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View Full Version : 2001 Northwest Donzi Rendezvous



EricG
09-04-2001, 11:53 AM
Wow, after threatening for 2 years, it finally happened on Sunday - three of those very rare NW donzi's got together for a great day on Seattle's Lake Washington. Owen (the great facilitator) was there in his Jr. - I'd never seen one before, I love it!! Very, very cool. Jeff "Blewbyu" in his very healthy X-18 (read his post on what he uses to keep up the finish on his deck, it works!!) and my girlfried and I were there in my Z21 - what a great day!! I had more fun hanging with those guys than I've had in a boat in a long time!

I think we got a lot of attention from the cars on the I-90 floating bridge while we were trying to get high speed "formation" pictures right next to the bridge - I'm surprised we didn't cause any wrecks!!

Thanks you guys for making Sunday a very special day...and as Owen said in his other thread, thanks to Scot for putting Donzi.net together....what would we do without it.

-EG :D

bverd
09-05-2001, 08:27 PM
Bummer I couldn't make it out to Seattle just a few days earlier. I bet it was a blast, Lake Washington is a great lake to boat on, it would be perfect with a bunch of Donzi's blasting around.

Below is what it is like today in Seattle. Another beautiful day in the NW. :cool: Who says it rains all the time. ;)
http://www.donzi.net/photos/p0001982a.jpg http://www.donzi.net/photos/p0001983a.jpg

I am here now, I know late again. 703-887-3453 :D

EricG
09-06-2001, 10:37 AM
Great pics!! In the first one, you can see my office!! I'm in the Green Glass building on the very extreme right, my office is about 4 floors below, looking directly at you!! Cool. I hope you enjoy our fair city.....this AM the weather is a little closer to normal.

EG

Formula Jr
09-06-2001, 07:46 PM
Hey, Sorry about no write up or pics yet. The day was so exciting, just writing about it blew up my machine! I get it back tomorrow. Cool. You would not believe how pretty Eric's girlfriend is. :D

Blewbyu
09-06-2001, 11:45 PM
MAJOR GRINS ON SUNDAY!!!Owen showed up and we got on the Lake(Washington)just after a morning haze cleared to a blu-sky,sunshine,70 degree day with about a 6" chop and little other boat traffic.Ran to Kirkland to meet Eric and his girlfriend Kathy (who is gorgeous,and owns two pickups,and wants to go faster)for lunch.Hi cruise to Seward Park-more boat traffic-lotsa BIG AIR.Then went to I-90 floating bridge for some real AEROBATIC work!!!We all got LOOSE in a confused chop.Kathy was a trooper thru the whole 6 HOURS!!F. Jr. taking pics like mad (during short periods he wasn't airborne).On the way home,we all three took on a Nordic that sneaked up on us.We couldn't pull him,but we didn't lose.A SUPERB DAY!!!!Best Donzi day I have ever had,and perhaps the FIRST unofficial NW DONZI SCRAMARAMA.Great pleasure to meet Owen,Eric,and Kathy and put the faces with the names and boats.Mind boggling day!!!Can't imagine doing this with 30+ boats and owners-must be near orgasmic. :eek: :eek: :D :D :D

Formula Jr
09-09-2001, 06:38 PM
Pics of The First Annual Lake Washington SCRAMARAMA.


The general gist of the event was best decribed in Jeff and Eric's eariler posts, so I'll just free associate alittle on the day. Hanging out at the Bellevue Way Chevron, I could tell instantly which car was coming to greet me. A fast little beemer. In it was the very excellent Jeff of Blewbyu fame. He lives in a fantastic hidden away community right on the Lake with their own docks, launch and grassy picnic area. After yesterday's runs on the Sound, I decide its best if Henry rests up in the shaded van while we go play on the Lake. Jeff's X-18 (http://www.donzi.net/photos/osaffell207.jpg), is immaculate and glinting in the warm NW sun. You never know how hard other people like to run, but that was put to rest soon after heading off for Kirkland. "BlewByu" is a most appropriate handle. I knew this was going to be wild, and wilder everytime I saw the bottom skeg of that X-18 get about a foot of clean air. Jeff was gracious enough to hold back (http://www.donzi.net/photos/osaffell202.jpg) so I could keep up.
This guy KNOWS how to handle a Donzi.

Off of Kirkland we met up with the very exuberant,Eric and Kathy. (http://www.donzi.net/photos/osaffell201.jpg) I think we all know now the source of Eric's joy........hint, it aint all from the Donzi... :D

The Kirkland City Dock is a cool place, but all eyes were on us as we tooled in to dock (http://www.donzi.net/photos/osaffell208.jpg). (http://www.donzi.net/photos/osaffell209.jpg) Made it a point to get a photo of me :)
Found a great outdoor eatery and commenced with boat stories. No awkward pauses in conversation here. Lots of great stories - and found out these guys are boaters of the highest caliber. Eric enthralled us with a story of an out of control trawler ride sliding down the Snohomish, but no one could top Jeff's recollections of riding in SlowMO. For those out of the loop, this was the first true three-point hydro in the world. And someday, Jeff is going to get possession of a photo of that very same boat nearly running him down on the Lake. I think we were having so much fun swapping boat stories, we lost sight of the nature of the gig, But that was rectified with a blasting run to Seward Park. I was holding my own with Eric and Kathy (http://www.donzi.net/photos/osaffell200.jpg), till I tryed to take some photos and lost the rhythm - thats my story and I'm sticking with it! I'm taking back everything I've ever written about later Donzi Models - Z21s ROCK!
More rafting and boat talk (http://www.donzi.net/photos/osaffell210.jpg) at Seward. I suggest some action photo runs and Jeff says he knows a good place. So where does he lead us? Right in the middle of a monster wake filled boat channel (http://www.donzi.net/photos/osaffell211.jpg) - the Man has No Fear! So I suggest a more sedate area behind and near the middle of the Floating Bridge. Unfortunately my camera was not up to the task of capturing this level of action photography. Gotta update the equipment. But standing out there, watching Jeff's X-18 (http://www.donzi.net/photos/osaffell203.jpg) and Eric's Z21 (http://www.donzi.net/photos/osaffell204.jpg) making close formation speed runs was poetry in motion. Eric got my favorite shot (http://www.donzi.net/photos/osaffell206.jpg) - It almost looks like I'm outrunning Jeff. (http://www.donzi.net/photos/osaffell205.jpg) With the camera filled up, and not knowing how the photos turned out, we started cruising over to Jeff's place so Eric and Kathy could find him later on. Eric and Kathy had to leave for Kirkland and we bid them a good evening - no goodbyes here, we're doing this again.
Jeff's cronies are down at the beach with a cook out, and more free food is heading my way while I listen to more funny stories. Life must be good at Beaux Arts with a bunch of neighbors like this.
At two AM, Monday, Owen hit Eugene with a big smile.

EricG
09-10-2001, 01:02 PM
Thanks for the great write up Owen!! The pics turned out great :D

Next year - 6 boats!!

EG

GEOO
09-10-2001, 05:30 PM
Owen, Great story with photo's. Looks like you guys had some fun!! GEOO

MXRoadster
09-10-2001, 10:27 PM
Wow, if I didn’t feel sorry for missing out on the N.W. rendezvous, I sure am now. Owen, what a great write up and pictures. Next year lets plan ahead by a few more days and I’m sure we could meet Eric’s goal of six boats. :D

David

Blewbyu
09-10-2001, 10:57 PM
Great writeup Owen!Thanks for coming by and making it all happen.
I have to chuckle-the photos look so tame compared to what we were usually doing.BTW-remind us next time to almost run over the photo boat to get the CLOSEUP action!
That Formula of yours really airs out BIG!Don't recall seeing the bottom in the water at all 'cept when we were in the dock area!Henry would have had a most uncomfortable day. :D :eek: