PROVINCETOWN, MASSACHUSETTS – Close encounters with whales, touring spectacular sand dunes and a beach clam bake at sunset were just a few of the attractions for Riviera owners and families at the recent Bosun’s Marine Provincetown Experience.
Provincetown is one of the main townships of Cape Cod, on a spit that marks the eastern boundary of Cape Cod Bay, the legendary waterways of Massachusetts in north-eastern United States where some of the first Europeans settled.
The village is on the northern tip of the 40-kilometre-long spit of land that marks the eastern boundary of the bay. Much of the spit is a 43,000-acre national park called Cape Cod National Seashore, created by President John F. Kennedy in 1961. It includes ponds, woods and beachfront. About one third of the park is made up of sand dunes, some towering as high as 30 metres, that would prove a strong attraction for many visitors.
The fleet, including eight Rivieras, ranging from 60, 53 and 52 Enclosed Flybridges, two 43 and a 41 Open Flybridge, and 4700 and 4800 Sport Yachts, took advantage of the newly renovated Provincetown Marina for the three-day Experience.
Peter and Victoria Chenard aboard their Riviera 43 Flybridge Time 4 Us enjoyed the Experience for being well organised but flexible enough for “very spur-of-the-moment activities”.
“The highlight for us was one of those spur-of-the-moment opportunities. We met Matt Nugent from Bosun’s Marine who explained that a few people were taking a boat out to whale watch and fish. We grabbed our stuff and hopped on board. Our daughter Erica was with us and she saw her first whales and fished in the ocean for the first time!
“We never go more than 10 days without being on board our Riviera 43 Flybridge Time 4 Us, and on a trip to Nantucket after the Experience Erica was the one to notice a spout off to our starboard and we were able to see another whale.”
For Paul and Virginia Guarracino aboard Wirenuts, their Riviera 52 Enclosed Flybridge , a dunes tour and clam bake on Race Point Beach at the northern tip of the spit on the Friday evening was the highlight of a weekend packed with activities.
“It brought together good friends, food and a spectacular sunset,” said Paul.
Above: A sunset clam bake on the Race Point beach.
Robert and Louise Kursmark aboard their Riviera 43 Flybridge Happy Ours agreed.
“We took the dunes tour last year and just had to do it again,” said Robert. “They are spectacular sand dunes. The views of both Cape Cod Bay and the Atlantic Ocean are amazing.
“However, it is the friendships we make and rekindle at each of these gatherings that make them so attractive. We are a group of like-minded people with a great deal to talk about when we get together like this.”
Saturday was a little more strenuous, beginning with families being set a series of challenges in a scavenger hunt around the Provincetown village.
“We had to find objects and photograph them,” said Robert Kursmark. “It was a lot of fun and it’s a great way to see a lot of the village that we might miss simply walking around.”
The excitement built later in the day with a frantic tender relay race on the Bay. The Bosun’s Marine team assembled four identical inflatables equipped with brooms for paddles. Crews of two each paddled about 40 metres out to a buoy and returned to the start line where they handed over a baton to the next crew. All along the route, helpful spectators were equipped with hoses and water pistols to help “cheer” the paddlers on.
Paul Guarracino said one of the major attractions for the family is simply the village itself.
“Provincetown is delightful, with plenty for everyone, from shopping to dining and sightseeing,” he said.
The culmination of an exciting weekend was a Saturday evening dinner and presentation at the historic Fishermen’s Wharf building at the outer end of the new marina. The building was originally used as a base for the fishing fleet and the interior decor today includes a variety of commercial fishing gear from a bygone era when Provincetown and the pier were a vital fishing hub.
The evening ended with presentation of prizes for the tender relay and scavenger hunt and then dancing the night away.
On Sunday morning a contented group of Riviera owners turned for home.
“We attended the event last year and the Bosun’s Marine team works really hard to make it great,” said Peter Chenard. “This one was the best yet and Victoria and I are already looking forward to next year.
“We love and trust our Riviera.”
