Beneteau’s Atlantic Tour Makes Stop in Annapolis

Oceanis 38

 

Beneteau America is pleased to announce the arrival of the Oceanis 38, Ours Blanc (White Bear), in Annapolis next week, just in time for the Annapolis Spring Boat Show, April 24-26.

Inspired by Christopher Columbus’ journey to America, Jonathan Beneteau – great grandson of Beneteau’s founder, Benjamin Beneteau, and a merchant Navy graduate – embarked on the Beneteau Ocean Atlantic Tour (B.O.A.T.) last September for a one-year sailing adventure.

Jonathon is joined on his journey across the Atlantic by his friend Aurélie Aubron. Aboard their Oceanis 38 Ours Blanc, the crew is chasing the dream to see a white polar bear when reaching the far north. They have already documented over 7700 nautical miles of adventures on their blog and expect to complete their journey by the end of the summer.

On August 29th 2014, Ours Blanc left Beneteau’s birthplace in Vendée, France to sail down the coast of France, then Spain, Portugal, Morocco, reaching Cape Verde before crossing the Atlantic in December. Jonathan and Aurélie took their first steps on American soil on March 13 in Miami, after 200 days at sea. They are now cruising up the East Coast, and stopped in Charleston, SC to greet Beneteau dealer, St. Barts Yachts.

Ours Blanc will be on display at the Annapolis Spring Boat Show, April 24-26th. The crew commented they are “very excited to share [their] experience with visitors and show off their Oceanis 38 and some of the modifications that have been brought on to accommodate offshore travel, such as solar panels. Jonathan and Aurélie will also participate in the Cruiser’s University evening event on Saturday, April 25th.

Jonathan Beneteau explains why he chose the Oceanis 38: “Beneteau’s premium reputation in terms of quality, design and modernity is recognized internationally, but when it comes to offshore cruising, sailors often consider aluminum boats. My wish is to prove that a new, midsize polyester sailboat from Beneteau can perform just as well in all conditions – from warm climates to the freezing ice of Greenland. The Oceanis 38 has proven to be the ideal combination of comfort, performance, and fun at sea”.

 

Related Articles

Video Gallery

Bennington 22 MSB

By Andy Adams

If you’ve already had firsthand experience with a pontoon, you will easily understand the appeal of the Bennington 22 MSB. But if you haven’t, let’s start by reviewing a few of the reasons why pontoon boats have become top sellers in markets across North America.

Pontoon boats began in the early 1950s as basically four steel drums lashed to a frame. They were not unlike the log rafts of ancient cultures and not much more sophisticated at first.

Read More

Destinations

The Best of Two Worlds

By Mathew Channer

Interior British Columbia might not be as famous for recreational boating as Canada’s Great Lakes, yet it is no less a world-class boat­ing destination. The mountains offer their own flavour of marine adventure with their series of long, deep ribbon lakes, and there is perhaps no area that embodies this more uniquely than the iconic Okanagan basin in southern B.C. One could be forgiven for assuming this valley was purpose-built for nautical fun, with a few delightful perks thrown in to make the area entirely irresistible (wine-tasting, anyone?).

Read More

Lifestyle