There’s nothing quite like a year’s worth of SpinSheets to bring back happy memories. In my look back at the January issue, the first page I turned to welcomed 45 SpinSheet Century Club members, who had each logged 100 days on the water in 2014. On a cold winter’s day, we celebrated their achievements and gave them “SpinSheet 100” burgees.
In the same issue, Steve Allan wrote one of his best articles of the year, “The Spoils of Mud: Poplar Island Rises Again” (spinsheet.com/poplar-island).
Those who dislike winter may have tried to forget February; Beth Crabtree’s article on the ice breaking boats at Smith Island summed it up (spinsheet.com/breaking-the-ice). That month, we launched Quantum sailmaker David Flynn’s “The Racer’s Edge” column, the guide to sailing faster that doesn’t take itself too seriously (find the series at spinsheet.com/quantum-racers-edge).
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How is it December already?[/caption]
In March, we ran “Sailing to Cuba” by Craig Ligibel, which remains a popular article on our website (spinsheet.com/sail-to-cuba). At print time, a dozen or more Chesapeake sailors planned to participate in the revived Conch Republic Cup – Key West Cuba Race Week.
Anyone considering buying a multihull should read Cindy Wallach’s “Multihulls Are Better on the Bay” from the April issue (spinsheet.com/multihulls-are-better).
In May, Mark Corke wrote about the latest in marine electronics (spinsheet.com/electronics-2015). And—sigh—I wrote about our exceptional spring catamaran charter trip to the Bahamas (find it and other charter stories and tips at spinsheet.com/charter).
When the French frigate replica L’Hermione (lair-ME-yun) sailed up the Chesapeake in June, it inspired us to create our “Sailor’s Pronunciation Guide to Tall Ships” video (spinsheet.com/pronunciation-guide). In addition to a ton of racing coverage, we printed my favorite story of the year, “Saying Goodbye to Rose Anne” by Joe Haran (spinsheet.com/saying-goodbye). Before you read it, make sure you have a Kleenex at hand to wipe a tear.
One more great June article: Dave Gendell's Father's Day Story "Livin' on a Prayer."
The July issue is for all things Solomons, but there were some other gems to read that month. Captain Art Pine wrote a neat story about friends who bought a lighthouse together, “Preserving Baltimore Light” (spinsheet.com/preserving-baltimore-light).
Let me give a shout-out to Kim Couranz, a very competitive sailor who’s been penning lively columns for us for eight years. She mixes it up with travel tales, interviews, regatta reports, and small boat racing tips. Her “Summer Reading” about notices of race and sailing instructions is required racing reading in any season (spinsheet.com/summer-reading-NOR).
David Sossomon became the two-time winner of our Summer Cover Contest in August. That same month, Cindy Fletcher-Holden penned a quirky article “Sailing is Like a Beer Run” that was widely shared online (spinsheet.com/beer-run).
In September, we celebrated our 20th anniversary with a big section featuring stories by founding editor Dave Gendell, our publisher, Mary Ewenson, and some other tidbits by yours truly (find our gallery of 20 years of SpinSheet covers at spinsheet.com/covers).
Shout-out #2: Eva Hill writes consistently awesome articles for us. Who else has been dying to charter a boat in Croatia since she wrote that story? (spinsheet.com/charter)
In October, in addition to a slew of Annapolis Sailboat Show coverage, we did a recap of the Annapolis Labor Day Regatta, including the debut of our SpinSheet Junior Sailing Trophy, which went to Craig and Dotty Saunders’ Monkey Dust crew for being the most competitive boat with young crewmembers.
Shout out #3: SpinSheet senior editor Duffy Perkins, a talented writer with a flair for comedy. If you racing sailors have not yet read it, go read our senior editor’s “Honing Your Game: Using the Pros to Get Better in the Off-Season” (spinsheet.com/honing-your-game). In case you’re in denial, the off-season is now.
What an inspiring November “Start Sailing Now” column on Michael Nelson by Beth! Learning about adult sailors discovering sailing always reignites my own passion for it (find a dozen of them at startsailingnow.com). In the same issue, photos of the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race by Walter Cooper made us a little sad to have missed the start.
More shout-outs: Lin McCarthy—thank you for your Southern Bay coverage. Tracy Leonard—thank you for your great cruising writing. Dan Phelps, Al Schreitmueller—what would we do without your outstanding photography every month of the year?
Here we are, holding the December issue in our hands. Does it contain anything that will make you smile one year from today? I hope so.
My last “thank you” goes to our production manager and art director, Cory Deere, who after 10 years of infusing his hip, witty, creative soul into our print and online world, will soon embark on a cross-country journey with his partner, Melanie. He will depart for new horizons by the year’s end. Since he co-owns the PortBook, we know he’ll be in touch, but we will miss his perspective and sense of humor in the office. Thank you, Cory, for making our magazines and websites look great. We love you!
~Molly Winans
