Hosted by Don & Joanne Theriault Our hosts report that our original venue, Captain Katanna's, will not be able to accommodate us due to space considerations, so we are switching to a new location: Beat the Heat at Pineda Inn Bar and Grill.  Cruise to a nice waterfront eatery, Pineda Inn, in south Rockledge, for cocktails and dinner. Join us at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, August 10, for Meet-and-Greet drinks at the bar, followed by Dinner at 5 p.m. For those making a night of it, we will have a potluck breakfast Sunday morning at 8 a.m. at nearby Rotary Park, or, if we decide at dinner, we can cruise down to SquidLips for Breakfast. Pineda Inn has a dock that appears to be fairly new and sturdy.  It currently has about 4 feet of water at the end, so dinghys and some power boats should be able to get in.  No cleats, but tying to pilings should work fine.  There is plenty of open water for anchoring out. From the ICW Marker 94, head due west to the restaurant. The end of the T-dock is located at 28° 13.70'N 80° 40.29'W. Or, 6533 US-1, Rockledge, FL 32955, for the landlubbers (or in case of inclement sailing weather -- it's August in Florida you know!). Hosts Joanne and Don will be available to ferry anyone to shore who needs a dinghy ride. Please RSVP to Joanne at 321-254-4624 by Thursday, August 8th.

Hosted by John & Lynda Geraci This is an extended cruise, leaving Cocoa Village Marina (201 N. Riverside Drive) after the 4th of July cruise for New Smyrna Beach.  We'll be staying July 5th - 8th at the City Marina.  Call to make your reservations at (386) 409-2042 and be sure to mention that you're with the ECSA sailing club.   Saturday, July 6th, we have scheduled happy hour and dinner at Cork Screw Bar & Grille, 235 Canal Street.  We have reserved a special area for our happy hour in the bar area.  If you're going to join us, please let us know by contacing Lynda's email; slgeraci@att.net, getting a ticket below or signing up on the sheet at the general meetings! We're still making plans for an activity on Sunday, so stay tuned as we confirm, we'll post it here on the website. We'll see you in Cocoa Village on the 4th!  

  Even though it’s going to be on Thursday this year, we will hold our 4th of July cruise/party on the 4th.  We have the Cocoa Village Marina Clubhouse reserved to set out our dinner and enjoy some fellowship before the fireworks over the river. Host Bob Wiley will be there on the 3rd to make sure everything is set up. If you are planning to come by boat and get a slip at the marina, please remember to make your own reservations by calling the harbormaster at 321-632-5445. Identify that you are with the ECSA.  The BBQ coals should be ready at 5:00 PM to prepare your entrees. Please bring your own drinks and a side dish to share. After dinner, we will break-up to watch the fireworks from your favorite position.  There will be good views from the marina docks, or go over to the nearby park to listen to the concert or head out on boats to see the outstanding fireworks display. Ordinarily, we have breakfast at Ossorio's for the 5th.  If someone wants to volunteer to head up the breakfast planning, please let Bob know. Email: rwiley1@cfl.rr.com or Cell: 321-591-8193.

Hosted by John Boyd The ECSA invites all sailors in the Space Coast area to join us at Grills Riverside for the annual Summer SAILstice. This event is designed to help sailors the world over join in celebration of sailing, during the northern hemisphere’s longest daylight of the year – The Summer Solstice.  Come any time after noon on Saturday, June 22, which is the weekend nearest the solstice (June 21). We will have the Blessing of the Fleet at 2:30 p.m., with dinner any time after 4 p.m. Grills will have tables under a tent set aside for us on the south side of the restaurant. For those staying overnight, Grills serves breakfast starting at 7 a.m.; the group will gather at 8:30 a.m.  At the Summer Sailstice event, we celebrate the best of sailing with our members, and we strive to introduce the benefits of ECSA to new and potential members.  So everyone is encouraged to invite new folks, whether they are beginners or 'old salts'.  Check out the National Summer Sailstice website at: http://www.summersailstice.com. If you wish, you may sign up on this site to participate in our Summer Sailstice event. If you do so, you will be eligible to win a prize; see the web site for more information. Zoom in on Melbourne to see our event. The web site for Grills Riverside is:  http://www.grillsseafood.com/grills-riverside-melbourne/  Grills will also feature live music: Iris at 2 p.m., and Banjoman Franklin at 7:30 p.m. See you at Grills Riverside on June 22! 

Hosted by John & Lynda Geraci Plan ahead for the ever-popular Memorial Day weekend cruise to Ocean Club Marina (930 Mullet Road, if you're driving) at Port Canaveral!!  Both Ocean Club Marina and nearby Cape Marina are full for the weekend.  But there is the option staying on the hook in the anchorage just southwest of the lock.  Or, there is always the possibility of cancellations, so if you want to call the marinas and ask them, the phone numbers are:  Ocean Club Marina: 321-783-9001 Cape Marina: 321-783-8410 Be sure to mention that you're with the ECSA sailing club.  The Canaveral Locks phone number is 321-783-5421. Great plans are in progress, starting with: Saturday night (the 25th), utilizing the new restaurant at the port.  Gator's Dockside, at 683 Dave Nesbit Drive, Cape Canaveral features grilled wings and other menu delights.   Meet John & Lynda for happy hour at 5 p.m.  Get a ticket below and let us know how many people in your party, RSVP Lynda (slgeraci@att.net) or sign up at the general meeting so we can guarantee you a seat at dinner.  Sunday (the 26th), we'll be heading out for a day sail on the ocean.  If you prefer to lounge by the pool that day, it's usually hot, so bring water, hat, sunscreen and snacks, I'm sure you'll have company.  We'll start happy hour (BYOB) around 4 p.m. (or when everyone returns), then hopefully by 5 p.m. start the grill for dinner by the Tiki hut poolside.  Bring something to throw on the grill and a side dish to share.  Looking forward to a great time!!  The weather forecast is looking excellent too!  As always, all the best local weather information is  at ecsasail.com - click on "Weather".  

Coastal Garden Fair and Earth Day The City of Satellite Beach is sponsoring this fun and free celebration on Saturday April 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Schechter Center, 1089 South Patrick Drive, Satellite Beach, FL 32937. There will be food trucks, plus numerous exhibits pertaining to gardening, arts and crafts, and natural resources, such as clean waterways. ECSA will set up a display to promote our club and our interest in protection of our lagoon. If anyone is interested in helping staff the ECSA table for a portion of the day, please contact Joe Cloidt at jbcloidt@gmail.com. For a printable one-page poster for the event, click here, or visit GoGreenSB.org.

Cruise to Sebastian Inlet State Park Saturday, April 20th & 21st, Easter Weekend Come by Boat or by Car to Sebastian Inlet, South Side for a great day on the water. When the day is over the band St John Wood will be playing in the evening. Bring your chairs, cooler with some food and drinks, stay for the day or just come for the concert. We will have a great time at Sebastian Inlet State Park. If coming by car enter on the South side of the bridge, $8 per car load for entry fee. If coming by boat leave the Intracoastal at marker 65, head East until you get closer to the shore before turning up to the point and the park. (Click the YouTube link above to see some of our ladies dancing it up!) http://www.pageproffitt.com/temp/SpInlet.jpg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HNviK12ahg Page Proffitt  rpp1@pageproffitt.com   

Child Abuse Awareness Cruise - Hosts: Joe and Karen Coleman   What better way to start April than by heading to Squid Lips for dinner to support the start of Child Abuse Awareness Month. April is Child Abuse Awareness month and the ECSA and Squid Lips team up with the Child Abuse Prevention Task Force to promote awareness. Squid Lips donates 5% of revenue from food sales between 5 and 8 p.m. to CAPTF. The ECSA attempts to get as many boats as possible to attend, drawing attention to the cause. This is a wonderful cruise for children also, as there are several activities on the beach for them.    

  22nd Annual Citizens for Florida Waterways Marine Flea Market Saturday and Sunday March 30th and 31st, 8am-4pm daily Harbortown Marina Sea Ray Dr. Merritt Island, FL Central Florida's Largest Marine Flea Market Free Admission! Free Parking! Something for everyone! Lots of Nautical themed merchandise, old and new. Replacement parts, Dock Lines, Buoys, Ski Equipment, and more! http://cffw.org/flea-market/  

Join Commodore Pat for "Drinks with the Commodore" at Long Doggers, on A1A in Indialantic, 6 p.m. Thursday March 28.  See you there!

 St. Patrick’s Day Cruise March 16-17     Arrive early by boat or by car and enjoy the zany Irish festivities in downtown Melbourne.  The fun starts at 11 a.m. with Street Party & Parade.  Irish dancers and bagpipers will be performing at Meg O’Malley’s all day and night.  See the details at https://www.megomalleys.com/event/st-patricks-day/   Anchor off Front Street Park and dinghy into Melbourne Harbor or call Melbourne Harbor Marina for a reservation (321-725-9054).  Also, Melbourne Yacht Club will allow ECSA boats to use their dinghy docks.  Call Tom O’Shea (919-423-1508) or Page Proffitt for the gate code.  There will be space for a few boats at the Melbourne Yacht Club docks.  Text Jackie at 321-795-2156 to confirm that space is available. ECSA activities will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday in “The Mansion” Downstairs Courtyard, just a short walk over the Crane creek from the  MYC.  Lots of parking available at the Mansion – but remember you get extra points for coming by boat.  Enjoy Blarney, Irish groaners, and get to know about St. Patrick in a contest complete with prizes.   We hope to have a visit from a Leprechaun again this year.  Wear your GREEN and join us for some fun!                     The Mansion has good food at reasonable prices, including sandwiches, burgers and entrees and most of all a great variety of beer and wines.   Stick around or come back Sunday morning (3/17) at 8:30 a.m. for a potluck breakfast in Front Street Park. For more information contact Tom O’Shea @ 321-986-8772/919-423-1508 or Eileen Kiesel.  Make sure you sign up here on the ECSA web site (See "Tickets" below -- no payment required at this time) or at the next ECSA general meeting, so we have adequate seating at the Mansion.

Let’s sail to Captain Hiram’s on February 16th for dinner at 4:00pm. Anchor on the east side of the channel just north of Hiram’s.  Or by land, 1580 US-1, Sebastian, FL 32958. It is a 3 day weekend, so if anyone is up to it, we can stop at marker 21 Sunday night, February 17th, and have a get-together on the island. For more information, contact Pat at patvipisland@gmail.com