District 27 Annual Meeting & COW

Come to Wrightsville Beach for the District’s Annual Meeting and Change of Watch in March. The Cape Fear Sail and Power Squadron has the honor of hosting the District’s annual meeting and Change of Watch during the weekend of 19 – 21 March at the Blockade Runner Hotel in Wrightsville Beach. The weekend will include all the usual nice trappings of a District meeting, plus a silent auction and art show; a buffet dinner cruise aboard the party boat Royal Winner Princess II on Friday evening with boarding from and a return to the Blockade Runner’s dock; a District council meeting; open workshops on USPS information technology, Sailangle and cooperative charting; an awards ceremony at lunch on Saturday and local trips and tours – including the famous Wrightsville Beach loop walk led by P/C Nita Neumeister, AP. The grand finale will be the formal dinner Saturday evening when Past Chief Commander Ernie Marshburn, SN, relieves District Commander Jerry Hall, SN and installs new District Commander Jamie McCurry, AP and his bridge.      For attendees arriving by land, the newly redecorated Blockade Runner Hotel is offering special rates of $89 to $119 per night, depending on whether you choose views of Banks Channel or the ocean, for room-and-breakfast packages to Squadron attendees. It’s located right on the ocean with Banks Channel across the street on the opposite side.      Anyone arriving by boat can stay at one of several local marinas or anchor for free a few hundred yards away in Banks Channel. Dinghies can tie up at a private dock about a block from the Blockade Runner. Let P/C Alan Smith, AP at alanbeverlysmith@ec.rr.com know if you need a dinghy dock. Rates for local marinas are as follows: Seapath Marina (910) 256-3747 $2/ft 30A ($6/night) / 50A ($10/night) Dockside Marina (Dockmaster - Jeb Bruson (910) 256-3579 $1/ft 30A & 50A Wrightsville Beach Marina (Dockmaster - Sam Clary) (910) 256-6666 50A only Bridge Tender Marina (910) 256-6550 $2/ft 30A ($3/night) / 50A ($5/night) Wilmington City Docks (Dockmaster - RT Jones) $1/ft 910) 520-6875 30A ($3/night) / 50A ($5/night)      Friday evening’s highlight will be a dinner cruise aboard the Royal Winner Princess II, a 300-passenger party boat that will be underway for two hours going along a loop from the dock behind the Blockade Runner through Motts Channel to the Intracoastal Waterway, south on the ICW toward Carolina Beach, then back to Masonboro Inlet, Banks Channel and the Blockade Runner again. At least the first half of the cruise will be in daylight. Dinner will include “authentic” Carolina BBQ, chicken, potato salad, baked beans, cole slaw, garlic bread, iced tea, special D 27 cakes and sweet and unsweet tea. A cash bar will be open during the cruise and music will be provided.      Any artists who’d like to display or donate items for the silent auction will find details on the “Call for Artists” form which is included in a link below. The silent auction will also include non-art items and activities that should appeal to boaters or people who can revisit the Wilmington area at a later time. Auction items will be on display from the opening of registration on Friday until late Saturday afternoon and winners will be announced at dinner on Saturday evening.      For those who’d like a break from Squadron activities during the weekend, local resident P/C Nita Neumeister will lead a troop around Wrightsville Beach’s famous loop walk on Saturday morning. For spouses or others who want to break loose after the Saturday morning coffee at the Blockade Runner, we’ll have information at the registration desk about other do-it-yourself options such as a downtown trolley tour; visits to the historic Bellamy Mansion, Burgwin-Wright House and Latimer House; visits to the battleship North Carolina; a short Cape Fear River cruise on a local tour boat called the Captain Maffitt and shopping adventures to places such as Lumina Station, Mayfaire, the Ivy Cottage and the Cotton Exchange. On Saturday afternoon, those interested can join a special running of the Wilmington Adventure Walking tour, a colorfully narrated and insightful perusal of downtown Wilmington by local historian Bob Jenkins. With any additional free time, you’ll have miles of sand and open beach at your doorstep to explore.      We expect a good turnout for the weekend, so hope attendees will send their checks and registration forms to the event’s registrar, P/C Mary Jo Worcester, S, soon.   P/C Alan Smith, AP Cape Fear Sail and Power Squadron   Click below for additional information "Agenda from D27 website" "Registration Information" "Call For Artists"