Summer Sailstice celebrates longest day of the year

EMERALD ISLE - The summer solstice is this weekend, and Capt. Suzan Wallace knows just where she'll be spending her time.

"It's the longest day of the year and the best thing to be doing on the longest day is to be sailing," she said.

Wallace and the members of the Bogue Sound Sailing Club invite anyone who is interested to join them for Summer Sailstice 2009. Sailors worldwide are taking to the water in a united weekend of sailing and fellowship.

In Emerald Isle, the plans are very informal: Just come with your boat and plan to sail the waters of Bogue Sound.

"We're trying to get as many people as we can out sailing and put some color in the sky," said club member Roy Brownlow. "We want to promote sailing, especially among our young people."

All types of sailboats, from catamarans to sailboards, are invited to take part in Summer Sailstice, but the shallow draft of Bogue Sound makes it ideal for those with small boats.

The main meeting and launching area is the Cedar Street public dock and access. There is no boat ramp at this location, but small boats can launch from the shore.

A boat ramp and launching is also available from Island Harbor Marina, which is located a little more than a mile west of Cedar Street.

Don't have a boat? Don't worry.

"If you don't have a boat, we can get you on one," Brownlow said.

Sailing will take place all day Saturday and Sunday. No registration is required.

More than 12,000 sailors worldwide are expected to participate.

For more information about the global event, visit www.SummerSailstice.com. To learn more about the Bogue Sound Sailing Club, go to its Web site at http://bssc.wetpaint.com/

Contact Jannette Pippin at 910-382-2557 or jpippin@freedomenc.com.