Rendezvous Agenda
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 9:43 pm
Things are shaping up for our rendezvous on June 24-26. At last count we have 18 boats that have reserved slips at the Harbour Inn, another boat that plans to anchor out, and a couple of owners who will come by car. It should be great. Below is the agenda that has been planned for the weekend.
Friday arrival – Informal – Renew acquaintances, meet new people, visit other boats, go to the pool, etc. When you are approaching the harbor call the dockmaster on channel 16 for docking instructions. Its best to call before entering the St. Michaels harbor as it's a short distance to the Harbour Inn after entering the harbor. If you are not familiar with St. Michaels, when you enter the harbor go straight. the Harbour Inn will be on your port side and the Maritime Museum and Crab Claw Restaurant will be to starboard. I will try to have the AOG banner at the entrance to the Harbour Inn Marina. I have talked to the dockmaster and he will try to put us all within the basin. Even if that doesn't work out it's a small marina and we will all be close togetner.
Friday cocktail hour – This is where the larger boats can have a chance to show off. It would be great if one of you would serve as cocktail hour host. We could have 40 to 50 people so they can probably not be accommodated on one boat, but the boat and surrounding dock will work. It can be BYOB and the alternative will be to have it on the dock.
Friday dinner – Informal groups form and dine at one of the many restaurants in St. Michaels. There is an excellent restaurant in the hotel. For less formal dining there is the Crab & Steak (one of my favorites) or the Crab Claw (a tourist trap in my opinion, but some people love it). Downtown there are several good eating establishments that range from informal to gourmet. Anywhere in town is a reasonable walk, but the hotel has a shuttle that will take you anywhere in St. Michaels and pick you up. Just ask at the front desk.
Saturday morning - The hotel serves breakfast or walk downtown to the Carpenter Street Saloon. That's where the locals go.
Saturday daytime – John has arranged for a qualified diesel mechanic to give us a talk on diesel maintenance. It is planned for before lunch on Saturday (around 10:30) and will be held in a meeting room in the hotel.
Saturday afternoon - enjoy St. Michaels. Suggestions are - shopping, a massage at the hotel's spa, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, the hotel pool.
Saturday evening gathering – This is our primary organized event. We will have a pot luck dinner 2 blocks from the hotel at my brother's house. There will be a grill available and I will provide hamburgers and hot dogs. Bring a dish suitable for sharing and its BYOB. I'll arrange to have some coolers with ice so you won't have to drag your cooler cown the road. We will have the use of his house and yard so there will be a full kitchen available if you need to finish preparing something. I think it would be good if everyone would post here what they plan to bring. It can be self regulating so we don't end up with all hors deourves or 50 pounds of macaroni salad. Be creative, St. Michaels is sort of up scale.
Saturday night – There are plenty of options if night life is on your list.
Sunday morning – The Harbour Inn serves a good breakfast and there are other options downtown.
Sunday mid-day – I believe the checkout time for the marina is 12N. If you ask the dockmaster nicely, he may let you extend awhile. They normally don’t have many boats coming in on Sunday and are pretty flexible on when you leave. Another option is to stay another night. Sunday evening with the locals at the Crab & Steak is one of my favorite times in St. Michaels.
Saturday/Sunday special event – The log canoes will be holding their first races of the year in St. Michaels Saturday and Sunday. If you haven’t seen these historic craft that are unique to the Chesapeake Bay, it’s a real treat to see them up close and racing. They normally have a race in the morning around 10 and another after lunch. If there is interest we can make an excursion out to the race course. We can either take one of our boats or I’m pretty sure I can borrow a center console. If we do the diesel briefing on Saturday before lunch, we should be able to make the afternoon race. The Sunday morning race is also workable. In any case, you can time your departure to see them on your way out. Please watch your wake in the vicinity of the log canoes. They are quite tender and deserve our courtesy.
Harbour Inn amenities - check their website but here is a summary
First class restaurant
Pool
Shuttle van to anywhere in St. Michaels
Bicycles
Charge anything in the hotel to your slip (discount on food charged to your slip)
Free morning paper
It should be an excellent weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing those Albin owners I know from previous rendezvous and meeting new ones. I've tried to cover things here, but please post any questions you have.
Friday arrival – Informal – Renew acquaintances, meet new people, visit other boats, go to the pool, etc. When you are approaching the harbor call the dockmaster on channel 16 for docking instructions. Its best to call before entering the St. Michaels harbor as it's a short distance to the Harbour Inn after entering the harbor. If you are not familiar with St. Michaels, when you enter the harbor go straight. the Harbour Inn will be on your port side and the Maritime Museum and Crab Claw Restaurant will be to starboard. I will try to have the AOG banner at the entrance to the Harbour Inn Marina. I have talked to the dockmaster and he will try to put us all within the basin. Even if that doesn't work out it's a small marina and we will all be close togetner.
Friday cocktail hour – This is where the larger boats can have a chance to show off. It would be great if one of you would serve as cocktail hour host. We could have 40 to 50 people so they can probably not be accommodated on one boat, but the boat and surrounding dock will work. It can be BYOB and the alternative will be to have it on the dock.
Friday dinner – Informal groups form and dine at one of the many restaurants in St. Michaels. There is an excellent restaurant in the hotel. For less formal dining there is the Crab & Steak (one of my favorites) or the Crab Claw (a tourist trap in my opinion, but some people love it). Downtown there are several good eating establishments that range from informal to gourmet. Anywhere in town is a reasonable walk, but the hotel has a shuttle that will take you anywhere in St. Michaels and pick you up. Just ask at the front desk.
Saturday morning - The hotel serves breakfast or walk downtown to the Carpenter Street Saloon. That's where the locals go.
Saturday daytime – John has arranged for a qualified diesel mechanic to give us a talk on diesel maintenance. It is planned for before lunch on Saturday (around 10:30) and will be held in a meeting room in the hotel.
Saturday afternoon - enjoy St. Michaels. Suggestions are - shopping, a massage at the hotel's spa, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, the hotel pool.
Saturday evening gathering – This is our primary organized event. We will have a pot luck dinner 2 blocks from the hotel at my brother's house. There will be a grill available and I will provide hamburgers and hot dogs. Bring a dish suitable for sharing and its BYOB. I'll arrange to have some coolers with ice so you won't have to drag your cooler cown the road. We will have the use of his house and yard so there will be a full kitchen available if you need to finish preparing something. I think it would be good if everyone would post here what they plan to bring. It can be self regulating so we don't end up with all hors deourves or 50 pounds of macaroni salad. Be creative, St. Michaels is sort of up scale.
Saturday night – There are plenty of options if night life is on your list.
Sunday morning – The Harbour Inn serves a good breakfast and there are other options downtown.
Sunday mid-day – I believe the checkout time for the marina is 12N. If you ask the dockmaster nicely, he may let you extend awhile. They normally don’t have many boats coming in on Sunday and are pretty flexible on when you leave. Another option is to stay another night. Sunday evening with the locals at the Crab & Steak is one of my favorite times in St. Michaels.
Saturday/Sunday special event – The log canoes will be holding their first races of the year in St. Michaels Saturday and Sunday. If you haven’t seen these historic craft that are unique to the Chesapeake Bay, it’s a real treat to see them up close and racing. They normally have a race in the morning around 10 and another after lunch. If there is interest we can make an excursion out to the race course. We can either take one of our boats or I’m pretty sure I can borrow a center console. If we do the diesel briefing on Saturday before lunch, we should be able to make the afternoon race. The Sunday morning race is also workable. In any case, you can time your departure to see them on your way out. Please watch your wake in the vicinity of the log canoes. They are quite tender and deserve our courtesy.
Harbour Inn amenities - check their website but here is a summary
First class restaurant
Pool
Shuttle van to anywhere in St. Michaels
Bicycles
Charge anything in the hotel to your slip (discount on food charged to your slip)
Free morning paper
It should be an excellent weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing those Albin owners I know from previous rendezvous and meeting new ones. I've tried to cover things here, but please post any questions you have.
