SailTime sets sail for Newport Australia
by Media Services on 4 May 2009
The Beneteau sail range will be the boats of choice for the Australian franchise. MIAA
US fractional ownership operation, SailTime is due to stake its claim Down Under, making its debut at the Sydney International Boat Show in July.
A fractional sailing firm with over 60 bases in North America and Europe, SailTime plans to open its first base at Newport in Pittwater north of Sydney, run by Australasian managing director, Graham Raspass.
“In the first three years of operation we are aiming to launch 10 bases in the key Australian sailing areas of Sydney, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Melbourne, Frankston, Geelong, Adelaide, Perth and Freemantle,” said Raspass. “The first New Zealand bases will include Auckland (the City Of Sails) and Whangarei.
“In Australia and New Zealand we will initially launch sail only and we have formed a partnership with Bénéteau Yachts to supply our members with the very best sailing experience,” he said.
SailTime offers a global network of fractional sailing bases that provide customers with day-to-day access to a range of sail and powerboats. There are no insurance fees or maintenance costs, and clients are able to sail a brand new boat several times a year for a fraction of the purchase price.
In 2001, avid boater George Bonelli saw a need for making boating easier and more affordable. He founded SailTime, purchased the first boat with personal savings and tested the business model on Lake Travis in Austin, Texas. Initially, SailTime focused exclusively on sailboats, and the business quickly expanded to 30 bases in North America in its first three years. Subsequently SailTime has expanded to over 50 bases with 160 boats on two continents, in five countries and three languages.
More at www.sailtime.com
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