After a long hiatus from Facebook photo contests, we’ve returned with a vengeance! This time our theme was “Sailing Season 2011″ — whatever or wherever that means to you! We had photos from all over the US and the Caribbean, showcasing everything from sails glowing white against vast blue skies to the Statue of Liberty in silhouette to parrot skippers (yes, you read that right). And we had A LOT of sunsets. In the end, we also had a clear winner, decided by a vote of our Facebook fans.

FIRST PLACE

This photo, submitted by Melissa Nicholson, was probably chosen as much for its message as for its artistry. Here’s Melissa’s description: “The best part of sailing season 2011 was introducing my granddaughter to sailing.” We at ASA are proud to support and promote young people getting involved in sailing, and by the looks of it, having a great time. Congratulations, Melissa! This photo will appear in the January edition of ASA’s Sailing with Style e-newsletter.

RUNNER UP

Second in the voting was this shot by Black Rock Sailing School, an ASA affiliate in Boston, MA. Their caption: “A very tired mate catches some rest under the dodger in the BVI. Must have been the hike through The Baths.” Another youngster out sailing! We’re sensing a theme here…

EDITOR’S CHOICE AWARD

This is the part where I get to choose my favorite! This was a very tough choice, but it has to go to Cameron Sarik’s photo of the parrot Phoenix taking the helm on the Potomac River. I wonder what level he’s certified to?

Remember, you can find the full gallery of entries here, and there are some great ones that didn’t make it into the top three! We always welcome sailing photos posted to our Facebook page, so come visit us and check out what’s going on. Thanks to everyone who submitted and voted this month! Happy holidays!