CONGRATULATIONS WINNERS! Pictured above are all the winners from the Orillia Rendez-vous Event along with their prizes.

The fourth and final weekend Rendez-vous of the summer of 2011 was held at the Jewel of the Trent Severn in Orillia, Ontario. The Orillia waterfront and town docks area came alive on Friday evening as the start of the Orillia Waterfront Festival began.

On Saturday, August 6th the Rendez-Vous registration began and afterwards the mandatory Drivers Meeting, and the first card stop, was held to advise on the safety regulations and the routes to be taken to ensure safety for all. Participants took to their boats around 11am and we departed.

After the second card stop at McGregor on The Water, on Lake Couchiching, the participants and the pace boat officials enjoyed lunch at Starport Marina in McPhee Bay on Lake Simcoe, where they picked up their third card. Then is was back through the famous narrows for the fourth card stop at Blue Beacon Marina. The fifth and final card stop was at a pontoon boat moored in the anchorage off Big Chief Island where everyone enjoyed a break, and a swim before returning back to the town docks in Orillia.

The poker hands were revealed and the excitement and anticipation built as newly revealed hands beat out others for first, second and third place and the final winners and prizes were awarded to cheers from both the participants and onlookers. This years event built on the tradition began back 20 years ago right here on these two hugely popular lakes in Central Ontario, and everyone is already asking about what next summer's rendezvous will bring. Stay tuned - we'll keep you posted as soon as plans are finalized.

FIRST PLACE: Steve Sale and his crew aboard their 36' Carver Water Hog won took first place including a display trophy, a Hyundai water pump, and a Nautilus Marine portable booster pack.

SECOND PLACE: Terry Wetmore and his 18' Maritime lobster boat Tiny Mouse took second place including a wall plaque, a Navagloo boat winterizing cover, and a 12V Koolatron cooler.

THIRD PLACE: Tamara King and her crew on their 24' Rinker Phaat Bastard won third place including a Sportz SUV tent and a 12V Koolatron cooler.

What's a Rendez-vous?

A Rendez-vous is a family friendly boating event on the water for boats of all sizes and speeds. Participants register their boat - everything from PWC's to pontoon boats, to aluminum fishing boats and homemade sea flees, to deck boats to cruisers and even an over forty foot yacht got entered last year! Everyone is given a number and the first of their five playing cards at registration. The next morning, there's a safety meeting for all drivers where we lay out the course we'll be cruising for the day including any hazards, slow speed zones and the all important lunch stop! Then the boats take to the water behind the official pace boat for the Rendez-vous event, stopping at predetermined locations and picking up their next four cards to make a poker hand. Back at the event that evening, the hands are revealed and prizes awarded by our famous MC for the best hand, best boat, best dressed crew, and much more.

I missed this years events, but when are future events being held?

Stay tuned to powerboating.com and to Power Boating Canada magazine for the dates of the Rendez-vous events for the summer of 2012. Don't miss anything - subscribe today!

Schedule of Events:

Friday

Registration

Truck Demos

Boat Displays

Live Entertainment

Saturday

Family Rendez-vous & Poker Run for all boats

Boat Parade

Boats and Accessory Exhibits

Poker Run Card Unveiling

Awards Ceremony

Live Entertainment

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a BIG thank you to all our

Sponsors

McGregor on the Water

Starport Marina

Blue Beacon Marina

Port of Orillia