Need a reason to join the 2026 Chesapeake Bay GAM? Hear from keynote speaker: Melanie Neale
by Seven Seas Cruising Association 12 Sep 16:11 UTC
October 2-4, 2026
Chesapeake Bay GAM Conference © Seven Seas Cruising Association
The Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) is pleased to announce that acclaimed author, yacht broker, and lifelong cruiser Melanie Sunshine Neale will serve as keynote speaker for the 2026 Chesapeake Gam, taking place October 2-4, 2026 at the Maryland Yacht Club in Pasadena MD.
Born into the cruising lifestyle and raised aboard her family's 47-foot Gulfstar, Neale earned her 100 Ton Captain's License before she even received her driver's license. She is widely known throughout the cruising community as the daughter of legendary Cruising World columnist Tom Neale and has built her own respected career as a writer, sailor, educator, and marine industry leader.
Neale is the author of the memoir Boat Girl, the young-adult adaptation Boat Kid, and numerous magazine articles and essays chronicling life afloat. Her newest book, Boat Buying Basics (Sheridan House, 2025), continues her tradition of helping sailors navigate the realities of cruising life with honesty, humor, and practical insight.
Over the years, Neale has owned and cruised aboard a wide range of vessels, from a Columbia 28 to an Island Packet 44, and has worked throughout the marine industry as a captain, writer, educator, and yacht broker. In 2020, she founded Sunshine Cruising Yachts, a boutique brokerage known for its strong focus on supporting women in boating.
In recognition of her contributions to the sailing community, Neale received the Sailing Industry Distinguished Service Award at the Annapolis Sailboat Show in 2022 for her efforts to bring more women into the marine industry.
Her ties to SSCA go back decades. As a young cruiser, she volunteered at the organization's former Fort Lauderdale office and has since taught and presented at multiple SSCA Gams.
The Chesapeake Gam will bring together cruisers from across the country for a weekend of education, fellowship, and inspiration. Additional event details, registration information, and programming announcements will be released through SSCA.org in the coming months.
For more information about the Chesapeake Gam and the Seven Seas Cruising Association, visit ssca.org/2026ChesapeakeGAM
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