2019 Hampton Rendezvous

Roche Harbor, San Juan Island

Well this was pretty special. Deb and I have been looking forward to this for an entire year. You see, we attended last year's event, but we didn't have Mahalo yet. She was in South Lake Union being commissioned and not ready for the trip. So we stayed in a condo, while most attendees were on their boats!

Encore is the latest Endurance 658 in our waters. Like ours, highly customized around the owner's desires and cruise plans.

And in fact a christening party was held. Wait, that's wrong. They called it a "Yacht Mitzvah," how awesome is that? That's Geo from Hampton as the Rabbi, I guess. "To the sea, the PERILOUS sea!"

Weather was a bit different than our christening party held in September of 2018 with rain bucketing down. 

Sometimes they really wedge them in here. They were going to put Mahalo in one of these slips, alongside an Endurance 720. I got the boat about 2' from the dock when they realized it just wasn't going to work. No prob, got another slip. They do such a nice job at Roche.

Some great shooting at sundown, although we didn't have the usual spectacular clouds. That 720 is a gorgeous spec boat, so if you are in the market, contact me, I'll get you a special deal.

I told Tom this image was "a sign." He needs a little "churchin' up" as my grandma would say.
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They feed us incredibly well at these events!

And provide great entertainment. This is a married "dueling piano" couple. I won a $400 gift certificate by completing the next lines of a song "with tangerine trees and marmalade skies."

Although I didn't get a picture of him, each year they have a magician who is just incredible. Always new tricks. A lot of them just boggle the mind.

We also do a "tender run" over to Westcott Bay Oysters. It's a fun race, of course. And once there, such a gorgeous spot. Great new owners Pat and Bob. I had dinner with Bob in Fort Lauderdale in 2017 when they were in the looking stage.

Biggest Weber grill I have ever seen. Like 6' across.

Oysters are just the beginning!

They also have Coast Guard Auxiliary members around to do Vessel Safety Checks. We passed easily (I just have one follow up item). Having this sticker makes it less likely you'll be boarded for CG safety checks.

Mahalo tucked in for the night.

Well, you get the idea. It's three days of partying with old friends and new friends. Checking out the new boats (and used boats new to the new owners). Fantastic place, great group of people. 

I'm closing with this image even though it really was part of the first day.  We cruised up with three other Hampton boats that came out of Seattle. The weather was foggy/overcast until we go to San Juan Island and then of course it just turned beautiful. 

I told Neil on Encore to follow us in, it was his first time there. And then the lighting and scenery was just right, for this shot. I radioed to Neil that I got a great shot of his boat and he replied "I'm never going to forget this."

Which is kind of a metaphor for boating here in the PNW with great boats and great friends. Unforgettable.

Until next year!