The Rendezvous will take place on Sept. 12, 2024, approximately from 11AM to 3PM, Mayo Beach, Wellfleet, MA
Rendezvous is FREE!!
– Hope you can come and row some great boats, and enjoy a few hours on beautiful Mayo Beach in Wellfleet. The Town launching ramp is available for free if you would like to bring a boat, and I encourage you to do so. If you do plan to bring a boat, please try to let me know. It’s not a requirement, but it’s nice to know . Please include an anchor and pfd’s .
Use of the launching ramp at the Wellfleet pier is free for people attending the Rendezvous. Just let them know.
We will have water available to refill your personal water bottle, so bring one with you.
The 2024 Sucia Small Boat Rendezvous will be held at Sucia Island State Park on July 12-14
This year marks the 21st anniversary of this annual Rendezvous, established in 2003!
Known as the crown jewel of Washington State’s marine park system, Sucia is almost the most northerly island in the San Juan island archipelago. It offers several bays for anchoring, and several camping areas. Echo Bay on the east side offers docks and is popular with big boat sailors, but this rendezvous is planned for the narrow strip of land separating Fox Cove from Fossil Bay on the southwest. We will be using Fossil Bay unless a strong south-easterly wind makes it uncomfortable – it has the better beach for landing on. There are mooring buoys and two docks as well, but these cannot be reserved and may be full, so be prepared to anchor if you don’t want to beach your boat. Fox Cove is an excellent place to beach too, with a large shoreline almost entirely clear of rocks, but the cove is a bit shallower and has less room to anchor.
There are campsites close to the beach, and plenty of them all over the island. The prettiest sites face Fox Cove and Fossil Bay. We try to grab what we call “The Campsite” (campsite #15) at the back left corner of Fossil Bay to serve as our gathering place, especially for evening campfires. If the first person to arrive could please claim The Campsite, that would be great (campsites are not reservable). Tent campers typically share the campsite. We’ll have a fire in the evenings so bring along your sticks and marshmallows. You’re not camping if you don’t have burned sugar on your face!
Composting toilets are located close to the campsites – these are clean and virtually odor free. There’s good water on the island but no garbage disposal — be prepared to take it home with you.
We have informal potluck gatherings around dinner time at the campsite (or at the picnic shelter if it’s available) and, if the usual light winds and strong currents cooperate, we will attempt a Round-the-island “race” Saturday at noon. This is a unique race in that A) it’s not really a race and B) we never seem to make it completely around the island. Those are the only two things that may distract from the main attractions, which are mingling, relaxing and enjoying the breathtaking beauty of Sucia. The hiking trails and views are spectacular. Wildlife abounds. Orcas, pelicans, sea otters, sea lions, blue herons, dolphins, harbor seals, deer, bald eagles, and gray whales have all been observed. Explore the sandstone caves. Look for fossils at Fossil Bay. They’re easy to spot. They date back 80 million years to the late Cretaceous era, when dinosaurs ruled the world. We found an Ammonite fossil last year. Take a little side trip to explore nearby Matia or Patos island. Or just relax.
This is a Rendezvous, not an organized event. It is not sponsored or supported in any way by anyone. Anyone with a “small boat” is invited to attend. There are no signup sheets or dues. Nobody is in charge of this rendezvous. Your safety and well being, and that of your passengers and crew, is entirely your responsibility, just as it always is whenever and wherever you operate your vessel. Seek advice if you’re unfamiliar with sailing in these open waters.
The Downeast Chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association is pleased to sponsor the dedication of the Wilson Museum’s new Antique Boat Exhibit and Boat Shop on July 3, 2019 beginning mid-morning. This will be a great opportunity to see a wide variety of small boats and chat with their knowledgeable and enthusiastic owners.
At 11 a.m. Penobscot Marine Museum Curator, Ben Fuller, will give a talk entitled On Matinicus It’s a Double-Ender about small peapods.
The aromas from the outdoor bake oven will entice attendees across the street at noon to sample Museum-made bean-hole beans, pulled pork, blueberry buckle, as well as a variety of smoked fish (mackerel, alewives, or smelt) from the Downeast Salmon Federation’s smoker.
At 2 p.m. take part in the Exhibit and Boat Shop ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony followed by Tom Jackson, senior editor at WoodenBoat, giving a talk entitled Modern Small Craft: Building on Tradition about the current use of traditional small craft. Then, to top it off, there will be a showing of the WoodenBoat video The 2015 Small Reach Regatta provided by Small Reach Regatta.
This event is free and open to the public! It’s a boat-enthusiast’s dream day—don’t miss it!
Here’s your chance to try rowing a number of New England traditional small boats! CCTSCA members will be bringing their own boats, many owner built. The boats will be available for short rows, and assistance will be available for beginners. Boaters will get their feet wet, so plan accordingly!
No sign up, no fee, just fun.
KALMUS BEACH, HYANNIS
The Cape Cod Traditional Small Craft Association
The Cape Cod Maritime Museum
Free parking in the lot at Kalmus Beach
At the end of Ocean Street
More TSCA events at: http://tsca.net/events/
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It’s a boat show!
At 2 p.m. take part in the Exhibit and Boat Shop ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony followed by Tom Jackson, senior editor at 