SailTime and Hunter Marine
Companies used the hectic fall boat-show season to spread the word about new boats, bases, and sailing opportunities.
MarineMax Vacations: Sailors longing for a holiday in the British Virgin Islands have a new premium-service chartering and yacht-ownership option this winter with the launch in December 2011 of MarineMax Vacations. At a press conference during the fall U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland, MarineMax Vacations vice president Raul Bermudez talked about the company’s Tortola operations, where it has 13 new sailboats from Dufour Yachts.
The boats are configured to meet MarineMax charter needs, which include watermakers, WiFi, air-conditioning, and entertainment centers. Dubbed the MarineMax 413 and MarineMax 433, the charter boats will be based, respectively, on the three-cabin/two-head Dufour 405 and the three-cabin/three-head Dufour 425 Grand’ Large.
MarineMax is a company that’s well known to powerboaters, with 57 dealerships across the country offering such brands as Sea Ray, Azimut, and Hatteras.
C.E.O. William McGill Jr. says the company plans to attract vacationers from its own database of 1 million boaters as well as current sail charterers.
Over time, the company plans to add powerboats and catamarans to its fleet in the B.V.I. and to bases as they’re built around the world.
MarineMax offers buyers financing through its in-house lending department, according to McGill. The base in Tortola will also provide professional captains to educate customers and show them how to enjoy their sailboats.
Premium-level service includes such amenities as travel accommodations, charter and boat briefings, provisioning, and tour scheduling. For details, contact the company.
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SailTime and Hunter Marine:** The two companies, partners in a fractional boat-ownership program, unveiled the SailTime 39LE limited edition at the Annapolis show.
The boat, which is built by Hunter Marine, features a dark-blue hull, gold accent striping, Sunbrella bimini and dodger canvas, a bow thruster, a generator, and a new electronics suite, among other appointments.
SailTime also used the announcement to mark its 10th year of offering fractional ownership and usage programs. For details about the boat or the program, contact SailTime and Hunter Marine.
Sunsail: A combination of new boats and programs dominates Sunsail’s expansion in 2012. The company announced its changes, which bring 115 new yachts to bases worldwide, at the Annapolis boat show.
In addition to unveiling the Sunsail 38, the Sunsail 41, and the Sunsail 53 monohulls built by Jeanneau, the company announced corporate and match-racing programs and rallies as well as the new Sunsail 444 catamaran, designed by Morrelli & Melvin and built by Robertson and Caine.
