EVENT POSTPONED
Dear fellow sailors & friends,
We have for the past five years since 2019 hosted the Catamaran Rendezvous in the Abacos and once, a very low key rendezvous in Key Largo during the height of Covid! Every year 30+ catamarans of every brand, size and age gather together for four days of unadulterated fun, with “rumbrella” races, two regattas, fancy dress competitions, dinghy parades and more! Needless to say that every event was memorable and something that we all look forward to every year. Unfortunately 2024 rolled some stones in our way and we have had to postpone the event until next year. Sad news we know, but it so happens to be Catamaran Guru’s 20th anniversary in 2025 so we plan to throw an epic party in the Abacos! This will be an event not to be missed! Mark your calendars for May10th through May 14th, 2025!
5th Annual Catamaran Guru Rendezvous & Regatta
Abacos, Bahamas - May 5th through 8th, 2024
Catamaran Guru will host the fifth annual Catamaran Owners Rendezvous in The Abacos, Bahamas from May 5-8, 2024. This annual event is open to all brands of catamarans. In 2023, we had a variety of different brands of catamarans like Lagoon, Bali, Leopard, Catana, Outremer, Fountaine Pajot Lightwave, Voyage and others, totaling 27 catamarans. It was a nice cross section of brands and owners who no doubt enjoy meeting each other and touring each others boats, catching some tips and ideas from each other.
About the rendezvous & regatta
The Rendezvous hosts many events on the water and on shore including:
Opening welcome party- Two point-to-point “fun-run / racing” events which encourages all the owners to put their boats through their paces and talk a little salty competitive smack
- Our very popular Rumbrella Races which combines rum-infused libations and umbrella-powered sailing of floats and boards
- tons of beach games and fun competitive challenges designed for laughs
- “cheeseburgers in paradise” served on the beach
- a dinghy parade with prizes for best dressed
- a fundraiser for a local junior sailing program
In addition to the fun, we offer educational events such as spinnaker training, safety at sea presentations, and first aid seminars. During all the knowledge sharing events we encourage all attendees to contribute and share experiences that would be useful for others.
As a pre-Rendezvous activity to give catamaran owners the security of a group crossing of the Gulf Stream and of first-time navigation in the Bahamas, we arrange a flotilla from Fort Lauderdale to The Abacos (a distance of 290 NM) This group sets sail around the last week of April, weather permitting. Interested? Register with estelle@catamaranguru.com.
*Catamaran guru Rendezvous participants receive a discounts on all local Bahamian Brewery & Beverage company items from Jimmy’s Wines & Sprirts in Marsh Harbour
RENDEZVOUS ITINERARY
Saturday May 5 all day: Meet & Greet with Estelle & Stephen on Mithril (Catana 50 OC) on the Jib Room dock! Introduce yourselves and pick up your Rendezvous bergie!
Sunday May 6, 11am – Seminar by Mazocean at the Jib Room
Sunday May 6, 4pm – Jib Room Restaurant and Marina in Marsh Harbour. The opening party is conveniently located in Marsh Harbour in case guests are flying in and will feature a band, spectacular food and welcome cocktails.
- Opening Party THEME: SEA CREATURES (The 2024 fancy dress party theme is “Sea Creatures”! Dress up as your favorite fish, shell, coral, octopuss, shark etc. Give us your ideas in the comments! We cannot wait to see your costumes!Big Prizes for best dressed!)
Monday May 7, 9am – Regatta to Tahiti Beach on Elbow Cay.
- 4pm: Dinghy Decoration Parade (Big Prizes for the best dressed dinghy)
- Dinghy raft-up at Tahiti beach afterwards. Bring your favorite cocktail and appetizer and socialize with fellow sailors!
**Please do not be discouraged about the “races”! This is simply a fun way to get from one event to the next. We add a little friendly competistion to the mix and free bee
Tuesday May 8, 11am – Rumbrella Races and Beach games on Tahiti Beach. Lagoon Catamarans and Cruise Abaco Charter company sponsor this event. It is a fun day on the beach where we will race our “floaties” with Lagoon umbrellas, eat burgers in paradise and drink copious amounts of rum!
- 10am: Gather on the beach and warm up for the races!
- Bring your canoe, paddle board, pool toys or ANY floaty! Umbrellas will be supplied!
- 12:30 pm: Free cheese burgers in paradise served at Thirsty Cuda on the beach
Wednesday May 10, 9am – Regatta to Guana Cay. Grabbers Bar & Restaurant will put on a spectacular pig roast on the beach for us with live music and fun activities. Sands Beer will serve free beers and cocktails *(limited) and present the trophies to the winners!
- 3:30pm: Scavenger Hunt & Cocktail tasting hosted by Sands Beer
- 6pm: Prize Giving dinner at Grabbers Beach Bar. Sponsored by Sands Beer
- 9pm: Bonfire on the beach
what is included in the price?
We try to keep the costs as low as possible for cruisers with sponsorships from some of our vendors and additional sponsorship from Catamaran Guru. We are obviously very grateful to the sponsors for helping us make this event possible and we would very much appreciate your support for these sponsors. Boat entry fee $250 and a price per person.
- Boat Registration Fee is $250
- Additionally, Price Per Person is $150
- 3 x meals & our signature Hooligan Juice Cocktail
- Event sun shirt and cap
- Event bag & sponsored goodies
- Event Burgee
- Prizes for Rumbrella races, Dinghy races, Sailing Regatta etc.
- More details to come…but based on previous years, the prizes and goodies from our sponsors will be awesome!
Fundraiser Raffle
Rendezvous Supports the Future of Sailing
Catamaran Guru, with the help of the generous Rendezvous participants, proudly raise funds for the Hope Town Junior Sailing Club during the event. This sailing program helps promote junior sailing programs and summer camps in Abaco, Bahamas. Our goal is to support young sailors in reaching their full potential as they become independent and responsible adults and sailors. Get ready to buy your raffle tickets for a chance to win some great prizes!
Don't Have a Boat? Charter with Cruise Abaco!
Cruise Abaco is our charter partners for the event and is conveniently located at Great Abaco Beach Resort (Boat Harbour Marina) in Marsh Harbour.
They offer bareboat charters with excellent service and local knowledge so that you get the most out of cruising the Abacos. They also offer unique “CAPTAINED BY DAY, BAREBOAT BY NIGHT” charters!
Check out their fleet and book a charter with our charter partners in the Abacos! USE CATGURU-RZ FOR REFERENCE.
Book a Cabin on a Luxury crewed Bali 5.4
Book a cabin or charter the entire boat for the week and join the Rendezvous!
S/V Location is a luxury Bali 5.4 sailing catamaran fully crewed, complete with a captain and chef. Join Location for an all-inclusive 7-day charter for the Rendezvous! Fees includes RZ registration, meals, drinks, toys and more! It is an unforgettable experience!
- Standard suite rate: $3500/person double occupancy
- Master suite rate: $4000/person double occupancy
- Entire boat rental: $28,000
- Book here or email info@sailinglocation.com
S/V Zuri is a luxury Bali 5.4 sailing catamaran with a captain and chef. Join Zuri for an all-inclusive 7-day learn-to-sail charter for the Rendezvous! Fees includes RZ registration, meals, drinks, toys and sailing instruction! Zuri has a full suite of sails incl. a spinnaker & Code Zero.
- Standard Suite rate: $3000/person double occupancy Plus 20% Gratuity
- Master Suite rate: $3500/person double occupancy Plus 20% Gratuity
- Entire boat $20,000 Plus 20% Gratuity
- Email questions estelle@catamaranguru.com
"regatta" race courses
Old Peculier owner and Hope Town Yacht Club member, Martin Cooper will help us set the courses and will brief everyone the day before the races.
- Start at Marsh Harbour, sail around the Parrot Cays and finishing at Tahiti Beach
- Start at Tahiti Beach and sail to Guana Cay
We will post more detail about the Rendezvous as we get closer to the event.
