April - June 2023 Calendar
*Updated 28 May '23
April 2023
River Front Boat Show is 1 April and serves as an annual celebration of the craft of boat building and to raise scholarship funds for students in the Cape Fear Community College boat building programs. Held on the banks of the Cape Fear River in downtown Wilmington, CFCC’s boat show attracts thousands of visitors every year. https://cfcc.edu/boat-building/cfcc-riverfront-boat-show/
Spring CENTEX Small Boat Messabout happens 15 April at Inks Lake State Park Burnet, Texas. This event is for small boats and their owners and typically includes wooden kayaks, canoes, and small cartop and trailer boats handcrafted with loving care, many by their owners. 'Boatless' folks who attend may be treated to a short row and sail. For event details email Steve at slansdowne249@gmail.com
World Pilot Gig Championships is 28-30 April on the Isles of Scilly, UK. www.worldgigs.co.uk
Bay to Bay Trailable Yacht Race is 29-30 April. An annual Australian sailing event for monohull and multihull trailable yachts conducted by the Hervey Bay Sailing Club on the first weekend in May each year through the Great Sandy Marine Park and past the Great Sandy National Park and the World Heritage listed Fraser Island, Australia. herveybaysailingclub.org.au/bay-to-bay-yacht-race/
South Australian Wooden Boat Festival happens 28 – 30 April at the Goolwa Wharf precinct, Goolwa, Australia. The Festival promises boats aplenty, on water and land, ranging from canoes and rowing skiffs to traditional wooden boats large and small, powered under sail and by steam. www.sawoodenboatfestival.com.au/
Cat Island Mississippi Rendezvous will be in April. Join us for an 8 mile crossing of the Mississippi Sound from Long Beach Mississippi Yacht Harbor to Cat Island for a weekend of exploring and sailing fun. A pot luck supper on Saturday night. Is the weather is unfavorable for a crossing we will sail near the LBYC and enjoy the local beach, food, drinks and small craft stuff! Contact: SV_MonNeg@pm.me
May 2023
Cedar Key Small Boat Meet is 5–7 May. An informal gathering at Cedar Key, FL. Tides & weather are still the only organization - no planned boating events, sign-ups or fees. The Cedar Keys' magnificent National Wildlife Refuge islands & waters, along with people & their boats account for & assure the meet's popularity. Shallow draft is essential—whether sail, oar, paddle, motor or engine. Host: www.facebook.com/groups/FGCTSCA, Contact: Hugh at huhorton@gmail.com
MUG Race traditionally happens 6 May and billed as the 'World's Longest River Race', the 38 nautical mile one-way race down Florida's St. Johns River from Palatka to Orange Park. All boats mush be able to pass under a 44' bridge without lowering their masts and boat classes cover racers to cruisers and all boat types from Sunfish to trailerable pocket cruisers and larger. rudderclub.com/2021-mug-race
Circumnavigate Deer Island Mississippi is 6-7 May. A Dinghy Cruising beginners island trip. We launch from the Biloxi Small Craft harbor and sail, row or paddle a short distance to Deer Island. We spend the Saturday and Sunday morning sailing around Deer Island and exploring the beaches. Camping on the island on Saturday night and Friday night if you arrive early. Contact: Contact: SV_MonNeg@pm.me
Wooden Canoe Heritage Association NW Spring Meet is 11-14 May at Camp Bishop, Shelton, Washington. An occasion for wooden canoe owners and enthusiasts to gather at one location in the Pacific Northwest and experience a full weekend immersed (usually not literally!) in everything related to wooden canoes. Details and contact information: http://northwest.wcha.org/events.html
Big Little Boat Festival is 13 May at Conquest Beach in Centreville, Maryland. This annual celebration of small wooden boats. Event is still in the early planning stages. Contact Chesapeake Light Craft for more information: clcboats.com/forms/contact_us.html
Olympia Wooden Boat Fair is 13-14 May in Olympia, WA. Wooden boats of all conditions, vintages, and sizes will be on display throughout Percival Landing. Coordinated by the Olympia Wooden Boat Association: olywoodenboat.org
Big Lagoon Rendezvous is 13-21 May at Perdido Key, Santa Rosa Sound, Florida, starting at the Big Lagoon State Park boat ramp. We sail each day based on the winds and tides with rest days spread out through the week for relaxing, beach combing, practicing our bushcraft skills, learning new cooking skills, eating and drinking some ;-) Secure overnight parking is available at Big Lagoon State Park for a small fee with campsite and shower house nearby. Contact: SV_MonNeg@pm.me
"Semaine du Golfe" (Gulf's Week) is 15-21 May in Morbihan, France. An international maritime event, a cultural and popular festival, in the magical landscape of "Petite Mer" (little sea) of the Morbihan Gulf in Breton. More than a thousand boats of every size and every tradition divided into flotillas which sail every day and vary between ports and anchorages. semainedugolfe.com
Big Lagoon Messabout is 17 - 21 May. This annual small-boat event is for all types of boats: traditional or modern, wooden or fiberglass, power, sail or oar. Held at Big Lagoon County Park, Trinidad, CA. facebook.com/Big-Lagoon-Messabout-177478498942568/ and www.luckhardt.com/blmessabout.html
Florida 120 Challenge is 18 – 21 May. A cruise-in-company event for small boats. The route each year is subject to change, but it typically is in the bays and sounds in the Florida panhandle in and around Pensacola. florida120.com and facebook.com/groups/fl120/
Desert Regatta happens 20-21 May at Charbonneau Park, Burbank, WA at Ice Harbor Marina on the Snake River near the Tri-Cities, WA. Three boats in any class will have their own start. cbsc.info/desert_regatta.html
Canoe & Ocean Festival is 23 May at Jackson’s Beach, San Juan Island, Washington. In conjunction with Annual Gathering of the Eagles Canoe encampment this new event will have: healers tent, cold water immersion workshop & mobile sauna , Karl Karl Krüger and SSV Oceanwatch with a live WFR scenario demo on beach, canoe families & cultural sharing, local stewardship organizations, canoe & sailing canoe rides (pending weather) and a community potluck with music. For information contact the Salish Sea Voyaging Society: facebook.com/pnwvoyagers
Salish Sea Small Boat Montague Harbour Rendezvous 26 - 28 May on the beautiful sheltered waters of Montague Harbour Marine Park, in the Canadian Gulf Islands British Columbia. There is good camping right close to the dock for those not staying on their boats and there is a shuttle bus to the local pub. salishseasmallboatrendezvous.wordpress.com/montague-harbour-rendezvous/
Sail Caledonia is 27 May – 3 June. An annual Scottish 'Raid' or expedition for boats powered by sail and oars taking place in the Highlands of Scotland. sailcaledonia.org
Derring-Do Dinghy Dash has happened in May at Orchard Point Marina, Eugene, OR. Join us for Triton Yacht Club’s first event on the water! Intrepid participants who brave Spring’s fury will be rewarded with cake. www.tritonyachtclub.net/events-calendar/derring-do-dinghy-dash
Pull And Be Damned Small Boat Messabout traditionally happens in May at Seafarers Memorial Park, Anacortes, WA. An event for small boats and small boating aficionados of all kinds: wood, fiberglass, oar, sail, built, bought, seasoned or green ‐ all are welcome to take part in the festivities! Coordinated by the Anacortes Waterfront Alliance. anacorteswaterfront.org
June 2023
Seventy48 begins 2 June. No motors, no support, and no wind. That’s right. HUMAN POWER ONLY. Pedal, paddle, or row from Tacoma, WA to Port Townsend, WA, (70 miles) in 48 hours or less. seventy48.com
Anstruther Harbour Festival is 2-4 June in Anstruter, Scotland. The Festival is a community event aimed at celebrating the maritime traditions of the historic royal burghs of Anstruther Wester, Anstruther Easter and Kilrenny & Cellardyke. anstrutherharbourfestival.org
Classic Mariners' Regatta is 3–4 June at Port Townsend, WA. This two day, weekend event is organized by the Port Townsend Sailing Association. All sailing vessels welcome. https://ptsail.org/classic-mariners-regatta-2022/
Swallows & Amazons happens 3 & 4 June at Walton on the Naze, United Kingdom. This big Race for Small Boats is held in the sheltered Walton backwaters where small boats overcome challenging tides, current and mud banks. Coordinated by: The East Coast Area of The Old Gaffers Association, www.oga.org.uk/areas/east_coast/events/swallows___amazons.html
Race To Alaska (R2AK) begins 5 June at Port Townsend with Stage 2 beginning 8 June at Victoria, British Columbia. No motors, no support, race from Port Townsend, WA to Ketchikan, AK. First boat there wins $10,000. Second place gets a set of really nice steak knives. Race Pre-race Ruckus is 12 June where you can see the boats and teams racing along with eats, drinks and music! r2ak.com
Backwater Environmental Escape Rendezvous (BEER) has happening 9-13 June. Come and explore the beautiful sailing territory near Pensacola, FL! The event runs on island time and is strictly a relaxed environment! facebook.com/BEER-Cruise-2020-1419539134732050/
Texas 200 is a cruise-in-company 12-17 June geared toward small sailboats and offers the opportunity to challenge yourself and your boat along 200 miles of the remote South Texas Gulf Coast. texas200.com and facebook.com/groups/100346820013471/
Wooden Boat Show and Summer Solstice Festival is 16 - 18 June in Grand Marais, Minnesota. Welcome the summer season in the best way possible: talking boats, celebrating community and hanging out on the shores of Lake Superior. Rows of hand-made and unique watercraft, a boat parade, craft demonstrations, an evening square dance, boat and tool auction, chowder and brats...there’s a bit of everything! northhouse.org/events/wooden-boat-show
Quincy Classic Boat & Outboard Show is June 16 - 18 on the Mississippi River waterfront in Quincy, Illinois. An in-water meetup that includes a 17 mile Mississippi River Run from Mark Twain’s home town of Hannibal, MO to Quincy, IL with a lockage through Lock and Dam #21 on Friday, June 16th. Shuttle service from Quincy showsite back to Hannibal to pick up car/trailers will be provided. A River on Saturday. A Swap Meet all weekend. quincyboatshow.com
Watertribe NC Ultra Marathon Challenge begins 20 June on Cedar Island, North Carolina. The participants are unsupported during the expedition-style adventure race for kayaks, canoes and small boats. Starting and ending at Cedar Island the challenge follows a 96 mile circular route just inside NC’s Outer Banks passing through the Pamlico Sound and Neuse River areas. The challenge must be completed within four days. watertribe.com/Events/NorthCarolinaChallenge
WoodenBoat Show at Mystic Seaport, CT, happens 23 - 25 June and offers something for all wooden boat enthusiasts and marine history buffs. Wooden boats of every type (large and small, old and new, power, sail, oar and paddle) are on display. Skills demonstrations and workshops are provided throughout the weekend. thewoodenboatshow.com
Family Boat Build happens 24-25 June at the new RiversWest Small Craft Center shop located at Green Anchors Portland eco-industrial park on the north shore of the Willamette River, just downstream of the St Johns Bridge, Oregon. This exciting event has drawn over 100 families in years past. A “family” can be almost any group interested in building a boat in two days. Preregistration is required. Contact: Craig at craigb@pobox.com
Scottish Traditional Boat Festival is in Portsoy, Scotland, 30 June through 2 July. Every member of the family can discover, enjoy, learn about and participate in the maritime and cultural heritage of the North East of Scotland. stbfportsoy.org
Cat Island Mississippi Rendezvous will be in June. Join us for an 8 mile crossing of the Mississippi Sound from Long Beach Mississippi Yacht Harbor to Cat Island for a weekend of exploring and sailing fun. A pot luck supper on Saturday night. Is the weather is unfavorable for a crossing we will sail near the LBYC and enjoy the local beach, food, drinks and small craft stuff! Contact: SV_MonNeg@pm.me
South Sound Traditional Inuit Kayaking Symposium (SSTIKS) traditionally happens in June and is the Northwest’s premier event devoted to traditional kayaking skills and culture. Held at Twanoh State Park on the beautiful Hood Canal in Washington. SSTIKS is a family-friendly event featuring some of the best mentors in Greenland-style kayaking. Information: https://www.facebook.com/groups/641181172683084/
Please, if you know of or coordinate a boating event that has a component geared towards small boats please contact Dave Scobie, wdscobie@yahoo.com, or Small Craft Advisor, smallcraftadvisor@earthlink.net, with the details. Thanks!
The above event details are correct to the best knowledge of this magazine. It is recommended that you visit the listed event www-site and coordinator to confirm dates, registration requirements and any associated cost. If you know of an event or find that any of the above is in error please contact Dave Scobie with additions and corrections at wdscobie@yahoo.com.