OnBoard Magazine - Issue XIII - 2021 Season

I n a year of social distancing, face coverings, and constantly changing restrictions, Bluewater Yacht Sales’ customers and staff were grateful for the opportunity to keep one thing relatively normal—the annual Summer Cruise. During the second week of July, a crowd of nearly two dozen boats made the trip up the Miles River to St. Michaels Marina for a long weekend of camaraderie at one of the most popular destinations on the Chesapeake Bay. There were certainly some challenges to pulling off a gathering during the pandemic, but the Bluewater events team made some creative changes to follow the government mandates and keep attendees safe. Due to limits on outdoor gatherings in the state of Maryland being capped at 100 people, the Summer Cruise sold out just weeks after opening registration, but that didn’t keep it from being an unforgettable experience for everyone involved. The Summer Cruise began on Thursday evening with a celebration on the docks featuring delicious coastal fare from nearby Foxy’s Harbor Grille and libations from Papa’s Pilar Rum. It was evident that everyone was eager to be together and grateful to enjoy the company and cocktail hour. “Not even Tropical Storm Fay’s heavy rains and wind could dampen our spirit or deter our group from kicking off a fun weekend,” reflected Bluewater's Event Coordinator Lauren Stevens. Over the course of the next three days, attendees experienced the charm of St. Michaels, taking the short walk from the marina to the downtown restaurants, shops, and museums, as well as by water during a lunch trip aboard the Patriot cruise line. Our entire group took a quick water-taxi to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, where we boarded a tour boat for a scenic cruise up the history-rich Miles River. After returning to the marina, there were scheduled demo rides aboard new models, including a Viking 46 Billfish, a Regulator 34 and the recently debuted Valhalla V-33. Customers and staff alike enjoyed putting these high-powered vessels to the test in the Northern Bay. Bluewater also had the rare opportunity to have a Princess V60 demo boat on display, which was certainly a bonus for our customers to have exclusive access to this new model. The highlight of every Summer Cruise is the christening ceremony, where proud owners are given the chance to showcase their new boats and tell how they picked their names. The 2021 Summer Cruise did not disappoint, and included christenings 2020 Bluewater Summer Cruise Revisits St. Michaels 4 BLUEWATER