Lake Champlain lies between the Adirondack Mountains of New York and the Green Mountains of Vermont, flowing from Whitehall, New York, for 125 miles to the Richelieu River in Canada. This lake, this area, is known as the Great Warpath. Over 200 years forts and fleets were built and lost, and what happened on this lake determined the history of our nation. Now, it is an exhilarating and stunning lake for boating! Magnificent views of mountain ranges to the east and west, and water as far as the eye can see. Islands in the distance tend to float on air. We can’t wait to welcome you to Lake Champlain and Burlington, Vermont, for ACBS’s 45th Annual Meeting & 20th International Boat Show!

REGISTRATION is now open. Click on this link https://myacbs.org/Meeting/Register/62 to register online. Paper copies of the registration packet have been mailed in the Spring Issue of ACBS Rudder, look for it to arrive in your mailbox the first two weeks of May.

Registration is first come first served. Some events have space or participant limitations, so it is recommended to register early online or by mail. The registration deadline for judged boats is August 19, 2022 (No Exceptions).

All boat owners must provide evidence of in-force liability insurance, as it is required by both marinas for overnight docking. Your registration will not be complete until we receive by email a copy of your insurance. 

Please email a photo of your boat for the boat show program book and evidence of in-force liability insurance to [email protected] to complete your registration.

September 3rd – 7th: Lake Champlain Chapter hosted Canal Cruises from New York & Quebec to Vermont

September 5th – 7th: Lake Champlain Chapter hosted Events out of Burlington, Vermont

September 8th – 10th: ACBS’s 45th Annual Meeting & 20th International Boat Show

Click hear to learn more about our beautiful host city of Burlington, Vermont on Lake Champlain! 

Monday, September 5th:

Shelburne Museum Tour

Lake Champlain ACBS invites you to a wonderful day at the Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, VT.  Founded in 1947, the Shelburne Museum is the largest art and history museum in northern New England and Vermont’s foremost public resource for visual art and material culture. Tickets include a pass for the day at the Museum and a guided tour of the steamship Ticonderoga, built in Shelburne in 1906.  There will also be a special presentation for ACBS participants by Chip Stulen, the Museum’s director of preservation and landscape, about the on-going preservation of this beautiful classic boat. 

Evening Chapter Reception

We’ve chosen the Spot on the Dock for our Chapter Welcome Reception. Besides the breathtaking views, this waterfront favorite was once the old ferry dock snack bar.  Now it has the feel of the old snack bar and a sumptuous lounge put together. Join us for our “Meet and Greet” celebration at this unique “Spot on the Dock.” We will accept registrations in the order of receipt up to 70 people in each of two sittings, one starting at 5:00 P.M. the next at 7:00 P.M.

Tuesday, September 6th:

Tour and Lunch in Essex, NY

Nestled in the hills on the western shore of Lake Champlain, Essex, New York has been listed in its entirety on the National Register of Historic Places. A prosperous 19th century lake port, the hamlet became frozen in time, bypassed late in the century when the new railroad up the valley was built two miles inland and lake ports declined.  It is filled with Greek Revival and Federal architecture, which the town has gone to great lengths to preserve.  Cruise 12 miles to the lakeside Old Dock Restaurant, or take the Lake Champlain ferry, a 20 minute scenic trip from Charlotte, VT.  After a buffet lunch, you can enjoy a walking tour through the historic village, hike to an old quarry or simply enjoy the shops.  Docking can accommodate 25 boats and is included with lunch.

Wednesday, September 7th: 

Lake Champlain Maritime Museum Tour and Lunch at Basin Harbor, VT

The Basin Harbor Resort is located in one of the most picturesque sections of the lake.  Cruise 18 miles south and dock at the resort’s marina, limited to 40 boats, also included. If you choose to drive, you’ll see some of the most verdant agricultural landscapes in the Champlain Valley. Walk, (or shuttle) to the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum next door.  Here the rich maritime history of the region is unveiled.  Watch the first exploratory dives on shipwrecks, including the Spitfire, one of the gunboats that defended our fledgling nation under Benedict Arnold in the fall of 1776.  Still in pristine condition 2 centuries later, there are plans to raise and preserve her. Visit the conservation lab, and see amazing artifacts from the lake bottom.  All proceeds to be donated to the museum. After the LCMM tour, an extensive buffet lunch will be waiting for you at the Basin Harbor Resort followed by a presentation by Art Cohn, director emeritus of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. 

Welcome Reception at ECHO Burlington, VT

ACBS International will kick off the Annual Meeting and International Boat Show with a welcome reception Wednesday evening from 6:00-8:00PM at the ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Vermont’s science and nature museum on the Burlington waterfront. Catered by Sugarsnap, a local farm to table company that grows much of its own produce on their 3-acre farm, means the hearty appetizers will certainly be Vermont fresh!

Thursday, September 8th:

ACBS 45th Annual Meeting and Chapter Round Table

Join ACBS International at the Burlington Hilton in the morning for the Chapter Round Table followed by the ACBS Annual Meeting. Breakfast and Lunch options are available. This will also be launch day for the show, with boats getting into show positions at the slips located in both the Burlington Harbor Marina and the Burlington Community Boathouse Marina. Boat Show Judging will begin at 2:00PM (and conclude by 5:00PM on Friday.) Folks can also tour the wonderful City of Burlington, explore the mountains, or go out for their own cruise on Lake Champlain throughout the day.

One-Design Sailing Regatta hosted by the Lake Champlain Yacht Club

As a special feature this year, there will be a One-design Sailboat exhibit. Two boats per class will be represented, one historic or antique and one modern, to illustrate their development. These boats have been campaigned by Olympic sailors, others by the boat designers and builders themselves. The boats will compete in the first “Lake Champlain One-Design Regatta” and then go on display in the Waterfront Park for the show.

Dinner Cruise hosted by LCACBS

Join us aboard Spirit of Ethan Allen, a modern, triple deck, luxury tour boat. Experience views of the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks from the middle of the broad lake. There is no better spot to see the sunset over the Western shore, with your fellow ACBS members, on this elegant floating restaurant.

Friday, September 9th to Saturday, September 10th: 

20th International Boat Show

On Friday and Saturday Burlington’s waterfront will come alive with the International Boat Show with boats on display at our host marina, Burlington Harbor Marina,  and the Community Boathouse Marina. Boat Show Judging will conclude by 5:00PM. Connecting the two marinas is the beautiful Waterfront Park which will be filled with tents and displays. This “Field of Dreams” will host marquis boats, demonstrations, boat building displays, craft vendors, food trucks and more.

 

Friday, September 9th:

Annual Scholarship Auction & Dinner

Join us for the Annual Scholarship Auction and Dinner from 6:00-9:00PM at the Burlington Hilton. This event raises monies for the ACBS Scholarship Endowment Fund, from which ACBS awards annual scholarships to students at the most highly regarded boatbuilding schools across the country. Helping preserve vintage boats by teaching the next generation.
*Silent Auction will run Wed. through Sat. night. Bid Often – Have More Fun!!! Live auction during the Friday evening event.

 

Saturday, September 10th:

“Class Awards” Breakfast

Enjoy a light continental breakfast during the presentation of the Platinum, Gold and Silver Award winners. Held at the Burlington Hilton from 9:00-10:00AM.

Annual Awards Banquet

The Awards Banquet will be held from 6:00-9:00PM in the Adirondack Ballroom at the Burlington Hilton. Come see who wins top honors at the Boat Show, as well as which deserving fellow boater or chapter is recognized by winning one of ACBS’s Annual Awards and Perpetual Trophies.

 

Sunday, September 11th:

Boats Pullout from Marinas before 11:00AM

September 3rd-7th:
 

In addition to the locally held pre-events, the Lake Champlain Chapter is pleased to sponsor two pre-event cruises on the historic northern and southern sectors of the Great Warpath; from Montreal, QC, Canada via the Chambly Canal, and Albany, NY, via the Champlain Canal to Burlington, VT.

 

SOUTHERN RIVER CRUISE – Albany, NY to Burlington, VT

The Southern River Cruise will be four days of cruising along the Hudson River and through the canals on the way north to Lake Champlain and Burlington, VT. The Cruise will begin with launching at the Albany Yacht Club, Rensselaer, NY, and after spending the first two nights in Albany, the third night will be 40 miles north in Saratoga Springs, NY. The next day of cruising will take you through the Champlain Canal to Whitehall, NY, and the final day of cruising will be the 70 miles north to Burlington, VT. Those getting an early start on the final day can also participate in the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum Tour and Lunch at Basin Harbor (make sure you also register for this tour on the registration form.) Estimated Cost $1,172.00 per person based on 20 Boats / 80 people. Estimated Costs include hotel, meals, and all transportation costs; tow vehicle shuttle, to and from hotels to docks, and luggage between hotels. Transport will “shadow” the cruise.

 

NORTHERN RIVER CRUISE – Montréal, QC, Canada to Burlington, VT

The Northern River Cruise will be four days of cruising along the St. Lawrence River and through the canals on the way south to Lake Champlain and Burlington, VT. The Cruise will begin at Port de Plaisance La Ronde, on Île Sainte Hélène outside Montréal, where we will launch our boats and dock for the night. The first day will depart Montréal heading down river 38 miles to Sorel-Tracy. The next day will cruise the Richelieu River and head upstream through the Saint Ours Lock, stopping in Beloeil. On day 3 we will pass through the historic 10-mile-long Chambly Canal with hand operated locks and cruise to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. On the final day we head towards Burlington, 22 miles up the Richelieu River through US Customs to Rouses Point. Weather permitting, we will cross Lake Champlain for the final 43 miles. Estimated cost CAD $1,100 / $850.00 per person based on 20 Boats / 80 People. Estimated costs include hotel at double occupancy, meals, and all transportation costs.

 

*Per Boat Registration Fee of $300.00 for both cruises will be applied towards common trip fees. All costs associated with the cruises will be borne by the participants. Participants are responsible for making their own hotel arrangements. Both cruises are limited to 20 boats.

The host hotel for the Annual Meeting and International Boat Show is the Burlington Hilton on Battery Street, but there are many hotels and lodging options in the Burlington area.

 

Hilton Burlington at 60 Battery St, Burlington, VT 05401 phone 802-658-6500 (The Hilton Burlington will take bookings starting in 01/2022.  ACBS has a limited block of rooms for $239 standard king or queen bed rooms for the show nights 09/07/22-09/10/22, other rates and days will be based on availability.)

Courtyard Burlington at 25 Cherry St, Burlington, VT 05401 phone 802-864-4700 (The Courtyard Burlington will take bookings as of 01/01/2022. ACBS has a limited block of rooms for $269 standard king or two queen beds, limited availability.)

Hotel Vermont at 41 Cherry St, Burlington, VT 05401 phone 802-651-0080 (The Hotel Vermont will take bookings as of 01/01/2022. ACBS has a limited block of rooms for $309 standard king or two queen beds, limited availability.)

 

Other Hotels in the Area:

Hilton Garden Inn Burlington Downtown at 101 Main Street Burlington, VT 05401 phone 802-951-0099
DoubleTree by Hilton Burlington Vermont at 870 Williston Road, South Burlington, VT 05403 phone 802-865-6600

For a complete list of lodging options please visit Hello Burlington at www.helloburlingtonvt.com.

Pre-event dockage in Burlington, VT, will be provided at the Burlington Harbor Marina for Sunday through Wednesday nights at a cost of $2.25/ft per night. Please be sure to select pre-event dockage on the registration form. Dockage from Thursday-Sunday morning is included with the Boat Show boat registration. Copies of your insurance will be needed and provided to the marina.