I'm hosting a Rendezvous next month and need help making it a fun time. Do you have any activity, game etc. that was a hit at one of your past rendezvous?
Rendezvous Fun
- Thread starter thubbard84
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TH...
Try two "man" dinghy races around a bouy with the rower blindfolded and the other "man" giving directions--can be hilarious to watch!
Try two "man" dinghy races around a bouy with the rower blindfolded and the other "man" giving directions--can be hilarious to watch!
Rendezvouses are fun
We've managed to have a Rendezvous of Sandpiper 565 owners for going on 8 years now. I've been at 6 of them. Last year's site gives you a rundown of what we like to do. We generally get between 9 and 12 boats, with a couple on each. (Trailered boats rule for this sort of get-together)
Generally we have the launch/haulout, parking, overnight locations and the meal types planned and prearranged, and then a rough schedule of the sailing for each day. We will tweak the plans to suit weather, peoples' needs, or whatever. Beyond that, we don't worry about having every single hour organized, and we've been lucky enough with everyone's personalities that we've got a very easy-going and friendly bunch, everyone helps, and newcomers are quickly assimilated.
One thing that's always worked - we usually try to spend an afternoon anchored or beached at a great swimming area... and everyone puddles around on swim noodles, beverage in hand... snacks being ferried or passed boat to boat, much socializing, maybe a siesta, maybe an impromptu war with super-soakers.
We've managed to have a Rendezvous of Sandpiper 565 owners for going on 8 years now. I've been at 6 of them. Last year's site gives you a rundown of what we like to do. We generally get between 9 and 12 boats, with a couple on each. (Trailered boats rule for this sort of get-together)
Generally we have the launch/haulout, parking, overnight locations and the meal types planned and prearranged, and then a rough schedule of the sailing for each day. We will tweak the plans to suit weather, peoples' needs, or whatever. Beyond that, we don't worry about having every single hour organized, and we've been lucky enough with everyone's personalities that we've got a very easy-going and friendly bunch, everyone helps, and newcomers are quickly assimilated.
Exactly. That's usually how most on-boat or shoreline meals/snacks end up anyways.
One thing that's always worked - we usually try to spend an afternoon anchored or beached at a great swimming area... and everyone puddles around on swim noodles, beverage in hand... snacks being ferried or passed boat to boat, much socializing, maybe a siesta, maybe an impromptu war with super-soakers.
Few years back for Sailstice we had a Capture the Flag Race-lots of work but fun. Number flags 1 through +/-20 (total participants) planted (preferably on an island). Divide into two (or more) "Fleets". Try to divide evenly. Use PHRF#s to set a staggered start so slowest boats leave first and fast boats start later (theoretically all finish same time). We sailed to an island where the flags were planted in disorder. Once to the island, a swimmer goes to the island and "captures" the lowest #ed flag. Once all flags are captured, the fleet captain turns them in. The fleet with the lowest accumulated (aggregate) number wins-the get fine wine and cheese. The other fleet gets beer and crackers!
I've been to 3 Island Packet Rendevous' with my florida friends.... a non spinnaker race was always most popular activity... no phrf, just fun. Get sponsors to donate raffle gifts.... local chanlery, boatyards, restaurants, realtors, boat dealers etc.
There would usually be a speaker or demonstration in the am.... boating stuff in the afternoon and social hour afterward. Don't really need much... just a place for people to congregate. Dinghy races sound like fun.
There would usually be a speaker or demonstration in the am.... boating stuff in the afternoon and social hour afterward. Don't really need much... just a place for people to congregate. Dinghy races sound like fun.
Presuming you will be on shore....water balloon toss. After each successful toss, take one step back. Last balloon standing wins a prize. Potato race....Tie a potato with a string around a belt so when worn, it swings just above the ground. Use the potato to move beach balls to a finish line. With more people, split teams so that the first person moves the ball across the field to the partner, and then exchanges the belt with the next person. Like a relay race back and forth. First team to finish gets the prize. Lots of interesting (and funny) gyrations of the lower extremities to get the potato to hit the beach ball.
Lots of good ideas suggested already. Here are two more ideas. We passed out pieces of Styrofoam one half inch by about one foot by one foot. Also pass out dowels to serve as masts. Hand each boat one styrofoam and one mast and tell them to build/design a sail boat with whatever they have on board. Prizes for the most unique, best design and the best sailor. At some point the next morning we have a sailboat race of the models designed. This has been so much fun that it has been repeated on a number of cruises.
A second suggestion is to have a predicted dinghy row. Set up a course (possibly use anchored fenders) and have one rower and one passenger predict how long they will take from one mark to another and total elapse time. Be sure to confiscate watches and iPhones, etc. Have one observer on a main boat to take times for each dinghy in the race. Use the confiscated iPhones to keep time. Getting in each other's way is allowed. Some folks have a great sense of time and come within seconds of their predictions. NIce thing about this is that old and young can participate--it is not a race to see who will be first.
Good luck. Have fun.
A second suggestion is to have a predicted dinghy row. Set up a course (possibly use anchored fenders) and have one rower and one passenger predict how long they will take from one mark to another and total elapse time. Be sure to confiscate watches and iPhones, etc. Have one observer on a main boat to take times for each dinghy in the race. Use the confiscated iPhones to keep time. Getting in each other's way is allowed. Some folks have a great sense of time and come within seconds of their predictions. NIce thing about this is that old and young can participate--it is not a race to see who will be first.
Good luck. Have fun.
Tom, it has been awhile since I've been to Arabella's Landing but I know it is a very nice marina. They have a small lounge/clubhouse (nicely appointed) a few steps up from the docks for rent. If you plan to use that check on the availability/fee. I can't remember if tables can be set up on the pier or not for meal purposes...then power outlets would help to keep foods hot and make coffee.
I like the predicted dinghy row race idea. We've done many blindfold dinghy races but the predicted race is new and different. The fairway should be enough for one or two dinghies at a time but Gig Harbor itself is typically so calm that a short course outside of the marina would work too.
Not every minute needs to be scheduled. Some folks, like me, use the time to do small maintenance chores, read a book, or just plain relaxe.
Our first rendezvous last week at Port Orchard was much fun. I sent a short summary of the happenings. I think we had eleven boats.
Glad to see you are using this wonderful forum for ideas...great crews with good ideas. Look forward to seeing you there.
I like the predicted dinghy row race idea. We've done many blindfold dinghy races but the predicted race is new and different. The fairway should be enough for one or two dinghies at a time but Gig Harbor itself is typically so calm that a short course outside of the marina would work too.
Not every minute needs to be scheduled. Some folks, like me, use the time to do small maintenance chores, read a book, or just plain relaxe.
Our first rendezvous last week at Port Orchard was much fun. I sent a short summary of the happenings. I think we had eleven boats.
Glad to see you are using this wonderful forum for ideas...great crews with good ideas. Look forward to seeing you there.
One year our fleet cruised to Emerald Bay on Catalina. I was cruise director and my wife came up with the "Smorgasboat". Emerald Bay is a pretty well protected anchorage so we rafted up 26 boats. Each boat had a different snack and you would step from boat to boat when a horn blew. It was fun and with exception of someone slipping and sitting on the plate of deviled eggs there were no mishaps. On the next evening we dug a pit about 10 ft long and filled it with charcoal covered it with grates and had a luau which we named the Hali loki loki puki puki oo oo ah ah ah. We built a bonfire that was probably visible in San Pedro. The next morning my wife staged a treasure hunt for the little skippers and some wild boars came down to the beach and we all had to retreat to the water 'til they went through the trash and got bored, no pun intended, and went elsewhere. On the sail back we had pirate battles. Armanent consists of two pieces of surgical tubing and a funnel. Poke two holes in the funnel and attach tubing. Tie the tubing to the shrouds. place water balloon in funnel and launch a broadside at you opponent. ARGHH.Your fun is only limited by your imagination.
Who Am I? Put nametags of famous people on the back of the attendees. They get to ask other attendees one question each (sometimes this gets ignored) with answers that can be only yes or no. i.e., am I male or female, am I a sports figure... A great ice breaker for folks who don't know each other. Folks who guess right can either win prizes or get into a special raffle. It's fun and can go on all day.
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