The Fourth Annual Alaska Tugnuts Rendezvous is headed back to the shores of Prince William Sound and Valdez, AK. We have an exciting time planned for June 20-22 in Valdez, AK and look forward to seeing all of our Tugnut friends.

Schedule of Events

See the attached schedule for the full slate of events. Highlights include:

Yacht Club Alaska Style! Theme Party

Optional Glacier Kayak Adventure to Valdez Lake

Final Banquet at the Valdez Brewing Company catered by Serendipity Supper Club

Mix and mingle all weekend with the Andrew Custis and Tim Bates from the Ranger Tug/Cutwater Factory and the local crew from Ron's Honda/Cutwater dealer.

Blindfold Dinghy Race

Beach Bonfire

Yacht Club Alaska Style! Theme Day, Friday, Jun 21

Yacht Club Day kicks off with the boat parade along the Valdez waterfront. Best decorated boat and costumed crew wins a prize. Following the boat parade our entourage will take to the streets of Valdez to sample the offerings at two local breweries. The evening will close witha gourmet dinner served oceanfront by the Serendipity Supper Club

Factory and Dealer Reps and Sponsorship

We are pleased to welcome back Andrew Custis and Tim Bates from the Ranger/Cutwater Factory. Additionally, we will have Travis Swanson from Ron's Honda in Palmer and Soldotna. Ron's Honda is the new Cutwater Dealer for Alaska. Both the Factory and Ron's Honda have made very generous donations to support this event! It would not be possible without their support.

Optional Galcier Kayak Tour with Anadyr Adventures

Explore the beautiful Valdez Glacier Lake by inflatable kayak. Marvel at icebergs and glacial formations as you glide along the lake’s surface. Take a break along the shore to enjoy the scenery, meander along a glacial stream or scramble to a viewpoint. During the Gold Rush of 1898, Valdez Glacier was used extensively as the All American Route to the gold fields of interior Alaska. Learn about the prospectors who weathered the hardships of early glacial travel as they searched for their fortune in the untamed wilderness.

The trip is 5-6 hours. The kayaking portion is about 2.5ish hours broken into 2-3 sessions with stops ashore for lunch or to stretch the legs. They use tandem sit-on-top inflatable kayaks that are extremely stable and very user friendly. An especially good option for families with children.

All equipment is provided including rubber boots, rain gear, neoprene mittens that attach to the paddles and dry bags for packing. We ask that you arrive prepared with food, water and warm layers.The cost is $143 per paddler. This is a 15% discount off the regular rate. This is an optional event and can only accomodate 25 Tugnuts. Add-on registration will be available when you register for the Rendezvous. First Come, First Served.

Registration Fees Reduced for 2024!

Thanks to sponsorships from the Ranger Tug Factory and Ron's Honda/Cutwater I was able to reduce the registration fee by $45 while retaining all our great events and upgrading the food. Registration includes all evening meals, facility rental fees, AV rental, event planning, prizes, and gratuities.

Adults/Kids - $90

Kids (5 and under) - free

Please note that registration does not include moorage in Valdez Harbor. We will reserve your space, but all moorage fees will need to be paid directly to the harbormaster on arrival.

Valdez Harbor

Valdez has a well managed and modern harbor with all of the amenities you'll need for an enjoyable weekend stay. The Harbormaster is holding space to keep our group together in the heart of the harbor. Moorage is $.77/ft per day. Shore power (30amp) is an additional $10/day. We will arrange a slip for you as part of registration, but moorage is not included in the registration fee. All fees for moorage will be paid directly to the harbormaster.

Getting to Valdez

From Southcentral Alaska and the Kenai Peninsula the recommended launch point is Whittier Harbor. It is approximately 80nm to Valdez from Whittier in the protected waters of Prince William Sound. It takes around 5 hours to make the trip in my R29. Outboard boats will be considerably faster. There are several good anchorages along the way if you want to break the trip up over two or more days. It’s also worth your time to make a side trip to some of the tidewater glaciers on your way to Valdez. I know several Tugnuts that are planning to be on the Sound all week and I will help coordinate a flotilla as we get closer to the date. Please reach out to me directly if you have questions or concerns about the transit to Valdez.

It is possible to drive to Valdez via the Richardson Highway over Thompson Pass. It’s 300 miles from Anchorage and 520 mile from Homer.

About Valdez

Located near the head of a deep fjord in Prince William Sound, Valdez is a mix of tidewater glaciers, rainforests, and majestic mountains, wildlife on both land and sea and so much more. Valdez offers unparalleled natural scenery that is matched only by the abundant activities offered throughout the year.

Alaska Tugnuts Rendezvous 2024

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