July 15-18, 2012
(GB-31) Parry Sound,
Heart of the 30,000 Islands,
Welcomes the 2012 Rendezvous
The 2012 GLCC Rendezvous will be held in (GB-31) Parry Sound, Ontario, on the shores of Georgian Bay. Parry Sound is located just 72 miles due east of (GB-3) Tobermory and can also be accessed from the north at (GB-52) Killarney or from the south at (GB-24.1) Port Severn. The route in from any direction is well marked, deep and for the most part, very protected. As a boating paradise, all marine services are readily available in the immediate Parry Sound area. The Harbour Report is GB-31 in your GLCC Logbook and has been updated.
Click here: To view Rear Commodore David G. Allen's 2012 Rendezvous Newsletter
Click here: For On-Line 2012 Rendezvous registration & payment
Click here: For printable Rendezvous registration form
Our Rendezvous home will be the Big Sound Marina, owned by the town of Parry Sound and operated on its behalf by the Parry Sound Area Chamber of Commerce. As well as having total access to the Marina and the adjacent town dock, GLCC registrants will be using the next door Charles Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts. This is a gorgeous facility overlooking the Sound, right on the water with meeting, reception and dining facilities that will be at our disposal during the Rendezvous. Georgian Bay’s natural stone and wood is showcased in this facility which includes an intimate 480-seat venue with the warmth and feel of an area cottage (although on a much grander scale).
The building is also home to the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame honouring Parry Sound’s most famous native son with a collection of memorabilia, exhibits and interactive games. This year, the highly acclaimed Festival of the Sound, held annually at the Stockey Centre, starts the day of our departure. We will be welcome to stay on and enjoy listening to some of the world’s nest musicians.
Program Highlights
• Our first social event will be an informal get-together in the tent at the Marina on Saturday evening. Everyone is asked to bring an appetizer to share with others. Complimentary refreshments will be provided to start the festivities. Please note your name tag will be your access to all special events.
• This year’s Rendezvous will feature a Sunrise Cruise and buffet breakfast aboard the MV Island Queen. This is the largest cruise ship in Canada and it will take us on a three hour cruise through the secluded waterways of Georgian Bay’s outer islands and shorelines dotted with grand summer retreats. This waterway with its unbelievable beauty and uniqueness has earned it the status of a World Biosphere Reserve from the United Nations. Included in the price of your registration, this cruise leaves the dock at 0700 on Monday morning and means you get up real early that day!
• Every morning (except Cruise Day) we will serve a continental breakfast in the tent at the end of your dock. Join your fellow GLCC members for breakfast and start the day off right.
• The Museum on Tower Hill a “Must See” As you look east and up in the air from your dock you will see a magnificent lookout tower. Your registration gives you entrance to that tower any time during the Rendezvous. At the base of the Tower is the West Parry Sound Museum. You will need your camera!
• Both our Commodore’s Reception on Sunday evening and the Commodore’s Dinner on Tuesday will be held on the deck at the Stockey Centre, weather permitting. In keeping with the GLCC tradition, the Dinner will provide an opportunity to present our annual awards. Both evenings will conclude with entertainment.
• A variety of special presentations have been organized each day with The Canadian Coast Guard, The Ministry of Natural Resources and some of our own GLCC members. Sessions include:
• The Gadget Hour with Jim Acheson, Cruising Georgian Bay by J.E. Fordyce, Electronic Charting and Harbour Reports, MNR presentations on: Bears, Boots, Bait and Boating, Maintaining the Small Craft Route
• The GLCC Book Club and the GLCC Knitters will meet.
• Back by popular demand is the annual volleyball game to be held this year at the Kiwanis Beach, the dinghy races and the radio remote controlled boat races. Last but not least is the Bilge Auction on Tuesday afternoon.
• Don’t miss the special presentation by Past Commodore J. E. Fordyce speaking on the topic “After the Rendezvous, What shouldn’t be missed?”
• Consider bringing your golf clubs when you come to Parry Sound. The area has several excellent courses and they are relatively close to town.
• Shopping - When you arrive at the Marina, as part of your welcome package, you will receive a map locating all the key stores and attractions in town. A bag, supplied courtesy of the Chamber of Commerce, will provide you with brochures about the local stores.
Parry Sound is well served with a major grocery store (Sobeys), a Canadian Tire Store, a Home Depot, a large pharmacy chain store--Shoppers Drug Mart, and a great variety of specialty shops for food, clothing and hardware. The liquor store and beer store are conveniently located on the main street just up from the Marina. We will have a shuttle service operating during the Rendezvous from the Marina to the more popular destinations in town. A number of the stores already provide a service to and from the docks for shopping.
• Flights to Discover - The Parry Sound Harbour and Town Dock is also home to a very busy boat plane base for Georgian Bay Airways. Georgian Bay Airways offers sight-seeing tours of the surrounding area and is a fully licensed charter aircraft operator. Should you need to fly in or out or bring additional guests to the Rendezvous, your charter aircraft will land and takeout directly beside the Big Sound Marina.
Want to come join the fun but don’t want to bring your boat?
There are a number of excellent Bed and Breakfasts in the Parry Sound area. Some are within easy walking distance of the Big Sound Marina and the Stockey Centre.
A number of spaces have been reserved for RV’s coming to Parry Sound. Parked just outside the Stockey Centre, limited water and power will be available only to registered RV’s. You will have a million dollar view and be first in line for the Commodore’s Reception and Dinner.
Big Sound Marina Rates
The following were the dockage rates for Big Sound Marina in 2011. We have been told by Habourmaster Perry Harris that there will be small increase to the rates in 2012. At press time, the rates for the new year had not been determined.
Rates: $1.40/foot /day + HST (HST is the Harmonized Sales Tax and it is currently 13% on most goods and services purchased in Canada) The rate includes one 30 amp plug and town water. A $15+HST charge per night will be applied for a second plug in.
Stay for 3 NIGHTS and we will give you 1 more! Stay for three consecutive paid nights and you will receive the fourth consecutive night FREE! This special applies to the per night rate only.
Stay for 5 NIGHTS and we will give you 2 more! Stay for five consecutive paid nights and you will receive the sixth & seventh consecutive nights FREE! This special applies to the per night rate only. Both specials will be particularly attractive for Rendezvous participants.
Registrants to the 2012 Parry Sound Rendezvous are reminded that all dockage arrangements at Big Sound will be made on your behalf by the Rendezvous Committee. Please do not contact the Big Sound Marina regarding your dockage.
Dockage fees are not included in your registration, but are payable upon arrival to Big Sound. 50 amp service is limited on all docks at Big Sound. Please do not request 50 amp service unless it is absolutely necessary for your stay in Parry Sound.
Pump-out facilities are located on the town dock behind the Island Queen tour boat and at the adjacent Parry Sound Marina or the Sound Boat Works just south-west of the Marina.
For more information on Georgian Bay, Big Sound Marina, Town of Parry Sound, Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts, and the Festival of the Sound please see links provided in the Rendezvous Newsletter.
Click here: To view Rear Commodore David G. Allen's 2012 Rendezvous Newsletter
Click here: For On-Line 2012 Rendezvous registration & payment
Click here: For printable 2012 Rendezvous registration form
Any Questions? Please contact Susan D. Smith or David G. Allen at:
705-435-3834 or davidgallen@aol.com