Unbelievable it is, that we are starting our third season on this magical journey at South Sound Sailing Tours! Each season has brought new adventure with so many new smiling faces, along with many familiar smiling faces. There is no larger compliment than when you return for more!
With the new season comes new relationships, and there's one in particular that we've been working on for some time. South Sound Sailing Tours is over the moon excited to announce that we have partnered with the Anderson Island Parks & Recreation District to promote & provide a Youth Activities Program for our island kids. For our part, we will be offering sailing education & excursions for youth entering 2nd - 12th grades, with each excursion taking 6 youth out on an adventure.
Planned day-long (approximately 8hr) excursions include sailing to the various water accessible local state parks, such as Kopachuck SP, Jarrell Cove SP, McMicken Island SP, Joemma Beach SP, Penrose Point SP, Hope Island SP, as well as Point Defiance Marina (with guided walk along Owen Beach).
In partnering with local maritime organizations, such as the Foss Waterway Seaport Museum, we will also be able to provide in depth knowledge of our marine environment, as well as the local maritime history. Our excursion to the Foss Waterway Seaport Museum will allow participants to engage in a 90 minute program, followed by self guided museum time.
Two three-day, two-night excursions to Blake Island State Park include sailing through the Tacoma Narrows (under the bridge) and Colvos Passage to reach the island. The kids and a chaperone will camp on Blake Island, enjoy the trails and marine environment, as well as learn the local Native American history of the island. We will camp for two nights and sail back to Anderson Island on the third day.
All of these adventures will take place on Wednesdays during Summer Break. Go to the "Youth Activities Program" tab on the A.I. Parks & Rec website for more info and to sign up.
As if that wasn't exciting enough, we have more news! Last season taught us many things, but none more eye opening than the sheer demand for our services. Many of you know that SSST wasn't our only business. For the past 10+ years, we have also been running our mobile bartending business, Full Sails Bartending, where we provided bar service across Washington State for weddings and basically any type of private party where booze was being served. While we enjoyed doing that tremendously, over the past decade or so, you can tell by the business name, that the true passion lay elsewhere.
With the majority of our bar business coming on the weekends, we found ourselves having to turn away a shipload of sailing opportunities due to being unavailable. Thus, in January, we decided to shut down Full Sails Bartending and open up EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND ALL SUMMER to be able to take as many people sailing as possible!
While we will miss being able to be a part of so many special days (on land), we are so looking forward to being able to give this new (ad)venture our undivided attention. Full Sails Bartending got us to this point, and we're forever grateful. Bittersweet, to say the least.
With all of these new changes and happenings, it's not surprising to see our calendar quickly filling in, and it's only the beginning of April. At the time this was published, we already have 23 confirmed sailings for the 2022 season. If you have a specific date in mind, I highly recommend visiting our booking page to check availability. It's never too early to book your adventure. We have a very friendly "reschedule" policy in the case that weather or life does not cooperate. To check availability, and to book your adventure with us, click on any of our sailing options below.
Also, be sure to check out our Merch Shop for the swaggiest of SWAG!
Much more to choose from in the store!
I'm truly looking forward to sailing with each and every one of you this season, and for years to come!
Fair Winds & Following Seas,
Captain Corey
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