Come one, come all to the fourth and final BCA Rendezvous of 2016 on Thanksgiving weekend [1], October 8-10. Sponsored by the Calgary Chapter, this annual event is known for its fabulous Thanksgiving dinner, the intensely competitive model boat race, a keg (or sometimes two) of beer, camaraderie and its casual and largely unstructured agenda. It is a great opportunity for sailors/boaters with a common interest in offshore cruising to rub shoulders for fun, laughs, mutual help, and to trade stories and gear at a popular location.
Everyone is welcome!
Members, prospective members, past members and guests, boaters interested in offshore sailing and friends young and old are all invited to attend. Boats of all sorts, sizes and condition are welcome. Some come by kayak. Some fly in, others drive or walk on the ferry. Some come for one day, others for 3. Some stay onboard, others stay in the Thetis Island Marina and Pub [2] rental suites. The choice is yours! And if you need crew or are hoping to find a boat with a berth, please write a post on the Rendezvous Event forum [3]; it would be great if people can connect and make arrangements to travel together.
Weekend Highlights
- Model Boat Race! A fun, farcical, but deadly serious competition for supremacy between mini sailboats made on-site with found-on-beach materials. There are rules, but if anyone knows for sure what they are, please let the Rendezvous coordinator know! Rules are somewhat fluid, often made up on the spot, and apparently subject to retroactive change. Rumours of bribery and sabotage abound.
- Swap Meet! An opportunity to get rid of surplus items and find treasures. Anything from stem to stern, or even entire boats. Items like charts, DVDs, and books are quick to find buyers. For large items, bring posters for the bulletin board or advertise on the BCA website [4] and/or email the Thanksgiving list [5] in advance.
- Presentations! Projection facilities are available and we will schedule the presentations indoors at the Marina on an ad hoc basis depending on interest and weather. If you have a presentation or slide show about a trip or some technical matter of interest to fellow boaters, please bring it along on a thumb-drive and we’ll see how things work out.
- Check out Offshore Boats! Ever wonder what the boats you pass on the dock are like inside? People sail around the world in these boats and some are pretty small — and old. Could you do it? Each day many Rendezvous attendees invite others to visit on board their boats.
- Prizes! Suppliers have donated attractive prizes for draws and door prizes.
Schedule of Events
For a detailed schedule of daily events, check here [6].
Reservations for Moorage
Good anchorage is available nearby, but many BCA boats tie up and make full use of the marina docks and facilities. So the answer is “Yes! The sooner the better.” Marina space may be limited and it is easier to cancel than reserve at the last minute: Dock Reservations: 250-246-1443; Pub (alternate): 250-246-3464.
Your RSVP is Requested
Please RSVP on the website [1], even if there are doubts (look for “RSVP for this event” above). Advance registration is appreciated for planning purposes, but organizers also understand if things change and there is a need to cancel.