Gunboat 68 DASH shares a photo sailing along the coast of Spain, on one of their first cruising adventures.
Reflections & Celebrations
One for the Books
2019 has been an amazing year to look back on and leads to so much to look forward to in 2020. So as a countdown to the new year, each day we’ll be sharing some of the top moments from 2019 (follow on social media or receive the email on January 1st). But first a few words about 2019 – a year of tangible milestones.
Benoit Lebizay, Gunboat Managing Partner, shares his perspective since Grand Large Yachting’s acquisition of the brand: “2019 has obviously been a very special year because of the launch of the first two 68’s, representing the culmination of close to 3 years of work with tens of thousands of hours for our team – engineering & design, production, and globally. Beyond the revival of the Gunboat brand, what makes me really proud personally is that we have managed to gather around this project a wonderful team of dedicated and passionate people. Today nearly 100 people are part of our company, delivering an exciting, beautiful yacht and supporting a growing Gunboat community.”
The first two Gunboat 68s launched from our factory in La Grande Motte, France. Both left the Med, crossed oceans, and joined in the Gunboat spirit of fast, fun, safe sailing with family and friends. 2019 rewarded the endurance and skill of the Gunboat build team, close collaboration with owners and industry partners, and support from all of you who followed along, got to know us better, and joined us in celebrating.
We rallied together in greater numbers than ever, with a fleet of 7 Gunboats on one dock during BVI Spring Regatta, and the migration to the Northeast bringing 13 Gunboats to New England for the summer with a high concentration in our hometown Newport RI.
And while the spotlight will tend to shine on the globetrotting, production of 6803, 6804 and 6805 also began!
Tune in for the countdown! 🎉🥂
Predictions for 2020…
There will be Gunboat sightings a-plenty in the Caribbean! Five Gunboats have already committed to the 4th annual Gunboat Rendezvous during BVI Spring Regatta. Registrations are confirmed in premier events including Les Voiles de St Barths and Antigua Sailing Week. We’re also excited by new multihull eligibility worldwide, as seen within MultiMed Racing, pioneering a premier multihull circuit for the Mediterranean.
Trending Pacific. 🌏 A handful of Gunboats will be heading west through the Panama Canal in the coming months, and with a few there already, we’re likely to hear more stories about cruising the South Pacific. And what a platform for watching the America’s Cup!
The fleet continues to grow with the summer launch of Gunboat 6803 followed by her public debut at Cannes Yachting Festival in September – with 6804 hot on her heels!
Meanwhile at the Toy Shop
The elves are super busy.
Upon completion of systems and furniture installation in the hulls, the deck and coach roof were installed and Gunboat 6803 has moved to paint. We’ll be revealing another mirror-finish beauty in just a few months!
On Gunboat 6804, structural fit-out continues and systems installation has now begun, starting with the tanks and mechanical systems. Meanwhile, the deck and roof were de-molded and can be fitted to the hulls in a few month’s time, once systems installations are completed.
Construction began on 6805. Pictured below is the carbon layup of the hull and bridgedeck – specifically that’s the inside skin on top of the core, looking smooth. 😎
Give them what they really want for Christmas…
Charter a Gunboat
A few yachts are offering limited availability for fully crewed, week-long, luxury charters in the Caribbean and Bahamas. Contact us for more information about booking a charter on a Gunboat 62, 66, or 68!
Join the Gunboat Family
In addition to Gunboat 68 sales, we are pleased to have central listings through our Newport brokerage office. Contact us directly to check on current options and availability – and catch the 2020 Caribbean season!
Gunboat brokerage is here to help new owners end up with the right boat, and our services go far beyond a sales transaction. We offer in-house technical multihull knowledge, build and maintenance histories, and complementary services to support the first steps of ownership – such as understanding budgets for different program types. We’re here to provide specific knowledge and help review the details of getting your program on the water following a purchase.
