Westcott Bay to Roche Harbor
/A Return to the Grand Banks Family
After several peaceful days in Westcott Bay, we made the short run over to Roche Harbor to attend the Puget Sound Grand Banks Owners Association Rendezvous. This year marked the event's 25th anniversary, and after at least a five-year absence, I finally convinced Karen that it was time for OceanFlyer to rejoin the festivities.
The turnout was impressive. Sixty-six Grand Banks filled the marina, creating a floating display of some of the finest cruising boats in the Pacific Northwest. Walking the docks felt like attending a family reunion where you recognize some faces immediately and meet plenty of new friends along the way.
A small sampling of all the grand banks filling the roche harbor guest dock
The rendezvous is much more than a gathering of boats. Over the next four days we attended presentations covering everything from vessel maintenance and cruising destinations to the latest equipment and upgrades. As always, the real value came from the dock conversations, where experienced owners share the hard-earned lessons that never make it into the manuals.
our friend, bill douglass, presenting a topic of much interest to the attendees
the best in the business when it comes to cleaning tanks, petero Clean, shared their years of experience
We also took advantage of the services available during the event. Our fire extinguishers were inspected, revealing that two needed recharging—a small discovery that made the trip worthwhile all by itself. OceanFlyer also underwent her Coast Guard Auxiliary Vessel Safety Check and passed with flying colors, always a reassuring milestone before a summer of cruising.
While I was attending to the Safety Check, Karen took the opportunity to attend the guided tour of the San Juan Islands Sculpture Park. This eclectic, yet renowned park covers 20 acres and is home to more than 150 sculptures. She returned singing the praise of the collection and the curator, who was the guide. The Park is an easy walk from the marina and well worth an hour or two away from the docks.
one of the 150 sculptures to explore at the San Juan Islands Sculpture Park
Of course, no visit to Roche Harbor would be complete without maple-glazed donuts form the Lime Kiln Café. After all, cruising may be about seamanship, navigation, and maintenance, but sometimes it is also about enjoying a warm donut with friends while overlooking one of the Northwest's most iconic harbors.
Roche Harbor Resort awaking to the spring blossoms
By the end of the rendezvous, we were reminded why these gatherings have endured for twenty-five years. Boats may bring people together, but it is the community that keeps them coming back. For us, it was a welcome return to familiar faces, useful knowledge, and a tradition that continues to thrive.