Marlow Marine Cruising Club’s 27th Annual Spring Rendezvous
The Ocean Reef Club, tucked away on the tip of North Key Largo, was in the perfect position to lure a few tourists cruising through the Florida Straits to the 27th Annual Marlow Marine Cruising Club’s (MMCC) Spring Rendezvous. These tourists were much different than your usual weekenders as it was a time for Marlow owners to stop along their journeys to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow Marlow Yachts adventurers.
Traveling by boat offers an entirely new perspective of life, especially when at sea away from land, but as much as the open sea pulls at the soul, the heart fills with smiles when reconnecting with old friends, meeting new ones, and sharing stories over three days of good ’ole cruising lifestyle fun.
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Once the lines were secure, crews stepped ashore to a warm welcome from the Marlow team and an evening enhanced with cocktails and dinner. Knowing there were two full days of no-stress activities mixed with periods of advice, solutions, and parties ahead, the MMCC spring rendezvous had begun.
The advice was to relax and enjoy the festivities, a fave being the cooking class, but through the wisdom of Blue Water Desalination, CMC Marine, RingPower, MPI, Dockmate, The Yacht Group, and Volvo Penta, owners had the chance to learn more about their onboard systems or discover they just might need one aboard their yacht.
When the Marlow team of Doug Cratch, Eric Gervais, Michael Cannova, Joe Hackelberg, and Bill Thomas (right to left above) were on the block for updates, they reassured owners and those with new builds in process that Marlow is right there with the latest technology. “We are very careful that we vet the products instead of being the first one [to install it],” says Michael Cannova, president, Marlow Yachts. “The conversation about what’s new and what we’re trying to incorporate is a long one, but it is always first and foremost. We want the best, but we want it to be reliable, and you’ll see some new things shortly.”
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The afternoons and evenings were filled with relaxation and party time, and with the “Tacky Tourist” theme for Friday’s costume party, the saying laughter is the best medicine was on point. So was the extravagant dinner buffet, and the dancing, and the libations, and the extended stay at the Burgee Bar. Yep, no stress here.
Saturday was for recognition as new yachts were christened and awards were presented. At the evening’s steak and lobster dinner, special prizes were in store, but there was no doubt that Mike and Leah Otis of the Marlow 65C Reverance were hailed as the best “Tacky Tourists” while Jim and Pam Porter of the 70E Tenacity were the “Life of the Party.”
It was a fantastic weekend, and from the design stage to the build to the launch and the continued support, Marlow’s compassion and dedication for the best culminates in a long, trusted relationship.
-By Steve Davis
