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03.19.2008
6th Annual Swan Rendezvous
The 6th Annual Swan Rendezvous at the Bitter End Resort in the British Virgin Islands was a resounding success. Fifteen Swans, twice last year’s count, representing the USA, Italy and Great Britain participated. American Swan owners of Avocation (Swan 48), Boonatsa (Swan 59), Mensae (Swan 56), Nai’a Swan 53, Southwind (Swan 44), Last of the Normal People (Swan 47), Victoria (Swan 48) and the chartered Swan 100 Virago enjoyed the week along with the other foreign owned boats.
The American Swan Owners Association donated a beautiful trophy for the “Best Maintained Swan Award” that was unanimously awarded to Klaus Weinmuller and Martha Cabada of the classic Sparkman & Stephens Swan 48 Victoria. The trophy was presented to them by Swan Owners Association board member Hank Schmitt from Avocation. Two weeks later when the winner and presenter ran into each other at the Heineken Regatta, Klaus and Martha joined Hank for the last race in the Regatta. Something that would not have happened if they had not met at the Rendezvous.
The entire American Swan office was on hand for the event including CEO Emilio de la Forest of Swan USA along with his son Tommaso (fawned over by all the ladies in the fleet) along with Keith Yeoman and office manager Kate Werner. Diana McConnell did her usual great job organizing the event and keeping everyone on schedule.
The Bitter End Resort located in North Sound Virgin Gorda is a sailing Mecca providing ideal condition to host the event. After the first phase of the laser regatta on Monday, the fleet raced down to Jost Van Dyke and Foxy’s Taboo for drinks, hors d’oeuvres and the first round of the popular Bocce tournament. The next day the fleet sailed to Cooper Island Yacht Club for lunch. With a free night on our own, the crew of Avocation slipped away to Tortola for not just the Full Moon Party at the Bomba Shack, but the full moon party with a total eclipse of the moon, which happens about once every decade.
The next night we were anchored at Marina Cay for another round of Bocce and the hotly contested hors d’oeurves contest. This was followed by an afternoon BBQ at the Baths before heading back to the Bitter End to get ready for the “Round Virgin Gorda Race” on Saturday. Virago, the Swan 100 set a new course record smashing the old one by half an hour. Boonatsa was second and Nai’a finished third.
With twice the entries from the previous year, goals for next year should be to double them again to reach the maximum number of about 25 boats that the event can handle. Look for dates to be set early this year and plan to join Swan owners at the 7th Annual Caribbean Swan Rendezvous next year. If you are planning to be in the Caribbean in 2008/2009 do plan to join and see what all the fun is about.
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