2016 NW Cruise-out planning

 From Macy Galbreath

vp@LNVT.org

We had a great brunch at the home of Tom Blackwood and Janis Bialko last Sunday and a big turn-out.  At that time, Bill and I presented an idea for a NW Tugger Summer Cruise rather than a rendezvous similar to what we have done before.  We had started talking about a cruise last summer at the rendezvous in Port Orchard and it was welcomed as a great idea last Sunday.  We hope you agree and plan to join in.  The idea is that the fleet will cruise together casually for about 10 days up into the Canadian Gulf Islands with boats joining us along the way and dropping off whenever they need to.  We are looking at a combination of marinas and anchorages.  We have not yet nailed down anything and want your input!!  Attached is a draft with some tentative dates and locations.  See where you can fit in.

Here is a short summary of the stops.  For detailed information, see the attachment.

Nights 1 & 2:  Langley on Whidbey Island at a marina

Night 3:  Cornet Bay Marine State Park east of Deception Pass - dock space or anchoring

Night 4:  Deer Harbor at a marina

Nights: 5 & 6:  Montague Harbor at a marina or anchoring

Night 7 and perhaps 8:  We have some choices: Ganges or Genoa Bay for 1 night or Telegraph Harbour for 2 nights at marinas

Nights 8, 9 and/or 10:  Sidney, BC at the marina  (accessible by ferry from Anacortes)

1.  Most people at the brunch favored the July schedule.  Would you be interested and able to cruise: June 18 - 26 or 27 or July  9 - 17 or 18?

2.  Would you want to include Telegraph Harbour, BC and therefore extend one day?

3.  Do you have other places you would like to suggest instead of the ones listed?

4.  Are you interested in participating in this cruise?  Or not?

We would like to have a tentative count of boats and whether we should plan on June or July dates in the next week or so.  We will need to try to get tentative reservations at the marinas once we have some idea of when and how many.

Q & A:

1.  When will be Tug Talk?   We have planned two nights at a marina at the beginning and two nights at a marina at the end.  Both are accessible by car for those wanting to drive and have various kinds of accommodations.  They will also offer us a chance to gather at breakfast and talk tug issues and upgrades.  While cruising we will probably have ample time to talk more!!

2.  Where will we go through Customs? You can clear Customs right on the way between Deer Harbor on Orcas Island and Montague Harbour on Galiano Island, BC at Poet's Cove/Bedwell Harbour on South Pender Island, BC.  (For those having a Nexus Pass for each person on the boat, you can clear at Montague.)

3.  Do I have to sign up for the whole cruise?  No, just sign up for the things you can attend.  If you are working and can only do the weekend at Langley or the following weekend in Sidney, BC, just plan to do one of those.  Some people might want to head further north once we are in the Canadian Gulf Islands.  Others might want to continue cruising in the San Juans.  It is up to you  The only important thing is to let us know your plans so that we make the necessary reservations and can expect you. 

4.  What if I have never been to a LNVT event or cruised into Canada?  This will be a great event for first timers.  We will have a planning event to figure out food, what to take and what can't be taken into Canada.  We will also go as a group and will review charts and courses for each stop during the cruise. 

Please let us know what you think and whether we should sign you up - also which month is best.

Macy and Bill

vp@LNVT.org