‘Let’s go sailing!” The U.S. Postal Servicecelebrates a favorite outdoor activity with two colorful postcard stamps. Illustrator Libby VanderPloeg grew up in Grand Haven, MI, a little harbor town on Lake Michigan, so sailboats were always dotting her views as a kid. With these memories in mind, she created two colorful, abstract images that capture the essence of sailing.

Value: 51¢ Postcard Rate (Nondenominated)
First Day of Issue: January 22, 2023
First Day City(s): Lahaina, HI
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Pane of 20

Stamp Purpose: Released alongside the 2023 One Sailboat stamp to cover the postcard rate.
Design: Features an abstract illustration of two sailboats on a calm sea with a blue sky. Designed by Libby VanderPloeg, the artwork was created using pencil sketches and Adobe Illustrator.
Sailboats Insight: Created to capture the joy of being on the water on a beautiful day.
History Represented: Sails have been used for thousands of years, with ancient Egyptians having simple sails around 4000 BC. Modern sailboats, as we know them, developed in the late 1800s. Post-World War II, sailboat materials shifted from wood to fiberglass, leading to the popularization of sailing as a recreational activity. The Bermuda rigged sailboat, with its triangular sail configuration, became the most common type. Many post-WWII Bermuda rigged sailboats are still in use today, a testament to their craftsmanship and care by their captains.