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I love the smell of boat shows. The exciting scent of unmarred fiberglass and glasslike varnishes, newly-sewn vinyl and glossy brochures. I vividly remember going to the Minneapolis Boat Show every year as a little girl, trudging through the snow to get inside the jam-packed convention center. My young imagination went wild exploring the little nooks of the huge showroom vessels, and I still get the same thrill poking around the boat show stalls, sucking on the complimentary hard candies, and calculating the days till it’ll be warm enough to sail.
The midwinter boat show season, especially in colder climates, is truly the first harbinger of spring. And here we are, finally, springing forward into daylight savings time and the glorious season for sailing. Marina del Rey celebrated Opening Day this weekend, and the fluttering rainbow scene of dozens of dressed ships was more spring-like than a bunch of daffodils. Of course, in the process of “dressing ship” for Opening Day, many of us created the year’s mental to-do list for the boat . . . which is why I’m looking forward to the next boat show in our area, Strictly Sail Pacific.
All boat shows are fantastic, but a show made for sailors alone is truly my cup of tea. ASA will be at the show, and our freshly-printed Sailing Made Easy textbook will no doubt catch your eye. It’s water resistant pages make this book a fully functional learning tool for new sailors and a long-lasting standby for any sailor’s library. If you’re attending the show, stop by and see it at booth #121. (More info on Strictly Sail Pacific can be found here: http://www.strictlysailpacific.com/shows/pacific.asp?show=pa)
Happy spring and happy sailing season–we hope to be seeing you out on the water soon!
UPDATE: ASA Members receive 2 for 1 pricing at Strictly Sail Pacific! Follow this link for tickets: https://v2.interactiveticketing.com/tickets/t28_2010_strictly_sail_pacific_0912174a7f/form_2.php?source=ASA+Member