Rendezvous 2011 (September 9-11) Bremerton, Washington
The third annual rendezvous of Ranger Tugs made a big statement: that these events are here to stay! The factory was there in huge numbers of personnel and with a copy of each of their models on display, including the Cutwater group. I was told that there were 61 boats attending the event. It is no longer possible to meet and greet all of the participants. One tends to gravitate to the familiar faces of those that we have met and befriended previously or those that we have cruised together with. The weather remained spectacular throughout the event including the day we cruised into Bremerton and the day we cruised back home.
Together with the good food, companionship and Bob's margaritas (all stuff we have come to expect), this year was marked by a large selection of useful seminars that fulfilled the boat-owner's urge to gain familiarity with their systems or routine boat maintenance. Ultimately, one learns the most by talking one-on-one with other owners with the same model and covering the issues that have arisen in their ownership.
Evenings were great social occasions and the live music of "parrot head" Dave Calhoun was a lot of fun. Other notable contributions came from boating authors the Yeadon-Joneses (Dreamspeaker series) and the Favors. Jim Favors' seminar on cruising the Great Circle Loop turned me into an armchair "Looper". It remains to be seen whether l run out of time or not before I venture way out there. For the reader who is not familiar with the Loop, it goes from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. Then around Florida and up the Eastern Seaboard to the Hudson River. I thent takes you north to Montreal and on to the Rideau Canal or west on the Erie Canal to Lake Ontario. That is it in a general sense although, according the Jim, the sidetrips are many and stupendous.
I have added a few photos of my trip.
Together with the good food, companionship and Bob's margaritas (all stuff we have come to expect), this year was marked by a large selection of useful seminars that fulfilled the boat-owner's urge to gain familiarity with their systems or routine boat maintenance. Ultimately, one learns the most by talking one-on-one with other owners with the same model and covering the issues that have arisen in their ownership.
Evenings were great social occasions and the live music of "parrot head" Dave Calhoun was a lot of fun. Other notable contributions came from boating authors the Yeadon-Joneses (Dreamspeaker series) and the Favors. Jim Favors' seminar on cruising the Great Circle Loop turned me into an armchair "Looper". It remains to be seen whether l run out of time or not before I venture way out there. For the reader who is not familiar with the Loop, it goes from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. Then around Florida and up the Eastern Seaboard to the Hudson River. I thent takes you north to Montreal and on to the Rideau Canal or west on the Erie Canal to Lake Ontario. That is it in a general sense although, according the Jim, the sidetrips are many and stupendous.
I have added a few photos of my trip.