Summer Sailstice Sizzled …

According to founder and promoter John Arndt, the 9th Annual Summer Sailstice weekend held June 20-21 successfully increased worldwide awareness of the international sailing holiday among both mainstream sailors and the sailing media, resulting in an increase in boats and participants, along with an expansion in viral marketing and social networking channels.

"In this difficult economic environment, Summer Sailstice 2009 exceeded our expectations,” said Arndt. “This year’s event was clearly a blast for thousands of sailors around the world who once again celebrated with some new traditions associated with their holiday. Participation globally remains as high as last year, while this year, mainstream media covered the Sailstice even more comprehensively and more actively, and participating sailors began using community networking sites including Facebook, YouTube, Yelp and Flickr to share the fun."

Based on individual boats, multi-boat races, and flotillas registered at www.summersailstice.com, Arndt reports that the number of boats sailing on the Sailstice surpassed 3,900, ahead of 2008 by 400 boats, with an additional 1600 sailors. With a conservative average of four sailors per boat, Arndt estimates 15,600 sailors participated in this year’s Summer Sailstice across all 50 U.S. states, Europe, and Asia Pacific based on site registrations. He added that full participation levels for the event are “undoubtedly higher with additional Sailstice sailboat participants not registered on the site along with many windsurfers, kiteboarders and other water-based event supporters.”

Arndt added that Summer Sailstice prizes totaling over 400 from industry sponsors will be awarded to sailors who signed up and sailed for Summer Sailstice. Prizes include a one-week BVI charter with The Moorings, an Offshore Sailing School course, Hobie kayak, gear from West Marine, with additional prizes from top sailing industry supporters.

Summer Sailstice 2010 will be held June 19-20. For more information about Summer Sailstice and to read about 2009 "Sailstice Tales," visit www.SummerSailstice.com.

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