CRBB – The Crystal River Boating Bash

Start:	Apr 23, '10 3:00p
End:	Apr 25, '10
Location:	The Crystal River Preserve State Park (http://www.floridastateparks.org/crystalriverpreserve ) is located at 3266 North Sailboat Ave. Take U.S. Hwy 19 3/4 mile north of the Crystal River Mall. Turn left onto State Park Drive at the Days Inn. Follow State Park Drive until it dead ends.

The Crystal River Boat Bash, to be held on the weekend of April 23 – 25, 2010 at the Crystal River Preserve State Park. This Bash will be a celebration of small craft, nautical heritage, and fun on the waters of the Nature Coast. Conditions in late April and early May are ideal in the area – temperatures, humidity, and winds are perfect for enjoying time on the water.

From around the country, owners of small sailing, rowing and paddling craft -- classic and traditional and modern – will be offered the hospitality of Crystal River. They’ll be in Cortez FL to our south the weekend before the Crystal River Bash for the Florida Gulf Coast Small Craft Festival. The weekend after the Crystal River Bash they’ll gather at Cedar Key to our north for another very popular small craft get-together.

Activities during the time include a “Bust the Blockade Challenge” where small boats will explore the bay, river and salt marsh routes used by blockade runners during the Civil War. A “Raid on Crystal River” will feature an assembly of small craft in Kings Bay for cruising, sightseeing and lunch. A feature of the weekend will be a celebration of the completion of the 14ft Chesapeake Sharpie Skiff by the Crystal River Boat Builders.

Other events during the weekend include dinners and entertainment. Amateur and professional builders will be displaying their boats and there will be demonstrations of many boat building and boat handling skills.