Several hundred Bayliners descend on a San Juans hotspot for luau levity

Story by Randy Hess Photos by Jimmy Clarke

There are tougher tests you can throw at a boat than Washington's San Juan Islands--the rougher seas of less protected waterways, for one--but these idyllic isles are fantastic proving grounds, nonetheless. With more than 700 islands, tons of wildlife and less than half the annual rainfall of nearby Seattle, the San Juans allow boaters to see what the very best of cruising is all about--which is a pretty smart way to show yourself that you were right to get into boating in the first place.

And that's the point of the Bayliner Roche Harbor Rendezvous, an annual three-day event each June in this quaint town on the north shore of San Juan Island. More than 200 Bayliners cruised from up and down the Pacific Northwest for this luau-themed party. "We do the Roche Harbor Rendezvous every year. It's just as good as Christmas to me," says James Kessenich, who was part of a 10-boat fleet of friends and acquaintances who cruised over from Seattle. "And every year we meet more people from our area and add more boats to our crew. It's great."

That camaraderie is another big part of the point, says Bayliner's Heidi Blankenbaker. "Our company started here in the Northwest, and this is a very family-oriented event that is absolutely popular with our customers," Heidi says. "Everyone knows about this rendezvous, and once they come to their first one, they keep coming. There are lots of second-generation Bayliner owners in this group."

Bayliner and its dealers go whole hog for the event, laying out tasty spreads, planning fun distractions like donut-eating and hula contests, offering courses in navigation, docking and such, and generally playing the consummate good hosts.

"We had 12 people along from Bayliner to help out and even more from the dealers," Heidi says. "We do a small boat show with new models and we have factory people along to assist customers with issues and answer questions. These customers are out using our products every single weekend, so interacting with them is a priceless source of research for us. On top of that, the town uses our event as a fundraiser. Girls from the local high school softball team wash boats to raise money."

The fun along the Roche Harbor docks is audible, with screams, yips and barks as kids and dogs race between boats and the shore. Kent and Heather Smith's Boston terrier, Hugo, hams it up for anyone who stops by the Jervis Mist, their 1999 52-foot Bayliner. "Hugo is a boating dog through and through, and he absolutely loves cruising," Heather says. The Smiths cruised 11 hours to Roche Harbor from Edgemont, British Columbia, with a brief stop in Point Roberts, Washington, to pick up their friends Jack and Roberta.

"We'd heard about the Roche Harbor Rendezvous for years, but this was our first time coming," Kent says. "When we got here it turned out we knew another half dozen people who we didn't even know were coming! We quite enjoyed it. I had a couple of the Bayliner factory guys onboard for several hours to help me with some stuff, and one of them had actually been on the build team when my boat was going down the line. That was great."

It's not just the newbies who love the event. "We go every year and have always been really happy with the rendezvous," says Virginia Hunt, who cruised over from Point Roberts with husband Dwayne aboard their Bayliner Ciera 24, Mustang Sally. "Dwayne is an old rodeo cowboy and we always have that song playing," Virginia says, explaining their boat's name. The Hunts took advantage of the classes--Virginia joining a Women on the Water course and Dwayne boning up on navigation--but for them it was mostly about the location. "Roche Harbor is far and away my favorite destination in the San Juans," Virginia avows. "The marina staff comes out and greets you and helps with anything you need. And the hotel and dining options are really nice. If you cruise over with more people than your boat can overnight, the hotel is a very nice solution. You can stay in Roche Harbor for the quiet and take a shuttle over to Friday Harbor if you want more excitement. If I had a choice of 10 places to go, anywhere, Roche Harbor is where I'm going to go. It's the best."

Kevin Roggenbuck, president and CEO of Lake Union, understands Virginia's sentiment, having led cruises there with his customers for years. "Roche Harbor is the ideal location for a San Juans cruise and rendezvous," says Kevin, owner of the newest Bayliner dealership in western Washington. "We are lucky to have the country's best cruising grounds so nearby, delivering the kinds of beautiful boating experiences that Bayliner owners truly cherish. We are so excited to take on a brand with such a great heritage and loyal customer base, and look forward to seeing everyone at 2009's 'Rally at Roche,' June 4th to 7th."