Summer Solstice: Summertime Boating Tips for 2023
Today is officially the longest day of the year - the Summer Solstice! We can look forward to a full 17 hours and 14 minutes of sunlight! It's the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the longer days and enjoy some extra time outdoors and on the water. So don't let the summer solstice pass you by - seize the (extra) day and try out some of our summertime boating tips!
1) Take a Coast-to-Coast Trip: Use the extra daylight to your advantage! Try leaving with the sunrise on Florida’s east coast and finish on the west coast with a gorgeous sunset.
2) Catch the “Green Flash”: The summer solstice might give you just enough time to catch this sunset spectacle. Head to the beach and look for the elusive “green flash,” the bright pop of green that sometimes occurs the moment the sun dips below the horizon.
3) Freshen up on your Maritime Flag Warning System: Long hot summer days bring summer storms. Remember, one red flag denotes a small craft advisory, two red flags indicate a gale warning, one red flag with a black square in the middle indicates a general storm warning, and two black-squared red flags denotes a hurricane force wind warning.
4) Plan for a New Destination: Has your usual summer anchorage been getting more and more crowded? Pick up some updated charts and new cruising guides to a less crowded summer spot. Get away, soak up the sun, and enjoy the sounds of nature for once.
5) Break out the Sextant: We celebrate the summer solstice due to the alignment of the celestial bodies with the Earth’s poles. Get reacquainted with your sextant by practicing during the daytime by sighting the Sun, and at nighttime by sighting Polaris.