Some of the boats that were part of InterMarine’s Flotilla docked at Sandals’ Marina at Emerald Bay.

A Fleet of 22 boats  pulled into Sandals’ Marina at Emerald Bay last Tuesday to a rousing reception held in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism (MOT).

The flotilla’s stop in Exuma was part of a 12-day tour of the Bahamas arranged by Patrick Galipeau of InterMarine in Miami.

Mr. Galipeau said he began these “escapades” after he realized many boat owners were nervous about making the crossing from Florida to the Bahamas alone. He said many of his customers have been interested in sailing to the Bahamas, but did not want to make the journey by themselves.

Now, he said, he has seen a growth in his escapades since he first began.

“After they experience the Bahamas, they would rather take their two-week vacation and use the boat (they keep in) in Florida because the weather is always cooperative and the water is so beautiful and the Bahamas is so close we can always enjoy that,” Mr. Galipeau said during the MOT reception.

Sandals’ and the MOT hosted the sailing families with food, drink and music. Mr. Galipeau said he was delighted by the reception.

“This reception here tonight, the welcome… we came here with 22 boats and it was professional courteous and easy,” he said.  “We couldn’t believe the reception that we had and we are thankful. We will be back.”

Dale Westin, general manager of Sandals’ Marina, said he intends to have more groups like the InterMarine escapade come to Exuma, adding that Mr. Galipeau’s group will be bigger in 2014.

“This is the first group that we had come down and it’s my intention to get a number of these groups to visit Exuma,” said Mr. Westin. “We had 120 people in attendance (at the reception). I’m really happy about that.”

Mr. Galipeau’s flotilla comprised boats 35 to 72 feet, most carrying families from Europe, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Canada and the US.

Their tour took them through Chub Cay to Nassau, then down to Staniel Cay and Great Exuma. The group then went back to Nassau and Paradise Island and then on to Bimini and back to Miami.

“People want to enjoy life and the Bahamas is really a part of that for sure,” he said.