Jeanneau 64

Annapolis Sailboat Show - Still Growing, Still Very Much a Family Affair

14516600_1186646798045982_7186324657894018895_n.jpg

In September of 2013 I published a blog titled, Annapolis Sailboat Show, A Growing Family AffairIt started like this: "As my children have gotten older, they have come to realize that October is a fun and exciting time of the year. Not because of Halloween which is what all kids look forward to in October but because of the Annapolis Sailboat Show. For those of us who make their living in the boating business, the Annapolis Sailboat Show is a big deal. Not only is it the largest all-sail show in North America but it’s also the only show where all the new models from the various manufacturers are introduced for the first time."

annapolis-boat-show-2011-059

Fast forward to October 2016 and for the most part, not a lot has changed over the past 4 years. Well, that's not entirely true. The Jeanneau team is bigger now since Jeanneau has gown significantly since 2012. I am no longer President having passed that honor onto my friend Nick Harvey a couple of years ago. But for the most part, the important elements of what makes the Annapolis show truly great remain the same.

Annapolis is still the largest all-sail show in North America, attracting sailors from all 50 states and every province in Canada. It's still the  only show where you're guaranteed to find all the manufactures with all their new models for the coming year on display in one place. And for me, it's still very much a growing family affair. And not just my immediate family, but the larger family of Jeanneau owners as well.

14494839_1671531536497194_5111145755756876533_n

This year the show kicked off under brilliant blue skies on October 6th. We displayed an impressive lineup of 10 boats from 34-58 feet. More than 50,000 people attended the show and more than 200 Jeanneau owners attended the annual Jeanneau party making this year's Annapolis Sailboat Show one of our best ever.

14641929_1188466797863982_5595980673289334879_n

In 2012 I wrapped up the Annapolis show blog this way:

"Not everyone has the luxury of enjoying what they do to make a living but thankfully I do and as an added bonus, I get to bring my family and friends along for the ride."

Since these words still ring true for me and still seem a fitting conclusion to my tale here, I am going to be rather unimaginative and end the same way. With the exception of adding, I look forward to seeing you at next year's Annapolis show. Let the fun continue!

[wpvideo A0Uf0zEG]

Let's Rendezvous!

rendezvous2016-71.jpg

Rendezvous2016-15 Last month I had the pleasure of attending the 2016 Jeanneau Owner's Rendezvous in the British Virgin Islands. This is the third time Jeanneau America has hosted the event since it was first started in 2012. And while no two rendezvous' have been exactly the same, they have all shared the same basic DNA: sailing, adventure, fun, laughter, good times, great memories, and new friends. And of course the love of  Jeanneau.

This particular rendezvous was especially good on several levels. For starters, among the 20 or so boats we had participating, was the brand new Jeanneau 64, Serenity. Having the flagship of the Jeanneau range on hand for the week, fully crewed by the way, truly added an exciting dimension to the overall event. We were also fortunate to have sailing legend, Gary Jobson as our guest speaker at the Bitter End Yacht Club compliments of our friends at Cruising World Magazine. Gary gave an outstanding presentation on a variety of subjects from the America's Cup Race to the infamous 1979 Fastnet Race to stories of the cruising lifestyle.

Rendezvous2016-27

There's no doubt that sailing for a week in the British Virgin Islands is tough to beat. And as good as the entire BVI rendezvous was this year and will be again the next time, there are several other local rendezvous' that are just as good and probably easier to get to as well.

To begin with, there is the Can/Am Rendezvous that takes place over the same weekend as Summer Sailstice, June 17-18. This rendezvous located in Anacortes, WA, is hosted by Marine Servicenter and will be celebrating its 15th year this year. Also celebrating its 15th year and also taking place from June 17-18 is the Western Canadian Rendezvous hosted by Fraser Yacht Sales and being held at the Poets Cove Resort in the Canadian Gulf Islands. This has always been a Jeanneau favorite and I have no doubt that 2016 will be another great year for this popular event. The Chesapeake Bay Rendezvous sponsored by the Jeanneau Sailboat Owners and Atlantic Cruising Yachts  also takes place June 17-18 in celebration of the summer solstice which occurs on Monday, June 20th.

36i CanAm

Larsen Marine of Waukegan, IL will hold their rendezvous in July this year from the 15th to 17th in Milwaukee while the Jeanneau Rendezvous to Catalina Island hosted by Cruising Yachts will take place from July 27-30. Lastly, Navy Point Marine will offer some real excitement this August in the form of a cruising rally that begins in Toronto and ends at the other end of Lake Ontario at their marina in Sackets Harbor, NY. This sounds like a real adventure and one I know I don't want to miss.

DSC_1430-2

At Jeanneau, we have always been proud of the boats we build.  And why not, they're great! But as good a we know our boats are, without the people who own, sail and enjoy them, they're just a boat.  A Jeanneau rendezvous, whether in the BVI, Pacific North West or Chesapeake Bay, bring Jeanneau owners together to share stories, make new friends and have fun. And that's really what owning a Jeanneau is all about, having awesome times in awesome places with awesome people.  So let's rendezvous Jeanneau fans and let the good times roll!

Sail on...

DSC00872

P.S. Want information on how to sign up for a rendezvous? Contact Kirsten Neumann at kneumann@jeanneau.com