Written by JFA Yacht & Ship Consultant Mark Outlaw
The last line of my bio on the JFA website says I love “helping people find their own version of living their dreams on the water.” For me, that dream includes being part of a community of sailors. While I consider myself a sailor, predominately meaning sail boating, the term also includes power boating (I like to fish) and while I have caught fish on a sailboat, my best catches have been on power boats. So that brings me to another maritime community, one of fishermen! However, my real home involves the adventures and peace of being on blue water far from shore, when day after day you wake and sleep in the center of an amazing blue disk with no visible limits. Any of us who live near the shore, cruise on blue waters or dive to the spectacles of the seabed have seen the traces of man left behind and mourned their intrusion on mother nature.
Which leads me to tell you not about one of my own stories from the sea, but to report on the communities that can be shared once your JFA Yacht Consultant has helped you find your own version of the dream. Each dream has a particular type of boat to fit the mission and particular boats or missions all have a community. Here are four examples of communities that may peak your interest. If your dream isn’t one of these, JFA can assist you in finding the community for your dreams on the water:
The Salty Dawg Sailing Association – This group is near and dear to my heart. It was being part of this group that cemented my relationship with Mark Laser and Amy Knorr, the owners of Paradox. But that is a tale for another time. They introduced me to the benefits of communities that fit your mission. The Salty Dawg’s are among the finest kind of sailors. See for yourself by clicking here. (https://www.saltydawgsailing.org/)
America’s Great Loop Cruisers Association – Loopers cruise the 6,000-mile Great Loop route aboard their own boats, completing a circumnavigation of the eastern U.S. and part of Canada via mostly protected inland waterways. The Great Loop route follows the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the Chesapeake Bay, and the New York Canals northward, across the Great Lakes, south on the Inland Rivers, and then along the east side of the Gulf Coast to complete the Loop. Read more on this association here. (https://www.greatloop.org/)
Horizon Yachts – Horizon has one of the strongest owner communities in yachting. To support this community Horizon holds spectacular Rendezvous each year at exotic locations. Click here for Horizon’s next Rendezvous. (https://horizonpowercatamarans.com/rendezvous/)
Arksen Explorer Yachts – Arksen is a marine adventure company. They build exceptionally capable vessels that enable families and friends to confidently explore some of the most wild and precious places on the planet. Their aim is to encourage and motivate the next generation of explorers, scientists, and conservationists. Learn more here. (https://www.arksen.com/sustainability/)
There are many other groups associated with manufacturers or activities. Search KDW tournaments, Powerboat Poker Runs, and PADI’s travel page for scuba to name just a few more. There is likely a community out there that fits your interest or boat. Cheers and Godspeed!
Mark Outlaw is a founding member of the JFA Yacht & Ship Team, serves as CIO, and continues to enjoy working with his clients as a veteran yacht consultant. Looking for an expert yacht consultant who is an innovative expert who values integrity, superior service, and authentic relationships? Contact Mark Outlaw today at 561-319-7004 or at mark@jfayacht.com
