To own a Beneteau, is more than making a decision to go boating, for each "Benny" is a member of a fleet of sailboats with a worldwide reputation for quality, safety, lasting value, and great pride of ownership.

With these factors in mind, it also follows that everyone who has weighed out the list of possible yachts to purchase, and decided upon a Beneteau joins a group of like minded people, who have considered all the same issues, and then arrived at the same destination.

In North America, a purchaser is automatically enrolled in the company’s "Club Beneteau" (by virtue of the sale) and is thereby welcome to attend corporate sponsored rally’s and to be the lucky recipient of T-shirts, key chains and other items designed to evoke loyalty among owners.

As most sailors will agree, "free is good" and getting together with other "like minded" people, is a very common prerequisite to having a nice time, and so Beneteau rally’s have become a popular summertime sailing event that many of us look forward to each year.

Better yet, is to extend the comradery to a yacht club, (or association) where people who share an affection for boating, can gather to share good times & enjoy events in the company of friends.

With this in mind, we were very surprised to find the absence of a local "Club Beneteau" association when we brought our 361 (Winpipe) home in June 2001, and so, in 2002 we organized a cruise to the owners rallies in Toronto Ontario and then back to Vermillion Ohio, on the following weekend.

Although the attendance for our first flotilla was modest, those who chose to participate had a wonderful time, and so we decided to do it again in 2003.
It was encouraging to have more yachts in the fleet for 2003, and thanks to the support of Beneteau USA and our area Beneteau dealers, the groundwork is now in place for the BOLT to become an annual summertime event.

In view of the encouragement offered relating to the BOLT, and owing to a desire to see our fellow Beneteau owners become an "organized" group with the ability to stay in contact, we have introduced the "Club Beneteau" website, (in January 2003) to facilitate the continued support that will enable the association to flourish and grow.

So to those of you who are area Beneteau owners, (or eventually will be) we welcome you to Club Beneteau of Western Lake Erie and Lake St Clair, and hope that your participation with us, will contribute to an enjoyable summer out on the water with old friends and new friends alike.

If you are a Beneteau Owner from outside our boarders, we welcome you to our area association website, and hereby extend an invitation to bring your yacht to the friendly waters of Lakes Erie and St Clair.

As with all "internet based" endeavors, our website is in a continual state of evolution, and we welcome your suggestions that can serve to improve www.clubbeneteau.com.

Fair Winds to all,

Paul Ouellette,

S/V Winpipe.