The rugged and beautiful coastline of Washington State near the USA and Canadian border is a long way from Australia, but over the five days in September, 2014 a group of dedicated boaties aboard their Maritimo cruisers have enjoyed some real Aussie hospitality courtesy of leading US boat brokerage firm Hampton Yacht Group (H.Y.G.)
Maritimo Australia’s Sales and Marketing Manager Greg Haines had been in Roche Harbour for the previous week helping organise the ‘Maritimo Muster’ with H.Y.G’s Bill King and said it had been a resounding success.
“We had a total of fourteen boats attend with a group of forty plus owners and their guests enjoying each other’s company and learning more about their Maritimo vessels. As one of them said to me, ‘on a scale of one to ten, the Maritimo Muster has been a fifteen’,” said Mr Haines.
“The boats were based at Roche Harbour and then we cruised on from there. ”
“In addition to the social side of things,we’ve had workshops on Seakeeper Gyro stabilization, Garmin navigation aids, Water makers, onboard cooking classes and even a session with the United States Coast Guard on customs clearance for owners who wish to cross the border into Canadian waters.”
Mr Haines said the experience was both educational and enjoyable with all owners reporting that they knew more about their vessels and had improved their confidence as skippers as a result of their participation.
Maritimo Australia’s legendary skipper Ross Willaton also took part in the Muster giving USA skippers plenty of operational advice and tips.
Mr Haines said Maritimo’s were enjoying growing popularity in this part of the USA where the colder climate made the Maritimo enclosed flybridge a huge bonus for boaties. “In many cases with other marques, boating is restricted to the summer months, but with our enclosed flybridge our owners can go boating all year round.”
“The crew at Hampton Yacht Group did a fantastic job and from the feedback we received from the owners who took part , this is something that we’ll continue to do again and again in this beautiful part of the world.”
“They may be a long way from Australia, but now, through their Maritimo’s, they have an affinity with our country and certainly enjoyed some good old fashioned Aussie hospitality compliments of the H.Y.G team.”
The Roche Harbor ‘Maritimo Muster’ was part of a three week Maritimo promotional exercise by the company that also took in events and meetings in Dubai and the Cannes International Boat Show.
