dining room so you can buy an expensive meal from them.

I've been a member of one or more Yacht Clubs at once over the last 40 years and have always had a place to stay, at no charge, from Alaska to Mexico.. most often 1 to 3 nights free and at times I've stayed up to 2 weeks without charges..
Its not as much as the free-bees as it is a place to stay.. we have NEVER been turned down when pulling into another YC..
After a long voyage, you know you have a save port at a YC, and once you've relaxed for a couple days, you can pick their heads for the best places to go and where to avoid.
but you also need to be informed on how they work and what is avalable..
our first call when entering a new port, is the local Yacht Clubs "Port Captain" he's the one to direct you in the right direction..

[chouliha]

Usually once you pass into Mexico the reciprocal privileges will not do you much good. But the west coast clubs usually offer reciprocity if your club does the same. We have stayed in many of the clubs in Calif for no charge and were treated very well. But since we departed San Diego in 2005 and headed south we have not found any place we could take advantage free slip stays based on our membership in either SSCA or our yacht club

Chuck
Jacaranda
Ecuador

[Roy M]

Chuck, Good to hear from you. I hadn't seen your boat in many years and wondered where you had gone. Fair winds and following seas!

[zeehag]

no reciprocity in mexico for anyone.
summer=lower rents in marinas EXCEPT baja, where there is no high or low season in marinas...
winter rates are capped spozedly by govt at 68 cents per foot per day per month.-
many coves for anchoring--practice that skill ...... use all chain, as rope will chafe thru ion short order, despite frequent checks.