Gaggle, herd, fleet, or cackle?

[Phil Herring]

This week we're talking about rendezvous, fleets, flotilla, rafting, or any word you prefer that describes sailing or mooring with a bunch of other boats.

Do you like the company and safety in numbers, or does the organization necessary to coordinate a group cramp your style?

Tell us about your fleeting experience and post pictures if ya got 'em.

 

[JRT]

Wow no bites? I haven't had a chance yet to participate in our new clubs events like these, but it is one reason we joined. It just seems that balancing our free time has not worked out with club events this year.

 

[dLj]

The only group type events I've taken part in are races, where a club is having a race and lots of members are there racing. I've never done a raft up other than tying up to another boat in a port that had no other room to tie to... I've been in ports where a lot of boats have come in all participating in the same event. Seemed like a lot of fun. I've never been part of organizing something like that though.

dj

 

[Brian D]

I did a group trip to Dana Point. I arrived late and by the time I got to the docks, everyone else had already gone to dinner. When I arrived at the dinner location it was like "who are you?". Even though I am still a member of that yacht club, I won't participate in any more activities. It is too much like a 'good ole boy' club.

 

[Terry Cox]

AMEE flotilla started with four boats many years ago, then down to three (age), to two (dementia), now back to three (new fellow from Atlanta, GA). Solo sailing is okay, but some comfort in having a fellow boater there when needed. Someone to commiserate the experiences of the daily adventures, chew the fat, etc. Us two hold overs getting older...

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

Several come to mind-First-

The BEER Cruise. Held in Pensacola Florida in early June. People have trailed boats from Canada, Califorrnia, and Oregon to sail in the event. I've done it 7 times- three times on Tehani. and four times on my 21 footer. They usually have 20 to 25 boats participate. Oh and BEER stands for "Backwater Environmental Escape Rendezvous"

Second event-

Texas 200. 200 miles on the inside (mostly) of the barrier islands on the south Texas coast. Mostly in very shallow draft vessels.,In the first event 5 Puddle duck racers sailed- those are 8 foot boats. I've done that vent 7 times also. Well, entered 7 times, finished five- had boat damage on two attempts. With five different ladies. Five times in my CLC John's Sharpie, which I converted to a trimaran. This event was begun by Chuck Leinweber of Duckworks, and ends on the beach here by where I live with a big shrimp boil.

The three boats-

 

[Michael Davis]

Haven't rafted or raced in many years. Next summers circumnavigation of Vancouver Island may very well change all that!

 

[SoSound]

Beneteau Pacific Northwest Rendezvous, awesome! Yacht club experience, not so much.

The yacht club experience was the Good Ole Boys experience. This is how we do it. This is how we'll always do it. What? Sailboats? Well, I guess we could wait for you to arrive before we start dinner...

But, we are Beneteau Rendezvous attendees for about eight consecutive years. We find the people at a brand specific event to be very welcoming and inspiring. We all have 'the brand' in common. We can all share stories on just about any topic; love/hate relationship with 'the brand', similar experiences, similar ambitions, inspirational experiences. There are always a few new people who show up every year. And, there are old friends with whom to share the, "You inspired us to..." stories. I never intended to race my boat. I've race many other things before, so the boat was a no racing activity. But, I've raced as crew on several occasions and learned a lot from each of those experiences. So... next year, with the same basic crew, we plan to race, on my boat...