3rd Canadian All Islander Rendezvous Genoa Bay Marina, Vancouver Island July 6-8, 2007

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

Hosted by; Greg & Leslie Mathews, "New Spirit"

Begin with a wonderful sailing weekend under sunny skies, throw in some of the first really warm weather of the summer season with soft, warm breezes, and top it off with the 3rd Canadian Islander Rendezvous! Could it get much better?!

All 17 boats attending this year's event drifted into Genoa Bay Marina during the Friday afternoon. Although not "officially" part of the Rendezvous weekend, the Friday afternoon and evening has become a great time to reacquaint with old friends and meet new ones. Organizers Greg and Leslie Mathews aboard New Spirit (home port!) managed to get almost all the boats on one finger in the small Genoa Bay Marina which made visiting from one boat to another very convenient. Here's the whole list, including Movin-Spirit who was with us in spirit, but were stuck in Sidney with engine problems.

1. Brian Arthurs & Curt Willard / Lynnie
2. Gary & Margaret Dahlgren / Menu-tea
3. Rick & Ann Berry / Equation
4. Robert Leighton III / Spice
5. Tage Filtenborg & Barb Thomsen / Blue Max
6. Greg & Leslie Mathews / New Spirit
7. Mike & Janice Fournier / Bide-a-wee
8. John & Marion Rodall / HoLoLe'a
9. Derek Dunwoody & Rhoda Brodie-Smith / Wyndham
10. Hans & Karin Hobein / Passat
11. David MacMahon & Karen England / Manutea
12. Harry & Sharon Dortsen / Movin-Spirit
13. Barry Patchett & Gwen Jewett / Lady Frost
14. Cam & Maryanna Shields / Felicity
15. John Jensen & Peter Purdy / Free Spirit II
16. Bert & Carey Vermeer / Natasha
17. Bob and Lisa Everson / Wild Hare
18. Bill & Mary Williams / Rainbow Spirit, New Mexico

The dock party was in full swing! With the cool, wet weather that the west coast has been dealing with all spring and early summer, the sunshine and heat were certainly welcome. To top it off, many of the participants had had a great sail during the afternoon to get there. Drinks and snacks carried everyone into the evening. Unfortunately, Harry & Sharon Dortsen aboard Movin Spirit sent word that they were unable to attend due to engine difficulties. They were waiting for parts in Sidney.

Saturday morning dawned warm and sunny. Comparison to Caribbean weather was very obvious (in Canada, you say?!). Although there had been tentative plans for some impromptu racing, only two boats showed an interest (too much visiting going on!). So while the ladies all got together and enjoyed a delicious lunch at the restaurant situated at the top of the ramp, four hardy souls went out for a rockin sail on John Rodall's sparkling Islander 36, Holole'e. Cam Shields, Barry Patchett & I joined John for a great two hour sail. The first leg was tacking to windward in a freshening breeze, rail in the water, "racing" anything that was close to our course. Then John raised the new asymmetrical spinnaker for the ride home, topping out at 7.5 knots through the whitecaps. An absolutely perfect sail! Thanks John! Of course, the "Islander Boat Show" was in full swing with all boats being open for inspection. Mike & Janice Fourneir's 55 ft "new" Islander 55 Bide-a-wee received the most attention. What a boat! You can see the photos as part of this web page. John Shield's 36ft Falicity displayed some very intricate woodwork in the cockpit and interior. John had to fend off requests for improvements to other boats! Very nicely done work! Derek & Rhoda on Wyndem, a Bahama 30, got my attention with a brand new Volvo engine. Something I need to do to "Natasha" in the near future. I could go on with many more details of ideas and improvements in the gathered Islanders, but have a look at the pictures!

By 1700hrs the appetizers were almost ready to go and the group gathered at a small pavilion near the head of the ramp. The usual amazing collection of appetizers was enjoyed by all and Greg lit up the barbeque grill. Greg led the group in a moment of respectful silence in memory of Monica, a participant in the 2006 Rendezvous who passed away suddenly while cruising in Desolation Sound shortly after leaving that event. The baked potatoes and variety of salads complemented everyone's choice of barbeque sacrifice. The dinner was topped off with the traditional cakes with the Rendezvous graphics emblazoned on the top. A big thanks to Greg and Leslie for organizing the dinner, Carey & I know how much work that is. Nicely put together! The rest of the evening seemed to go by so quickly, as they all do when out cruising, with visits and pleasant conversations over favorite libations.

Overnight clouds rolled in and kept the temperature nice and warm for the morning. A light breeze was already rolling in from the south east as Greg & Leslie prepared breakfast for the slowly awakening sailors. The pancakes, bacon and sausages were readily received even though the large coffee urn never did produce any coffee! We worked around that with smaller coffee makers. A group picture was arranged at the foot of the ramp with almost everyone showing their best side (some slept in late!). Then participants prepared for departure, sailing off in different directions to catch tides and winds. Another successful Islander Rendezvous!

On behalf of everyone who attended I think I can offer a big congratulations and thanks to Greg and Leslie for all their efforts in preparing the 2007 Islander Rendezvous. We try to keep this event as low key as possible, and yet there is a substantial amount of work that goes into it just the same. Enjoy the photos, courtesy of Greg, John and Bert (hope I haven't forgotten anyone!).

Carey & I look forward to hosting the 2008 edition, back at Telegraph Harbor on Thetis Island on July 5th & 6th.

Have a great sailing summer!

Pictures are in two groups, the first from Greg Mathews, and the second by Bert Vermeer and John Rodall. Click on images to enlarge, click "Back" to return.

GDM_7007	Bert & Carey Vermeer Natasha + Trixie	John & Marion Rodall Holole'a	GDM_7039
Great cookin!	Greg & Leslie Mathews with traditional cakes	GDM_7078	GDM_7079
GDM_7080	Group picture.

001 Carey & Trixi aboard Natasha, sailing to Genoa Bay	002 Approaching Genoa Bay under spinnaker.	003 Friday afternoon dock party, Genoa Bay	004 Friday afternoon dock party 2
005 Friday afternoon dock party 3	006 Quiet Saturday morning	007 Quiet Saturday morning	008 Barry & Gwen visit Lynnie
009 Curt Willard preparing breakfast aboard Lynnie	010 Robert Leigton, Spice, I 37	011 Rick & Ann Barry, Equation, I 30	012 Curt Willard & Brian Arthurs, Lynnie, I 28
013 Mike & Janice Fourneir, Bide-a-wee, I 55	014 Karen England & David MacMalon, Manutea, I 30	015 Rhoda Brodie-Smith & Derek Dunwoody, Wyndham, B30	016 Carey & Bert Vermeer, Natasha, B30
017 John Jensen, Oscar, & Peter Purdy, Free Spirit II, I30	018 Jurgen & Karen Hobein, Passat, B30	019 Bob & Lisa Everson, Wild Hare, I30	020 Tage & Barbara Fillenborg-Thomsen, Blue Max, I30
021 Cam Shields, Falicity, I36	023 Gwen Jewett & Barry Patchett, Lady Frost, I30	024 Gary & Margaret Dahlgren, Menu-Tea, I30	025 Greg & Leslie Mathews, New Spirit, MS37
026 John & Marion Rodall on Holole'a, I36	027 Lonan & Trevor aboard the Mathew's New Spirit	028 Trixi aboard the Vermeer's Natasha	029 Pauley & Lucy aboard the Fourneir's Bide-a-wee
029a Marshall aboard the Eversons' Wild Hare	030 Cam & Barry cast off with John on Holole'a for a day s~1	031 Bert casts off the bow line	032 Bert & John enjoying a windward leg
033 Holole'a going to windward	034 Reaching under spinnaker	035 Cam, Bert & Barry	036 The ladies enjoying lunch
037 The Rendezvous host boat, New Spirit	038 Lisa enjoys the afternoon on Wild Hare	039 Felicity's propane setup	040 Falicity's cockpit woodwork
041 Falicity interior	042 The awesome Bide-a-wee	043 Classic stern	044 Deck dog washing
045 Oh! But the boat is such a mess!	046 John & Peter with a stressful afternoon on Free Spiri~1	047 Carey & Trixi aboard Natasha	048 Karen aboard Passat
049 The BBQ is fired up	050 Brian & Curt	051 Almost dinner time	052
053 John Jensen	054	055 Carey & Bert	056 John, Karen, David, Lisa & Bob
057	058 No that a bonfire was needed.....	059 Tage and her camera	060 Event hosts Greg & Leslie with the dessert cakes
061 Sunday morning dawns cloudy but warm	062 David & Karen's Manu Tea	063 Greg preparing breakfast for the masses....	064 .....as the crowd slowly wakes up.
065 Breakfast	066 Morning group photo	067 Group effort to turn Bide-a-wee around at the dock....	068 ....to get her out of the marina.

Here's what life is like sailing the Gulf Islands: From Bert Vermeer:

Had a great sail home over the two days that it took us. It was 30 miles (in a crooked line) to windward to get from Genoa Bay to Bedwell Harbour, everything from a light breeze to a reef with the rail in the water.

Stayed in Bedwell for the Monday when the vicious little wind storm started up. By late afternoon boats were starting to drag and we'd had enough and tied up to the inside of the breakwater to the marina. The waves and spray were flooding over the breakwater. Gusts to 30 knots from the NW. Interesting, watching all the boats (mostly power) trying to get tied up in those conditions!

This morning looked like a light westerly for the trip home early this morning (beating the flood change). By the time we got a mile or so out of Bedwell it was take the main down and reef the jib! Again, gusts approaching 25+ knots from the NW, a great beam reach at 6+ knots of boat speed. Took an hour and a half to get home. Then another two hours to wash all the salt off the deck and sails! Carey was not impressed! I had to buy flowers......

Bert's brown hat	Good sailing	Islander Rendezvous 2007 195	Islander Rendezvous 2007 196
Kite flying	Land ho!

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