posted October 07, 2004 12:42 AM               

After locating many of you, checking distances, reading other class rally reports, locating desireable venues, obtaining CL's blessing, and discussing with a few S565 owners, and above all reading your ideas on the Forum, I concluded that distance will likely always be something to overcome. (Kevin's idea of rotating events seems an obvious one, D'Arcy's idea of a transcontinental raid has great merit, and Halifax to Nfld sounds fantastic- gulp!! I fear I'd go down before I hit Chedabucto Bay! )

I am willing to organize if - I have help, get a few committed boats, and if I have some knowledge of the venue; and we now have these. Below is a skeleton plan to get us going in 2005; so this time we'd like to invite you "over to our place".

DATE: Sat July 30/05 - 25 hour overnight cruise
Sun July 31/05 - afternoon race & evening pig roast/awards programme.

(detailed plan later)

PLACE: Killbear Park and Killbear Marina near Parry Sound ON and among the ruggedly beautiful 30,000 Islands.

(Come Friday night; leave Monday; it's the Civic holiday)

This promises to be a wonderful venture for the group in every aspect.

Please email with your ideas &or help.
compasspoints@hotmail.com

posted October 07, 2004 07:26 PM               

As for our attendance, it's 635 miles away according to Mapquest. That's a long trailer ride! However, while it's not impossible, what is impossible at this point is for us to commit. Mainly it's an issue of my employment situation. I'm teaching skiing this winter, but have no idea what I'll be doing after the snow melts.

However, in a perfect world, we'd be there with bells on!

posted October 07, 2004 10:52 PM               

Stan contacted me earlier on, and asked me what I thought about a rendevous. Wow, that sounds great!! He also asked for a little help, and I said sure!! I see we may have D'Arcy helping us with a race program! I've never raced my boat, so I think this would be a hoot!!
Are you kiddin' me?????

This is going to be the best damn sailing rendevous/party of '05

Parry Sound is a beautiful treasure, here in Central Ontario, a body of water just right for a Sandpiper!! Come and plan to stay on after! Travel farther north to the North Channel, less than a days drive! Or visit many other fine destinations in Ontario!

Spread the word! If you know of other 'piper owners, find a way to get the word out to them!

We have some details to work out for logistics etc., so bear with us until we get all your details worked out!

Great call Stan!!

posted October 07, 2004 11:32 PM               

The Sandpiper thinks it's a cruising yacht. Skippers either day-sail, overnight, or weekend it.

Some of us would like to (risk their lives and) exploit the S565's long-range capability, anchoring overnight in the lee of one of our famed 30,000 Islands (and will have to hook up their porta-potty to the deck pump-out fitting). Others would prefer to (save their marriages and) cruise for the day, and return to base (marina or park beach/off-shore anchorage) at night (and will have to hook up their p-p to the deck pump-out fitting). (Well, this is Ontario, eh?)

I for one am glad you plumbing experts brought that debate to a head. But that's another thread.

With careful planning, we might be able to plot a nice cruising course to accommodate both day and overnight cruising desires.

The 25 hour cruise, then, casts off when Eric gets topside Saturday morning, and ends in time for everyone to greet Windy Island's arrival for Sunday lunch. Precisely 25 hours.

We have no plans for nocturnal navigation, 4 hr watches, or baby feedings (been there - many times). Not to mention things that go bump in the night at low water levels (submerged rocks).

This is going to be a blast!

"... where there's a will, there's a path..."

posted October 07, 2004 11:43 PM               

Like my suggestions for racing, I'd keep the 24 hour overnight event casual and fun as well. In our youth we sailed some spectacular overnights through some pretty wild weather. My personal favorite was rounding the Swiftsure lightship at 3 A.M. in 15 foot seas while the moon was eclipsing. Now that we're older, and because not everyone has done an overnight, it might be preferable to have a casual day sail together, maybe rafting up for lunch then going on or returning to a place that had shore based heads for the evening. I believe that's the true essence of the "Raids" I mentioned earlier .

A fleet of Sandpipers sailing in Parry Sound would be a spectacular site. It would be neat to meet you guys in person.

posted October 08, 2004 12:12 AM               

If you more distant particpants could see your way clear to make the haul to Parry Sound, and if it would be more worthwhile to extend your stay in our area, my wife and I would be happy to sail with you in, say, the North Channel.

D'Arcy, does this qualify as a "raid across the north"?

posted October 08, 2004 09:13 AM               

In Parry Sound, The Canadian Coast Guard on CH16, is "Thunder Bay Coast Guard Radio." They have repeaters at Tobermory, Killarney, and one other Georgian Bay location IIRC. There's a fair amount of boat traffic, so if you have a hand held only, [like me] don't worry. There's even a GC station in Parry Sound.
I called TBay GC Radio, in Parry Sound, and they received me!

Don't forget to get your visting Canadian flags as well

Eric

posted October 11, 2004 04:55 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by skategoat:
Hey, can CL owners come?

---

I was actually thinking about this same idea... Why don't we open it up to all CL owners? There might be some events which could be divided into classes, and I think there would obviously be better attendance if we weren't so snobbish!

Heck, many non-Piper owners already feel we hog this forum...

Of course, this suggestion is coming from someone who is only likely to be a fly-on-the-wall for this first go-round instead of a participant, so take it from the source...

posted October 12, 2004 11:35 AM               

At the town dock

Looking out from the anchorage in Kilcoursie Bay

Having french toast in a secluded anchorage

The crew and I spent 3 nights there, on our boat. My crew especially loved Kilcoursie Bay the most. Well protected, and a beautiful sand beach!!

I hope we can get the word out to all Sandpiper owners about the rendevous!! You'll not be disappointed sailing in Parry Sound!!

Eric

posted October 15, 2004 01:18 PM               

Draft a poster or some other brochure and I will distribute it at the show and along with all S565 orders we receive from here on in. I will also make available a section of our server space for a site dedicated to the meet if you wish. You can post pictures, maps, reg forms, results and whatever else you want.

You know how to get a hold of me.

Cheers,

posted October 15, 2004 04:21 PM               

But it would be nice if they made a new 565....hmmmm...what would we call it??? What improvements would we want to see in the new design??? Maybe topic for another post!!!

------------------
Rob Belliveau
1976 Sandpiper 565
"Cool Breeze"
Halifax NS
Soon to be at DYC

posted October 15, 2004 07:12 PM               

As for restarting production of the 'Piper, I read in the archives somewhere that Cody explained the boat is so well made that to produce it today it would cost as much as boats approaching twice its size!