Grand Banks Yachts spend warm weekend in Sault (10 photos)

Over the past three days, locals may have noticed some new boats sitting at the Roberta Bondar Marina.

Members of Grand Banks Yachts, a boating company with a luxurious line-up of vessels, paid a visit to the Sault this weekend.

The organization, which has over 170 members, picks a different destination to travel to every year across Canada and the United States.

Twelve boats made their way to the marina this weekend; some of them were the newer Grand Banks models, while others were over 50 years old.

Lauren Phinney, an elected official with Grand Banks, says the Sault was a great destination to travel to, and they learned a lot about the city during their visit.

“We’re so thrilled to be here in the Sault,” she says. “It’s such a welcoming and friendly city. We all share that joy of exploring new places and being on the water together.”

Phinney says their members try to do as much sightseeing as possible when they travel to a new destination.

During their stay, the Grand Banks boaters got to enjoy several attractions and events like Rotaryfest, the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, and some local restaurants and breweries. 

Robert Colwell, a devoted Grand Banks boater and rendezvous planner from Gore Bay, echoes many of Phinney’s observations of the Sault.

“This has been a perfect rendezvous, mostly because of where we’re having it,” he says. “It could not be better. This city has so much to offer.”

Most vessels are made offshore, including in faraway places like Singapore.

The organization’s secretary Bill Wilcox is also among the boaters to cruise through the Sault. He says the Grand Banks vessels are incredibly unique in relation to other liners.

“It’s a very appealing design to the eye,” he explains. “The lines of the boats are very nice, and they have a flowing design. The finishing of the vessels is top-notch, and they have some intricate detailing both inside and outside.”

The group has visited a different destination every year since 1996.

Grand Banks members are looking forward to travelling to Sister Bay on Lake Michigan next summer.