Classic Corner: 2020 Off to Uncharted Waters
Published: Monday, May 4, 2020
By: Captain Dennis Mykols
As I write this issue’s article, I am in lockdown like most, and ponder as to how long and what is to be expected afterwards with classic boat shows and other events we enjoy.
I wintered in Florida this year, and planned three weeks near Mt. Dora to attend two classic events. The first was the Vintage Raceboat Club Regatta, and then the big Sunnyland Classic Boat Show that “kicks off” the classic boat show season. Both of these events are held on Lake Dora, in the town of Tavares, Florida.
I was able to attend the Vintage Raceboat Club event, which has been on my bucket list for years ever since I owned my Hacker-Craft Racer, but that weekend, the weekend of March 14, word started to spread as to whether or not the following weekend’s event would be held. Spoiler: it was cancelled.
Ronnie and I packed up our travel trailer and headed north just in time. We started to see the effects of the businesses closing. If we had stayed another week, it would have been VERY interesting travels...
When we got home, I found out that our June Spring Lake Classic Boat Show had also been canceled BUT for a totally different reason: high water levels. Once again, Lake Michigan has flooded our show site. With the winter being so mild and the lake levels not falling like they do in the fall and winter, I am afraid we will likely experience higher water levels this summer than last.
Many June and early-July classic show dates are now iffy. Since organizers should be in the meeting/planning stages now, they can not meet, due to social distancing. I strongly suggest you call or email ahead to ensure an event is still a go before making travel arrangements. See our calendar of regional Antique & Classic Boat Shows for contact information.
There is ALL kinds of uncertainty right now, but as they say “the show must go on.” I know that all of the show organizers listed on our calendar will do the best they can to make them a go.
On another note, in early March we lost a major figure in our hobby of classic boating with the passing of Charles Mistele, the owner of Miss America IX. Charles was a member of the Hagerty Hall Of Fame and could be seen giving rides to fans in Miss America IX at many classic boating events. I got to sit next to Charles at a dinner during the Chatuge Lake event a couple of years back, and he was very approachable. His knowledge of the history of 
Garwood’s racing career, and all the Miss America’s, made for enjoyable dinner conversation—one of many fond memories I have of him.
So, as you are reading this article in early May or so, who knows what type of social events we will be able to attend. I hope there will be many, but like I said, we are certainly headed for uncharted waters in 2020.
This article first appeared in the Launch Issue (May/Jun) 2020 of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine.
tags: Antique & Classic Boats, Boat Show, COVID-19
