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If you haven't done this trip before, it's a little different. Yes, we all have our methods of cooking on board, sleeping on board, keeping warm on cold nights on board, etc. BUT, for most of us "Captains", our "Admirals" participate with varying degrees of enthusiasm, especially when it's cold. So, this event is set up specifically to bring the Admirals along and even pamper them a little bit. No cooking, port-a-potties, freezing, v-berth sleeping, anchoring, etc......unless you want to! We'll stay in hotel rooms at both ends of Lake Havasu with a 17 mile sail in-between. Food?....yes there are restaurants (and bars) at each location as well as slips and docks, or a sandy beach for your vessel. AND....most importantly (to the Admirals) there will be OTHER ADMIRALS! They like to travel in "Strike Groups" for safety you know! So come on and "Whimp it" for a weekend and make your sweety love you even more! Of course, you are welcome to attend in the "rough it" mode but I guarantee you you'll be missing some of the fun. Let's pamper the gals and get some sailing in this winter. How could this go wrong??? (don't answer that!) Last year we had 15 boats make the trip!
Scenes from last year
What this event IS and Is Not:
IT IS:
It is:
All about friendship among folks with a common interest (sailing).
A brief escape from Old Man Winter for you Northern folks (we had one crew that had to dig their boat out of the snow to come here last year!)
A weekend designed to entice your sweety to come along. Co-ed
crews are not required but highly encouraged!
A non-group-sanctioned event. Why? Because it's FREE to join in and to encourage everyone to participate including crews that otherwise would be considered Non-Members. No one is a "member" here so everyone is equal.
It's JUST FUN!
IT IS NOT:
A race.
The only rules you need to know are the rules of boating and the biggest rule of all, Courtesy.
Poker Run info:
This year we'll have the Photographic Poker Run again like last year, but no scavenger hunt. The reason why is because we are doubling the amount of sailing you'll be doing and we don't want you out there at midnight looking for a pickle slice! We will Start and Finish the event at the Nautical Inn in Lake Havasu City, with an overnight on Saturday night at Havasu Springs Resort. This will be about a 17 mile sail each way so we are dumping the scavenger hunt portion of the event.
To participate in the Poker Run all you need is a digital camera. You will be given a set of photographs of landmarks along your course to Havasu Springs. You have to duplicate the pictures you were given with your digital camera (camera phones are fine). For each picture that you duplicate you will be given a blind draw from a stack of cards. Once everyone has drawn their cards, you will make the best possible poker hand you can from your cards. Last year we had some great prizes donated (New Tillers from Ida Sailor, Subscritions from Small Craft Advisor Magazine, and a $100 gift certificate from West Marine to name a few.)
No promises on what the prizes will be this year but I'll do my best to round up some booty for ya!
SCHEDULE
Friday (Feb 20th)
Find your way to Lake Havasu City, AZ. and get your boat in the water.
We'll have an informal get-together/dinner at the "Naked Turtle" Restaurant in the Nautical Inn. Book your room at the Nautical. They have great off season rates and you are right on the water. You can make arrangements to beach your boat in a sandy cove right in front of your room, or get a slip for the boat at the Lake Havasu Marina which is right next door. The Nautical has a ramp that you can use if you have a room or you can pay to use the ramp at the Lake Havasu Marina. There is also a free public ramp about a mile and half from the Nautical Inn.
Breakfast and a quick Skipper's meeting at the Nautical Inn's restaurant. Instructions, maps, and photos for the Poker run will be issued to each skipper. Boats depart at their own leisure for the 17 mile trip down to Havasu Springs Resort.
Saturday night is dinner at the Havasu Springs Restaurant overlooking the marina. This is a cool little hole in the wall at the top of the docks. There is a bar there as well. After dinner, socializing at the bar, docks, patio....wherever. We'll award the prizes for the Poker Run after dinner. There is a hotel overlooking the Marina. Nothing fancy but clean and the prices are right. Book a room as they do not allow overnighting on the boat in their slips. You can choose to anchor out, but you'll probably miss a lot of the socializing....and your sweety might get cold! The marina here is very protected from any kind of weather.
Breakfast at the Havasu Springs Restaurant and then back up to Lake Havasu City. Some boats will surely need to be on the road on Sunday. But...If you can..plan on overnighting at the Nautical again (or ride the hook if you prefer).
Monday (Feb 23rd)
On Monday morning we'll make a group sail around the Island and under the London Bridge. It's a short hour and half trip that ends up back where you started. Then pull your boat and have an easy trip back home,getting on the road by noon or so.
What can you expect? Well this is the Desert Southwest in the winter. The wind can be anywhere from non-existant to blowing a steady 25 with higher gusts. Last year on Friday it was pretty cool (in the 50's) cloudy and raining, but that is the exception not the rule. Saturday morning was beautiful but very light breezes. Throughout the day there was some sailing done and some motoring. Sunday was forecast to be windy, in the 15 -20 range. The winds ended up being about 10-13 and made for a nice sail. Definitely, if you come, YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED TO REEF IF NECCESSARY, PERIOD. That includes your boat being set-up properly and your crew knowing how to do it. We usually expect temps anywhere from 60 to 75 degrees for the highs but that can change with inclement weather. Overnight lows from low 40's to 50 are normal but temps can drop lower. If you are planning on "roughing it" come prepared.
Please DO NOT "BOOTLEG"
We really want you to come and play with us. But I would ask this: Each of the Hotels and Marinas has their own rules. I don't make them, and we have to play by them if we would like to be welcomed back. If the rules dictate "No sleeping in this marina's slips" or "you must check in by 4pm in order to get a slip for the evening", then PLEASE! do not try to "bootleg" it and do it anyway. Also, please don't try to slide in after hours at one of the marinas and Pirate a slip for the night. If you are caught it puts the entire group in a bad light. The Hotels and Marinas have been pretty flexible with us epecially since we are not really a "group" but instead, all dealing with them individually. If we treat them right we'll be welcomed back next year.
Thanks!
Planning on Attending??? Send me an email with your name, crew's name, boat type, and home port so I can add it to the list! I will form a mailing list so we can communicate and share more specific information as needed. If you just show-up we might not have Poker Run materials for you. We also need head counts for the restaurants to give them a heads up. Can't wait to see everyone again and also hopefully meet some new faces!
Sean
nebwest2@aol.com
Crews and Boats Planning on Attending
1. Sean & 'Jo Mulligan Montgomery 23 Lake Havasu City, AZ
2. Don & Debbie Boyko Capri-18 Escondido, CA.
3.Denny Hyett Potter 19 Southern California
4. Stu Rea Oday 192 Ramona, CA
5. Al Watts Potter 15 Southern California
6. Dan Rogers Balboa 16 Southern California
7. Jim Ellsworth Montgomery 17 Southern California
8. Howie & Judy Goldbrandsen Sanibel 18 Apple Valley,CA
9. Jim Bruton Potter 19 Southern California
10. Gary Oberbeck Montgomery 17 Phoenix, AZ
11. Bill Kaiser Montgomery 15 Phoenix, AZ
12. Dave,Ann, &Taylor Quiggle Santana 23D Lake Havasu City, Az
13. Terry Harding Adelie 16 Phoenix, AZ
14. Kathy Weydig Catalina 22 Lake Havasu City, AZ
15. Dan & Gretchen Ricker Com-pac 19 Atascadero, CA
16. Dan Phy Montgomery17 Fort Bragg, CA
17. Roger & Judy Burger Mac -Venture 21 Lake Havasu City, AZ
18. Matt & Noah Marx Montgomery 17 San Diego, CA
19. Jim and Bonnnie Little Ensenada 20 Hemet, CA
20. Dave & Francesca Kautz Oday 192 Palo Alto, CA
21. Dick Herman Compac 17 Folsom, CA
22. Denny Hyett Potter 19 So. California
23. Dr. Eric Zilbert Potter 19 California
24. Larry Yake Crewing on Dauntless Deer Park, WA
25. Alan Hall MacGregor 26 Lake Havasu
26. Chuck & Elaine Vanderboom F-31 tri Lake Havasu
27. Rick & Jan Thomas S-2 26 Lake Havasu
28. Gary Haliburton Potter 19 So. California
Please click the links below to visit the websites of our Sponsors who have generously donated prizes to help make this a great event!
