NORTH AMERICAN WAYFARER CRUISING RALLY

Burton Island Vt. State Park, Lake Champlain

July 11th thru 14th

Hello everyone,

It is Saturday afternoon (evening now!) and you are wondering why I'm at my key board instead of the helm of "Blue Mist".  Well, being buried under a gigantic low with temps in the 50's, wall to wall rain (gloom!), and with 30 knot winds on Lake Erie may have something to do with the situation.  Nevertheless, I'm all smiles because I'm bringing you a terrific update report about the rally.  This year we are going to have better than ever participation.

Of course that is the reason that I am so excited.  But I have another reason to be happy as well.  It has to do with the year 2004, when the Canadian Wayfarer Association will be hosting the International Wayfarer Championships.  In recent years, in advance of the week of championship racing, it has been the custom for the host country to sponsored the International Wayfarer Cruising Rally.  (You've heard about this before from Margie and I--we attended the International Rally in Northern Ireland last year, as well as several others on previous years.)  It is an additional event the has a strong attraction to many Wayfarers from a number of countries, such as the United Kingdom, Scandinavia (Denmark and Norway), Ireland and Holland.  Most come for just the racing, but many also enjoy the opportunity to experience the chance to do some cruising in a new and different environment.  Certainly in North America we have plenty that to offer.  There are even a few hardy Wayfaring folks who will make the trip just for the cruising, as is the case with Margie and I.  So I've been talking to the Canadian planning committee about letting our group, the North American Rally gang, act as the host organization for the International Rally in 2004--possibly at Chaumont Bay, N.Y.  The fact that we are increasing in numbers and interest tells me that we can pull this off.  You'll be hearing more about this at the rally.

Back to the Rally!

ATTENDEES:  The following persons have committed to attending (several others have indicated interest but haven't committed at this time):

Tom & Diane ERICKSON (W275, "POSSUM").  Arriving Thursday from Gardner, Massachusetts (plus possibly Tom's sister and her daughter).  Look for Tom's brand new home-built kayak (one of two just completed by Tom & son).

Andr'e & Monique GIARD (W3098, "ENGOULENVET").  Arriving Thursday from Ottawa.  They will be camping on their boat.  (For the first time?)

Tom GRAEFE and brother David (W9668).  Arriving Thursday from the Greater Boston vicinity.  Tom and David are spending the week cruising the Lake.

Kieth & Catherine BREWER, plus friends Mary and Alan WATERHOUSE.  Arriving Thursday from (Ontario?).  They had to cancel out at the last minute last year due to an emergency so have their fingers crossed this time.

Al & Julia SCHONBORN (W3854, "SHADES").  Arriving Thursday from Greater Toronto vicinity.  The Schonborns & Pedersens are sharing a campsite.

Ivan, Suzanne, Annemarie, Chris & Charlotte PEDERSEN (W7350, "AKAVAVIT").  Arriving from Greater Toronto vicinity. 

Bill HARKINS.  Arriving Friday from Maryland (D.C. area?).  Will bring either Wayfarer, canoe, or both!

Jake MARRSE (W9657[?], "AALSMEER").  Arriving Thursday from Ontario and sharing a campsite with the Harringtons.

Dick & Margie HARRINGTON (W887, "BLUE MIST')  Arriving Thursday from Cleveland.

INFORMATION:  I'm attaching several documents that may be useful if you system is able to open them.

a)  A scan of a portion of the Lake Champlain chart incorporating Burton Island.  I believe that the spot on the chart marked Hathaway Point should be Kill Kare State Park where the boat ramp and ferry are located.  It is less than a mile from the launch site to the marina on Burton Island.  

Burton I. & vicinity Map

b)  The Vermont road map of the area.

Vermont road map

c)  The layout of the park facilities on Burton Island.

Burton Island Park Map

d)  An outdated copy of the ferry schedule which may still accurate.

Ferry Schedule

e)  Cruising Guidelines and Waiver (specimen from last year).  You will be requested to sign similar a waiver again this year.

Cruising Waiver

At the rally I will have copies of portions of the Lake Champlain charts available as a hand out which will incorporating the areas we are most likely to be sailing.

ACTIVITIES:  Most of you are old hands now and know how it goes.  Weather and other conditions can make it desirable to rearrange plans.  However, as a starting point I am suggest the following itinerary.

THURSDAY - no group activity.  Get settled in and explore the area.

FRIDAY - A day cruise, including some island exploration and a picnic stop.  Woods Island is a Vt. State Park.  Also check out Knights Island and Butler Island, and then possibly make a stop on North Hero Island.  I'll check out my information about North Hero to see where the good waterside "watering holes" are located.  Go on your own (or make impromptu deals) for dinner.

SATURDAY - Al Schonborn will layout the course and rules for the long distance race.  Last year the race was a two phase affair with a stopover and refreshment break at the halfway point (we ate lunch at a very pleasant restaurant).  I would expect we'll attempt something similar again this year also.  (Margie and I came in at last place last year.)  This is a low key fun affair and not mandatory! 

SATURDAY EVENING BAR-B-Q - I thinking that we will have our steak cookout on Saturday evening since we will not be going out to a restaurant for dinner (the ferry to the mainland stops running too early).  Last year Margie and I took orders for beef strip steaks and we had a group cookout where we grilled the steaks, baked potatoes in the fire, and everyone brought a side dish of some sort to share.  If there are no objections let's plan this activity for Saturday evening after the race.

ORDER YOU STRIP STEAKS - Those who plan to take part in the Bar-B-Q need to e-mail Margie and me the number of strip steaks they wish to order.  I believe the cost was around $5 US per steak last year--they are big.  (The steaks will be frozen hard and they held without any trouble last year.)  There will also be some minor additional cost for the potatoes and misc. items.

SUNDAY - No planned group activity.

I will appreciate you comments and any suggestions which will enhance the fun and enjoyment of this gathering.  As certain as I'm sitting here at the key board there are things that I'm not thinking about, or questions that I'm not addressing.  So please feel free to comment.  Those of you whom I don't have a lot of information about, such as you home town, name & number of your boat, etc., or if I've made errors, please take a moment to fill me in so that I can have a complete accurate hand out to give to folks as they arrive at the rally. 

Thanks and--Love ya all,

DICK & MARGIE