Beneteau’s Swift Trawler Prepares for The Greatest Loop

The Beneteau Powerboats Division is preparing Beneteau’s latest Swift Trawler 34, appropriately named The Greatest Loop, for her maiden voyage around The Great Loop, beginning May 15 in Annapolis, Maryland and returning in September 2012.

The Swift Trawler 34 is a performance-based cruising boat offering exceptional fuel efficiency, stability and maneuverability, Beneteau said.

The Greatest Loop, hull 202, was built at Beneteau’s trawler factory in Noirmoutier-en-I’lle, France, and arrived March 23, 2012 in the U.S. She is currently being outfitted with the latest equipment supplied by Beneteau partners Cummins, Raymarine, Cummins Onan and Dometic Marine.

Other industry partners lending support for the journey include America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association, Marinalife, SGB Finance and Annapolis Yacht Sales, in addition to other Beneteau dealers around the country.

“While many have taken the pilgrimage around The Great Loop, we’re unaware of another boatbuilder who has assembled a team of equipment suppliers, associations, dealers and publications willing to commit the time and resources required to bring the journey in this fashion to others interested in learning more about the adventure and the cruising lifestyle in general,” Beneteau Powerboats vice president of sales and marketing Laurent Fabre said.

Marine publications throughout North America and Europe will be aboard The Greatest Loop for segments of the journey to document and share their experience with their readers.

Audiences interested in following her journey can participate in the expedition with Beneteau and its partners at its website and on Facebook.

“By reaching through grassroots publications all along the Great Loop as well as engaging the public through social media vehicles on a daily basis, this is an opportunity to pique the interest of people who dream of owning a boat and fully ignite their passion for the lifestyle enough to pursue it. We understand their first boat may not necessarily be a Beneteau, but realize by bringing more people into recreational cruising, Beneteau will grow, too. It’s our contribution to the Grow Boating initiatives developed by the marine industry,” Beneteau Powerboats marketing director Maryline O’Shea commented.