The Bluewater Summer Cruise Returns to a Perennial Favorite Destination
Many years ago, Bluewater’s founders hit on a great formula to organize a casual cruise along the Chesapeake, explore different destinations, relax together, and connect with customers and colleagues.
Since its inception, the Bluewater Summer Cruise has been a can’t-miss event for many customers and friends, enjoying a variety of locations throughout Maryland and Virginia. But despite the Bluewater team’s best efforts to change things up over the years, the feedback is always loud and clear—the customers love St. Michaels—and the customers are always right! So, after a sojourn to Baltimore in summer of 2022, the cruise was committed back to St. Michaels for the following two years.
Photos courtesy of Emily Chastain
Nestled along the tranquil banks of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the historic town of St. Michaels beckons cruisers with its small-town charm and timeless appeal. From its rich nautical heritage to scenic vistas and quaint streets, this hidden gem offers a treasure trove of attractions just waiting to be explored.
At the heart of St. Michaels lies Navy Point, site of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, and a sprawling inventory of historic venues and exhibits. St. Michaels Marina is situated closeby, and has been the most frequent destination for the Bluewater Summer Cruise held each July.
As event organizers Kristen Turk and Kelsea Hall point out, “These annual events are planned entirely in-house, and are a testament to our teamwork and capabilities at Bluewater Yacht Sales.” The 2023 event sold out with approximately thirty boats filling St. Michaels Marina. With several groups traveling by land and staying in hotels, a total of over fifty customer families were in attendance. Special guests, such as Lynn Beaudoin from Sabre Yachts, also joined in on the festivities.
With above-and-beyond service from Anne Gatrell of St. Michaels Marina and George Wilson at Old Brick Inn, the team was able to deliver a top-notch event while also introducing a fun new itinerary. This included a colorful Seventies-themed party on Friday and a fresh new activity for Saturday afternoon: Turk and Hall designed a riff on a poker run (with a little bit of pub crawl thrown in) encouraging participants to explore several local shops and establishments on a stroll through the quaint downtown streets. This allowed visitors to get a taste of the town, and enjoy the other small boutiques, artisanal goods, and locally crafted treasures that St. Michaels offers in such abundance.
Back on the docks, the christenings of Bluewater customers’ new boats always prove to be a highlight of each Summer Cruise. While enjoying libations, the group roves from slip to slip, providing a special occasion to listen to each family’s specific story. This often includes the reasons behind why they chose the boat they did, the origin of its name, as well sharing more about their boating backgrounds and experiences with Bluewater.
July 12 – 14, 2024
St. Michaels Marina
- Nightly Docktail Parties
- Boat Christenings
- Dinner and Live Entertainment
- Local Exploration
- Games and Daily Events
- Boat Tours and Demos
