Horizon Yacht USA Hosts 2022 Owner Rendezvous
Nearly 100 guests, 15 sets of owners, and 10 Horizon yachts gathered in the Abacos, Bahamas, for a weekend celebration.
Getting back on “island time” was the theme of the 9th Horizon Yacht’s Owner Rendezvous, which kicked off with a bang this year in the Bahamas’ Abaco Islands from May 20-22.
A favorite cruising area for many Horizon yacht owners, the Abaco Islands were the obvious destination for the three-day event, which drew 10 Horizon yachts, 15 sets of Horizon yacht owners, and nearly 100 guests to the island. In 2019, the Abacos were devastated by the Category 5 Hurricane Dorian, after which the COVID-19 pandemic hindered the recovery and rebuilding process, so the timing was right for the Horizon family to show its support of the resilient locals and these beautiful cruising grounds.
Horizon yachts, from multiple build series and ranging in size from an E70 to an FD110, arrived at the Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour Marina where they greeted friends old and new. Among the many gestures of support from the Horizon Yacht USA team and owners, the yachts carried truckloads of pet food and supplies that were generously donated to the Abaco Shelter, the only pet shelter on the island. Many of the owners’ furry family members barked out their approval across the docks.
Opening Day
Mimosas and brunch at the resort’s Below Deck Terrace started off the first day with a huge welcome from Horizon Yacht USA Director Roger Sowerbutts. Guests were presented with gift bags filled to the brim with local goodies and items to use throughout the weekend’s festivities before heading to the docks for the christening ceremony of the brand-new E90, Lazy Daze. This was the first Horizon build for the experienced owners who were attracted to the model’s exterior styling and plentiful amenities.
Guests were then treated to an afternoon Beach Party with a Bahamian classic Goombay Smash and fresh conch salad, swimming, lounging, and beach games, including golf, while catching up and sharing their cruising stories.
The six-piece band “Suppa Time” set the festive tone for the cocktail hour and dinner at the Below Deck Terrace, where guests dined on baked lobster tail, fresh fish piccata, and New York Strip steak before hitting the dance floor. In what became an evening tradition, the first FD87, Skyline hosted an after-party with line dancing under the disco lights on the aft deck.
Day Two Adventures
Coffee on the ferry dock was a welcome brew before guests headed to the remote outpost of Elbow Cay to hop on golf carts and peruse the picturesque streets and pastel-colored homes of Hope Town. After exploring the restaurants, art galleries, and boutiques, everyone met at Tahiti Beach to partake in a refreshing afternoon cocktail and take in the view. This tropical paradise was the perfect setting to wade in the crystal-clear water and order a whimsical drink, like the Almond Joy Colada or the Green Banana, from the famous Thirsty Cuda floating cocktail bar.
Back at the resort, it was time for a relaxing evening at the Garden Pool with conch bites and a pasta station as well as a little friendly competition while racing remote-control Jet Skis in the pool. Horizon Yacht USA even invited all crew members to mingle on the dock at the Horizon tent with hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and plenty of comradery.
The Fun Continues
Day Three was a day for excursions, and guests set out early for the activity of their choosing. Some ventured to see the famous swimming pigs at No Name Cay and indulged in more fresh dockside conch salad while feeding the pigs. A few adorable piglets made for snuggly photo ops, and the lunch and band at Big O’s were a hit, especially with Aqua Life’s group who played musical chairs with the band. Many of the guests enjoyed an impromptu cruise aboard Skyline for lunch at the famous Nipper’s Beach Bar & Grill on Great Guana Cay, and a few others decided to join longtime Abaco resident and artist Anthony “Big Mo” Morely for an intimate sip and paint experience at the resort.
After a fun-filled day, guests returned to freshen up and gather for the Farewell Bahamian Bash on the beach; the group reminisced about the weekend and reveled in one last evening together. By the light of the fire pit, guests and crew danced to the “Suppa Time” band, and the evening commenced with an exciting Junkanoo performance.
It was a fitting end to a festive weekend celebration that saw so many Horizon yacht owners gather to support the Abaco Islands, share their build experiences and cruising stories, and make plans for future rendezvous together.
Horizon Yacht USA extends its sincere gratitude to all the owners and guests who made this year’s rendezvous such a memorable experience.
