This just received from Bruce Clark, and will also be posted on www.Nonsuch.org:
The organizers of next July’s Rendezvous in Toronto would very much like to encourage participants from beyond Lake Ontario. Attached you will find a cruising guide of sorts for getting to Lake Ontario from the US Mid-Atlantic Coast and from the Upper Great Lakes. I think it is an entirely reasonable undertaking. Last summer, my wife and I went from Lake Ontario to the north end of Lake Huron. In 1982 (I think it was) we went to the Nonsuch rendezvous that was held on Martha’s Vineyard, MA. I brought a newly-acquired Niagara 35 up the St. Lawrence so that is doable too.
Please share this widely. I am, of course, open for any questions. Note that I did not include any time estimates since this is entirely dependant on personal cruising styles. I am happy to discuss this individually.
Bruce Clark
‘Nonsuch’, yes, the first one
Our thanks to Bruce for this very impressive piece of work.
– Bob
Robert Neches
Co-President, International Nonsuch Association
Nonsuch e26U #233
We have our first boat from the Upper Lakes coming to the Rendezvous, Tim Cordes, who has a N26 near the mouth of the Detroit River. The Welland Canal requires at least three crew when you are upbound. Since most people only have two (or one in Tim’s case) we will be looking for volunteers who are interested in seeing what Seaway locking is like. The extra crew are only needed for Locks 1 to 7 a distance of 6+ miles from Lake Ontario. Let me know if you are interested in being lock crew. It would most likely be Wednesday, July 31, with a start in Port Weller at 9 am.
My name is Rick and I plan on buying a Nonsuch to retire on in 4 years with my wife to travel the great lakes. I’ve been sailing in a club called the American Sailing Institute ASI for 15 years. Mostly Catalina 30’s. 1 Mac race, One trip to the North Channel.
I’m planning on driving to the Rendezvous with my wife to discover more… unless someone wants a crew member? Very excited to learn what I can before buying. Looking for encouragement.
Rick Cortright
Boat to be named “Redemption”
Troy MI
Congratulations on a wise choice for a vessel. I’m now on my second and next year will mark 20 years with these wonderful craft.
I would strongly suggest you connect with Greg Doyal, who was so kind to take me on his NS 30 as an observer for a 10 or 11 boat Nonsuch class race two summers ago on Lake St. Clair when I was back in Michigan dealing with the death of my father. I have copying him on this email.
I’m sure he will be glad to introduce you to the Nonsuch community in Southeastern Michigan, where you live and where I grew up long ago not far from you in Plymouth!
Good on you. Wise choice - they are fabulous boats. Very comfy, good sailors and built to go to war with. My unsolicited advice - why wait 4 years ??? Buy it sooner !!! Go for your well-deserved redemption.
Nice to have another soon-to-be Michigan Nonsuch owner. I am planning to sail my NS 26c “ENCORE” to the Toronto rendezvous, and at this point, I am still singlehanded. I had planned to sail alone, since my usual crewmates are not able to take the time to make the trip, but I could probably offer you a berth in exchange for sharing watch duties with me, if you’re interested. The 26 is a significantly smaller boat than the 30, but there are two berths and a roomy cockpit, and I have overnighted several times with my cousin and we never felt too cramped.
The ENCORE is docked down at Ford Yacht Club on the southern tip of Grosse Ile, but I live in Bloomfield Hills, so maybe we could meet for lunch and see if we would make good crewmates for the trip. I’ve laid out three possible courses for the trip and we can discuss the pros and cons of each route. You can email me direct at timcordes@cordeslaw.com so we can put something on the calendar together.
Tim Cordes
Nonsuch 26C #32 “ENCORE”
Ford Yacht Club, Grosse Ile, Michigan
If I was 40 years younger and had the time, I would jump at that opportunity in a heartbeat. There should be a bunch of college age sailors that would like to do that for the summer. Have a safe trip.
You are most welcome, Rick. If you can find the time, yu should take the trip with Tim Cordes. You will learn SO, SO much about the boat on a trip like that. It would be a blast. Tim is being modest about the space down below. I sailed an NS 22 for 11 years and it was plenty big and comfy below. The NS 26 islike a condo down there and is a FANTASTIC sailing vessel. Unbeatable.
Hey Tim, thanks for the offer to crew and I do hope to take you up on it. I’ve been distracted for the last several weeks with my father’s health issues. But I will reach out to you and we can talk more. I live in Troy very near Somerset so we’re not too far apart.
