Northerly adventure
The 2022 Maritimo Migration in the Whitsundays was an odyssey of a lifetime for owners and friends of the brand.
17 August 2022
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Leading Australian luxury motor yacht manufacturer, Maritimo recently played host to more than 100 VIP owners and suppliers for a week of activities on Hamilton Island.
Nestled in the heart of the world-renowned Whitsunday Island archipelago off Queensland’s coast inside the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, the island served as a base for the flotilla of Maritimo vessels arriving after their passage up from the Gold Coast.
The Maritimo Migration encompassed an adventure-filled 500-plus nautical-mile trip up the Queensland coast, with multiple stops along the way, then an action-packed program once participants arrived.
Maritimo Managing Director, Tom Barry Cotter, said the Maritimo Migration encompassed everything that Maritimo stood for.
“We are renowned worldwide for our vessels’ serious, blue water passage making capabilities, and we also enjoy the support and camaraderie of the members of the Maritimo family, who are a group of like-minded people with a deep passion for boating, the ocean, and a sense of fun,” he said.
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“The program we put together truly has something for everyone. Whether they be travelling up as part of the flotilla on their own boat, or they are flying in to be part of the exciting program we have put together.”
The Maritimo vessels taking part in the Migration left the Gold Coast on 16 July and arrived at Hamilton Island seven days later.
Two company owned vessels, crewed by experienced and professional skippers, led the private vessels on the trip north.
Boats making the trip north stopped at Mooloolaba, Kingfisher Bay Resort on Fraser Island, Bundaberg, Lady Musgrave, Great Keppel Island, Yeppoon, Middle Percy with its famous yacht club and book exchange, Shaw Island, and finally Hamilton Island.
The events on the island kicked off with a welcome dinner on 24 July and finished up with a farewell dinner on 29 July.
During the week-long program, participants were able to cruise among some of the 74 islands that comprise the Whitsundays aboard Maritimo’s Rolex Sydney to Hobart racing yacht, Maritimo 11.
They also partook in hot laps aboard Maritimo Racing’s V8-powered offshore Superboat, enjoyed a sunset picnic atop One Tree Hill, participated in a raft up at Whitehaven Beach, played golf at the iconic Dent Island Golf Course, as well as taking art painting sessions while sipping fine wines and receiving step by step guidance from trainer instructors.
Additionally, there was time spent enjoying all of Hamilton Island’s facilities and restaurants. They also enjoyed a boat show and conference, with some of Maritimo’s newest and most popular vessels on display.
The race boat hot laps raised funds for the Perry Cross Foundation, of which Maritimo is a long-term supporter. All guests who took part donated to the foundation, which is dedicated to spinal injury research.
“The main thing about the Maritimo Migration is that it was a lot of fun in one of the most beautiful places on earth,” said Barry-Cotter.
“The event had been more than a year in the planning, and the people who booked to be part were over the moon with the whole experience.”
The three Maritimo models released to the world market at the recent Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) also took part in the Migration.
These are the M600 Offshore Motor Yacht, S600 Offshore Sedan Yacht and the M60 Flybridge Motor Yacht, with its expansive upper cockpit and adventure deck.
Maritimo has enjoyed instant success with each of these new models, with sales recorded around the globe.
When combined, they form one of the most successful new model releases in the company’s history. “The response to these three vessels has not just met our expectations, but exceeded them significantly,” said Barry-Cotter.
The global launches were part of six-vessel display at SCIBS and formed one of the most exciting line-ups in recent memory for the Australian manufacturer.
Barry-Cotter said, “SCIBS attracted attendees from Europe, Asia and the Americas who were welcomed back for the first time since the 2019 global pandemic and travel restrictions.
“We are thrilled with the response to our new models, and our overseas sales and service network representatives, who were here for the event, are extremely confident that the sales momentum so far will be continued as news of these new vessels spreads.
“It is just fantastic that all three of these vessels took part in the Maritimo Migration.”
Looking forward, Barry-Cotter then added, “Being able to cruise further and more confidently is the very essence of what Maritimo is about, and the Maritimo Migration clearly illustrates that.
“We are planning a similar event in Newport, Rhode Island USA in September this year and have an exchange program in place where our USA owners can come to Australia to take part in events like this, and likewise our Australian owners can travel to places like the USA to take part in events there.
“Maritimo is always looking to expand and improve on its product offering and the ownership experience.
“The company is in its strongest position throughout its history, with orders on some of the new models now stretching into 2025, the company’s workforce being expanded, and its dealer partner network internationally being strengthened to bolster future demand in varied overseas markets.”
Barry-Cotter concluded by commenting, “We have further exciting company announcements to deliver throughout the rest of 2022.”
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