Accommodations:

We are all set for Annapolis! We have 15 rooms (minus one which we took) at the Comfort Inn in Bowie MD, for October 8-9-10 at $105.30 per night, King/NS. People from Fleet 5 and LISCA should contact me, Doug at 631-208-1977 or ccreagh@optonline.net, to get our special group rate, and that way I'll know who is going and how many rooms have been taken. Rooms will go on a first come first served basis, but the absolute deadline is Wednesday, September 8, 2010 when I have to surrender any unreserved rooms. If all rooms are taken and we haven't reached the cut-off date, I will attempt to add another block of rooms at the same discount rate. I would urge people if they even think they want to go to make the reservation. The hotel has a liberal cancellation policy of 48 hours prior to arrival. Food hospitality will be the same with a Saturday dinner at The Chart House, but those reservations will be made later in May. B'fast at Buddy's both days, Saturday and Sunday before the show. Lunch is on your own.

Social Activities

The Annapolis Sailboat Show has been a favorite Fleet 5 event for most of the last 15 years and this year will be no exception. We (Doug Smith & Thom Reeves) are coordinating the social activities (food) (it is the 19th year that we have made the trip!). The show offers the chance to see all the latest Catalina Yachts and hundreds of others. We have the opportunity to climb aboard fully rigged sailboats in the water and check out the latest designs and equipment used on these yachts. In addition there are hundreds of equipment suppliers in tents all around the Annapolis Town Harbor area. To top it off, Columbus Day Weekend is usually sunny and warm in the Chesapeake making it a wonderful trip to enjoy the scenery and foods of the bay area. The crab cakes are rated the best in the world. You can order your show tickets on line at: http://www.usboat.com/us_sailboat_show.php

Fleet 5 has a tradition of a 9:00 Saturday morning breakfast at Buddy's Crabs and Ribs on the second floor over The Banana Republic, at the foot of Main Street directly opposite the show. It offers a full buffet of all your breakfast treats for one low price. It can't be beat. We also like going there because it gets us in town before the parking garage fills up. The show, filling the Annapolis Town Marina, opens at 10:00 a.m. with members often congregating around the Catalina Yacht Owners' Booth where we may be able to chat with Frank Butler, Sharon Day and Gerry Douglas. We then spread out across the show with our own agendas and shopping lists in preparation for next season's sailing. Small groups meet informally for lunch here and there and discuss what they have seen so far.

If you wish to return to the show on Sunday we suggest that you go early to get parking as we do on Saturday. At Buddy's Crabs and Ribs the fresh omelets, waffles, etc. are better on Sunday than Saturday! Thom & Doug will have the free breakfast buffet at the hotel on Sunday morning and then return home (unless some last minute need beckons us back to the show).

Have a great show!

Any questions? Contact us at 631-208-1977 (ccreagh@optonline.net). We will have our cell phone (631-766-8587) with us throughout the weekend.

IMPORTANT!
When you have made your reservation please contact me ccreagh@optonline.net or 631-208-1977 and tell me what dates you have reserved.

Thanks,

Doug