TODAY'S the day - the start of the 2014 Shag Islet Crusing Yacht Club (SICYC) annual rendezvous. One of the Whitsundays' biggest events - on and off the water, this year's event is set to host more than 200 boats and 1000 people.

SICYC is a rapidly growing social network of cruising yachties and individuals who have a passion for the sea.

Their current membership is more than 3200 with members in every state of Australia and 14 countries across the world.

Each year a Rendezvous is held in Gloucester passage at Shag Islet, with this year's event to run from today until Sunday.

Festivities start at 2pm with a 'meet and greet' at Montes Reef Resort in Hydeaway Bay, where new members are encouraged to join.

SICYC founder and rendezvous organiser Ken Thackeray said that besides the dynamic social aspect, the concept was to create a network of cruising yachties who are all vice-commodores.

He said he was expecting a record number of vessels, of which a great percentage would be newcomers.

"They'll be hooked, they'll have the time of their lives. They'll meet great new people and will be back next year I can assure you," he said.

Thursday night's activites will carry on into the night with the trivia dinghy challenge, ghost crab races, mud crab auction and live music.

On Friday everybody assembles on Shag Islet in club polo shirts to party where there will be entertainment, a shanty group and the odd busker.

Attendees can expect a champagne breakfast and the much anticipated Carribean themed Shag Islet Party at 1pm at Cape Gloucester Resort.

The inauguaral 'hands across the blue' event will take place from 11.15-11.45am on Saturday off Montes Reef Resort, where particpating boats will gather on the Whitsunday water in the shape of a blue ribbon to represent the logo of the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

The party continues on Sunday at Dingo Beach Hotel where guests are invited to don their best pirate costume.

Entry is $20 per person for the rendezvous and visit http://www.sicyc.org to register.

BUS TIMETABLE

Departing Saturday at 1.30pm via Jubilee Pocket, Airlie Beach, Abell Point Marina, Whitsunday Shopping Centre, Dingo Beach Hotel and Hydeaway Bay. Return trip is at 9.15pm

Departing Sunday at 9.30am via Jubilee Pocket, Airlie Beach, Abell Point Marina, Whitsunday Shopping Centre, Dingo Beach Hotel and Hydeaway Bay. Return trip is at 4.30pm

RENDEZVOUS HIGHLIGHTS

Thursday, August 28: Meet and greet at Montes Reef Resort, featuring trivia dinghy challenge, ghost crab races, mud crab auction and entertainment by 'The Boat People' Norm and Norma

Friday, August 29: Champagne breakfast at the Cape Gloucester Resort, Shag Islet Party, Entertainment at Montes by the Barbary Coasters

Saturday, August 30: Hands across the blue, parrot head party at Montes with entertainment by Jimmy Buffet band 'Monsterrat'

Sunday, August 31: Pirates Fair at the Dingo Beach Hotel, spit roast lunch, entertainment by the Barbary Coasters