MSA Milltown Sailing Association

06/04/2026

June Featured Member of the Month

Throughout the years, MSA has opened its doors and its heart to all who have walked through them. We have had the privilege of watching families grow up and grow into this community, children becoming leaders, strangers becoming lifelong friends, and new faces quickly becoming familiar ones.

To our members, MSA is more than an organization. It is a family. For some, it is an extension of the one they already cherish. For others, it is the family they found when they needed one most. And for some, it is a family they never knew they needed. A place where they are seen, valued, and loved unconditionally. No matter where you come from or where you are in your journey, there has always been, and always will be, a place for you here.

This month, our featured member is the family of SV Wonder; Mike, Luba, Dan, and Nik. They are the 2024 Family of the Year and avid members of the MSA cruising scene.

From Mike -

Sailing became part of our family adventures as a way to get to Jetty Island when the kids were really little. I (Mike) had sailed dinghies and keelboats in college. Luba and I were sea kayakers before the kids were born. A sailboat seemed a safer way to get the kids out on the water.

We decided on our Catalina 27 since I would have to single hand sail it while Luba held and watched the kids. Nik was almost 2 years old when we got the boat. Dan doesn’t know life before boats. Our sailing style slow and fun.

Nik started helping with lines and winches when he was 4 to 5 years old. Dan, age 6, takes care of the flags and burgies. We have a rule of no screens (other than chart plotter) when underway. The kids have always loved going out on the boat, looking up the names of passing ships on AIS, seeing whales, and measuring the crabs we catch.

For safety, life jackets are always on while underway and the kids’ safety tether is clipped into the dodger when in the cockpit. For longer passages, jacklines are run forward so the kids can clip in and move out of the cockpit.

The hardest part about cruising is the need for constant attention to boat and/or crew and not having down time. We manage it by taking shifts, allowing the other one some time off. One of the best moments on the boat was the first time we pulled up a pot full of crab just off of B mark.

Winning family of the year felt really good given the amount effort and time we spent onboard that year.

To other families with kids wanting to get into sailing, we would say start small, go slow, and learn to work within your limitations. Your limits will also grow as the kids do but so will what you learn and the memories you make.

06/03/2026

The Salish Circuit — Race 2: Saratoga Sprint

Round Whidbey is in the books. The first race of the Salish Circuit, hosted by Oak Harbor Yacht Club, has been completed, and what a statement Milltown Sailing Association made. Of the 12 boats that took on that punishing course, six flew MSA colors. Four boats represented OHYC on home waters, and two came from Sloop Tavern Yacht Club, but it was MSA's showing that turned heads. And it wasn't just about numbers. MSA sailors climbed the podium, taking 2nd and 3rd in Class 1 and 3rd in Class 2.

Round Whidbey is not a race for the faint of heart. From the open exposures of the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the raging currents and container ship traffic of Admiralty Inlet, through the notoriously fickle doldrums of Possession Point, and into the relentless upwind slog of Saratoga Passage at night, this race tests you in ways you never expected. For the fast boats, it's a 12-hour battle. For half the fleet, it's nearly 19 hours of non-stop sailing that will challenge your body, your crew, and your inner soul.

The fact that MSA showed up, showed out, and stood on the podium speaks to the true grit of our sailors.
Now, we set our up Saratoga Passage.

Up next - Saratoga Sprint, hosted by Milltown Sailing Association. A sail north from Everett into Saratoga Passage to either Camano Head and Langley, or to the Baby Island buoy in Holmes Harbor. Don't let the name fool you; there's nothing easy about it. It may not carry the raw brutality of Round Whidbey, but the Saratoga Sprint is still a test of patience, endurance, and strategy. The passage has a way of humbling even the most seasoned sailors.

So the question is simple: are you up for the challenge? Can you test your mettle?

05/28/2026

The Salish Circuit is here and it starts THIS WEEKEND. Round Whidbey Race, hosted by Oak Harbor Yacht Club, kicks things off and sets the tone for an epic season of racing across some of the most beautiful waters in the Pacific Northwest. Anacortes Yacht Club, Corinthian Yacht Club of Edmonds, Oak Harbor Yacht Club, and MSA Milltown Sailing Association have come together to bring you a series worth fighting for. Come earn your place on the Salish Circuit.

Registration is required for each race find all the links at milltownsailing.org/sys/website/?pageId=18121

05/28/2026

The Summer Log Dodge is back! Join us Friday evenings on Possession Sound for short, fun sunset races with a 6:30 pm start. Each week has its own dress-up theme from Lumberjack to Tie-Dye, Gilligan's Island, Pirates, and more. Racing is free, and we wrap up dockside with food, drinks, and results for just $10. Two series, 10 races, all summer long. Register online and we'll see you on the water!

Registration - https://milltownsailing.org/page-18076

June 12 — Lumberjack
June 19 — Tie-Dye
June 26 — Rubber Duck
July 10 — Gilligan's Island
July 17 — Favorite Sports Team
July 24 — Cowboy/Cowgirl
July 31 — Movie Star
Aug 7 — Hawaiian
Aug 17 — Pirates
Aug 21 — Crew Shirts

05/15/2026

Ahoy, Milltown Members!

What an extraordinary weekend we just had at Kingston, celebrating our Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates: Terror of the Southlands-themed cruise.

With 18 boats and a lively pirate crew, we brought excitement, laughter, and family joy to the docks. Under clear blue skies and glorious sunshine, the weekend was packed with thrilling relay races, scavenger hunts, and a delicious potluck dinner.

The relay races and scavenger hunts sparked joy, teamwork, and unforgettable moments for all ages—truly showcasing why Milltown is such a special community.

A huge thank you to our fantastic hosts, Grant and Linda, for making this weekend possible. Your creativity, dedication, and warm spirit brought the pirate adventure to life and made it one to remember.

And thank you to everyone who joined in the fun, dressed up, and made this event so lively. Though only very nearly honorable, we know how to create lasting memories and share in great times together.

05/14/2026

05/14/2026

MSA CYCE Challange

Race Report

What a day on the water! With just enough breeze to keep things lively, the race committee delivered four excellent races under a sun that showed up in full, unabashed glory. The conditions were so inviting, even a gray whale made a guest appearance, apparently curious about the spirited competition unfolding above.

Race Committee duties were expertly handled by Grant Albert, his crew, and Glen of SV Yum Yum, who kept the fleet moving through four well-crafted courses: R1 JBTM, R2 JDBM, R3 HT, and R4 TDT, making great use of the temporary marks J and D. When a tug decided to relocate a barge mid-race during Race 2, the RC didn’t miss a beat, shortening the course to JDB and keeping the racing clean. The first gun went off at 10:00 AM and the entire fleet was back at the dock before 3:30 PM. A full day of racing, done right.

On the water, the battle between CYCE and MSA was everything you could ask for. Starboard tacks were called loudly and confidently around the marks, spinnakers bloomed in brilliant color on the downwind runs, and the lead changed hands with the kind of intensity that keeps sailors coming back week after week. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect to showcase such a magnificent fleet of boats.

Leading the charge for CYCE were Kiwi Express, Blizzard, and Francy, sailing with precision and fire, and when the dust settled, CYCE took home the Challenge Cup. Well earned, well sailed, and well deserved.

On the MSA side, Gecko claimed top honors in A Fleet while Samurai dominated B Fleet, brilliant results for both crews.
Results took a bit longer to tabulate than usual, as the RC team ran two separate calculations, one for the Challenge Cup and one for the MSA Spring Regatta. Hats off to the team for getting it done.

Mad props to our photographer Cliff Estes for capturing all the action. 📸
👉 Check out the rest of the photos here https://www.facebook.com/share/18ybpNaRqd/?mibextid=wwXIfr

📋 Full results available here https://milltownsailingassociation.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/MilltownSailingAssociation/MSA%20Racing/IgAVJ0DH0v0WSbqc804U1hedAZc9_yI20jNbx05sLblSAZw?e=siggCu

05/07/2026

The Langley Cruise Has Epic Adventures

Langley Host are Matt and Angela. There will be epic visits of the nautical legend, Captain Gray Beard. Activities and "Jolley" good times.

05/07/2026

Join us for MSA Lifesling Training with instructor Grant Albert on Sunday, May 17th. The session will kick off at 1:00 PM at The Muse with a classroom lecture, video, and tactile learning to provide a comprehensive understanding of Lifesling techniques and safety. Following the classroom portion, we’ll head out on the water where attendees will get a hands-on opportunity to utilize the Lifesling and Lifesling Tackle system to practice hoisting an overboard volunteer. If you plan to join the on-the-water training, please come dressed appropriately for the weather and bring your PFD.
Pre-learning reading and videos are encouraged to enhance your experience and can be found here on Margaret Pommert's free public resource Seattle on the Water.
Don’t miss this important training opportunity to improve your crew safety skills!

!!! Register Here !!!
https://milltownsailing.org/sys/website/system-pages/?pageId=18008