January 2023
New Years Messabout happens 1 January on Rat Island in Port Townsend Bay, WA. Come have a picnic lunch on the beach, talk boats while rowing, paddling, powering and sailing with the Port Townsend Pocket Yachters. www.pocketyachters.com
Beaver Creek Messabout is 7 January. Paddle/row Beaver Creek, his particular Beaver Creek, it is at the new Brian Booth State Park 7-miles south of Newport, Oregon. The geography is unusual in that you can go a couple of miles inland in the fresh-water wet area that is basically not tidal. But, also you can go under the Hwy 101 bridge and wander through the State Park until you see the creek flow into the ocean across the beach. Most of us don't go into the surf, but it is there! During the winter, if a storm is not blowing, the area is usually calm and suitable for family outings. A C.O.O.T.S. event: http://www.coots.org/mb/Beaver/index.html
C.O.O.T.S. Fieldtrip to Lincoln Street Kayak & Canoe Museum is 21 January. The museum displays some of the many skin on frame canoes and kayaks Harvey Golden has built to historic native designs while researching his books on skin on frame boats. Harvey wrote THE books on Greenland and Alaskan Kayaks. Harvey is a Coot from Way Back. Details: http://www.coots.org/mb/Harveys/index.html
February 2023
Australian Wooden Boat Festival 10-13 February. This FREE event is held across Hobart Australia’s vibrant and bustling waterfront. The four-day festival brings together the largest and most beautiful collection of wooden boats in the southern hemisphere. australianwoodenboatfestival.com.au
Lake Pleasant Wrinkleboat Messabout, is 17 – 19 February on Lake Pleasant, AZ. All pocket cruisers under 22’ invited. This is part of the Arizona Yacht Club’s President’s Day Weekend Regatta and will have both short and long course racing. Sign up for either or both, or just come and hang out with the group for a low-key camping & paddle & oar & sail craft gathering. For details contact Gary Oberbeck: fairandsquare1@gmail.com
The Worldwide Classic Boat Show is 18 February through 6 March. This is something different! Thanks to Off Center Harbor the event is FREE (donations requested) and 100% on-line boat show that features over 1000 craft and organizations from around the world for you to see and read details all from the comfort of your favorite chair. Details: https://classicboatshow.com/about/
Inverloch Classic Wooden Dinghy Regatta happens 18 & 19 February on Anderson Inlet, Inverloch, Australia. The purpose of the regatta is to display to the public the variety of timber dinghies that were once common along Australian Victorian beaches but are now quite rare. https://sgycinverloch.com.au/?page_id=540
C.O.O.T.S Field Trip to the Columbia River Maritime Museum is 25 February. COOTS will be getting a chance to see what's in the museum storage warehouses. Located in Astoria, Oregon, the museum covers the history of the Columbia River from the days of dugout canoes, through the age of sail, to present. Details: http://www.coots.org/mb/CRMM/index.html
RYA Dinghy Show is 25 & 26 February at the Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre, UK. This is the only show in the world dedicated to dinghy sailing, A weekend of interactive features, expert advice, all the latest boats and kit – and best of all, absolutely everything dinghy. rya.org.uk/events/dinghy-show
Shipwrights Regatta is traditionally held in February (and sometimes in March). Hosted by the Port Townsend Sailing Association on Port Townsend Bay, Washington. All boats types are welcomed. Folks who would like to try sailboat racing but do not have a boat are encouraged to show up at the Skippers’ Meeting and be connected with boats looking for crew. nwmaritime.org/shipwrights
March 2023
Everglades Challenge begins 4 March. The Everglades Challenge is an unsupported, expedition style adventure race for kayaks, canoes, and small boats. Course is roughly 300 miles and goes from Tampa Bay to Key Largo, Florida. watertribe.com/events/evergladeschallenge
WaterTribe Ultra Marathon begins concurrently with the Everglades Challenge. The Ultra Marathon is an unsupported, expedition style adventure race for kayaks, canoes, and small boats. Course is roughly 62 miles and goes from Tampa Bay to Stump Pass at Cape Haze Marina, Florida. watertribe.com/Events/UltraMarathon
NZ Antique and Classic Boat Show is 4 - 5 March at Lake Rotoiti, South Island, New Zealand. Billed as a weekend of ‘Glorious Hydromatic Relaxation’ there will be displays on land from early morning, races on the lake in the afternoon, both days. Attendees range from sleek cedar kayaks, jet boats from the 60s, clunky clinkers and veteran sailing craft. Come see the restoration projects, chat to the owners, have a laugh as boaties try to start their motors for the Seagull dinghy race with its Le Mans start. facebook.com/NZACBS/ and www.nzclassicboats.com
C.O.O.T.S Season Opener Messabout is 26 March. Held at Triangle Lake, in the Oregon Coast Range west of Junction City and northwest of Fern Ridge Reservoir. The Triangle Lake launch ramp is about 25 miles by road west of Highway 99 on Highway 36. Show up around 11:00, or a little before, and bring a lunch to eat in your boat. Details: http://www.coots.org/mb/Opener/index.html
Sam Rayburn Shakedown is 31 March on Sam Rayburn Reservoir in east Texas. Launching at Umphrey boat ramp on Sam Rayburn and sailing up to Caney Creek Recreation Area or further. There's plenty of camping all around the lake. https://fb.me/e/3gWuUJQkE
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 find that any of the above is in error please contact Dave Scobie with corrections at wdscobie@yahoo.com.