2026 Rendezvous - Duluth & Superior
Go West for the Amazing ’26 Rendezvous
Register now for the 2026 Rendezvous! Please click here to register online or click here for a printable registration form and agenda.
The GLCC Rendezvous will once again be at Barkers Island Marina in the twin ports of Duluth (S-187) and Superior (S-188) at the western end of Lake Superior. This flagship event is scheduled from July 10 to 13. It’s the fourth time is at Superior-Duluth. The last one was in 2016.
The Rendezvous Committee has worked hard to make this particular Lake Superior Rendezvous even more exceptional than in the past — and those who have attended any of the three previous Superior-Duluth Rendezvous know it was very tall order.
Some members may, of course, show up early to enjoy the fabulous Twin Ports, as well as prepare for the upcoming event. So, you are more than welcome to show up early.
Friday, July 10, is our official “Arrival and Business” day. In addition to the usual GLCC and GLF’s Board meetings, there will be a Book Club Meeting, Port Captains Meeting, and the ever fun, informative, and popular Gadget Hour. The day’s activities conclude with an informal potluck, so please bring a dish or dessert to share.
Note all members are encouraged to dress ship as soon as they are able. Those members, who are taking advantage of the RV/Trailer parking on the marina premises, are equally encouraged to use their creativity to “dress ship” of their land yachts.
Saturday, July 11, is designated our “Seminar Day.” However, the GLCC Bridge and other Board members will first serve it an ample pancake breakfast at Barkers’ Boatbarn. The presentations throughout the day may include Safety at Sea, Cruising Lake Superior’s Wilderness, Cruising Isle Royale National Park, Engine Repair & Maintenance, and others
Late in the afternoon — and weather permitting, of course — there will be the traditional fleet review. The usual First-Timers Photo will be taken before the Commodore’s Reception, which is at a BBQ arranged by Barkers Island Marina. All at the marine can attended, so don’t be surprised if if you find yourself in a conversation with Lake Superior non-members. However, we hope you will use the opportunity to kindly encourage them to join the GLCC.
By the way, you should be aware that this is the weekend of the popular Duluth Air Show. The activity level will be high at the Twin Ports. As part of the festivities, the Air Force’s Thunderbirds will be performing.
Sunday, July 12, is the “Explore Duluth Day.” After a continental breakfast, bus transportation will be provided to and from Duluth’s vibrant Canal Park District. It’s a major midwestern tourist destination, which is filled with interesting attractions, high-end shops, and popular restaurants. A prominent feature is its historic lift bridge, which spans the Duluth Ship Canal. You will, of course, also see large freighters and lakers arrive and depart under the bridge, which is considered to be a gateway from the western end of the St. Lawence Seaway. Other attraction include:
After lunch on our own, make our way to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum depot, where — if you signed up for this enticing and fun optional tour — you will board for an afternoon train excursion towards Two Harbors and back. Charcuterie, dessert and two drinks per person will be served on the 1st Class train ride.
While you’re at the train depot, we urge you to take a look at the train exhibits. The museum is highly rated as well as strongly recommended.
After the train excursion. You will board the Vista Star at the Duluth waterfront. The tour boat will take us on a two-hour dinner cruise of the Duluth-Superior harbor. The chicken & ribs buffet is catered from Black Woods, and a cash bar is available.
Monday, July 13, is designated as the “Fun & Games Day” at Barkers Island. After another continental breakfast, there will be several organized events, including the always amusing and entertaining Bilge Action on behalf of our Great Lakes Foundation. Please bring items to be auctioned.
For lunch, we have arranged for a couple of food trucks to be at the marina. This was a popular feature at the recent Escanaba Rendezvous, so we borrowed the idea from that event. Please use them. Anybody at the marine can make purchases from the trucks, so you may again find yourself in a conversation with non-member boaters. We again urge you to be an ambassador for the GLCC, and kindly use the opportunity to encourage them to join the Club.
Barkers Island has much to explore on your own. They include:
- The last surviving whaleback freighter, the SS Meteor
- The WWII Veterans Museum, featuring a rare P-38 airplane.
- The Fairlawn
- The interactive display at the Lake Superior Estuarium
- A mini golf court
- A popular swimming beach
- Several Lake Superior sport fishing charters
As is Club tradition, this final full day of Rendezvous activities will conclude with the Commodore’s Dinner. It will be held at the Barkers Island Inn, and will feature the usual awards and recognition, as well as a speaker. A cash bar will be available.
Tuesday, July 14, is the “Departure Day.” After the continental breakfast, please give the GLCC boats that leave the traditional Great Lakes Salute (one long, two short blasts).
However, you may wish to linger longer at the Twin Ports. There is plenty more to see and do in the Twin Ports. For instance, if you like architecture and historic places, you may wish to visit the historic Glensheen, a noteworthy Beaux-Arts mansion in Duluth.
Wednesday, July 15, has an optional “Après Rendezvous Activity,” if you choose to stay in the Twin Ports. The activity is a guided tour of Cirrus Aircraft, Duluth, which is the world’s largest producer of piston-powered aircrafts. The company also manufactures the Vision Jet, a single-engine personal jet. Space is limited for the tour, so attendance will be on a first come/first served basis. You don’t want to miss out. Please sign up early.
Mention Great Lakes Cruising Club when making reservations
DOCKAGE: Please call Barkers Island Marina at 715-392-7131 directly for dock reservations, and reference the special 5 days for 4 days rate extended to Rendezvous attendees. All slips are equipped with a 30am/125volt or 50amp/125volt service receptacle. 50amp/220volt electrical service is available for an additional installation charge.
RV/TRAILERS: On-site parking with electrical hook-up is available at the marine. Please call 715-392-7131 for reservations.
HOTEL: Barkers Island Inn has set aside a small block of rooms at a discount. Please call 715-392-7152 directly and ask for the "Great Lakes Cruising Club" group block. The rooms will be held until 6/9/2026. Room reservations after that date are accepted on an availability basis.
ONE IF BY LAND, TWO IF BY SEA:
If you are attending by car or plane, make reservations NOW, as Duluth-Superior hotels fill up extremely fast for the summer months. Barkers Island Inn is located next to the marina and there are several other hotels close by. Most of these reservations can be cancelled for no fee if your plans change. After the Rendezvous, also consider chartering a sail or power boat in the nearby Apostle Islands National Lakeshore by Bayfield.
HOW TO GET THERE BY BOAT
It’s well known that Lake Superior has a legendary status through songs and storytelling. That may cause some to hesitate about taking a trip to the western end of the upper lake, but it should not deter them. We can all tell tales which make Great Lakes boating sound like we’re passing Cape Horn. Stories sometimes grow in the telling, and people’s imagination run away with them — and so the legends of the big lake grow, deservedly or not.
In fact, Lake Superior is a reasonable and fun place to sail for pleasure in the summertime. Thousands do it. The Lake must obviously be treated with the same respect and understanding as the rest of the Great Lakes. You can be assured that any well-found and well-operated cruising boat may safely make the passage between Sault St. Marie (The Soo) and Superior-Duluth.
The most direct route from the Soo to the 2026 Rendezvous is along Lake Superior’s South Shore. For most members, the passage can be made in about a week. However, we urge you to take your time to enjoy the many wonderful sights and harbors along the way. You can spend weeks – if not months – in just the beautiful Apostle Islands, and not get bored.
Another option is to follow along the lake’s rugged Canadian East and North Shore to the Rendezvous. That alternative demands more time for you to reach your destination of Barkers Island. So, we strongly recommend you visit this truly spectacular and wild sector of the Lake during your return trip from the Rendezvous. It’s also when the weather is often warmer and more settled.
Regardless, it’s prudent to carefully plan out your route, whichever way you choose. Lake Superior is the largest lake in the World, and the distances between the marinas with fuel, supplies, and services are often far greater than on the lower lakes.
When dealing with the details for your trip, you will find that the GLCC’s cruising guides are an invaluable resource. We strongly recommend you first read the S-00 South Shore and S-0.5 North & East Shore Overview reports to familiarize yourself with what the lake has to offer, before you begin to examine the individual Harbor Reports.
Regardless of your mode of transportation, you will find the twin ports of Duluth-Superior to be fun and rewarding setting for the 2026 Rendezvous. The area is a bustling tourism and recreation destination, and one of the busiest commercial seaports in the nation, partly because it’s the western end of the St. Lawrence Seaway. There will be plenty for you to do and see here.
So, you really don’t want to miss the 2026 Rendezvous, especially if you’re working towards getting the Club’s prestigious Admiral Bayfield Award for cruising all of the five Great Lakes. Besides, there are so many benefits of visiting Lake Superior’s vast wilderness, outstanding scenery, secluded anchorages, beautiful bays, deep fjords, and pleasant towns. There is nothing like it in the World. It is always an adventure.
So, register now for 2026 Rendezvous at Superior-Duluth! Please click here to register online or click here for a printable registration form and agenda. Note: no refunds after 6/26/2026
We hope to see you there.
Rendezvous agenda:
THURSDAY, JULY 9
EARLY ARRIVALS
All Day Early Arrivals - No Dock Crew
1200-1300 Lunch on your own
1300-1700 General Preparations and set up
1700-1900 Dinner on your own
FRIDAY, JULY 10
ARRIVAL AND BUSINESS DAY
0800-1000 Breakfast on your own
0805-0810 Rendezvous Net - Ch 78A with National Anthems
0900-1600 Docking Crew
0900-1600 Registration & Ship’s Store - Boatbarn
0900-1600 Dress Ship
0900-1200 Board of Directors Meeting - Clubhouse
1100-1200 GLCC Book Club Meeting – Boatbarn
1200-1300 Lunch on your own
1300-1400 Port Captains Meeting - Clubhouse
1400-1500 Gadget Hour - Boatbarn
1700-1830 Potluck - Boatbarn
1705-1710 Rendezvous Net - Ch 78A
SATURDAY, JULY 11
SEMINAR DAY
0800-1000 Pancake Breakfast - Served by Bridge & Friends - Boatbarn
0805-0810 Rendezvous Net - Ch 78A with National Anthems
0900-1530 Dress Ship
1000-1050 Seminar - TBD – Boatbarn
1100-1150 Seminar - Engine Repairs - Boatbarn
1200-1300 Lunch on your own
1300-1350 Seminar - Safety at Sea - Boatbarn
1400-1450 Seminar - Cruising Isle Royale - Boatbarn
1500-1550 Seminar - Canadian North Shore - Boatbarn
1500-1615 Fleet Aerial Photo
1630-1700 Fleet Review
1705-1710 Rendezvous Net - Ch 78A
1730-1800 First Timers Reception & Photo
1800-1930 Commodore’s Reception/BBQ – Boatbarn
SUNDAY, JULY 12
EXPLORE DULUTH DAY
0805-0810 Rendezvous Net - Ch 78A with National Anthems
0800-1000 Continental Breakfast - Boatbarn
0930-1200 Tour Day - Canal Park
1200-1300 Lunch on your own - Canal Park
1330-1600 Dome Car Train Excursion
1730 Boarding & Social Hour for Dinner Cruise - Vista Fleet, Canal Park
1800 Dinner Cruise Departs - Cash Bar
2000 Return to Barkers Island
MONDAY, JULY 13
FUN & GAMES ON BARKERS ISLAND DAY
0805-0810 Rendezvous Net - Ch 78A with National Anthems
0800-1000 Continental Breakfast - Boatbarn
1000-1200 Bilge Auction for Great Lakes Foundation - Boatbarn
1200-1300 Lunch on your own
1300-1700 Various Barkers Island Activities and Tours
1705-1710 Rendezvous Net - Ch 78A
1800-1900 Social Hour - Barkers Island
Inn
1900-2100 Commodore’s Dinner - Cash Bar, Awards, Recognitions & Speaker - Barkers Island Inn
TUESDAY, JULY 14
DEPARTURE DAY
0805-0810 Rendezvous Net - Ch 78A
0800-1000 Continental Breakfast - Boatbarn
0900 Blessing of the Fleet
0930 Depart with Great Lakes Salute
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15
OPTIONAL APRES DAY
1000 Cirrus Design Corporation Tour - Aircraft Manufacturing