CW Editor
10-31-2007, 02:22 PM
The fourth annual Northwest Puget Packeteers Rendezvous was held in beautiful Port Townsend on the Washington Olympic Peninsula August 24 to 26. This year we had 46 present and future Packeteers in attendance and 19 boats represented. We welcomed new Packeteers Mike and Julie Dillard (Sea Otter) and son Ben from Bend, Oregon; Ken and Nancy Hunting (Gitane) from Anacortes, Washington, and John & Gay Gibson (Ann Aerobic) from Seattle
We also welcomed four prospective IPY owners who wanted to get the inside scoop on owning an Island Packet yacht. The new IP485 that Signature Yachts brought to the Rendezvous created a great impression with them and also generated many “Honey, let’s upgrade!” conversations.
After lunch on Saturday the Sanfords, Reeds, and McGihons shared their first-hand experiences about what it takes to get from Seattle to California and then do the Baha-Ha-Ha to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Each did the trip in a different way but all agreed on the following points:
• Choose your crew carefully. Having a crew with a time-limited schedule can be a mistake and can create significant issues.
• Don’t leave a current anchorage unless you have good weather and know you can get to your next destination during daylight if you are doing the near-coastal route.
• Your boat can withstand far worse weather than you or your crew will tolerate.
• July to September is the best time to leave Seattle for California.
• A single-sideband radio is a must for safety and is required to participate in the Baha-Ha-Ha.
• Don’t overprovision your boat; there’s good water and food all down the coast and throughout Mexico.
• Being a member of a local yacht club with reciprocal yacht-club agreements can save lots of money on moorage fees.
All couples agreed that their time in Mexico was wonderful. People are friendly and helpful, and of course, the food and margaritas are great.
The Rendezvous “All Crew” dinner was catered by In Season Catering of Port Townsend. It was a culinary experience all would love to repeat in the future. That was followed by Bill and Cynthia Noonan’s (Crème Brule) sharing of their 45-minute narrated DVD called Transiting the Panama Canal. The DVD is based on their trip in 2005 (and can be made available through www.pugetpacketeers.com), which they agreed was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
This year’s event closed with a wonderful blueberry pancake breakfast sponsored by Signature Yachts. Thanks so much, it was fantastic! We’d also like to acknowledge our many Rendezvous sponsors. Packeteers received generous sponsorship from Island Packet Yachts, help from our local dealer Signature Yachts (Seattle) and from the many Seattle marine vendors, including The Offshore Store, Lewmar, Fisheries Supply, Mont Blanc Pens, CSR Marine, Canal Boat Yard, West Marine, Galley Marine, Rich Haynie Insurance, Key Bank, Pacific Maritime Time, SAIL, Cruising World, Latitude & Attitudes, Sailing, Blue Water Sailing, Signature Yachts and Island Packet Yachts. Their support keeps people coming back to the Rendezvous!
We also welcomed four prospective IPY owners who wanted to get the inside scoop on owning an Island Packet yacht. The new IP485 that Signature Yachts brought to the Rendezvous created a great impression with them and also generated many “Honey, let’s upgrade!” conversations.
After lunch on Saturday the Sanfords, Reeds, and McGihons shared their first-hand experiences about what it takes to get from Seattle to California and then do the Baha-Ha-Ha to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Each did the trip in a different way but all agreed on the following points:
• Choose your crew carefully. Having a crew with a time-limited schedule can be a mistake and can create significant issues.
• Don’t leave a current anchorage unless you have good weather and know you can get to your next destination during daylight if you are doing the near-coastal route.
• Your boat can withstand far worse weather than you or your crew will tolerate.
• July to September is the best time to leave Seattle for California.
• A single-sideband radio is a must for safety and is required to participate in the Baha-Ha-Ha.
• Don’t overprovision your boat; there’s good water and food all down the coast and throughout Mexico.
• Being a member of a local yacht club with reciprocal yacht-club agreements can save lots of money on moorage fees.
All couples agreed that their time in Mexico was wonderful. People are friendly and helpful, and of course, the food and margaritas are great.
The Rendezvous “All Crew” dinner was catered by In Season Catering of Port Townsend. It was a culinary experience all would love to repeat in the future. That was followed by Bill and Cynthia Noonan’s (Crème Brule) sharing of their 45-minute narrated DVD called Transiting the Panama Canal. The DVD is based on their trip in 2005 (and can be made available through www.pugetpacketeers.com), which they agreed was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
This year’s event closed with a wonderful blueberry pancake breakfast sponsored by Signature Yachts. Thanks so much, it was fantastic! We’d also like to acknowledge our many Rendezvous sponsors. Packeteers received generous sponsorship from Island Packet Yachts, help from our local dealer Signature Yachts (Seattle) and from the many Seattle marine vendors, including The Offshore Store, Lewmar, Fisheries Supply, Mont Blanc Pens, CSR Marine, Canal Boat Yard, West Marine, Galley Marine, Rich Haynie Insurance, Key Bank, Pacific Maritime Time, SAIL, Cruising World, Latitude & Attitudes, Sailing, Blue Water Sailing, Signature Yachts and Island Packet Yachts. Their support keeps people coming back to the Rendezvous!