Nordhavn just held its largest owners’ rendezvous yet, with 48 boats and the owners of 19 more attending the five-day gathering at Victoria International Marina on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Victoria is a popular location because of its proximity to the San Juan Islands, prime cruising grounds in their own right. The Victoria rendezvous also served as the start of the season for boats heading farther north up the Inside Passage to Alaska, another favorite destination for the owners of Nordhavns and many, many other cruising boats.
Nordhavns of all sizes were represented in Victoria; indeed, 16 different models lined the docks there, and owners wandered in and out of each other’s boats, comparing notes and sea stories.
The rendezvous was filled with the usual camaraderie, cocktail parties, dinners and award ceremonies. For many, the best part was mingling with other owners. “There are so many wonderful people that I’ve met with such interesting cruising backgrounds and stories,” said Jill Bernard, chairman of the owners’ committee and owner of a Nordhavn 47. “It’s a bit of a mutual admiration society.”
The owners, an adventuresome and involved group, packed the seminar halls to hear Steve D’Antonio talk about caring for your boat; Kitt Baldwin, an MD and Nordhavn owner, talk about medical emergencies at sea; Mike Telleria, a Nordhavn engineer, and Bruce Schwab from OceanPlanet Energy, talk about electrical systems and lithium batteries; and Paul Bultema and Heather Brewer, owners of a Nordhavn 43, talk about cruising from Florida to the Pacific Northwest.
There were also tours of engine rooms with advice about troubleshooting and engine room checks. The rendezvous ended on Saturday night with a celebratory dinner and the awarding of Nordhavn’s mileage pennants. Read more at http://nordhavn.com and see the video below:
