"Old Goats" Ray & Winnie Adams are at it again

Ray & Winnie Adams, owners of Epic, a Beneteau 42s7, earned first place in the Section 04 Mackinac Cup Division during the 2012 Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac with a corrected time of 39:25:44. Epic went on to finish second in the PHRF E Class of the 2012 Bayview Port Huron to Mackinac Race with a corrected time of 46:22:58. Ray and Winnie proudly shared with us that in 1998 Epic won both the Chicago Yacht Club and Bayview Yacht Club Mackinac races back to back!

Both Ray and Winnie are distinguished members of the Society of Mackinac Island Old Goats. Membership requires participation in 25 or more BYC Port Huron to Mackinac Races. On July 20, the couple and their crew will once again race Epic in the 2013 Bell's Beer Bayview Mackinac Race. Rest assured Ray & Winnie, we'll be intently watching the results postings.

To all members of our Beneteau family participating in the upcoming Mackinac races, we wish you fair winds and following seas!

The Barracuda vs. Mother Nature

In last month's issue, we told you about an adventure-hungry team of marine journalists, fishing experts, and Beneteau clients who took a Barracuda 7 and Barracuda 9 along the Brittany coast of northwestern France on a grueling eight-day, eight-stage fishing trip. But, what we didn't have last month was the video shot during the expedition. Check this out!

The Swift 50, built for a generation

"...this three-stateroom vessel is well-designed and has a price tag that allows grown men to dream again. She is a boat for the baby boomers and their children and grandchildren and she is easy to handle by a couple or even single-handed." -- BoatTest.com Captain's Report

Oceanis 41: The perfect cruiser for families

Read the captain's report on BoatTEST.com

Photo by Billy Black

Jonathan Green tackled the Atlantic -- single-handed

Jonathan Green sailing Jeroboam, his Oceanis 351, not only completed the OSTAR, the Original Single-handed Trans-Atlantic Race, but became the official 2013 IRC Winner Overall of this most prestigious race.

The race began on May 27, 2013 and Green completed the race on June 19, 2013. There are a variety of routes from Plymouth, England to Newport, RI ranging from 2,800 nautical miles to over 4,000 nautical miles, one of the factors which makes this east-to-west north Atlantic crossing so interesting.

According to Green's profile, Jeroboam's competitiveness in shorthanded racing is closely linked to the simplicity of her rigging and ease of handling by a crew of one.

Also from his race profile, Jonathan partnered with Sail for Kids and the non-profit Storm Trysail Foundation to use the experience as a teaching tool to get kids engaged in the classroom. The curriculum was developed by Sail for Kids covering the gamut of science, the ocean/environment, resource planning and conservation, technology and more, reaching classrooms primarily in the Northeast US. Jonathan provided reports from sea both on the delivery of his boat to Europe and the race back which mirror the lesson plans with real world applications.

To read Jonthan's riveting accounts during his journey, check out his blog

Mike Verdu gushes about his new love -- the Oceanis 37 Limited Edition

"I love my Beneteau Oceanis 37! The boat sails beautifully in both light and heavy winds and is wonderfully balanced, needing only a feather-light touch on the helm once she's properly trimmed. She's also very fast. I find myself sailing quickly by other boats even though I am not consciously trying to race with them. The more time I spend with her, the more I appreciate the great handling, the accessibility of the cockpit and controls, and the interior layout. I am delighted with my purchase. When I was thinking about buying a new boat last year, I narrowed down the choices to three great 37' and 38' boats. I eventually chose the Beneteau based on the reputation of the 37 as a great all-around performer that is also very friendly (confirmed by experienced friends who know a lot more than I do about sailing), the appeal of the cockpit and cabin layout and the dealer. In truth, South Coast Yachts helped tip the decision with consistently great service all the way through the entire process. The team there went above and beyond to make my first boat purchase a great experience from the first contact to supporting me months after buying the boat. I still have a great relationship with their team and they have earned my trust."
-- Mike Verdu, owner of a Beneteau Oceanis 37 Limited Edition

Thanks to our friends at South Coast Yachts for sending us this message by Beneteau owner Mike Verdu. Mike, we're delighted to hear you're enjoying your Oceanis Limited Edition 37! We appreciate you sharing your experience with all of us.

Judy Barfield, Beneteau Team Member

Great boats are built by great people

Judy Barfield has been working at the Beneteau plant in Marion, SC for 19 years, "I've worked on every part that goes into the mold room – the hull, liner, deck liner, and shower stalls to name a few," she said. Currently, Judy is laying fiberglass to make lockers, transom doors and cockpit tables.

"I usually work 4 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. I like my job because I learn something new everyday. I enjoy the challenge of learning how to do something then figuring out ways to do it better and faster over time," Judy explained.

The Marion plant employs many people who have worked there as long or longer than Judy, which is why she considers her co-workers like family. When asked what she likes most about working for Beneteau, Judy remarked, "We get very good benefits, and I enjoy the area I work in. There's no drama, I'm just doing my thing."

Thanks, Judy…for doing your thing, and doing it so well!