July 2023
Salish Sea Small Boat Sucia Island Rendezvous is 7-9 July at Sucia Island, WA, at Sucia Island, WA. The 'crown jewel of the state's marine park system' offers several bays for anchoring, and several camping areas. https://sites.google.com/view/sssbs
SALISH 100 is 20-27 July. A small-boat cruise the length of Puget Sound: Olympia to Port Townsend. Overnight stops are prearranged to assure that there is space for everyone and time for participants to socialize. Due to the Salish 100's length and challenging waters an application must be completed prior to joining the event. https://nwmaritime.org/salish100/, facebook.com/groups/285180382147515/ and for questions please email directly at info@salish100.org
North Channel Cruise is 22 July - 5 August on Lake Huron, Canada. A cruise in company event, with daily stops in a different anchorage, begins and ends at Little Current, Ontario, at Spider Bay Marina. The area is regarded as one of the best fresh water cruising grounds on the planet. Crystal clear protected waters, safe anchorages everywhere and unspoiled wilderness offer the ultimate escape! northchanneltrailersailors.org/events
Barefoot Raid is 27 July through 2 August. A week of challenge sailing and comradery from Fanny Bay to Heriot Bay, BC, Canada, with multiple motherships for support. Lots of nifty prizes, meals provided by mothership, and many wild and beautiful anchorages or camp sites every night! barefootraid.net or facebook.com/groups/1153597811385228/
Pocket Yacht Palooza, is 29 July at the Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend, WA. This is the largest collection of small boats, both production and home built, in one place at one time in the United States. pocketyachters.com/port-townsend-pocket-yacht-palooza/
Palooza Crooza begins 30 July (end date to be determined). A small craft micro-adventure where boaters will cruise together for two-three days over a 31 mile route, departing from and returning to Port Townsend, WA. The highlights? An overnight in the secluded Mats Mats back bay, AND a special visit and “insider” tour of the renowned Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding in Port Hadlock. www.pocketyachters.com/palooza-crooza/
OBX 130 is cruise in company event 30 July - 4 August in Cape Lookout National Seashore, Outer Banks, North Carolina. Meet at Cedar Creek Campground & Marina on 30 July. The route will be sailed 31 July though 4 August. facebook.com/groups/obx130/
Toms River Seaport Society and Maritime Museum Wooden Boat Festival has happened in late July at Huddy Park, Toms, New Jersey. Celebrating the rich maritime heritage of the Barnegat Bay and the State of New Jersey with old wooden boats in the water and in the park. Besides boats there are pirate shows, music, maritime crafts and museum's display of boats and artifacts and a working boat restoration shop. tomsriverseaport.org/vintage-boat-festival.html
August 2023
Dinghy Delta Ditch Run is tentatively scheduled for 4-6 August. A small boat regatta beginning at Rio Vista, follows the Sacramento River Deep Water Ship Channel, and finishes at Lake Washington,West Sacramento, California. This is the only long distance, downwind small boat and dinghy race in the whole USA! lwsailing.org
Mariner Class Association National Rendezvous will be 4-6 August. A fun get-together for Mariner owners, sailing as a group from Niantic River Launch Ramp, Connecticut, to the incomparable destination of Mystic Seaport. Weekend activities will include a Saturday night dinner provided by the Seaport's on-site caterer and the opportunity to observe work in progress on the 1885, 131-foot schooner yacht Coronet whose restoration will be completed over the next three years by the Seaport's Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard. http://www.usmariner.org
Antique Boat Museum Antique Boat Show is 4-7 August at the 1000 Islands Museum on the St. Lawrence River in Clayton, NY. abm.org/index.php/events/antique-boat-show-and-auction/
Blue Hill Maritime Heritage Festival is 5 August at Blue Hill, Maine’s historic village waterfront. Various activities will be occurring throughout the day, such as boat building demonstrations, oar carving, traditional boats on display, kiosks of organizations supporting or involved with Blue Hill Bay. On the water there will be more boats, demonstrations, many offering rides. Musicians will be adding to the maritime atmosphere with sea shanties and fiddle tunes. The Downeast Chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association will be hosting and cosponsoring. bhmhf.org
Leech Lake Regatta is 11-14 August on Leech Lake, Minnesota. Come and enjoy racing, sailing, campfires, music, and camaraderie! Boats race in two fleets; mono-hulls and multi-hulls. Within each fleet are divisions, when possible single hull type divisions are created. shoresofleechlake.com/leech-lake-regatta/regatta.shtml
Wooden Boat Show is in Toledo, Oregon, on the Depot Slough at Port’s Marina and Waterfront Park 19-20 August. The weekend is family friendly and celebrates the historic traditions of wooden boats and recreation on the Yaquina River. Events include boat building seminars for all ages, live music, food & vendor booths, and informational and historical exhibits. portoftoledo.org/wooden-boat-show
Cathlamet Wooden Boat Show has traditionally happened in August at the Elochoman Slough Marina, Cathlamet, WA. The show itself is on Saturday & Sunday, folks come in on Friday and then hang around until Sunday, visit and leisurely depart. In addition to the main attraction of the Festival, the boats, many exciting things planned including nautical-related presentations and demonstrations, music, activities for the entire family, food and craft vendors, and even a specially brewed beer from the River Mile 38 Brewery for the occasion. There are lots of camping facilities and options at the marina. www.cathlametmarina.org
September 2023
Raid Extreme is 1-3 September on the Lauwersmeer, Netherlands. Open for all types of craft: sail canoes, SUPs, catamarans, sail and oar boats, no engines allowed. Shallow draft boats are at an advantage. Be ready to make the course on muscle and wind power and to row upwind through small creeks. There will be waves and wind. raidextreme.wixsite.com/raidextreme
Minnesota Voyageurs Challenge begins 2 September. This event is a challenge, not a race that commemorates the paddling route that the Voyageurs used back in the 1800's. watertribe.com/events/MinnesotaVoyageursChallenge/Default.aspx
Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend, WA, is 8-10 September. Featuring 300 boats on land and water, 120 presentations, dozens of exhibitors, and live music all day, every day the Wooden Boat Festival is the most educational and inspiring wooden boat event in the world! woodenboat.org
Lake Champlain Challenge Race is 9 September at Vergennes, Vermont. All human-powered vessels are invited to the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum to try to set the new fastest time. The Challenge Race is a three-mile triangular course. Participants compete in race categories such as 6- and 4-person rowing gigs, individual rowers, kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and more to win their group. Come enjoy a weekend of camaraderie, bragging rights, rowing, and plain good fun. www.lcmm.org/event/lake-champlain-challenge-race-2023/
Lake Chelan Sailing Regatta is 9 & 10 September. A weekend of sailing fun in a well organized yet friendly competition for all sailors. One design and portsmouth classes will vie for cheap awards while sailing on the clean, clear water of Lake Chelan, WA. Three or more boats of one design will get their own start! https://sailchelan.com/regatta
Antique & Classic Boat Society’s Annual International Boat Show is 15-16 September in Petoskey, Michigan. A gathering of classic boat enthusiasts and features more than 100 boats from the early 1900s through 2022. This “Field of Dreams” will host marquis boats, demonstrations, boat building displays, craft vendors, food trucks and more at the Waterfront Park, Boat Burlington Harbor and Community Boathouse Marinas. https://acbs.org/events/acbs-annual-meeting-and-international-boat-show-2023/
Lake Monroe Midwest Messabout is 15-17 September. An informal gathering of persons interested in messing about in all kinds of small boats: paddle, sail, power, rowing, and/or pedal. The location is Paynetown State Recreation Area, Lake Monroe Reservoir, Indiana's largest man-made lake. sites.google.com/view/lake-monroe-midwest-messabout
The Glen-L Boatbuilder Forum is 20-24 September at Blue Water Resort, Lake Chickagauga, Dayton, Tennessee The group is made up of builders and owners of Glen-L boats and all are invited including owners and builders of other designs. There is usually a "Meet and Great" on Thursday night, a river run on Friday, and more boat rides on Saturday. https://www.glenlforum.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=36547
Norm Blanchard W.O.O.D. (Wooden Open & One Design) Regatta is happening 23 September at The Center for Wooden Boats, Lake Union, Seattle. Open to all wooden boats - from El Toros to large racer cruisers. Non-wood versions of traditional wood one-designs are also welcomed. This regatta is all about have FUN! www.cwb.org
Mississippi 110 is a 'raid type' event happening 26-30 September and brings together loose knit group of sailors that explores the areas around the Mississippi barrier islands. facebook.com/groups/801912106567809
Pirates of NC Sail is usually in September. A sailing trip and adventure from Beaufort, NC, to Cape Lookout, NC. Where else can you visit the town Blackbeard visited, tour a maritime museum, see the Old Burying Grounds and sail on the ocean to an island with a lighthouse? Why in North Carolina of course! enctrader.com/ncsail/
Cat Island Mississippi Rendezvous will be in September. 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
Mystery Bay Messabout and Potluck traditionally happens in September at Marrowstone Island, WA. Bring a dish and your boat for a fun day with the Puget Sound Chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association. pocketyachters.com/events/
The International Maritime Film Festival will be in September and is a juried contest of films celebrating the heritage, spirit of adventure, and ingenuity of boats and waterborne pursuits. maritimefilmfestival.com
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.
Awesome, thanks for sharing. Just a tip and sorry to create more work for you, but it would be great if you could put the location in bold or other font to make it stick out. As I read through the list the location is the most important part.