Escanaba is the place to be for 2024 Rendezvous
By Lori Sprague and Port Captain Marilyn Kinsey, Rendezvous co-chairs, along with Port Captain Craig Shantz, Neils Jensen, and the rest of the 2024 Rendezvous team.
Summer has arrived in Escanaba. Not the heat…just the cool breezes off Little Bay de Noc. The marina staff is hard at work painting, pruning and putting out the welcome mat for the GLCC Rendezvous July 14-18.
Get ready to enjoy some favorite GLCC activities like the Potluck Dinner, Happy Hour, Gadget Hour, Book Club and the fabulous Bilge Auction. New this year is a GLCCSchool presentation...
We will hear from local historian Ann Miller about Escanaba’s early history. Troy Henderson from the Michigan History Center will tell us about the Upper Peninsula’s Iron industry. Escanaba artist Gregg Bruff will present his paintings of Working Boats of the Upper Peninsula.
What better way to learn about history than from the folks who lived it? Tuesday evening, we will venture to historic Lakeview Cemetery where members of the Players de Noc Theater Company will portray personalities from Escanaba’s past.
GLCC members can join the locals for Escanaba Yacht Club’s Midsummer Race on Tuesday. Those who prefer sailing on a smaller scale can watch or participate in model sailboat races on Monday afternoon.
Plan to spend some time exploring the Delta County Historical Museum and Sand Point lighthouse adjacent to the marina or walk around the yacht basin to the beach on Aronson Island. There are plenty of places to just sit and take in the view too. Want to see what’s in town? Bring your bike or borrow one of the free Yellow Bikes from the marina. Hardware and groceries are an easy pedal away. No hills!
We didn’t forget the food! Continental breakfast will be served Monday, Tuesday and Thursday in the tent. Wednesday, the Escanaba Yacht Club will treat us to their famous brunch. The Commodore’s Reception Monday will be at Hereford and Hops a short walk from the marina.
Tuesday we will have some food trucks on site. Wednesday night. we’ll cap it off with the
Commodore’s Dinner at the historic House of Ludington.
The GLCC Rendezvous committee is looking forward to seeing you in Escanaba.
Sailboat Racing Opportunities!
The Escanaba Rendezvous offers two opportunities for sailboat racing for GLLC attendees.
Opportunity No. 1: RC (radio-controlled) racing. GLCC members can join local Escanaba model boat enthusiasts for a "little" regatta Monday, July 15 at 1600 (weather permitting). The group races Soling M1 Class boats (radio-controlled).
The lively competition happens much faster than with full-scale boats. GLCC members who are RC sailors are welcome to bring their own boats. If you don't own your own, there is always someone who will let you try your hand at the controls. It’s said even a power boater could get hooked.
Opportunity No. 2: Traditional racing via the Escanaba Yacht Club's Mid-Summer Race. The Escanaba club invites GLCC members to join in this summer classic, either with their own boats or if interested, crewing for EYC members. The skippers’ meeting is at 1800 at the EYC Clubhouse; the race starts at 1850.
Rendezvous participants Interested in either of these racing opportunities are asked to contact GLCC Rendezvous Chair Lori Sprague for an Escanaba Yacht Club contact.
Join the Bilge Auction
Please don’t forget to donate items to the Rendezvous’ famous Bilge Auction, which will happen Tuesday, July 16 from 0930 to 1130 It’s a chance to pass on your unused or unwanted cruising equipment, curiosities, conveniences, and spares to your GLCC friends, all for the benefit of your Great Lakes Foundation.
The auction is known as an amusing and lively crowd-pleaser. You never know what will happen, and you never know what big and small auction items are offered until the Rendezvous. In the past, the bidding for desirable items has often been fierce — but it obviously depends on what is donated for the auction, so we hope you have something desirable to contribute.
And who knows, maybe you will spot an auction item or two you might want or need, and successfully bid on them. We hope you do, so don’t forget to bring your checkbook.
Proceeds from the Bilge Auction go to your Great Lakes Foundation, which awards grants for harbor improvements, environmental efforts, cultural preservations, and other boating-related activities and facilities on both sides of the Great Lakes’ international border. For an extensive list of our past major grants, please visit the GLF website at https://www.glcclub.com/great-lakes-foundation. All members of the GLCC are also members of the foundation.
So, please bring your auction items to Escanaba, and drop them off at the GLCC registration table any day of the Rendezvous, but kindly before 0900 of the auction day. If you have a large or heavy item, the registration staff will call someone for assistance.
We greatly look forward to seeing you at the Rendezvous’ Bilge Auction.