Rally highlights the wilderness of McGregor Bay
By Rear Commodore David Spencer
After an unwelcome hiatus of four years, the GLCC North Channel Wilderness Rally was back in 2024 hosted by Rear Commodore David and Kathy Spencer. It was Aug. 14-16 in the eastern arm of the East-West Channel in McGregor Bay (NC-89) where several past Wilderness rallies have been.
There were fewer boats than the 2018 and 2019 rallies, but they included one new member (2024) and one guest boat. The rally was promoted by Lifetime Honorary GLCC Member Roy Eaton on the Little Current Cruisers’ Net that Roy broadcasts each morning from his studio in downtown Little Current at 900 am on VHF ch 71.
Rear Commodore Dave Spencer presented Roy with a Wilderness Rally burgee that was hung in his studio along with hundreds of others given by cruisers worldwide since 2004.
The event started with a potluck happy hour on one of the few relatively flat areas on the rocky shore. Lots of lively discussion topics and treats were shared. A highlight was the signature cocktail “Bananas Cattitude” prepared and served by Founders Award winners Cathie Macdonald and Brian Monrad of the all-electric sailboat Cattitude. Watch for the recipe for "Bananas Cattitude" featured in a forthcoming Lifeline article on favorite recipes.
Rear Commodore Dave Spencer presented the Admiral Bayfield Award to Mike and Deb Hervey of the Grand Banks Trawler Carousel.
The next day dawned sunny and warm, and started with coffee and a chart briefing ashore. One of the highlights of the day was an 8.5 nautical mile dinghy tour around McGregor Island.
The route went through two cuts passable only by dinghies; the Russian Cut linking the East Channel and the North Channel of McGregor Bay, and a cut between Burnt Island and McGregor Island that shows no water at all on the charts.
There were some gasps as the lead dinghy entered the rock-strewn gap at Burnt Island. Most that followed hauled out their oars and tilted their engines to make the seemingly daunting passage.
The tour went through the Blasted Cut. It allowed for a tantalizing view north into Iroquois Bay (NC-86) which is regarded as the most remote and the hardest anchorage to access in the North Channel.
After passing through by dinghy, it was clear that almost any cruising boat could make it through this narrow but sufficiently deep cut. Most participants vowed to study their charts and Harbor Reports with a view to making it to Iroquois Bay next summer.
A popular activity at GLCC events is Gadget Hour at which members show off innovative items that make cruising easier. Some of the items presented at the Wilderness Rally were simple, some were crazy, some were inexpensive and some cost hundreds of dollars, but all were fun. Think of it as show-and-tell for cruisers.
The day was rounded out by a shoreside potluck dinner. It’s always amazing how creative cruisers are with unique and delicious food to feed a crowd. The picnic table was built for a GLCC Rally many years ago by longtime GLCC members Ted and Venetia Moorhouse aboard Fairy Tale.
Plans are already being made for next year’s Wilderness Rally.
With the 2025 Rendezvous scheduled for July 13-17 in Little Current (NC-17), the thought is to have a rally in the far west in early July (likely Harbor Island (NC-2), for those coming to the Rendezvous from the west), and another rally in the east or central part of the North Channel either just before or just after the Rendezvous.
Suggestions are welcome. Comment to Dave Spencer at spencerdd@gmail.com.