OnBoard Magazine - Issue XII - 2020 Season

" C ruising" on a boat is such a broad term. Running through your favorite local waterways, or around a bay; island hopping, heading south along the east coast for your winter destination or even running to the Bahamas from the Florida East Coast—most boat owners consider themselves cruisers, even if just on occasion. For Bill and Amy Denison, cruising is a true lifestyle and something they do nearly all year long. Their logbook is loaded with adventures all along the East Coast including The Great Loop, three of the five Great Lakes and traversing Ontario’s Trent- Severn Waterway. On average, their motors log over 300 hours each year with many nights spent at anchor. A LONG TIME COMING Making their long-term cruising aspirations a reality began with a trawler training series in Southwest Florida to learn navigation, electronics, docking and water skills. The training was very hands-on and included trips to Marco Island and Key West. Spending time on the Gulf Coast during this training made a permanent impression on the Denisons–adding it to their short list of cruising favorites. After ten years and over 3,000 hours on a Grand Banks 42, Bill and Amy were ready to upgrade. “We saw the Back Cove models in 2014 and really liked the Downeast style,” Bill recalls. “We especially liked the 41 for her open space, fuel capacity and speed.” Plus, there was no denying the impeccable Maine craftsmanship and well- thought layout and accommodations of a Back Cove. Bluewater Sales Professional Chris Hall Jr. helped the Denison couple take delivery of their Back Cove 41 in Fall of 2016. This boat benefits from 710 hp produced from a single Cummins QSM11 that provides an efficient and broad cruising range. The new MAR-KAT , named for their daughters Margaret and Kathleen, would soon take their cruising adventures to the next level. SEEKING ADVENTURE Bill and Amy took the time to learn their new boat cruising North Carolina’s Crystal Coast and up to the Chesapeake Bay. Then, in mid-June 2017, the Denison’s headed north toMaine’s rocky coastline where they spent a few weeks positioning themselves for the 100-mile crossing from Southwest Harbor to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. “We traveled the southern coast of Nova Scotia, visiting towns of Shelburne, Lunenburg and Halifax,” Bill explains. “Once east of Halifax we mostly anchored out each night until we arrived at the town of St. Peters and the Bras d'Or Lake where we spent a few weeks exploring Cape Bretton Island.” This summer adventure wrapped in September as the Denisons and MAR-KAT returned to Hertford, North Carolina. GETTING LOOPY In May of 2018, after a great deal of dreaming, planning, preparation and excitement, the Denisons pushed off the dock at Albemarle Plantation Marina, not to return for 11 months. Having already spent time in the Chesapeake in years prior, they exited the ICW in Norfolk and traveled oceanside to New York City, with only one stop at Cape May. Entering the Hudson River would begin the inland portion of their Great Loop adventure. BACK COVE & SABRE EMPOWER LIVE-ABOARD ADVENTURES IN QUALITY AND STYLE TRUE CRUISING 22 BLUEWATER