Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) – Been There, Done That – But, No Thanks!

As we purchased an old, but new to us, sailboat in 2011, a 1978 Perry 47 ketch, we by pure chance (the internet) became aware of an organization called the Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA). After a brief cursory review on the internet about the SSCA, we decided it might be worthwhile and subscribed online at the SSCA website for a one year membership.  We became “official” SSCA Associate members in February 2012 – our names are posted in the "Welcome New Members" section of the SSCA's April 2012 Commodores’ Bulletin.

Our boat Rainbow was located in Kemah, Texas right on the Clear Lake channel as we worked on fixing her up. We experienced the wake of all that transited back and forth from Clear Lake to Galveston Bay; and yes the heat and humidity was intense. At night, since I was a SSCA member, I downloaded and reviewed every Commodores’ Bulletin they had on their website, the oldest one online was January 2008 – never figured out what happened to the other Commodores’ Bulletin since 1952 through 2007 - it would have been really interesting to review the first and earlier bulletins.  I reviewed all the website pages and forums, became thoroughly versed in the origins and tenants of the SSCA. Also downloaded and reviewed the “Complete History of the SSCA” which was compiled and written by a Ted Anderson in 2004. Found it a little strange that this SSCA history was not continually updated to current times as it was now about eight years behind the times.  The history revealed that from its humble beginnings, the SSCA became organized, rule based, and very political; contrary to its original conceptional ideas. Significant in fighting, personality clashes, and political squabbles were documented – I found this a little difficult to understand as this was supposedly a voluntary organization based on a common purpose with mutual respect and deep regard for each other – but each time these petty clashes occurred membership usually declined, sometimes significantly. It was very apparent that the original concepts of the SSCA had changed dramatically; as many members stated a strongly held perception of elitism existed in the small ranks of the Commodores and the Associate designation, with no vote or say, was contentious as they were perceived as second-class members even though they were in the majority.

 

As the documented history was very brief about the “founders” and the SSCA’s beginnings, decide to query the internet to find some more information.

• The January 2001 issue of Cruising World, had a very informative article, “Growing Up At Sea” by Tere Batham (original article on her website), about Jack and Ruthie Carstarphen – Jack Carstarphen is stated to have had the original concept for the SSCA. This article has good information on the beginnings of the organization.  A noteworthy quote that reflects Jack's Carstarphen attitude, "There is no such thing as security, Teré. It's all lost in the end. So don't live your life like there is."
• The November 2010 issue of Cruising World, had an informative article, “Committed to Cruisers” by Dan Spurr, about Ginny (Osterholt) Filiatrault who really managed and kept the SSCA alive in its early years.
• The May 1991 issue of Yachting magazine “Sailing the Seas Around” by Carleton Mitchell provided additional insight into the "attitude" of the SSCA.  The SSCA was a “disorganization” for live-aboards that share cruising information and good fellowship. It had anti-establishment beginnings - where every man – and woman, too – would be a Commodore. It highlighted that some folks were not SSCA members since they did not live full-time aboard their own boat and others since they were owners of a motorboat. It provides a good summary of the SSCA organization and structure in the early 90’s.
• The book, “Cruising Japan to New Zealand: The Voyage of the Sea Quest” by By Tere Batham (daughter of Jack and Ruthie Carstarphen) had a little more information in the introduction section.
• Eric Forsyth stated on his website, “The Carstarphens were founder members of the Seven Seas Cruising Club, along with a bunch of ‘liveaboards’ in San Diego. They felt they were not getting enough respect from local yacht clubs so they decided all members would be ‘Commodores’.”
• Found a few other pieces of information as I searched on the names of the founders and their boats, mainly it focused on charter operations in the Caribbean.

 

The six SSCA founders’ names and boats:

Jack and Ruthie Carstarphen	Shellback - 39’ Block Island Ketch
Pat and Leo Miner	Tropic Bird - 40’ Flush-Deck Block Island Ketch
Bill and Marion Rumsey	Black Dolphin - 40’ Flush-Deck A-40 Angelman Ketch
Walter and Katie Maertins	Evening Star - 45’ Ketch
Johnny and Betty Nissen	Norwind - 46’ Canoe-Stern Ketch
Jack and Dee Slasor	Stardust - 34’ Gaff-Rigged Gulfweed Ketch

 

The limited information gleamed from internet research revealed, some “founders” eventually cruised southward to Mexico and returned to southern California. Some cruised southward along the Mexican coast , down to Central America and to Panama. Some visited the Galápagos Islands and returned to Panama. After a Panama canal transit, some sailed the Caribbean, with some ending up at the Virgin Islands starting tourist charter businesses. The Carstarphens' and Miners' cruised together and both ended up in the charter boat business (see picture below).

The Black Dolphin sailed offshore to Hawaii and is one of the few ships still around today, now based in Hong Kong as a sailing school vessel. Most were not affluent and had breaks in their sailing stints to replenish funds or "refill the cruising kitty" as they termed their monetary savings. There were mentions of long periods being dock bound and discovered no claims of worldwide cruising or circumnavigation - it was a "big deal" at the time to just coastal cruise southward and leave the US mainland. At the time, there were other seafaring individuals, couples, and families more adventurous, as many had crossed oceans and travel round the world long before the advent of the SSCA.

The true origin of the name of this organization, Seven Seas Cruising Association, was never stated or discovered in the research on the internet. On the SSCA website it states:

"What are the Seven Seas?  The old Clipper Ship tea route from China to England was the longest trade route under sail, and included the South China Sea, the Celebes Sea, the Timor Sea, the Banda Sea, the Flores Sea, the Java Sea, and the Sulu Sea. Our name reflects the water over which those who passed before us crossed when they dropped dock lines and headed out to sea."

Research on the phrase "the old Clipper Ship tea route from China to England" yielded the most plausible source of this was "The Great Tea Race of 1866". It was the last and probably most famous race by clipper cargo ships under sail. It signified an "end-to-the-sailing-era" as the tea clipper sailing ships were replaced by the faster coal powered cargo steamships.

What are the seven seas is controversial and there is no substantial agreement on what exact seas make up the seven. The number "7" has many meanings and is considered good luck by some, some say the number "7" represents Neptune.  The term "sail the seven seas" generally means to sail the oceans of the world. The SSCA designation of the Seven Seas being comprised of the South China Sea, the Celebes Sea, the Timor Sea, the Banda Sea, the Flores Sea, the Java Sea, and the Sulu Sea; does not make logical sense as the route of the Great Tea Race of 1866 did not traverse all of them and none of the "founders" sailed these seas "over which those who passed before us crossed". However, if one attempts to mimic the free-spirited, romantic, adventurous, anti-establishment, and contempt of formal yacht clubs mind-set, mixed with a little humorous sense of nautical knowledge of signals of distress [for hundreds of years inverted national flags were commonly used as distress signals] - an inverted number "7' placed on this area of a nautical map kinda does intersect the seven seas designated - maybe this too was a jest, a joke, like the term Commodore was intended to be. Maybe an inverted number "7', a signal of distress or unlucky, over the geographical site where "real sailing" met it demise to advances in technology was their true intent to portray the symbolic state of sailing, but who really knows?

It is interesting to note that Jack and Ruthie Carstarphen, named their daughter after the Tahiti Ketch Teré owned by Louis Valier. That Ruth Carstarphen penned an article in Yachting News about the Coronado Yacht Club’s third seasonal Cove party held on Saturday 22 July 1943 where Vice-Commodore Edmund Bailey’s wife arrived aboard the “Seven Seas” skippered by Charlie Kempff. This was the first Cove party cruise that Jack Carstarphen and first mate Ruth attended at anchor aboard their 34-foot wooden cutter “Te Tiki”. That the first "home" of the newly formed SSCA called Outstretched Palms was at the Coronado Boat House, the prior home of the Coronado and San Diego Yacht Clubs - that Eric Forsyth noted they felt they were not getting enough respect from local yacht clubs.  Is it possible that as they named their daughter after a boat, that the name of the organization, “Seven Seas” originated from a Coronado Yacht Club Commodore's boat named “Seven Seas” to once again in jest insinuate their disdain of formal yacht clubs, just as they had in jest coined the term Commodore?  The pieces fit the attitude that they held of formal yacht clubs, but one can only speculate.

 

The SSCA history states:

• The SSCA, “a disorganization of sailboat liver-aboarders,” was born, “not as a club, with no official clubhouse, roster of officials, constitution, nor ‘bored’ meetings, but based on a single idea -- that liver-aboarders, both local and abroad, enjoy hearing from and about each other and that their experiences and discoveries can benefit all.”
• The requirements for entry into this loose-knit association were simple: “Ownership and residence aboard a sailing vessel in as much as said vessel is the home of the owner, and full acceptance by the Association.” Upon attaining membership, “all members become Commodores with full privileges of the flag” (a tongue in cheek gesture toward overdone club officialdom which at times so alters yacht clubs that the yacht is no longer important and only the club remains).
• The intention to go cruising, whether locally or worldwide, was extremely important to the membership.
• The term SSCA Commodore was essentially a title in jest, a joke, in derogatory reference to formal yacht clubs. The Commodore title is no longer a joke title, but a title with privileges to vote and scrutinize entry into the rank of Commodore, a select fraternity.

 

What is currently expected of all members and the traditions of the SSCA were iterated on their website and restated in many Commodores’ Bulletins.

All members

• Are expected to volunteer to help SSCA to remain the vibrant and valuable organization that it is.
• Acknowledge that all SSCA publications are for the personal use of its members and will not use them otherwise.
• Agree that violation of the traditions and clean wake motto of the SSCA could cause the non-renewal of membership in accordance with the SSCA bylaws.

 

SSCA Traditions

Common Bond	We are a caring and supportive family of kindred spirits: individuals who share a unique lifestyle and who reach out with international friendship, goodwill and camaraderie. We willingly assist a fellow sailor, regardless of which flag his vessel flies.
Commitment	We live a cruising lifestyle aboard our own ocean-going vessels, which are our homes, and conduct ourselves with independence and responsibility in an honorable and self-reliant manner. As a result, we assure the safety of ourselves and our crew, and the safety, comfort and convenience of vessels nearby.
Clean Wake	We always leave a clean wake by treating others and our environment with respect and deep regard, so that those who follow in our wake will be welcome. We know and follow maritime rules, including the Rules of the Road, no-discharge zones and waste management. We respect the local laws, customs and beliefs of any country we visit, even when we may feel that others are in the wrong. We are courteous and respectful without compromising our personal standards.
Bulletin	We share our cruising experiences and information, provide inspiration and advice, and support our traditions through the letters we write.
Sponsorship	We help new members along the path of cruiserhood, and sponsor those who qualify to be Commodores.
Burgee	We proudly fly our SSCA burgee and display our shield; find each other in anchorages worldwide; meet, help one another and enjoy the camaraderie.
Non-Profit	We contribute to our Bulletin and volunteer our time and energy to help SSCA.

 

While the traditions and clean wake motto of the SSCA are noble in design, we soon discovered that in reality they are really paper-based ideas not fully embraced and assimilated by many members of the organization.  This discovery was not a surprise, as membership in the SSCA is entirely voluntary and so is compliance with the "rules". Most members who own a boat harbor a strong sense of independence and self-reliance; and are most likely to not concede or conform easily to an authoritative establishment organization. It is inherently difficult to achieve mutual consensus on anything when mostly all members are "Captains" of their own ship and abhor the concept of being "crew" even to the greater ship designated the SSCA. The insights of the original founders recognized this fallacy of a formal authoritative association and emphasized their disdain for it when they "disorganized" on mutual friendship and respect for each other - all were equal and all assumed the jest title of Commodore in a fellowship without hierarchy.

 

With this familiarization of the SSCA, we attended our first (and last) Cruisers Luncheon/“social” event in the Houston area, held at a nearby marina yacht club. Even though we were warmly welcomed, it was perceptible the "surprise" of our attendance. The few members present (about 7 couples) appeared to be a "clique" as they appeared to know each other extremely well and weren't expecting others as another table and chairs had to be set up for us - wife, very young daughter, and me.  There was a distinct age gap of more than 20 years as they were all in their 60s/70s.  Lunch was simple club sandwiches followed quickly with ample "cocktails" - we stuck with sodas which accentuated our differences. Our young daughter had already signaled her desire for us to leave, but we remained a little longer. We exchanged casual information about the boats each owned, and as our boat was located on the channel entrance - many were aware of it as a "project" boat, as it had been there a long time with a visible for sale sign. Their boats were all docked, close together, right outside and visible through the windows in the room we were seated in.

An elderly gent stated he needed to retrieve an item from his yacht and asked us if we would like to take a quick look at his "baby", we accepted.  His boat appeared almost new (it was maybe 5 years old), ketch like ours but much larger, and immaculately cleaned and polished. We declined the tour inside and admired its outsides from the dock. As it had no markings on the bow, and the ships name and home port were affixed to the stern, I tried to appear knowledgeable when I asked if he was USCG registered and if he had just recently arrived here.  He indicated that he was USCG registered, the only option for a "real sailor of experience", and no, he had been here about 7 months since he departed Florida where he was previously for over a year. He queried as to why I thought he had recently arrived. I informed him his bow had no Texas registration or Marine Sanitation stickers and it is required after 90 days in Texas waters. Also stated that Texas registration also applied to his outboard equipped dingy. His astonished response was, that's B.S.!!! I then assured him it really was Texas law and it shouldn't be a surprise, as he had been in Florida previously for over a year and Florida has the same requirements. It was very apparent he did not want to converse further on this subject as he stated he had to get the item he came for and return to his friends, as he disappeared into his boat. We returned to the yacht club ahead of him. As we past what we believed were the other members boats, we noticed only one had the required Texas stickers and did not see a SSCA burgee flying anywhere in the marina.

As we re-entered the meeting room, where cocktails were abundantly being consumed and stories were being told. Another one of their friends had just arrived carrying a newly bought fire extinguisher. He boasted he bought it at the local large hardware store at a bargain, instead of at the nearby West Marine where it was outrageously priced - most there complimented him on his "score".  Apparently I made a mistake when I identified his newly bought fire extinguisher had no USCG approval markings and really would not meet the legal carriage requirements aboard a boat, as the conversation level significantly decreased.  We said our thanks and departed as you could feel the animosity in the air. As we drove back to our boat, both the wife and daughter stated their desire to not attend something like this again, I agreed with them.

As we continued our repair efforts on our boat, each month we would download and review the latest Commodores’ Bulletin. It was a marginally interesting newsletter with some subjects of interest, most did not really state much about sailing as they mainly focused on land-based tourist sites; eating and drinking establishments, and best stores to buy stuff at. When our time for renewal came due we opted to not renew as we found very little benefit to do so. Additionally, based on our past research of the original founders and their very anti-establishment and anti-authority attitude, we figured they would not be part of an organization that the SSCA had now become, so why should we.

 

Well considerable time had passed (2013 to 2019) and we have another old, but new to us, sailboat by the name of Indra; and by the magic of Facebook and the “Friends” you have, a posting about the SSCA appeared in our Facebook news feed around the 1st of February 2019. It was from a Facebook site called “Lilly M Service" and titled "SSCA PHOENIX (An open letter to the SSCA from Tom and Lilly aboard TIGER LILLY)" - this post was later deleted from their site. Basically they stated their extreme discontent with the SSCA President and Board of Directors, the Commodore's malaise, opposition for Associate members right to vote, opposition for power-boater membership, that the SSCA had deteriorated from an international sailing organization to a Southern Florida boater's club and would likely soon cease to exist if changes were not made.  Their solution was to eliminate the live-aboard requirement, add a new voting membership level called Cruiser required to a own sailboat, elimination of the Home Base administrative services, and no more power-boater members. The commentary identified other issues were in play and the SSCA had a public Facebook presence - we were not aware of this and join it around 15 February since it was free, with the intent to discover/learn more.

Initial review of the public SSCA Facebook site revealed a controversy and clash of personalities was in full effect. A member had used the SSCA Membership database to send emails to members announcing a new un-moderated, by the SSCA admins or members of the board, website. This resulted in a "official" SSCA email to all SSCA members. A initial key post to this rouge website was a slightly modified version of the original “Lilly M Service" post about the demise of the SSCA (later it too was deleted). A vicious discourse about the SSCA president and members of the boards versus a small group of Commodores had folks picking sides. Despite the "rules" of the SSCA Facebook public group prohibiting discussions about SSCA "business", new posts and divisive commentary reappeared to only be deleted by site moderators which further fueled the animosity and discourse.  As an outside observer familiar of the written SSCA traditions, it was very clear that both sides were undignified, not courteous, and not respectful proving again that the much "revered" SSCA traditions are really just paper-based ideas. Due to a fluke in Facebook "protocols", I gained admittance to the rogue, un-moderated Facebook SSCA Members Only Group.  Here the debate was equally contentious, discourteous, and disrespectful - and though un-moderated, the first controversy I read was censorship and moderation of a rogue members comments - many folks expressed their frustration with each other, both Facebook sites, and the SSCA management and stated they were "dropping" out of anything related to the SSCA. There is almost no record of the divisive commentary as on both Facebook sites there were deletions - on the public SSCA Facebook site all traces were deleted and awareness of the feud is only known by those who witnessed and observed it - I captured and recorded a subset of these conversations before their deletions. A poll of How Important is a SSCA Member Only Group was started on the public Facebook group but its constructive but divisive comments were also deleted.  When the "dust" of the feud subsided a bit, the final outcome was a few members had their SSCA membership terminated by SSCA management, but the "wound" was still open, as some other members stated they were done and not renewing their subscription.

Part of the heated controversy was about the unsanctioned creation of a rogue SSCA Members Only Group using a SSCA logo by a bonafide SSCA member without official SSCA management approval. It's ironic that this same action of creating a unsanctioned SSCA Facebook "page" had been done before and still exists, and nary a discontenting word was ever raised. What site is this? The Seven Seas Cruising Association Facebook page created November 11, 2015 and administered solely by Barbara Hart. We almost joined this site as we initially confused it with the "official and sanctioned" public SSCA Facebook site.

 

Déjà vu? Has this political struggle happened before? [Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it (George Santayana).]

Excerpts from the SSCA pages of history:

• 1991 - 2003 Struggling with a Larger Organization - Due to the trials and tribulations inherent in managing a 6000-member distributed volunteer organization, SSCA has struggled organizationally.  Much of this tumult occurred during the early 1990s and recently in 2003. The staff turnover was pretty much continuous throughout the 1990s, but has been stable for the most recent four or five years. During this period, the Boards had many heated debates about complaints by Commodores and Associates concerning the requirements for Commodore and the strongly held perception of elitism. Some Directors resigned as a consequence of these debates.
• Dec 91. Board for 1992; Tom Service-P, Jim Johnston-VP, Don Goodman (A)-Treas, Chuck Kanter-Sec, John Beeson, Allen Nightingale, & Tom Winkler.
• Jan 92. Message from the President, Tom Service: Introductory letter which cites his personal obligation to SSCA and his perception that "the future of SSCA is in jeopardy as a result of mismanagement and weak leadership by the board.”
• May 92. A positive letter from Rear Commodore Phil Tworoger, who was in Ft Lauderdale for 5 months, describes Tom Service as an ex-Navy Officer who needs to learn not to just give orders, refers to a few good board members, inferring most were bad, and proposed two motions for the ballot;
• Jun 92. Message from your Pres Tom Service. talks about "politics within the SSCA," and the need for straight forward communications between the members and the leadership.
• Feb 93. Board meeting of 8/22/92.* By a 5-2 vote, Tom Service was removed from the President's chair.* Jim Johnston is the new Pres, Pat Harris the new VP
• Oct 92. Message from your Pres, Jim Johnston. Discusses why Tom Service was deposed as President for making important decisions without consulting the board.
• Nov 95. The President tried in vain to get Commodores Runge, Service, and Cheatham to withdraw their ballot motions at the 7/15/95 board meeting
• Jan 96. 1995 ballot results:

• • Amendment to create Cruising Associate failed.
  • Amendment to provide voting rights for Cruising Associate failed.
  • Amendment to create an alternate Cruising Associate failed.

 

The similarity of Tom Service's current proposed solutions to those proposed in 1995 are uncanny. The SSCA history also reflects the current membership turbulence was essentially the same as what occurred in the past, as many members departed the SSCA. What had happened before in the past was now happening again, but no one realized it; Déjà vu. By no coincidence one single individual, Thomas B. Service, was common in almost all the disruptive events and the instigation of visceral animosity amongst members resulting in a negative impact on SSCA public status and declining membership.

 

In the mist of this turmoil, had an idea, why not try to help and see if a positive change could be made - decided we give it a one month try.  First went on the official SSCA website and reviewed their pages and content. By just reading and clicking the provided text links found complete and unfettered access to their Membership Directory and one link gave file level access to their server completely bypassing the website interface and non-existent security protocols. Their Membership Directory was wide open to anyone with internet access. From the data that was freely accessible converted it into pictorial charts that provided an understanding of membership and boat composition. From the data I also learned the geographical breakdown of their membership and location of their cruising host station members.  The SSCA was and IS primarily US based, highest memberships in Florida and California, mono-hull sailboats were still the largest entity but declining, and comparison to numbers stated in the SSCA history to current membership numbers, was in a state of membership decline. The Associate membership greatly outnumbered the Commodore ranks which was reported to have had only 17% participation in the last election. As the Commodore ranks have the only vote and "say" in the course of the SSCA's direction, it would be foolhardy to have faith in this group to steer the helm, based on their demonstrated "malaise"  past performance in not only voting but in the fundamental traditions of the SSCA like volunteerism, lack of respect and deep regard in the divisive commentary, etc. As many Rear and Lifetime Commodores gave up their sailboats and moved ashore, or to motorized vessels it is reasonable to assume a decrease or cessation of their activities in the SSCA organization - the facts or  "malaise" bears this out - but due to the "rules" they retain a right to vote without a vested interest or commitment to the sailing lifestyle, go figure.

Due to the serious nature of the lack of security on their website, I notified them by email (read this) of this breach plus other problem issues, in a slightly humorous but constructive way. It was disappointing that it took many more conversations to fix the simple defective text link to allow public download of the text labeled “Sample Commodores' Bulletin" but this highlighted the inexperience of whoever was maintaining the website. I sent many more issues to them to include recommended changes to their Contact Us page, but as many suggestions were not being implemented I ceased to provide inputs, even though the remaining list of problems was very long and growing as I continued to review their website, until a positive change could be observed - sadly it did not happened.

During this period I reviewed each new post to the SSCA Facebook group and discovered many were not compliant with the posted rules - the moderators apparently were not catching them or allowing them at their discretion. Quite a few posts had an ulterior motive to draw SSCA site members to their personal social media sites in an attempt to become one of their Youtube subscribers, join their website or Facebook group, become a Patreon, and/or eventually sell them something - the rules allow for one (1) post of this type per month - this was and is still being abused as the frequency of posts was multiple times a month and/or weekly or more often.  I would inform the "offending party" and a moderator of this infraction and in each case where they could not post a link back to their social media, as they had in the past, they ceased to post anything more on the SSCA Facebook site. Some even stated the moderators had approved of their actions even though they knew it broke the site rules (see picture below).

Other new posts to the SSCA Facebook group that were within the rules I checked for the "principal of reciprocity" of the SSCA website - in almost all cases this did not exist.  So in these cases, I posted a reciprocal comment on their website mentioning the SSCA and providing the link for a free sample Commodores' Bulletin (this was why I needed the broken links on the SSCA website fixed).

As no one was promoting the SSCA organization or website on social media, I figured it was worth a try to provide examples of how to possibly do this.  Each of the following video and pictures, was posted to the SSCA Facebook Group public site in a "share" ready format post; sadly they got a few "thumbs ups" but no shares and few to no comments. I even posted a nice video made by SSCA President Ed Kelly in a "share" ready format post, but it too was not shared out to other social media sites. Out of 12,000-plus members of the public group - not one person was willing to share to their own Facebook account with their friends or on other sites that they might be members of the SSCA.  The "malaise" that was mentioned in the “Lilly M Service" post was more widespread than I thought possible or were people that shy or embarrassed to be associated with the SSCA, I never determined the answer.

 

It was during this time frame that the SSCA Home Base staff finally realized I was not a SSCA member and when asked, I confirmed their suspicions. I had stated that I was a general public member in the first email I sent them; they must have not read or comprehended that part. They could not understand why I was voluntarily providing website corrections and all these promotional inputs.  Shortly after this awareness, I received a few private messages (PMs) from some Commodores who politely advised that my efforts were really SSCA organizational business issues not suited (and prohibited by the rules) for the public SSCA Facebook Group and especially from a non-member. I did not argue or debate. I ceased my efforts and deleted each and every promotional post I had made from the day I joined the public SSCA Facebook Group - this includes every reciprocal post I made to other websites. The following was another share ready promotional post that did not get posted to the public SSCA Facebook Group as it would have violated the "rules".

 

☘️☘️☘️☘️ 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙎𝙚𝙖𝙨 𝘾𝙧𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘼𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 (𝙎𝙎𝘾𝘼) 𝙒𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙃𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙮 𝙎𝙩 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙠’𝙨 𝘿𝙖𝙮! 🍀🍀🍀🍀

.
𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕘𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕡𝕤, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕨𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕡𝕤,
𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕡𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕖𝕒.
𝔹𝕦𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕡𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕗𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕡𝕤,
𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕞𝕒𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕒𝕝𝕨𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕓𝕖.

🌈💰 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚 ‘𝙇𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙮’ 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙎𝘾𝘼 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙙𝙤𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝘽𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙩 ( https://www.ssca.org/docs.ashx?id=469521 ) 🌈💰

 

As a non-SSCA member to the SSCA Facebook Public Group I made a few more constructive posts but some drew the fire of others and their foul adverse responses resulted in their deletions. A few of the other posts on this website are a direct result of those deleted subjects. The picture below shows another "constructive" comment that was deleted on another post. The recommendation to change the email address was suggested earlier when the changes were submitted on the SSCA Contact US website page - the recommended change to the individual's email address on the letter or SSCA website were never made.

An individual was posting weekly on the public SSCA Facebook Group providing links to two Facebook Groups, “Cuba, Land and Sea” and “Bahamas, Land and Sea” which violated the SSCA Facebook Group "rules".  I researched this to attempt to understand the motivation. The poster was the creator and administrator/moderator on both sites, the Cuba site had a longer existence, the Bahama site was newly established at the same time of the passage of US travel restrictions to Cuba, the promotion of both sites was clearly geared to increasing their membership as this same post was shared to many other websites. The poster had past affiliations with the SSCA, some of the SSCA management (BOD) were new members on Bahama site and were also promoting it, but both these sites did not adhere to the "principal of reciprocity" of promoting the SSCA. As both the poster's sites promote and provide information about Cuba and the Bahamas as a sailing destination it initially appeared the poster's motivation was innocent and solely geared for the benefit of others. However, a internet searched revealed the poster was the Waterway Guide Media’s Cruising Editor for Cuba and the Bahamas; and coauthor of the Waterway Guide guidebooks for Cuba and the Bahamas.  It made sense now; both the Cuba and Bahama Facebook Groups could serve to not only disseminate information and promote travel to these locations, but also gather pertinent information for annual updates to the guidebooks, and serve as a vehicle to discreetly promote the guidebook sales - very creative, smart, and shrewd - nothing wrong with this even though it is not disclosed or transparent. I further researched this and discovered the Waterway Guide is a sponsor of the SSCA (look at very bottom of their home page for the SSCA logo reciprocal link) and is a SSCA sponsor and listed on the SSCA Partners page with a reciprocal link back to the Waterway Guide website.

With this background knowledge I made the comment below to his post.

The response was very eloquently stated - he stated he was unaware of any "rules" as he was never informed, he was paying it forward for the benefit of others, and the response did not address the issues raised but side-skipped and bypassed them.  I made another response back, "Very eloquently stated, but it did not address the issues raised.  The SSCA site has published rules, but they don’t appear to apply – as an admin of other websites you publish rules and enforce them. As I’m aware of your past association with the SSCA, the principal of reciprocity or equally promoting the SSCA does not seem to be a consideration, I don’t quite fathom why? It’s a matter of integrity………..". I do not have a copy or picture of the rest of the conversation, as it was soon deleted. His post remained and despite a clear understanding of the rules, time passed and another weekly post was posted to the public SSCA Facebook Group.  This was what I had expected to occur based on the "feel" I've developed observing the moderation of this website - it is their website and really they have the final say on "anything". As rule 9 states, "Admins may remove or shut down comments on any post at any time. ". There were other recent posts that also violated the "rules" and used a similar technique for the fulfillment of their own personal agenda but they slid under the watchful blind eyes of the mods.

 

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Update:

 

The SSCA controversy is far from over and probably never will be as everyone has an "opinion".  There was a another opinion post, which was deleted again, about the upcoming SSCA ballot/elections on website “Lilly M Service"; this post even made its way onto the Cruisers Forum website. In the comment section of their post they state the SSCA Board of Directors have placed them on probation pending review for membership termination due to their "mutinous' actions.

Even though the website “Lilly M Service" deleted this previous post, they can't refrain from 'fighting the fight" and have added another new post titled the "The Swahili Flip-Flop Man". This title is very appropriate as they themselves seem to "Flip-Flop" in their stance as witnessed by stating a position in a post and then deleting it. Their constant output of controversial posts followed in short time with their deletion appears to portray a lack of steadfast commitment to the cause they claim to champion.  Vacillating like a sail luffing in a constantly shifting wind of indeterminate direction, the direction they aspire for the SSCA appears to be fraught with dilly-dallying aimlessly and indecision that will achieve no meaningful end but instill animosity and discontent in the remaining SSCA elites and proletariats. In the comment section of this new post they state they finally decided to resign their SSCA membership - who says Old Salty Dogs can't learn new tricks.

 

The SSCA held their 2019 elections resulting in the election of some new Board members, their Commodores’ Bulletin name being changed to the Cruiser's Bulletin - another tradition of the original SSCA resigned to Davy Jones' Locker, and the other proposed measures failed again. The SSCA Facebook site had a post that indiscreetly referred to the actions of  “Lilly M Service" in a tone of ill repute.

As a cursory note, as I scanned the SSCA Facebook site I noticed another compliant by one of the members about nineteen posts in one month from another member that were in clear violation of the site's rules. A SSCA Facebook moderator posted the following "reminder".  Sadly, the site moderators do not enforce their own rules as the multiple posting of off-site links continues.

 

Regardless of OUR opinions and experiences, YOU are the Captain of your own ship and should evaluate the SSCA for yourself - never know, YOU might like it.

Oh, and if you weren't aware, there are many other sailing clubs out there looking for new cash-paying members. Or, if you feel passionately enough, like the original SSCA founders, you can start your own sailing association, club, or group of like-minded associates - it costs nothing, as the tools on the internet to do this are free.

As far as OUR final opinion on the Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) – Been There, Done That – But, No Thanks!