More on Cocktail Cruise

MATT SCHOCH of the Times Herald has a great article in the June 10, 2009 addition of the Times Herald. Portions of the article are copied below. You can see the entire article at
http://www.thetimesherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090610/NEWS01/906100307
Here is some of what Mr Schoch had to say:

Detroit's Bob Cowles has a solution for those who like the idea of sailing north on Lake Huron this July but aren't so crazy about the choppy water and sleepless nights.
Cowles is organizing the Cocktail Cruising Race with three nights of stops before the finish line in Rogers City in conjunction with the Port Huron-to-Mackinac Island Sailboat Race.
Cruisers will take off before the Mackinac boats July 25 from north of the Blue Water Bridge in Lake Huron....

Cowles said there are others like him who love to sail but don't want the strain of the nonstop, 298-statute-mile race to Mackinac Island....

The cocktail cruise winners will be recognized at the Bayview Yacht Club awards ceremony in the fall along with winners of the Mackinac race classes.

Mackinac Race Chairman Frank Kern said it is exciting to have the cruisers as part of the festivities. However, he warns not to get the Cruising Race confused with the Cruising Class, the lowest class of boats in the Mackinac Race.

"They're just doing it their way. Bayview (Yacht Club, the Mackinac race organizer) has always wanted to promote sailing. That's what we do," Kern said. "We're hoping if they see all the other things go on, with the pageantry in Port Huron and everything, they are more interested in our race as well."

Cowles said since the race has been announced, he has heard from officials in a couple of the cities planned as stops, including the mayor of Rogers City. "They're looking forward to it, and they're going to make some arrangements for us," Cowles said. "They're very anxious to have us come." Cowles expects about 10 to 15 boats to participate.

Thanks to the Herald Times for covering this great story.

As City Manager, I welcome our guests! Thank you, Mr. Cowles for starting up this fun event.

Rogers City's Harbor Advisory Committee, the City Council, the Mayor, The Chamber of Commerce, and the entire business community hope to make the Cruisers' stay memorable. Rogers City has a lot to offer our guests, including a first rate Marina, an increasingly vibrant historic downtown district, beautiful and extensive trails and parks, and many wonderful natural resources. We hope this Cocktail Cruise will become a annual event.