Greetings, fellow sailors!
With great joy and optimism, I welcome you to a new year of sailing, racing, and cherished memories with the Santa Barbara Sea Shell Association (SBSSA). Celebrating 77 years, our heritage and history in Santa Barbara is rich and enduring, and a testament to our unwavering commitment to family fun and the maritime spirit that binds us all together.
As Commodore, I am honored to lead this incredible community of youth skippers and sailing enthusiasts. Reflecting on my own journey, I am filled with gratitude for the experiences and lessons learned on the waters in and around Newport Harbor. Growing up, I embraced the joy of sailing during a period in my life that remains a treasured childhood memory. As a parent, it’s been gratifying to see my son learn to sail with Sea Shells over the past four years! Yes, there were challenging moments when we rigged a boat and sailed together in the Novice Class. However, we survived that learning curve by accomplishing something pretty special together – smooth solo sailing (with the occasional capsize, DSQ, or DNF)!
On Sunday afternoons, we gather at “Sea Shells Beach,” historically known as “Chapala,” meaning “to splash” or “to wade.” This beach was once the gateway to Santa Barbara, where local youth would paddle out to meet incoming ships and tender passengers ashore. Today, our young sailors have a positive outlet for their maritime adventures right here. Our success is thanks to the dedication of our member families who work together to help young skippers learn to sail and skipper their own boats, as well as our generous donors. It’s treasured time spent developing friendships, sportsmanship, confidence, sailing skills, and so much more – all while away from screens!
This year, we are running four fleets in five classes:
- US Sabot for Novice and C Class
- RS Tera for B Class
- O’Pen Skiff for A Class
- RS Feva for Feva Class (older teen skippers)
Veteran skippers continue to serve as mentors alongside younger US Sabot skippers.
As a Sea Shell parent with a lifelong passion for volunteerism and leadership in nonprofit organizations, I am dedicated to fostering an environment where each Sea Shell family can create their own absolutely positive memories! Let’s make this year unforgettable, building on our rich heritage and looking forward to a bright, adventurous future.
Sail With Us!
Denise Higgins, 2025 Commodore