(Please be sure to see the photos attached, below.)

Five boats. One tiny island. A questionable weather forecast. What could possibly go wrong?

As it turns out, absolutely nothing that mattered.

On Saturday, June 27, 2026, a small but adventurous flotilla of NEMA members converged on Cuttyhunk for what may well become the first annual NEMA Cuttyhunk Rendezvous. Represented were Blackbird and a Woods Hole contingent (including several scientists arriving by motorboat), RazzAmaTazz from East Greenwich, RI, Go Long all the way from Park City, Utah, and Trident from Newport, RI.

The forecast leading up to the weekend was less than inspiring. Everyone who made the trip was richly rewarded.

For those unfamiliar with Cuttyhunk, it is a special place that seems to exist in a different era. Accessible only by boat, it offers a nearly perfect harbor, a year-round population that can be counted on two hands, and enough natural beauty to remind us why we go cruising in the first place. You can walk the entire island in  two hours, although there are plenty of reasons to linger.

The festivities began aboard Blackbird, where Alex and friends generously hosted the initial rendezvous with snacks, drinks, and good conversation. From there, the fleet launched a small dinghy armada for the short voyage to Church's Beach.

Once ashore, the group quickly got to work gathering driftwood—and, in the spirit of community service, plastic and other trash from the beach. Before long, a substantial fire was blazing. Burgers, hot dogs, and corn found their way onto the grill, followed by ice cream for dessert. It was simple cruising at its best: good food, good friends, and the sort of evening that reminds us why we own boats.

There was a brief rain shower, but it didn’t dampen either the fire or anyone's spirits. Conversation flowed easily, stories get better as the evening progressed, and nobody seemed particularly interested in leaving. We lingered well past sunset, enjoying one of those memorable New England summer evenings that can't really be scheduled—they can only be experienced.

By the end of the night, there was unanimous agreement on one important point: this should become an annual NEMA event.

So if you missed this year's gathering (June 2026), please plan to attend the 2nd Annual June Cuttyhunk Rendezvous for another beach fire, another island adventure, and another opportunity to enjoy one of New England's most special cruising destinations with fellow NEMA members. There is a ferry from New Bedford and accommodations ashore if you can’t bring your boat.

And before then, we still have our Long Island Labor Day Cruise coming up in September. If the Cuttyhunk gathering proved anything, it's that some of the best NEMA experiences happen when a handful of boats decide to cast off the lines, ignore an imperfect forecast, and see what awaits over the horizon.

We hope you'll join us on the next adventure.

Fair winds,

John Bennett
Vice Commodore & Cruising Chairman
New England Multihull Association (NEMA)