2014 Southwest Florida Rendezvous

We moved our 29 ranger tug "Our Idea" to Alca last February. Hope there is still room at the rendezvous. I will call for reservations tomorrow! Steve and Nell Winner
 
Nita and I are thinking about coming to your rendezvous from Anacortes and would like to know if there are hotels close by and if so could you give us their phone numbers.
Bob
 
Bob,

Let me check. Last year a few people came by car and stayed at a nearby hotel. There are also condos on site that get rented out, but I think they may be a one week minimum.
 
Just a reminder to those who are interested in participating in the 2014 Southwest Florida Rendezvous in Cape Haze Florida from February 7th to February 10th. If you are interested in participating you may contact Carol Whittier at gipetto58@yahoo.com This has been a well attended event with seminars, prizes, food and drink.
We want to get an approximate head count for the caterer, so your timely contact of Carol will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike Rizzo

PS. As I am typing this, the snow is falling here in Connecticut and I'm wishing I was there already! Don't be saying the same thing on February 7th!!!
 
Final call!
We are ready submit all attendees to the marina and make plans with the caterer. Anyone interested in attending must contact Carol Whittier immediately at gipetto58@yahoo.com
It looks like we have a good group together, 18 boats so far.

Looking forward to seeing you there,

Mike Rizzo
 
Just an update. It looks like we have a pretty good turnout, we currently have 20 boats arriving and 43 attendees. Looking forward to seeing everyone there.
Jess & I are already here relaxing and enjoying the warm Florida weather.

Mike Rizzo
 
Hi,
This is my first post as I am a newbie in the Ranger Tug Family. We had our 27 Ranger delivered on October 15, 2013 and are working to get it in cruising shape. We keep the boat on a covered lift at our house in Port Charlotte and have stayed at Palm Island Marina with previous boats probably 30 times in the last 13 years. We are good Friends with the owners and they are great people. Unfortunately we are leaving on a Caribbean Cruise on February 9th and will not have enough time to bring our boat to Palm Island. We would like to drive by car to Palm Island (30 minutes from our house) on the 7th or 8th and meet people, as we want to get active and attend Rendezvous throughout the U.S. and Canada. I am new at the Tugnuts' site and cannot seem to find a schedule as to what we be a good time to show up. Perhaps someone can help me with that.
I retired here in 2001 and originally had a 25 foot Bayliner pocket cruiser and graduated in 2006 to a 35' Island Packet Catamaran. We sold both of those boats last year and now just have the Ranger Tug with a Portland Pudgy Dinghy. The point is if I can be of any help to anyone concerning places to go or areas to explore from the Keys to Tarpon Springs we have "been there and done that" and would be delighted to share our knowledge.
Look forward to meeting many of you. I am not sure how this works but my email is mudgerw@gmail.com .
Thanks,
Bob and Julie Mudge
 
For those cruising south on Florida's west coast ICW, working your way to the Rendezvous, a good anchorage off Long Boat Key (27*26.212N 82*40.778W) is worth a stop. If you're planning on eating out you can tie up to Moore's Stonecrab Restaurant and there is no cost for overnight dockage if you have lunch or dinner at Moore's. No water or electric, but hey it's free.
 
Just want to say Thank You to everyone that puts in the time and energy to organize these events. It is a lot of work and from what I have seen online, are very fun.. I am hoping one day to be attending and am getting closer every event 🙂 . Unfortunately I have to be working in Dallas and will miss this one but hope to be south with Irish Mist in March. Hope everyone has a great time and have a toast to all us on the hard in the cold 🙂
Cheers
Mark
 
The Rendezvous is in full swing and all attendees have arrived. Our pot luck dinner was a spectacular display of gustation! We had a presentation on traveling through Alaska, done by Rich and Cheryll Odendahl. Today will be learning sessions and the boat crawl. We have 21 Ranger tugs present and 25 represented. A nice turnout considering we started this 3 years ago with only 7 tugs and a pot luck dinner.
Stay tuned for more updates

Mike Rizzo
 
We are having a great time at the Southwest Florida Rendezvous. Having been intimately involved with several rendezvous, we are very appreciative of the time, work, and energy that Carol, Mike, Rich, Cheryl and others have done to make this event personal and worthwhile.

This is the event that we used to plan the start of the Great Loop adventure. We used this date to plan our departure from Seattle, ship the boat, get the work done to ready it and to arrive here. It has met and exceeded all of expectations because of the quality of people that are here. We have learned a lot of places to see and to avoid as we navigate through Florida and continue northbound on the Great Loop. Heartfelt thanks to everyone who has helped us with their time and advice and there willingness to share their wisdom.
 
We were making our way from Boca Grande Bayou to The Fishery in Placida on our Portland Pudgy yesterday when what to our wondering eyes should appear than 12 Ranger Tugs heading south on the ICW. Looking good folks !
 
Hi Jim and Pat:

Of the 21 Ranger Tugs in attendance, 25 represented the 12 you saw were heading to Cayo Costa/Pelican Bay. We anchored out, had a trip to the beach and then happy hour was held on Heart Tug. Heart Tug is a R31 and Steve and Kevin were gracious enough to host a total of 22 Tugnutters on their vessel (this could be a record), a grand time was had by all. With everyone pulling anchor this morning, heading off in different directions, it felt a little sad for us to have the 2014 Southwest Florida Rendezvous come to an end.

Mike Rizzo and Carol Whittier put together a memorable event, thanks for all that you did for our Ranger Tug community of boaters, the help of your spouses Jess Rizzo and Ted Whittier....you guys are the best!

Jim and Lisa
 
Thanks for your kind words Jim. It was sad leaving such a beautiful spot this morning and all the great people we met, but we are on to many more experiences and I am sure all of our paths will cross again.

Mike Rizzo
 
I would just like to say I appreciate being able to spend time with a great group Tuggists like this . I enjoy the camaraderie, observing all the modifications and added equipment and great ideas you see on so many boats . Its apparent that the attendees are using their boats to the fullest extent .
Mike , you do a great job getting all this together , from the great seminars to the excellenbt food and location .
Thanks to all that made it happen!
See you all next year !
Marc Grove
 
Thanks Marc, but it is a team effort and all those who help and participate make it one great event. We also appreciate your participation as well as the support of Ranger Tugs,

Mike Rizzo
 
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