A very special Eastbay Rendezvous

Mystic Seaport Marina © Dennis A Murphy

We are looking forward to hosting a very special Eastbay Rendezvous on June 9/10, 2018. We hope you'll join us!

Mystic Seaport Museum is the nation's leading maritime museum with a 17-acre historic waterfront and an unrivaled collection of American maritime fine art, artifacts, and watercraft, including America's oldest commercial vessel and sole remaining wooden whaleship, the Charles W. Morgan, launched in 1841. With the opening of the award-winning Thompson Exhibition Building, Mystic Seaport Museum also embarked on a new Era of Exhibitions. Eastbay Rendezvous attendees will be able to enjoy two major Era of Exhibitions presentations - The Vikings Begin, featuring rare Viking artifacts on-loan from Sweden's Gustavianum Museum and The Vinland Map, on loan from Yale University's Beineke Library.

With support from Gowrie Group, a premier corporate partner of Mystic Seaport and the corporate sponsor for the Eastbay Rendezvous, participants in the Eastbay Rendezvous will receive admission to the Museum and exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of the Museum's Collections Research Center where you will be able to explore some of the world's finest collections of scrimshaw, nautical photography, maritime fine art and artifacts. In addition, attendees will enjoy a private cocktail party, courtesy of Grand Banks and Boatworks Yacht Sales and an afterhours exhibit viewing on Saturday evening, along with a complimentary breakfast, courtesy of Essex Yacht Sales, on Sunday, followed by a boat parade.

Gowrie Group is a premier corporate partner of Mystic Seaport and the corporate sponsor for the 2017 Eastbay Rendezvous. Gowrie Group, one of the nation's Top-50 independent insurance agencies and the largest independent marine insurance group in the US, provides total risk management services to individuals and organizations with complex insurance needs. Gowrie Group's portfolio of insurance offerings includes commercial, home/auto, equine, and yacht insurance, as well as employee benefits solutions and safety services. www.gowrie.com

Background and FAQs Boaters who have spent a night at Mystic Seaport's docks know that the evening and morning hours at the Museum are magical. In the words of one: "To wake up at Mystic Seaport among the historic vessels and seaport village is to imagine yourself as the boy or girl you would have been 150 years ago."

Who will participate in the Rendezvous? The Eastbay Rendezvous is open to all Eastbay owners. While we expect that most attendees will come by water, we will also welcome Eastbay owners coming by car as general admission visitors to Mystic Seaport.

What is the cost to participate? Eastbay owners coming by boat for Saturday-only pay a $75 registration fee. Eastbay boat owners staying overnight will register for dockage at our membership rate of $3.25 a foot per night. These fees will cover the cost of general admission for those aboard, including the lunch, behind-the-scenes tours, cocktail party, and complimentary breakfast. Eastbay owners coming by land/car should register by emailing John Urban at and purchase General Admission tickets at the gate.

When will the Rendezvous take place? Participating boaters should make their reservations via Dockwalk (using the Member rate) or through the dock office - mentioning the Eastbay Rendezvous. The program aspects of the Rendezvous will commence at 11:45 AM on Saturday, June 9, 2018. Attendees should plan on arriving on the 10:40 or 11:40 morning bridge opening. Boaters should time their arrival with the Mystic River Highway Bridge (please consult the dock office). The formal program is as follows:

Saturday, June 9, 2018:

11:45 AM: - Welcome/Greeting
12 Noon: - Lunch
1:15 PM: - Behind the Scenes Collections Research Center Tours

• Examination of Select, Rare Ships Logs & Ships Plans
• Watercraft Hall Tour

Sunday, June 10, 2018:

8:30 AM: - Complimentary breakfast – sponsored by Essex Yacht Sales
9:00 AM: - Private Tour - The Vinland Map
11:00 AM: - Boat Parade

How do I register? To make your reservation, please contact Greg Zabel at the dock office at 860.572.5391 or or to make the reservation go online via Dockwalk (enter under Member rate for the $3.25 per foot rate). If you have any questions, or to register for arrival by car, please email John Urban at .

Who is hosting the Eastbay Rendezvous and how many boats are expected? The Eastbay Rendezvous will be hosted by Mystic Seaport Museum with sponsorship support from Gowrie Group.