While this isn’t exactly breaking news, it is worthwhile for us to look back to three days in September when boat builder Fluid Motion invited their owners and friends to a huge shindig at Roche Harbor, Washington.
Fluid Motion builds Ranger Tugs, Cutwater cruisers and Solara cruisers. They have built hundreds of these models and have owners all over the North America. When the final tally was made, 225 boats and 500 owners and fans joined the rendezvous. This has to be one of the largest builder-customer events in the boating world.
This year, the event had a western theme and was titled The Rodeo in Roche, so parties and events had a country and western theme. Attendees really embraced the idea, so folks gussied up in cowboy boots, 10-gallon hats, bandannas and fun cowboy costumes.
Every day there were informational seminars from noted vendors like Yanmar, Volvo, Garmin and many more. The team always runs a scavenger hunt at the events and these can get pretty competitive. At the end of day one, Roche Harbor threw a cocktail party for the whole crowd and the golfers in the group competed in an over-the-water chipping contest to a floating green.
Day two featured the fishing and crabbing contest. Between 10 am and 4 pm, crews headed out into the ocean to fish for salmon and Dungeness crab. The winners were the fisherman who came home with the most poundage. And generous prizes were awarded.
At the end of the second day, the team threw a margarita party with multiple bars and snack stands and the combination of cocktails and music had the crowd on their feet.
The final day kicked off with seminars on cruising to Desolation Sound and medical matters afloat, both of which were popular with the crews. The scavenger hunt concluded, and day two’s leader managed to hold on in fierce competition to take first prize.
The silliest and most fun event of the day was the blindfold dinghy rowing race. Rowers set off with enthusiasm and managed to play bumper-dinghies down the course. The winners just squeaked over the finish to take home the prize.
You get the picture, the annual Fluid Motion rendezvous is an event that not only builds skills, it offers this community of loyal customers a chance to party hearty together. It didn’t disappoint. Read more and watch the day-by-day videos of the event here.
