Blue Water Yachts hosts 20th Annual MacGregor Rendezvous

June 28th through July 1 Blue Water Yachts catered, entertained, and educated the 165 attendees at the 20th Annual MacGregor Rendezvous! With 54 boats in attendance they filled up the Port Orchard Marina on one of the busiest weekends of the summer. The city of Port Orchard even had a carnival in the marina parking lot and held a parade on Saturday, must have been just for the MacGregor boaters! Blue Water Yachts really knows how to have a Great Rendezvous!

Thursday morning, June 28th, found 12 MacGregors launching at Shilshole Bay boat ramp. With low tide in the morning the group had time to get all the masts up and boats completely rigged before launching. Blue Water Yacht’s owners, Cheryl and Todd McChesney, were in the parking lot helping out the new owners and beginners. Once launched the trip over was lots of fun, although with not much wind and a threat of thunderstorms later in the day, we all motored and arrived quickly. The beauty of the MacGregor is if there is no wind you can at least get to your destination quickly! Boats converged on Port Orchard from all over the sound that afternoon, with valet parking (dock hands) and personal slip assignments, mooring over 50 boats went very smoothly. The welcome party was cut short later that night due to a Giant thunderstorm that sent down a deluge of rain. The Port Orchard party float has a covered area for events, but there were just to many of us to all be under that area at once, but it kept the supplies and equipment dry!

Friday morning again found us with rain squalls, but our group was undaunted. Morning coffee was on and they were up and going! There were seminars to attend, boats to prepare for the Open Boat, a town to see, oh yes and a carnival to do! While the men attended the electrical and engine troubleshooting seminar with Todd, the women went to the Women Only Sailing Seminar with Cheryl and Gail. The men threaten to wear dresses next time as Cheryl and Gail do seminars right, with mimosas, and special chocolate cookies! The women all had a great time relaxing and laughing while learning new things about sailing, the most important lesson being to have fun!

The afternoon Open Boat went extra well, boaters competed for best snack food or drink while visiting each boat to see new and different ideas! Jeremy and Jackie Holland offered one of the best summer drinks ever, an English ice tea with mint and raspberry! Later that night a big pot luck party was held on the float with music and even another thunderstorm!

Saturday morning dawned to the morning rays of sunshine, at last! The hardy MacGregor group made the best of the past couple days but the sun was very welcome! After several seminars in the morning, the group set out to sail a course around the bay, called the “Not Quite Race”. Intended as a learning sail, not a race, the group is timed while sailing around buoys (complements of Fisheries Supply). Blue Water Yachts coaches were on the water in small coach boats zipping from boat to boat to give sailing advice. The wind was light but most boats made it around the course at least one time, at least it was sunny and warm!

Saturday night was the biggest BBQ ever held on the dock, over 160 people in attendance! The burgers were flipping fast with volunteer help from Morris and Debra Adams. With the parade going on, the streets were blocked off and there was no way to get to the marina, but our live music arrived by dinghy to the cheers of all! Dave Calhoun played his tropical rock till late into the night with our group dancing, laughing, and having a great time! We will all be going to the Tides Tavern, Gig Harbor, this summer to see him again!

 
Thanks to Port Orchard Marina, the City of Port Orchard, Fisheries Supply, Suzuki Marine, Dave Calhoun, and Blue Water Yachts owners and staff Cheryl and Todd McChesney, Gail Kalbrener, Ray Copin, and Brian Money, as well as Blue Water Yachts volunteers Chris and George Dewitt, Sam Kanner and Dave Regula, their help really made a difference . The 20th Annual MacGregor Rendezvous was the best to date! If you would like to attend next year give Blue Water Yachts a call to ask us how!

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