This years keynote speaker is Melanie Neale check out here bio here. 

View the full agenda here! 




There will be a special focus on opportunities for groups to gather casually to exchange experience about areas of special interest including the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the Bahamas, Eastern Caribbean and Panama.

GAM with cruisers from circumnavigators to those with long seasons in the Bahamas and Caribbean and those who gunkhole the US east coast. The GAM program runs from Friday evening pot luck through Saturday and Sunday mid-day presentations, interest groups and GAM time.

OPTIONAL COURSES THIS YEAR:

For 2026, the GAM will include options on Friday for:
- Safety for Cruising Couples training program from CCA (nearly full day, includes lunch) and
- American Heart Association CPR/AED/First Aid certificate course in the afternoon.

Those interested in CCA's Safety for Cruising Couples should visit CCA's webpage https://sas.cruisingclub.org/SCC . We will have a copy of the course book for each participant; you can buy one in advance on their webpage https://sas.cruisingclub.org/SCC. Unlike CCA's excellent offshore race crew focused Safety at Sea programs (2 days with online prep), Safety for Cruising Couples is focused on short handed sailing for a couple in coastal waters. Landfall Navigation will demonstrate safety equipment.Distinguished SSCA members will lead the sessions. 

Dockage: Yacht Club is extending a 45% discount on their nightly, weekly, or monthly slip fees through November 15th for all SSCA 2026 Chesapeake GAM attendees! That translates to $1.52 / ft for a one night reservation, further discounts are applied as you reserve for >7 nights (weekly rate) or > 29 nights (monthly rate). Please use Dockwa to reserve your slip. After you register look for a coupon code in your confirmation email to receive your discount. 
Anchorage and Marinas on Rock Creek

Click here to see video from 2025 GAM at Maryland Yacht Club.

VOLUNTEER FOR SET UP HERE