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All Islander Rendezvous July 4-6, 2014

(If you like, you can skip down through the prose and go straight to the pictures below!)

Despite the less than ideal weather, the 7th Canadian Islander Rendezvous held in the idyllic setting of Telegraph Harbour Marina on Thetis Island in the Canadian Gulf Islands on July 4th - 6th was considered a resounding success by all who attended. 14 Islanders of every description sailed into the harbor on a Friday that started out sunny, and sailed out again on a Sunday that ended up sunny. The weather in between just proves that Islander owners are a hardy lot!

Attending this years' event were:
" Henk, Kate and Helen Hiensch on Aurora, a 1963 Islander 32 Mk1 from Duncan, BC
" Wayne Rourke and sons James & Grady on Baja Sonada, a 1975 Islander 30 from Langley, BC
" Tage & Barbara Thomsen on Blue Max, a 1975 Islander 30 from Coquitlam, BC
" Brian Arthurs on Cheetah, a 1973 Islander 36 from Brinnon, WA
" Rick & Ann Berry on Equation, a 1976 Islander 30 from Sidney BC
" John Jensen on Free Spirit II, a 1974 Islander 30 from Vancouver, BC
" John & Marion Rodall on Holole'a, a 1980 Islander 36 from Ladysmith, BC
" Gill & Sylvia Shaw on Irish Cream, a 1977 Islander 32 Mk II from Bowen Island, BC
" Mike & Karen Reed on Islander, a 1974 Islander 36 from Bellingham, WA
" Alan Orr & Kathleen McConaha on Jean Anne, a 1974 Islander 30 from Woodinville, WA
" Bert & Carey Vermeer with granddaughter Natasha on Natasha, a 1978 Islander Bahama 30 from Sidney, BC
" Daniela Lucas on Pallas Athena, a 1975 Islander 30 from Vancouver, BC
" Ian Whale & Jan Stephens on Shannon, a 1980 Islander Bahama 30 from Roberts Creek, BC
" Doug Penny and Eileen Schoener on Tatoosh, an Islander 40 from Bellevue, WA

Barry Patchett attended from Chemainus BC by ferry. A fuel tank leak days before the event prevented Barry & Gwen from bringing their 1973 Islander 30, Lady Frost. Special guests included Pandora Nash-Karner from Los Osos, California. Pandora is the talented graphic artist who has been designing the logo for the Islander Rendezvous since 2005. She sails Califia, a 1983 Islander 28 out of Moro Bay and drove up to participate in the Rendezvous with her cousin Sandy Thompson.

Bert, Carey, Natasha and the new puppy, Tasha, were on hand early on the Friday afternoon to meet and greet as the morning sun gave way to afternoon clouds. Boat and name tags were distributed as Islanders drifted into the marina. The traditional Friday night dock party was held under the protection of the marina pavilion as a light rain began. Old acquaintances were renewed, and new participants welcomed. Saturday was filled with optimism as the skies lightened and the temperatures stayed warm. The "boat show" progressed nicely as Islander owners showed off their "good old boats" throughout the afternoon. Additions, modifications, upgrades - all were on display for comparison and the sharing of ideas. Some participants took the ferry over to visit the town of Chemainus, others enjoyed the visiting aspect of the marina. Ron & Tara, owners and hosts at Telegraph Harbour Marina, ensured that all requests were graciously met. The small store/café was perused by all with the ice cream being a favorite!

The Saturday night barbeque at the pavilion was a great success. Bert Vermeer, the event organizer, introduced the special guests and recognized Brian Arthurs, John Jensen, John & Marion Rodall, and Barry Patchet as participants of all the previous Islander Rendezvous. Pandora surprised everyone with hand crafted ceramic medallions for all, a very nice touch! For dinner everyone brought what they wished to barbecue. One half of the participants brought appetizers to share, the other half salads. Bert & Carey provided all the necessary accouterments including a magnum of red wine in memory of a fellow wine maker who had recently passed away. It was an evening of great fellowship & food in a perfect setting! The closer was a desert cake with the event logo set in icing. The cake was enjoyed by all, including some children playing in the park!

Breakfast on Sunday morning proved to be somewhat soggy as the light rain persisted. The pavilion was not available as the island population holds a craft fair every Sunday morning. However, the coffee was hot and the muffins & fruit were soon under attack. The morning hit was fried cinnamon buns prepared on a griddle aboard Natasha. These soon disappeared as the delicious smell of cinnamon wafted across the marina. A group photo was organized before the first participants cast off their lines. All were soon off to further destinations or returning home. Catching the strong currents in local waters dominates departure times! By noon, as the sun broke out and steam rose in waves from the docks, most Islanders were on their way. Another successful Canadian Islander Rendezvous locked into memory!

As this event only occurs once every two years, mark your calendar for the next one to be held at Telegraph Harbour Marina the weekend of July 8 -10th, 2016! Doug & Eileen aboard Tatoosh, the organizers of the Pacific Northwest Islander Rendezvous, have indicated that there will be a Rendezvous in the San Juan Islands in the summer of 2015, location to be determined.

Bert & Carey Vermeer
s/v Natasha
Sidney, BC
bvermeer@shaw.ca

Pictures by xxx. Click on images to enlarge, click "Back" to return.

001 Telegraph Harbour welcomes all	002 The store & cafe (great icecream!)	003 Kate Hiensch cleans up some footprints on arrival....	004 .... as the fleet assembles.....	005 ....some are more relaxed than others.
006 Free Spirit, John Jensen's '74 Mk II	007 Aurora, the Hiensch's '63 32 Mk1	008 Pandora, Ann & Rick Barry	009 Sandy with a glass of wine	010 Natasha Kryger & Grady Rourke....
011 ....with the ever popular tether ball.	012 The long & short of it!	013 Henk & Kate Hiensch, Aurora	014 Pandora with her surprise gift.....	015 ....commemorative medallions for all!
016 Wayne Rourke, Baja Sonada	017 James Rourke, Baja Sonada	018 Tage Thomsen, Blue Max	019 Eileen Schoener & Doug Penny, Tatoosh	019 Rick Berry, Equation
020 Ann Berry, Equation	021 Gill & Sylvia Shaw, Irish Cream	022 John Rodall, Holole'a	023 Brian Arthurs, Cheetah	024 Daniela Lucas, Pallas Athena
025 Allan Orr, Jean Anne	026 John Jensen, Free Spirit	027 Barry Patchet, Lady Frost	028 Ian Whale, Shannon	029 Jan Stephens, Shanon
032 Mike Reed, Islander	033 Ron Ireland, Cassiopeia	034 Karen Reed, Islander	035 Carey Vermeer, Natasha	036 Natasha Kryger & Helen Hiensch
037 Carey Vermeer & Tasha	037 Enjoy the libations....	038 Eileen & Barb	038a Eileen aboard Tatoosh, it is July 4th after all!	039 Bert Vermeer lights the BBQ....
040 .....and it's a good one.....	041 ....enjoyed by all.	042	043	044
044a	045	046	047	048
049	050	051	052 The traditional cake makes the table	053 Before the first cut!
053 Breakfast is a damp affair...	053a ....but it's busy on the docks....	054 ....dispite the occasional shower!	055 A parting wave ....	056 ...and boats begin the journey onward.
057 Ian is on his way....	058 ...as are Barb & Tage.	059 Holoe'a backs out	060 ...and John & Marion are on their way.	061 Henk & Kate get ready....
062 ...and are soon away, .....	063 ...another Islander Rendezvous done!

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