Spring SOS

April 5, 2025

Location:    Birch State Park

                   3109 East Sunrise Boulevard

                   Fort Lauderdale, FL   33304

Sailing Orientation Sessions (SOS) are held twice a year and are a great opportunity for members to learn more about sailing and become valuable crew members.  SOS is both fun and educational.

Spring SOS will be on Saturday, April 5 in the Manatee pavilion at Birch State Park, which is where we had our Fall 2022 SOS.  Lunch will be provided.  Alcohol and glass containers are prohibited, as is amplified sound.  There is a large parking lot near the pavilion, and all vehicles must park in paved parking spaces.

Registration for SOS is open on the website, and required to reserve your lunch.   SOS is free to members and $20.00 for guests.  Please remember to wear your SSSF badges.  After class, Certificates of completion will be given out to students upon request.

The schedule is below, but times may vary depending on the length of each class.  We will need volunteers to help check people in and clean up afterward, as the area needs to be returned to its original condition.  If you would like to help, please talk to Scott Stemple.

 9:30  - 10:00      Registration

10:00 – 10:45       Etiquette                   Capt. Debi Hallmark DeKiel    

10:45 – 11:45       Boat Safety               Ted Hillinski

11:45 – 12:15       Lunch

12:15 –   1:15       Captains View          Capt. Mike Efford

  1:15 –   2:15       Boat Systems           Capt. Bill Olson 

  2:15 –   3:00       VHF Radio               Scott Stemple

  3:00 –   4:00       Lines and Knots       Max Goldstein

Admission to the park

$6 per vehicle (up to eight people) – please try to carpool if possible.

$4 single occupant vehicle or motorcycle.

$2 pedestrians, bicyclists.

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park is a Florida State Park located in Fort Lauderdale, on East Sunrise Boulevard, between the Intracoastal Waterway and SR A1A.

The Manatee Pavillion is in the North Picnic Area, #11 below.

We will be holding a HH on 4/5/25 at the Grove Grill at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park from 3:45  pm til 5:30pm following the SOS. The Manatee Pavilion is on the Intracoastal side of Birch State Park. People will probably want to drive to the beach side of Birch State & park in the parking lot by the beach & canoe rentals to go to the Grove Grill. There is parking on the side of the street by the Grill also close to the Restaurant. A 10% discount on drinks & food will be provided.