About SCA

   

History

From 1947 to 1956 sailing with 12 feet sailboats was popular in Aruba. At that time, all sailors were members of the Aruba Yacht Club.  In subsequent years the 12 feet boats were replaced by the 14 feet wooden Sunfish which was equipped with materials such as bamboo masts and gaffs. In 1959 the fiberglass Sunfish was introduced (also see boat history). This period marked the beginning of the emergence of an enthusiastic group of sailors in the Sunfish class in Aruba. 

However, it took until 1965 for the current Sunfish Club Aruba (SCA) to be established.  On September 9th, 1974 Sunfish Club Aruba was officially founded as an association (Dutch: “vereeniging”) and it was legally recognized by at that time His Excellency the Governor of the Netherlands Antilles through state ordinance approval of May 6th, 1976, No. 10 (Dutch: “Landsbesluit d.d. 6 Mei 1976, No. 10”). At the time of the approval the board of Sunfish Club Aruba consisted of: M. Hagendoorn (chairman), D. Kerklaan (vice-chairman), F. Hogesteeger (first secretary), J.W. Gesterkamp (second secretary), T.Barmes (commisioner) and H. Kelkboom (commissioner). 

Sunfish Club Aruba has hosted the Sunfish World Championship three times in Aruba being in 1974, 1980 and 1987. SCA member of honor, Ernest (Ernie) Kervel, was the driving force behind the organization of these world class events. Kervel chaired Sunfish Club Aruba for many years and he also was the second president of the International Sunfish Class Association (ISCA). The Sunfish World Championships were mayor events. Over 100 Sunfish sailors from all over the world visited Aruba each time. Whereas the event lasted one week, preparations typically started a year or more in advance. The races were held at Palm Beach across the Holiday Inn Hotel. The 1974 World Championship was won by Serge Marsole of Guadaloupe. The 1980 World Championship was won by Cor van Aarholt of The Netherlands who later settled in Curaçao. And the 1987 World Championship was won by Bruce Sutphen of Illinois, USA.  

For each of the World Championships, the Sunfish manufacturer shipped about 100 new Sunfish boats to Aruba. After the World Championship most of these boats were sold locally to Sunfish enthusiasts. Sunfish is a durable boat and there is therefore a high probability, that the Sunfish which you possess today was imported to Aruba for any one of the mentioned World Championships.   

Over the years Sunfish Club Aruba also organized several long distance events. The sailing trip around the island of Aruba per Sunfish was held several times in the 1970’s and 1980’s when weather conditions permitted. The last time that this event was held was in 2007 in conjunction with the around the island trip for sailing yachts (see press release).  

Sunfish Club Aruba also organized three long distance trips from Aruba to Adicora, Venezuela in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Adicora is a colonial town and windsurfing center on the Eastern side of the Venezuelan peninsula of Paraguana. To cross the channel between Aruba and Venezuela the Sunfish sailors, departing from Rodger’s Beach, were to head windward first for about three hours to ‘Bajo’ (a shallow fishing ground South East of Seroe Colorado). From ‘Bajo’ they were to sail South West into Adicora avoiding the unfavorable shallow waters on Northern shore of Paraguana. The story from those days goes that the sailors caught fresh fish along the way and that the fish was prepared at their favorite restaurant in Adicora the same night! 

Membership

Sunfish Club Aruba is an association which recognizes the following types of members:

Junior members are members below age 16. Upon reaching the age of 16 they are automatically registered as regular members. Members of honor are individuals who have delivered exceptional service to the association or to the sailing sport in general. Donators are individuals who intend to foster the sailing sport in Aruba and therefore support the association through periodic financial contributions.

Contact us

Joining the mailing list

If you would like to be kept informed on Sunfish Club Aruba activities, you are welcome to join the mailing list. The mailing list is open to both members and non-members. Through the mailing list you will receive email notifications of upcoming events with confirmation of time and venue. The mailing list is based on the “opt-in” principle so please send an email to sca-info@sunfishclubaruba.org to indicate that you would like to join.

 

Becoming a member

If you would like to become a member of Sunfish Club Aruba, you are more than welcome to contact us by sending an email to sca-info@sunfishclubaruba.org. In addition, you are welcome to meet us on the beach at any of the events listed on the Activities page. As a member you can participate in any of the activities of SCA.

 

Becoming a donator

If you would like to stimulate and support the sailing sport in Aruba, you can become a donator of Sunfish Club Aruba by sending an email to sca-info@sunfishclubaruba.org. As a donator you contribute an annual fee of AWG 25,- or more at your own discretion. As a token of appreciation you will receive a genuine SCA sticker and in addition you are welcome to join the SCA mailing list.

 

Sharing past experiences

If you have been a Sunfish Club Aruba member in the past or if you have participated in a Sunfish World Championship in Aruba, please send us an email at sca-info@sunfishclubaruba.org, with your name and the years in which you have sailed in Aruba. Also do not hesitate to share some of the stories which may have!

 

Selling or buying used Sunfish boats or parts

If you have a used Sunfish boat or any used Sunfish parts or gear which you would not mind disposing, please send us an email at sca-info@sunfishclubaruba.org. We will place the items in our Advertise section free of charge. Sunfish parts are limited in Aruba, so there may always be another sailor who you can help by offering your items. Alternatively, if you are looking for a used Sunfish boat or a specific part, we can place your request in our Advertise section free of charge.