Discover the enduring friendships and celebrated lifestyle of Maritimo owners at the latest Whitsundays muster. Experience luxury motor yacht cruising at its finest in one of Australia’s most spectacular coastal settings.
Seventeen Maritimo motor yachts converged on Hamilton Island in late October, their owners swapping sea stories and sundowners against the backdrop of one of Australia’s most photographed cruising grounds.
The annual muster has become something of a fixture on the Maritimo calendar, and this year’s edition proved no exception. Owners travelled from across the country to spend a long weekend exploring the Whitsundays together, with vessels ranging from well-loved older models through to the brand-new S50 taking part.
Things kicked off gently enough, with welcome drinks at The Palms on Hamilton Island giving returning owners a chance to catch up with old friends while newcomers were folded into the fold. Plenty of faces were familiar from the previous year’s gathering, lending the evening a relaxed, reunion-like feel.
Friday’s planned run north to Cape Gloucester was where the weekend earned its sea legs. A fresh breeze had kicked up across the region, throwing a following sea at the fleet for the northbound passage. Nothing a Bluewater-hulled Maritimo couldn’t handle, but a handful of owners opted to stay put in their Hamilton Island berths rather than brave the conditions, planning to rejoin the group later on.
Ten yachts pressed on, each running its own course and speed up the mainland coastline toward Cape Gloucester. The spot has become a favourite stop for larger motor yachts cruising in company, thanks to its sheltered waters, moorings and welcoming shoreside hospitality.
“We visited Cape Gloucester Resort during the Muster last year and really enjoyed the location and hospitality there,” said Maritimo’s retail marketing consultant Grant Binskin. “There is also a nice safe anchorage right out the front with some moorings. It was terrific to return this year and enjoy another beautiful afternoon and evening on the beach.”
Once the fleet rounded the headland and settled onto moorings in calmer water, the mood shifted from passage-making to pure holiday mode. Owners gathered on the beach for Pimm’s, prawns and platters as the afternoon wore on, Hawaiian shirts and summer dresses setting the tone for an easy, unstructured evening. Guests drifted between their yachts and the shore gathering, catching up with old friends and meeting new members of the Maritimo community before heading back aboard for the night.
Saturday’s return to Hamilton Island was similarly loose, with owners choosing their own routes and pace. Some ducked into nearby islands along the way, while others made a beeline for the marina ahead of that evening’s celebrations.
Much of the weekend’s attention centred on the new Maritimo S50, which had recently completed its first serious coastal passage from the Gold Coast to Hamilton Island, a solid proof point for the vessel’s long-range cruising credentials. Owners queued to step aboard throughout the muster, drawn to its light oak interior, generous glazing and open-plan layout.
“One of the first things our guests comment on when they step aboard the new S50 is how welco
