Those of us who aren’t usually around superyachts had the chance to dream a little over the weekend of July 26, when 11 world class yachts came into Boothbay Harbor for the Westport Yacht owners’ event.

To be considered a superyacht, a yacht must be at least 100 feet long. Those visiting the Harbor ranged from 112 feet to 164 feet and had a total value of $250 million, according to Westport Yachts’ marketing director Ron Nugent. The yachts were docked and moored around the harbor while the 65 owners and families participated in activities like kayaking and golf.

Cocktails and oysters at Carousel Marina were offered on Friday evening, golf and dinner at Boothbay Harbor Country Club were Saturday’s activities and Sunday included tours of Cuckholds Lighthouse and a farewell dinner at Boothbay Harbor Oceanside Golf Resort.  Crews celebrated, too, with a party for the 75 crew members on Thursday evening at the Tugboat Inn.

“It captures the lifestyle,” Nugent told the Boothbay Register. “It’s an event that allows owners to meet each other in a very laid back way.” And for those who aren’t familiar with nautical terms, Nugent explained the differences: “A boat fits on a yacht which fits on a ship.”

Planning started last summer with a site visit from Nugent. Since then, the event has been in the works and yacht owners started receiving information about the date and location last winter. Boothbay Harbor Oceanside Golf Resort served as the event’s headquarters for the Westport team.

The first Westport owners’ event was in 2014 in Bar Harbor, followed in 2016 by one in the British Virgin Islands.  In 2017, the event was held on Nantucket Island.

Westport, the largest manufacturer of yachts over 100 feet in North America, is based in Washington. The facilities include woodworking and upholstery shops and, depending on the size ordered, yachts are delivered to owners in 12-18 months. Nugent explained that they are delivered “completely equipped, including china and crystal – just bring your toothbrush.”

Each yacht has miles of wiring which supports the electronics onboard for AIS, GPS, Wi-Fi and television. Huge iPads are used for the system which allows touch screen selection of maps. 

The yachts are designed with a shallow draft which makes them popular for sailing in the Bahamas where other yachts have difficulty entering harbors. They can cross the Atlantic and larger Westport yachts have crossed the Pacific.

According to Alex Rogers, the company’s sales director, “comfortable cruising speed” is 12-16 knots which burns about 150 gallons of fuel each hour. The yachts are powered by 2,000 hp MTU engines manufactured by Mercedes Benz, with an average life of 10,000 hours.  

For those who’d like to dream a little more about owning a yacht, prices for the Westport superyachts range from $14 million to $42 million, depending on the size.

And keep your checkbook open after the sale. A 130-foot yacht will have a crew of eight, including a chef, and a 164-foot yacht needs a crew of 12.  A 112-foot yacht has four guest cabins and the 164-foot version has six state rooms.

Rogers, a summer resident of Westport Island, said he has been coming to Boothbay Harbor for the past 13 years. “Over that time, we’ve seen less yacht activity. It’s ideal to bring the waterfront back to life and enjoy what Boothbay Harbor has to offer.”