Home Forums Public Discussion ForumMessages

Public Discussion Forum

Summer Fun East Coast Mini-Rendezvous Weekend - Ju...

Search This Thread

Jack Burgess

5/30/2025 4:32 AM

Terry and I would like to propose a Summer Fun East Coast Mini-Rendezvous Weekend to be held at Horseshoe Bend on the Saint Mary’s River where Saint Mary’s College of Maryland, the Nation’s only public honors college, is located. The Saint Mary’s River is located approximately six miles up the Potomac River from Point Lookout, Maryland. It is easily navigated,scenic and beautiful.

The anchorage at Horseshoe Bend is protected and has good holding for dozens of vessels in around 15’ of water. Better yet, the Chesapeake Orchestra, a world class musical institution, gives free outdoor concerts on the Green overlooking the anchorage Friday nights at 7:00 p.m. from June 27 through July 25. Attendees mostly arrive by car, but for years we and others have attended by boat, leaving our tenders (permitted and encouraged) at the SMCM docks and walking up the hill to the Green where the orchestra performs. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnics, coolers and your beverages of choice, and there are many vendors selling food and drink as well. The music is always wonderful, lasting approximately two hours with an intermission half way through. Bathrooms are available as are campus tours, use of the school cafeteria, and historic Saint Mary’s City is within walking distance. We typically go back to Shangri-La, our Selene 53, after the concert Friday night, and tour the College and/or historic Saint Mary’s City the following day. Great walks and bike rides abound. The Maryland Dove is typically moored at the museum’s dock.

Saturday afternoon we could either stay put or travel the six miles down the Saint Mary’s River and cross the Potomac to the Yeocomico River (total trip 12 miles) where our vessel is kept, and visit the private and secluded White Point Creek Marina owned by a friend of mine, Charles Love. Charles would accommodate us either in one of his secure slips (approximately 10 available) or folks could anchor out only a few hundred yards from the marina in Shannon Branch, a very secure anchorage with about 8’ of water and protected from all directions. The marina is a bit rustic, but a swimming pool, grills, bathrooms and picnic tables are provided. Our home on the Potomac River is a 10 minute ride by car or tender to the marina and our dock, hot tub, yard, grill and smoker are available as well.

We propose the weekend of Friday, July 11 for the Mini-Rendezvous. June 27 might be too soon. We all likely have plans for the July 4 weekend. Terry and I have a surprise trip to China planned for later in July. We thought we refitted Shangri-La to be our “forever” boat in Trinidad over the last three years and she is truly beautiful and ready to cruise the world; but something strange happened on the way to the Chesapeake Bay and we have a visit with Howard Chen scheduled for later in July.

Please let us know of interest in this proposal. I may call upon some of the likely suspects with relevant experience, Glenda Groome, Robin Newland and Cindy Covington, to help with organizing this effort. I can coordinate with Charles Love at the marina, but I expect there may be more to this than I realize.

Jack Burgess, Shangri-La 5388

(703) 609-2033

Jacktburgess1@gmail.com

Ron Sernau

5/30/2025 7:16 AM

Sounds fun! We will already be on our way in the opposite direction in July so we can’t make it then. We look forward to finding a time to meet.

Richard Nye

5/30/2025 7:24 AM

Sounds like a lot of fun Jack. We will be taking Untethered up the Potomac to DC for the 4th visiting family and being tourists. We were planning on spending more time in the Long Island Sound on our way to Maine, but maybe we can stick around the Chesepeake for another week.

Richard

Untethered, 57-22

Phil Davies

5/30/2025 11:14 AM

Hi Jack,

Thanks for thinking of this, sounds like a great idea. Asante with Annette and I are looking forward to joining you. Please let us know how we can help, our home marina is Chesapeake Yacht Club in the West River, we can likely head down a couple of days early if needed.

Brgds
Phil & Annette
Asante 5334

John Midlige

5/30/2025 12:04 PM

Hello Jack,

Regretfully WAHINI’S Bight will be in Maine poking around. To add further insult to injury our Sister in Law grew up in a house overlooking the St. Mary’s directly across the river from town. We anchored there on our way south after the Baltimore Rendezvous. Her father and brother are still there and we visited with them and had a fantastic time. It is absolutely delightful.
Perhaps during a future trip up or down the coast we can make it work

Thanks for suggesting this

John and Gabi

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

Corrin Crowley

5/30/2025 1:50 PM

Great idea Jack, Joe and Corrin Crowley will be there on Coffee Break 59-23. Let us know how we can help.

Treasurer

5/30/2025 3:18 PM

Sounds like great fun. Wish we could join you, but we are on our way to Alaska.

However, I would love to have some of your photos to share on the website photo page after this happens, so everyone submit your best shots to me. I’ll create a folder to share your memories and fun with all our members.

Cheers,

Your treasurer, Jenni

Russ Dykstra

5/31/2025 7:20 AM

Thank you Jack. We will plan on being there. Let us know if we can help.

Russ & Jamie Dykstra

Naut Lost 59-19

Cindy Covington

6/5/2025 3:19 PM

Thank you Jack.

Steve and Cindy Covington will be there. Let us know how we can help.

Kallisto

53-69

Jack Burgess

6/5/2025 8:26 PM

Steve and Cindy (and others interested) -

Great news! We are looking forward to seeing you and to the event, which may be expanded. I encourage all interested in participating to let me know soon so I can continue planning.

Today I met with the marina owner, Charles Love, and he gave me free hand to style the event our way at his place. I am suggesting that those who can arrive at the Saint Mary's location on Thursday afternoon or Friday morning, so that anyone interested can tour SMCM and/or Historic Saint Mary's City, that afternoon or Friday before the concert. Or maybe just enjoy beverage of choice in the anchorage on deck; it is a beautiful place. The Chesapeake Orchestra performance begins at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, with arrival on the Green suggested at 6:30 at latest to get good seating, picnic dinners at the show, then back to our boats after the performance for the evening and whatever escapades follow. Saturday we can hang out until ready to head over to White Point Creek Marina, across the Potomac and into the Yeocomico. That will take around 1.5 hours at planing speed with our boats.

Regarding the marina, we have up to around 15 big slips available, with anchorage for many boats (10 - 12) within 200 yards which is completely protected from every direction and 8-10 feet deep. I Personally checked the depth of the slips yesterday and there is 7' plus at MLW in all of the available slips. Dinghy dock is (or will be when I finish) available for anyone who chooses to anchor out.

There is a pool and large deck area available and we have grills, picnic tables, coolers, trash cans and bathrooms available to us. If we want to party on that deck Saturday evening, I can arrange for some live music from local talent and have already contacted a service provider for that. I think it would be fun to have 3 or 4 hours of live music when we are relaxing, preparing our meals on the grills and dining. I hope to delegate actual dinner planning to someone with more talent than I have in organizing (yes, that is a plea for help).

Sunday can be talks, walks, bicycle rides on country roads ( several loaner bikes are available), boat projects, or for me and other like-minded folks, maybe just swimming and enjoying the pool deck. The marina will be happy if anyone wants to extend.

We look forward to hearing from you and the East Coast Crew - Jack and Terry

Greg Groome

6/5/2025 8:58 PM

The Groome's are in

Greg & Glenda Groome
126 Rappa Run Rd
Topping Va 23169
(804)241-8788

Corey Chamness

6/6/2025 8:36 AM

Corey and Tracy on Leizu will likely join. It’s right before my birthday on 15th and I don’t think I have plans

Corey
Sent from my iPhone

Annette Davies

6/6/2025 9:12 AM

Phil and Annette on Asante are in. Hope to arrive on the Thursday and planning to depart Monday. Happy to help with Saturday dinner. Were you thinking to bring your own protein and a side dish or desert to share?

Sent from my iPhone

Jack Burgess

6/6/2025 10:00 AM

It looks like the Summer Fun Rendezvous is shaping up with many participants. It is only 5 weeks away so I encourage folks to let me know if you can join us and if you want a slip or want to anchor out close by (200 yards max approx.) and use a convenient dinghy dock. If the available slips are all taken anchoring out will be the only option, so it will be first come first served on slips. I will check the rate but it will be reasonable. We may have some reasonable expenses to share for music and a tent/canopy if we want one (anti-rain insurance?).

Regarding meal planning for Saturday through Monday, we will have grills, coolers, picnic tables with umbrellas provided poolside by the Marina. It is maybe 100 feet to the pool from the first 10 slips reserved for us and 5 more slips (where our Shangri-La is kept) are maybe 200 feet away, so access to the pool and dining area is close. I am open to suggestions on meal planning for Saturday dinner and maybe Sunday brunch and thereafter. There are some pros out there (whose help would be appreciated) on meal planning, so hopefully some good ideas are floated soon. We definitely want to celebrate Corey's "almost birthday" which is June 15.

I would like some input on the tent/canopy decision, meal planning and live entertainment for Saturday afternoon and evening. There is a venue not too far away called Oyster Shoals and another Called Callao Brewery where local talent plays and we can line something up for a very reasonable fee - they all like to perform.

I look forward to replies.

Jack and Terry, Shangri-La 5388

Phil Davies

6/6/2025 10:42 AM

Hi Jack

Thanks for below, Asante, Selene 53, would prefer a slip if available.

Our contact;

Phil & Annette Davies
PMDAVIES@aol.com
(925) 348-1828 or (925) 216-4227

We’re Brit’s so a little rain never hurt, but protection from the Sun would be good in terms of canopy.

Brgds
Phil & Annette.

Corey Chamness

6/6/2025 10:52 AM

We would take a slip for Leizu (53) but if someone has mobility issues or something like that, we can anchor
Sent from my iPhone

Richard Nye

6/6/2025 12:22 PM

Hi Jack,

We would like a slip for Untethered too. If the talent can't come to us, maybe we can go to the talent. The Callao Brewery sounds interesting.

Richard Nye

Untethered, 57-22

Russ Dykstra

6/9/2025 8:12 PM

Thank you Jack. Naut Lost would like a slip as well if available.

Jack Burgess

6/14/2025 10:10 PM

UPDATE - DEVELOPING PLANS FOR SUMMER FUN MINI-RENDEZVOUS -

As the character Carol Fleming said in the film Poltergeist (if you are that old and/or are a film buff), the folks as SMCM and Chesapeake Orchestra today said, “They’re Here”, referring to our visiting armada on July 11 for the Orcherstra’s performance and our picnic on SMCM’S Green. Both entities have heartily welcomed us and we are assured dinghy dock space, seating on an appropriate grassy area for our picnic and a shout out by director Jeff Silberschlag during the performance. Jeff, a world class and professionally recognized musician, has a son In Israel now who was appearing in performances there when the recent warlike activities commenced. Jeff’s son is currently in a bomb shelter 4 stories underground and Jeff and his wife are understandably concerned.

The SMCM and Chesapeake Orchestra folks have worked to make our visit a success, which I anticipate based on many past visits and their professionalism. I am requesting that all attendees at the Rendezvous make a voluntary contribution of $25-$50 or greater to show our appreciation for their Presence. I will be collecting funds personally for the contributions and slips at White Point Marina. Cash or checks payable to Jack Burgess.

White Point Marina will be hosting us for our stay Saturday, July 12 through 14 (or longer for folks who wish to extend). The rate for slips I have negotiated will be $2 per foot (LOA, Not Selene’s LOD measurement) and shore power will be included to the extent it is available. The marina has never had a visit like this so I encourage all to have generators available if we have power issues. Water is available on the docks. All who have indicated interest have reserved slips. Approximately 5 slips are still available as is plenty of room in the nearby anchorage.

We are lining up a tent for the pool/dining area and that is a work in progress. I want to know if folks would like to have some low key live music Saturday evening at the pool / dining area. Please comment.

Thank you - Jack Burgess, Selene 5388 Shangri-La

Richard Nye

6/15/2025 6:32 PM

Hi Jack,

Thanks for putting this together. We're looking forward to it. A couple questions and a suggestion or two:

1. Do you want the checks sent in advance? If so, what's the address? Can we do it electronically using Zelle or Venmo?

2. Would it make sense to shuttle over to the Callao Brewery late Saturday afternoon? That would provide the rain insurance, food, beverages, and entertainment in one place.

3. Just so I have this right, the itinerary goes like this:

Friday: We would meet and anchor near St. Mary's in the afternoon (or earlier if you want), go to the performance (starts at 7pm), bring chairs, beverages, food, etc. via dinghy then back to our boats that night

Saturday: Stretch our legs on the campus or in town in the morning, and early afternoon take our boats about 2 hours to White Point Marina and get our slips or anchor near there. Saturday late afternoon/evening I would suggest we go to Callao Brewery (8.3 miles) for entertainment, dinner and socializing if that sounds good to everyone and we can swing transportation. I'd suggest we're on our own for breakfast and lunch, and bring food to pass before the performance.

Sunday: Take advantage of the pool, socialize, maybe BBQ hot dogs and hamburgers for lunch, and have a potluck cruiser dinner (?) and drinks

Monday: Depart

Did I get that Itinerary right?

Looking forward to seeing everyone in Virginiland

Richard

Untethered, 57-22

Jack Burgess

6/15/2025 7:57 PM

Hi Richard -

I made a comprehensive post on the forum about an hour ago with all the details. It is entered as a NEW TOPIC since the earlier thread was getting quite long. I am looking into having Callao brewery bring free samples of their products (or just buy beer from them if we want to chip in) to our shindig at the marina. I could pick up and deliver as I have one of those newfangled motor cars not often seen here on the Northern Neck. Shuttles aren't much of a thing here on the NN. We would likely end up in the back bed of some farmer's harvesting machine.

I am hoping that Selene Americas will support us by paying for a rental tent for Saturday through Monday, full days included, and have shared with their representative contact information for a local vendor. We will see what happens.

Best - Jack

Jack Burgess

6/15/2025 8:04 PM

For all interested in the Summer Fun Mini-Rendezvous July 10-14, I started a new thread with information concerning registration, schedule of events, costs and payment arrangements, and our contribution to Chesapeake Orchestra. This one was getting quite long. Please check out the new post on the forum for details.

Thanks - Jack

Jack Burgess, Shangri-La 5388

Marya Andrepont

6/6/2025 6:41 PM

Brad and Marya Budinger on Moonstone plan to attend. We would like a slip if possible but are also comfortable anchoring out. As new Selene owners we are looking forward to meeting our extended family!

Jack Burgess

6/6/2025 7:54 PM

Welcome Brad and Marya on Moonstone! We look forward to meeting you. Please brace yourself for a full dose of Seleners on Full Summer Fun Vibe (and maybe Jell-O shots as recommended by Glenda).

For all, we now have nine (9) Selenes confirmed, all who want slips and for whom slips are available. There are still six (6) slips remaining, and plenty of room to anchor out (200 Yards max est.). Let's keep the party going!

Jack, Shangri-La 5388

Return to Forum