16th Annual Pacific Northwest Jeanneau Rendezvous

June 21, 2016 by jarndt

Marine Service Center in the Pacific Northwest is probably the longest, continually-running, Summer Sailstice celebration with the stars aligning on the very first year for a combined celebration. Northern latitude sailors naturally appreciate the additional light of the solstice but also know starting the summer by celebrating sailing with friends the best way to assure a great season ahead. Dan Krier of Marine Service Center sent in this report of their 16th annual Rendezvous and Summer Sailstice parade of sail:

Marine Servicenter & Jeanneau America had a GREAT 16th Annual Pacific Northwest CAN/AM Jeanneau Rendezvous event this past weekend (Fri - Sun) and had an awesome 2016 Jeanneau Parade of Yachts / Summer Sailstice event on Saturday. 16 years of friends, fun, and Jeanneaus combined with 16 years of Summer Sailstice for a spectacular event! All in 35 Jeanneau Sailboats were on our Rendezvous Dock at Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes, WA. and we hosted over 115 people!

The weekend started out with a catered dock party Fri evening in the big Party Floats at Cap Sante Marina. It is always a treat to see all of our owners slowly arriving throughout the day Friday and hosting a big welcome party once everyone is in. By the end of the evening the marina is full of Jeanneaus all flying Jeanneau flags and those who have participated in Sailstice in years past fly the coveted Sailstice Burgees with colors & year stamps signifying events participated in.

Sailors know how to make it work whatever the conditions.

Saturday morning we awoke to rain?? Rain in the Pacific Northwest - we are used to it in winter/ spring but June?? OH NO! I thought to myself when I looked out my Anacortes cabin window that morning of what a long day it was going to be in the rain and that the Annual Summer Sailstice Jeanneau Parade of Yachts may not happen...

Luckily we started our morning with Seminars in the Seafarers Bldg. overlooking Fidalgo Bay - the site of what I hoped would be another fantastic Jeanneau Parade of Yachts celebrating Sailstice 2016. The room was packed as attendees listened in on great topics including "Unlocking Sail Trim" presented by Jeff Carson of Ullman Sails, "Man Overboard tips and techniques" by Doug Lombard - Marine Servicenter Yard Manager and founder of the CoHo Ho Ho cruisers rally from Neah Bay to San Diego, followed by the Rard Twins - Molly & Jessie, Pacific Ocean circumnavigators at age 11-13 who presented a fabulous "Galley Essentials" seminar and gave fantastic tips on cooking and living aboard a Jeanneau 49p. The Seminars ended with our fearless leader, Jim Rard - President of Marine Servicenter, discussing the upcoming Sail Alaska 2016 flotilla cruise that would be departing the Jeanneau Rendezvous docks Sunday Morning. This annual "mother goose" led trek from Anacortes to Alaska has 8 Jeanneau sailboats participating this year led by Jim on his Jeanneau 49p "Ruby Slippers" (www.marinesc.com/sail-alaska).

Continuing education, one of the joys of sailing and a great rainy day activity.

I was hopeful that the weather would clear by the end of the seminars but alas it was now raining harder! When I walked down to the docks for the Jeanneau Parade of Yachts/ Summer Sailstice sailing event and into the tent for the skippers meeting I was blown away at how many owners & guests were geared up and ready to sail. 14 Jeanneaus left the dock Saturday afternoon and sailed around Huckleberry Island then on to round an anchored oil tanker and back to Cap Sante Marina in what was deemed the "official" parade route for 2016. Owners of Jeanneaus that wanted to try other models partnered with other owners, guests joined in, a few soon to be Jeanneau owner prospects showed up from Seattle to sail, and Marine Servicenter took both our brand new in-stock Jeanneau Yacht 54 & Jeanneau 349 Performance out sailing - all in the rain! As we sailed the rain slowly let up and although wet, smiles and camaraderie were abundant not only during but after the parade and into the evening.

A little rain didn't deter some celebratory sailing in Marine Service Center's Pacific Northwest Rendezvous.

Congratulations to Marty Bower on his Jeanneau Acadia 30 "Amoretta" for being crowned the 2016 Jeanneau Parade of Yachts / Summer Sailstice "Parade Winner" but not far behind in the very subjective judging were Maciek Sarnowicz and son Filip aboard his brand new Jeanneau 349 Performance "Papa" sporting a Code 0 and Square top Main. The newest addition to the fleet, a brand new Jeanneau 419 "Raven" that had just arrived June 7 for her new owners Brian & Laura Bolin, rounded out the top 3 Parade Winners. All Parade winners were awarded coveted Summer Sailstice caps and burgees at the big Jeanneau Rendezvous Dinner & Door prize Extravaganza that went well into the night Saturday. Videos and stills of the Jeanneau Parade of Yachts / Summer Sailstice event played during dinner with all eyes on the screen. By the time the party ended at nearly 11pm I looked back on the day and thought how much fun I and nearly 100 other Jeanneau owners and guest had in the rain - probably the most fun anyone in the state of WA. had in the rain that day!

A little damp but flat water, fresh breeze and a nice way to rinse the salt off the boat.

To conclude the event, Sunday morning Marine Servicenter hosted a continental breakfast on the docks in anticipation of the 2016 Sail Alaska "Bon Voyage". The sun and summer were back on this glorious morning and with 35 Jeanneaus still on the dock socializing the party was up and running again. With the sounding of the shell horn the Sail Alaska fleet boarded their Jeanneaus at 9:30am and one by one departed following in line out the breakwater and north to Alaska.

Not to be put off by a littel rain, some of these Jeanneaus are now Alaska bound.

We are looking forward to another fantastic Jeanneau Rendezvous and Summer Sailstice event June 23-25, 2017 in Anacortes WA. and want to THANK YOU for creating such a wonderful holiday for sailors that we can participate in!