Maritimo Muster

By Helen Hopcroft for Powerboat World

Greg Alward has what many people would consider to be the ideal job. The long time Hamilton Island resident is the Maritimo contact person for the island, responsible for ‘anything and everything to do with Maritimo.’ This year he led a convoy of Maritimos up the coast from Hope Harbour Marina, near the Gold Coast Broadwater, to Hamilton Island ‘stopping all stations.’ Dubbed the ‘Maritimo Muster’ it was the perfect opportunity for owners and their families to enjoy the fun and security of cruising in company.

The five boat convoy included a number of owners who had never ‘boated any further north than Mooloolaba’ so Alward selected a route with as little outside passage making as possible and stopped at many peaceful anchorages along the way. The conditions proved to be ideal for the trip.

‘We had the best weather you can ever imagine. I think the worst day we had was about ten knots of southeaster following us up the coast. It was tough…’ Alward said with a droll smile.