John Arndt recipient of 2015 Distinguished Service Award

Annapolis, Maryland (October 12, 2015) – John Arndt was named the winner of the 2015 Distinguished Service Award by the Annapolis Boat Shows during the 2015 United States Sailboat Show. Arndt is the founder of Summer Sailstice a global sailing holiday started in 2001 to create a worldwide celebration of sailing on the weekend nearest the solstice.

Arndt is Associate Publisher at Latitude 38, a monthly publication dedicated to the interests of the West Coast sailor. Latitude 38 also runs Pacific cruising rallies. Arndt chairs the SailSFBay Board of Directors, a nonprofit dedicated to growing participation in sailing. He served one year on the Board of Directors of the Northern California Marina Association, two terms on the board of Sail America, as Strictly Sail Boat Show Chairman for ten years, and its national committee Chair for two years.

“I started the Summer Sailstice global celebration of sailing to get ‘the whole world sailing’, notes Arndt. “Sailors are fantastic people who share a passion for moving along with just the power of the wind. We love sharing it with others, and Summer Sailstice is a tool for sailors to share sailing with others.”

Arndt received an inscribed Captain’s Clock designed and crafted by Ocean Icons. The clock is a limited edition precision time piece donated by Weems & Plath.

The Sailing Industry Distinguished Service Award is an annual honor bestowed on an esteemed sailor who has distinguished him or herself through outstanding and unselfish service to the overall advancement of the sailing industry. The objective is to inspire members of the sailing industry to strive for high standards of excellence, service, and commitment.

In its 46th year, this year’s in-water sailboat show played host to more than 200 boats, 50 brokered boats, virtually every major sailboat manufacturer, and hundreds of dealers. Online ticket sales have out paced previous years by 25 percent and exhibitors and sponsors expect to greet up to 50,000 boaters over the course of the five-day event.

The world’s largest sailboat show draws from the greater Washington metropolitan area, home to six million people, and one of the country’s wealthiest regions. Ticket buyers represent all 50 states and international visitors, 20 percent of attendees, travel to Annapolis from more than 23 countries.

The 2015 United States Sailboat Show is October 8-12.

Photo: Scuttlebutt Sailing News Craig Leweck and SpinSheet’s Mary Ewenson helping Latitude 38’s John Arndt (center) celebrate after he was awarded the Annapolis Annapolis Boat Shows Sailing Industry Distinguished Service Award.