What a
success! We’ve had a fantastic week exhibiting at the Annapolis
Boat Show. The Discovery 55 Saxon Blue had sailed via Iceland, Greenland and Newfoundland
to be there, and for us our goal for crossing the Atlantic this summer has been
the US
debut of the cat. We delivered our boat in gloom and rain, but as soon as we
got to Annapolis
summer returned, making it so much easier to clean the boats and set the stand.
The cavalry in the form of Mark, Nigel, Carol and Susie arrived the day before
the Show.
Even before
the Show started we were asked whether we would consider selling our boat. Having sold our
original Discovery 55 shortly after
we had built it there was a resounding NO! to that. But from the moment
the Show opened we were receiving accolades and immense interest in the
catamaran. In addition lots of people were coming back to look at the 55 for
the second or third time, so we were all working flat out. We also took
three interested parties on test sails. The catamaran has been nominated
both by Sail magazine in their
‘Best Boats 2011’ awards and in Cruising
World’s ‘Boat of the Year’ awards, so we had the
buzz of judges investigating every nook and cranny and then taking the boat out
for a spin. Billy Black showed his outstanding professionalism in the
care and precision he took to get the photographs he wanted, which included
shooting at dawn and dusk.
With the
others heading home, Mark Waterhouse, our Sales Director
stayed on for the test sails. It has been great to give him the chance to relax
and enjoy the boat… Plus the occasional bottle of wine and good cheese.
We are leaving Discovery Magic safely tucked up in a Chesapeake yard whilst we are at home in England for three weeks. So
we end the initial chapter of our journey and, having greatly enjoyed the
beginning of the story, are eagerly looking forward to the next episode.
No more blogs until 10th November.
