Linda & I had a wonderful time on Soave at the 2026 Rendezvous. We learned about Nonsuch boats, Nonsuch owners, and a bit about the pleasure of spending time on the water.
We are thankful for the committee that organized the event and the sailors that attended.
A couple of things surprised me and I wonder if they would surprise others reading the forum.
- About 50% of the owners at the event owned their Nonsuch less than 5 years. New owners generally had sailing experience on newer boats that required less maintenance. We didn’t poll, but most owners I spoke with had not fully retired but are thinking of retirement.
- Of the 35 registered boats, I counted 7 mechanical failures ( 20% ) during the week. One sail-track, one bimini frame and the rest auxiliary propulsion problems ( one transmission and one fuel issue and the rest cooling ). There didn’t seem to be any evidence indicating that new owners experienced more problems than longtime owners. But it did motivate me to be a bit more diligent with preventative maintenance on Soave.
- Coverage and conversation about the Rendezvous was more comprehensive on Facebook. We also used What’s App and Guest Pix to try and provide attendees an event specific mode of communicate. This led me to ponder if INA Rendezvous events should be more accommodating for INA members that cannot attend. Not sure what form this would take, but curious since the vast majority of my contact with other INA members has been virtual. I exchanged messages privately with friends that did not attend the event.
I don’t know if understanding my surprises helps me understand the community better or helps me get more enjoyment from Soave, but it’s something I’ve been pondering as I clean up Soave and prepare her our next adventure.
I’d be interested in hearing thoughts from others that have attended nonsuch events.
Sail on,
Rob…