The 7th Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club Rendezvous took place at Montes Reef resort and Cape Gloucester Resort from the 24th to the 28th August. “Four days and three nights of riotous fun and frivolity in aid of prostate cancer awareness and research”

View from Esprit

Esprit anchored amongst about 150 yachts in the Gloucester passage for this event, which is an endurance event for livers. Day 1 was the meet and greet event at Montes reef resort with music by “Rocket Source 3”. Dancing barefoot on a makeshift dance floor and the beach was a good workout for the baby boomers. We were able to catch up with old sailing friends and meet new ones, exchanging ideas about the best weather to sail into the Pacific.

Rocket Source 3

Sunset at the meet and greet.

Day 2 started with Tai Chi on the beach, which we missed because of hangovers. Morning tea at 10am on one of the neighbouring yachts allowed us sufficient recovery to attend the iconic Shag Islet Party at 12 pm. After meeting more new sailing friends, we retired for a Nanna nap from 3 to 4pm to be fresh for the entertainment at Montes from 4:30pm by “Rhino and the rock wallabies”. We threw caution to the wind and had an early night!

Shaggers

Kite flyers

View from the hill

The DJ’s of Radio Coconut

Day 3 and we made it to the Tai Chi. This was followed by the “Hands across the Blue” raft up in the shape of the prostate cancer foundation of Australia logo. At 5pm we all assembled for the aerial rendezvous group photo on the beach, before the “Parrot Head” party with music by the “Barbary Coasters”. Dinner was a seafood basket of fish, calamari, prawns, scallops and chips, followed by the Quantum sails fireworks display.

Tai Chi class

Dinghy raft up – all 120 of them.

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Music for the raft up

Assembly for the parrot head group photo

Day 3 fireworks

Day 4 and we dressed up for the “Pirates parley” and farewell at the Cape Gloucester resort. A traditional roast lunch was served as we eased into a relaxed Sunday afternoon. It was hard to say goodbye to new friends made at this event, but we were already planning to meet up soon in different locations. We reluctantly packed up and on Monday headed off to Bowen marina about a two-hour sail to the North. This is where Esprit will stay for the next two months, while we travel to the UK, Europe and Cambodia, before continuing on with the next leg of our sailing. Stay tuned!

Dirk, Marty, Annie & Sue

Garry & Kerry

Pirate lady

Cheeky pirate lady!

More pirate friends.

The Barbary Coasters

Remember the Beatles?

Annie riding a swan on the way back to the boat!