Category: News Archives

The deadline for the 2022 Photo Contest has been extended to December 31.  Don’t delay, pick from your best tugging adventures showcasing the Pacific Northwest and your time on the water.

The rules are simple:

• You may submit up to two photos per boat.
• You must be a current member of PaNNTOA.
• Photos must be taken in this calendar year.
• Title your photo and include a brief story to share.
• Must be a Nordic Tug, at least a partial view, somewhere in the picture.
• Photos should not exceed 1 mg in size.
• Photos must be submitted by December 31, 2022.

Post your entry in the Trip Reports forum under topic “2022 PaNNTOA Photography Contest”. https://panntoa.com/forums/topic/2022-panntoa-photography-contest/
Instructions for how to post a picture into a post are at the top of the PaNNTOA Member Forum page.  If you have any issues or questions related to posting, contact webmaster@panntoa.com.

Winners will be announced on the PaNNTOA website in mid-January.  Good luck and don’t delay.

October 2022

We have announcements in all sizes this month, ranging from “that was nice” to “ouch.” We’ll make them in chronological order so please read through to the end.

Kingston September Mini Rendezvous

A stellar success captained by Gerry Guertin and Barb Harley from the good ship, Spree. A generous baker’s dozen (13—can bakers not count?) boats participated. A lot of good food, engaging conversations, and boat tours capped off with great weather made for a lovely fall gathering. The folks at the Kingston marina were welcoming and helpful. A big shout out and thank you to Gerry and Barb for the goodie bags, blueberry pancake breakfast, Saturday’s dinner, fun and games, and general wrangling. You made it look easy but the attendees know the effort you put in and really appreciated it. https://panntoa.com/forums/topic/kingston-mini-vous-sept-2022/

2022 Photography Contest

Limber up those fingers and scroll back through all the great boating photos you took this year. In addition to nice prizes for our second and third place winners, this year’s grand prize is two tickets to the 2023 Rendezvous in Sidney, BC.

Pick from your best tugging adventures showcasing the Pacific Northwest and your time spent on the water. As you click through your photos, consider beauty, wildlife, hangouts, family fun, humor, Nordic Tugs or things nautical that show off the joy of tugging!

The rules are simple:

• You may submit up to two photos per boat.
• You must be a current member of PaNNTOA.
• There must be a Nordic tug, at least a partial view, somewhere in the picture.
• Photos must be taken in this calendar year.
• Title your photo and, if so inclined, include a brief story to share.
• Photos should not exceed 1 mg in size.
• Photos must be submitted by November 30, 2022.

Post your entry in the Trip Reports forum under topic “2022 PaNNTOA Photography Contest.” https://panntoa.com/forums/topic/2022-panntoa-photography-contest/ Instructions for how to post a picture into a post are at the top of the PaNNTOA Member Forum page. If you have any issues or questions related to posting, contact webmaster@panntoa.com.

Winners will be announced on the PaNNTOA website in mid-December. Good luck and don’t delay. If you have questions, please contact commodore@panntoa.com, communications@panntoa.com or webmaster@panntoa.com.

The “Ouch” Announcement

Commodore Stu Clark and Rear Commodore (Treasurer) Sue Clark were involved in a serious vehicle accident in late September outside Bloomington, Illinois. Though they and their four dogs escaped catastrophic injury, their shiny new F-350 and Airstream collided with a car that pulled out in front of them at an intersection on a country road while moving at 35 mph. Their truck is now totaled and the Airstream sustained considerable damage. As a result of those injuries, they have decided to quit boating and their Nordic 39 is now for sale.*

Despite their immediate challenges, Stu will see the photography contest through and Sue will take care of end-of-the-year accounting items. They will step out of their current management roles as of December 31, 2022.

PaNNTOA needs a couple of volunteers to step into the Commodore and Treasurer roles from January 1, 2023, though the June rendezvous in Sidney. At the rendezvous we will vote in new Board members. Position descriptions are posted on the PaNNTOA website. If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Stu at commodore@panntoa.com.

*Emmy Lou III is a 2013 flybridge with 656 hours on the Cummins QSB 5.9.  The Onan generator has 116 hours. She has been fully serviced and there is nothing needing to be done.  Her hull has been ceramic coated and the inside is immaculate. Stu and Sue are leaving quite a few items on the vessel (new inflatable dinghy w/cover, Torqeedo electric outboard, BBQ, fluids & spares, etc.).

I hope everyone has had a great summer cruising season. Long term forecasts, worth every penny we pay for them, are promising a beautiful fall cruising season. And what better way to kick off fall, than to attend a Nordic Tug mini-Rendezvous. Gerry G. reports a dozen boats have already signed up for the fall mini-vous in Kingston and there’s still room for more. Be sure to check out the PaNNTOA website for the plans for this event being held September 23rd to 25th. Kindly RSVP Gerry by September 10th if you plan to attend.
 
Keep snapping away your amazing cruising pictures as the PaNNTOA photo contest is just around the corner with the submission period being November 1 through 30th. As long as there’s a Nordic Tug, or at least a piece of one, somewhere in the photo, you’re good to go. More details for the contest will be posted in the next month or so.
 
The newly elected PaNNTOA Board conducted its first meeting in August. The Board is firmly in cahoots, or rather deeply in agreement, about plans, priorities, and events. Jeff Redmond, our Vice-Commodore, has picked up the Web Director baton from Sandra Piotrowski. Jeff and I are working with the Board on significant updates to the PaNNTOA website.

A suggestion that came from my membership survey letter dealt with having “coffee klatches” at various marinas. These informal get-togethers could happen as often as those participating would like. The concept would be for a PaNNTOA member, at a particular marina, announce to the membership that a “coffee klatch” would be happening on, say, a Saturday at 10 a.m. on dock such-and-such on the host’s boat and all PaNNTOA members at that marina would be welcome to stop by and visit. It would be a “bring-your-own-cup” and whomever was hosting the klatch that time would provide the coffee and PaNNTOA would reimburse the host for the coffee and sundries.

Sue (your Rear Commodore/Treasurer) and I are in Buffalo, Wyoming tonight on an RV roadtrip to Madison, Wisconsin otherwise we would volunteer Emmy Lou III to be the host boat to get things started. Are any of you reading this interested and willing to be a host boat in the upcoming months? If you are, please let me know.
 
Stay safe and remember to take pictures!
 
Stu Clark
Commodore
Pacific Northwest Nordic Tug Owners Association

First, I want to thank those members of the Pacific Northwest Nordic Tug Owners Association who took the time to respond to my survey. As your new Commodore, I am interested in knowing what the membership wants and needs from PaNNTOA. The email went out to the “big list” of about 200 email addresses on July 14th. So far, I have received only seven responses to that survey. Interestingly, those responding had very similar comments to my questions.

All seven said that a forum that dealt with cruising with pets would be very helpful. Another survey question that garnered 100% support was having a place where members could post questions regarding their tugs in order to solicit helpful tips and help. I would encourage you to do that when there are times you would like input. A third response that drew 100% support was the desire to know where others are going on the water at particular times. We probably will call that listing “Flash Rallies.” Those get togethers would be impromptu, unsponsored, and simply a way of encouraging some socializing on a small scale.

Right now, we are working on ways to “refresh” the PaNNTOA website and, again, thank you to the seven members who replied. It’s not too late to send me your comments, or just to say hello. I’m always ready to consider member input.

Functioning between the “Flash Rallies” and the annual “Rendezvous” is the “Mini-Rendezvous.” This event was first mentioned at the June Rendezvous and then again last month in my Commodore’s Letter. Time is running out and I would encourage you to come to Kingston in September and have some fun. Gerry Guertin and Barb Hartley are hosting this event and the flyer is below.

Stay Safe!

Stu Clark
Commodore
Pacific Northwest Nordic Tug Owners Association

Your very amiable “cruise” captain, Gerry Guertin, reminds us the fall mini rendezvous will be held in Kingston on September 23rd and 24th. This is a purely social gathering with PaNNTOA springing for BBQ fixings and attendees potlucking (we don’t care that grammar checking objects, potlucking should be a word) salads and whatnot.

Gerry says there’s room for 10 to 15 boats, or so, and we currently have six boats and a couple of innocent bystanders signed up. Please make your reservations directly with the Kingston Marina and be sure to mention you’re there with the Nordic Tug group.

Please RSVP Gerry at gk.guertin@comcast.net or call him at 360-908-5656 by September 10th.

This is my inaugural message as your new Commodore. I want to express my gratitude to Gary White for his dedication and leadership over the past three years he served PaNNTOA as Commodore. I also want to thank those individuals – his Board, and those that volunteered – in helping with the numerous logistics that keep PaNNTOA afloat.

I plan to email the entire PaNNTOA membership once a month. It won’t be a lengthy email, but one that calls your attention to various things happening within the organization. It will basically be an invitation to go to our website (panntoa.com) for more details on those updates if you are interested.

In order to serve our organization, I would like to ask you some questions and when you have some time, to answer those questions with as much detail as you would like. Email them to me at Commodore@panntoa.com. Your responses will stay anonymous.

Here are my questions to the membership:

1. What do you want from PaNNTOA? In other words, what do you want our organization to fulfill?
2.  Before moving to Anacortes from Northern California, Sue (your Rear Commodore) and I belonged to an Airstream RV group. They would periodically have “Flash Rallies” These rallies would be spontaneous and non-sponsored. The intent of a “Flash Rally” was to let the group know that a particular RVer was going to such-and-such a place in the following days and if anyone wanted to join them, for the company, just show up. There were no reservations, no hosting implied, but just a general announcement that “I’ll be there and join me if you want.” Not to be confused with a Mini-Rendezvous or the annual Rendezvous, would this be something you think has merit?
3.  More than half of all boaters have a pet (or pets) on board. The majority are dogs, but there are some boat cats, too. We’ve created a forum topic on our website that deals with traveling with pets. Hopefully folks will post information and questions about which marine parks are pet friendly or unfriendly. Same with marinas. Also tips for training and coping with travel challenges specific to pets. I think a forum supporting this interchange would be helpful.
4.  One of my hobbies has been amateur radio. I’ve been licensed for 64 years. Amateur, or “ham” radio is not CB radio and it doesn’t replace a cell phone. What it does do is provide communication capabilities – both for enjoyment, and to serve in an emergency. The number of boaters with ham radio equipment on board is very slim. A boater wanting to get licensed and then solve the challenges of putting workable equipment on board is challenging. But it can be done and I would like to create a forum on our website that deals with not only ham radio, but with radio communication in general. Would you be interested in getting your ham radio license? Would you be interested in knowing more about your boat’s radio or radios?
5. Would you be interested in setting up a Mini-Rendezvous that would be south of Seattle, or north of La Conner? PaNNTOA will allocate $500 to cover a BBQ and a deposit to reserve slips.
6.  This coming September, a Mini-Rendezvous is being set up by Gerry Guertin. It will be held in Kingston. More details are available on the PaNNTOA website home page. If you would like to help Gerry, please email him at gk.guertin@comcast.net.
7.  The last question deals with next year’s Rendezvous. It is slated to be in Sidney, BC. Based on this year’s survey results (thank you to those that submitted), there were comments/requests/suggestions involving dates, workshops, etc. So, please take some time and let your new Board of Directors know what you think. When would you like it? What speakers would you like to have? What subjects would you like to cover? There are no guarantees but we will do our best to consider your thoughts.

Don’t forget to be taking pictures of your Nordic Tug exploits this Summer and Fall to enter in the PaNNTOA Photo Contest later this year.

Stay safe and see you on the water!

Stu Clark
Commodore
PaNNTOA

After a cool, damp spring, and a slow-to-start summer, we’re sacrificing a few chickens (or what we like to call, “making dinner”) to Neptune and Mother Nature, hoping for beautiful fall cruising. Gerry Guertin has volunteered to be our Cruise Captain for a mini rendezvous to be held in Kingston on September 23rd and 24th.

Gerry says there’s room for 10 to 15 boats, or so, and he might have a surprise or three up his sleeve. Please make your reservations directly with the Kingston Marina and be sure to mention you’re there with the Nordic Tug group (otherwise we’ll mock you when you get placed in the middle of the Rangers and Bayliners—just kidding. Not.)

RSVP Gerry at gk.guertin@comcast.net or call him at 360-908-5656. Gerry is breathlessly awaiting any questions you might have so don’t be shy about contacting him.

And if anyone wants to volunteer to captain a south sound, north sound, or Canadian mini rendezvous, please contact your friendly PaNNTOA Commodore.

Cliff notes version: We bid a fond, and appreciative, farewell to COVID Commodore Gary White and his merry band of pirates, Vice Commodore Doug Ford and Rear Commodore/Treasurer Mike Russell, and welcomed our shiny new commodore, Stu Clark, Vice Commodore Jeff Redmond, and Rear Commodore Sue Clark.

Good speakers, great food, and plenty of opportunities to catch up with old friends and make new ones. Shortly we’ll be posting photos, resources, attendees, etc. Bear in mind, “shortly” was written by someone who drives a tug…

In the meantime, make sure you’re taking lots of photos on your cruises. Yes, PaNNTOA will be sponsoring another photo contest this fall. The theme is TBD but you’re pretty safe as long as there’s a Nordic Tug somewhere in the picture.

Just a few weeks remain until registration closes for our 2022 Rendezvous and Reunion at Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes from June 2-4.

We’re now lining up a variety of seminar speakers with appearances from the United States Coast Guard, experts on electronics, batteries, Cummins engines, updates from our own factory and more.

Seattle Yachts is sponsoring our opening night welcome reception followed by a private movie screening of “Tug Boat Annie” at Anacortes Cinemas.

Other planned activities include the Bilge Crawl where you can visit one-on-one with experienced mechanics, First Mate Training, our annual PaNNTOA meeting, Mary’s legendary clam chowder lunch and buffet dinners on Friday and Saturday night.

And the best news is that our registration fee hasn’t risen … it’s still a bargain at $125 per person plus moorage.

The Anacortes Waterfront Festival will be taking place this weekend as well with live music, food, crafts, arts and other booths just steps away from the C Dock where we’ll all be meeting and staying!

Reserve your slip and commemorative t-shirt by registering today while dock space is still available.

Our Rendezvous is a great way to see old friends, enjoy great food and drink and kick off summer and a return to boating!

Don’t miss out … register today!