Sitting on a plane bound for the Princess Owner’s Holiday in Harbour Island provided the perfect time without interruption to begin drafting this year’s From the Helm! While sitting in seat 17C from RDU to MIA, I humbly looked back over the last couple of years and tried to fully grasp the amount of change and growth our organization has endured, embraced, accepted, and sometimes anxiously worked through. As a company, Bluewater Yacht Sales flew to extreme heights thanks to the explosion of interest in boating during Covid. Our team of sales professionals and administrators worked through challenges no one would have ever fathomed. Just as we exited that craziness, we went through the acquisition of the company by Safe Harbor Marinas. While Safe Harbor works tirelessly to minimize changes, during any acquisition there are changes you simply cannot avoid. Our tight-knit team of professionals may have initially viewed this transition with crossed arms, anxiety, and possibly a bit of fear… but I am proud to say those emotions have slid to the other end of the spectrum to include open arms, excitement and anticipation of untold growth. While change is a certainty, it does not always occur without hiccups. Sitting here today, I am completely humbled and honored to be among the finest in the marine industry. Our team has proven themselves resilient and unified, and remain leaders in yacht sales and service. The changes we have enjoyed are transforming yachting and yacht ownership in ways that would have seemed like science fiction several years ago. Just recently we sea-trialed our first Regulator 30XO with “glass dash” technology, including cutting edge features found on a Tesla Model S. For those of us over 50, we found ourselves staring at the console stunned with the advancements in this 30’ boat. During the Viking VIP event, we witnessed Valhalla’s new V-55 with quad Mercury V12 600hp engines. You have to stop and think about what you’re seeing…a 55’ center console with the same systems of the Viking sportfish! Our partners at Viking, Valhalla, Regulator, Everglades, Princess, Jarrett Bay, Sabre, and Back Cove continue to fulfill dreams of owners with engineering feats and advancements. It is truly amazing to be a part of these innovations. If you really want to be blown away, climb aboard the new Viking 90 or the Princess X80. These are works of art that provide amenities for worldly adventures no other plane, train or RV could provide. Just hang on, we are growing and changing with the industry’s advancements to make your waterborne experiences lifetime memories. Yacht sales and the recreational industry is truly a people business, and as we change and grow, we continue to invest in our people. We continue to support our sales team with personal growth opportunities and the means to help them grow their own business; all while supporting your buying and selling needs. As marketing needs change at the speed of light, we have engaged new people and technologies to stay a lap in front of our competitors. Simultaneously supporting our senior brokers and admin, we have also invested in the future with tomorrow’s generation of marketers and salespeople. This younger generation is a real treat to work alongside. Their energy, speed, ideas and adoption of technology keeps the rest of us in shape—working and learning new skills in this changing world. The future is bright and we are excited about the next 50+ years of Bluewater Yacht Sales. Our integration into Safe Harbor Marinas will provide us an extremely large footprint that will expand far beyond the Mid-Atlantic. Being a part of the world’s largest marina owner and operator, we will be able to support each of our owners, regardless of the season and latitude of their travels. As owners migrate with the seasons, we will be there by your side to ensure the most positive yachting experiences available! GROWTH & CHANGE Wyatt Lane General Manager 2 BLUEWATER
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