NMTA works with Discover Boating to bring national press to area waters

Discover Boating hosted writers from Men's Journal, New York Daily News, Hemispheres and Art of Manliness, on a press flotilla earlier this month in Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands. The trip immersed these media in many facets of boating, including cruising, fishing, wakeboarding/wakesurfing, and sailing. Discover Boating worked closely with the Northwest Marine Trade Association (NMTA) and their network of members to develop and execute a well-rounded introduction to life on the water in the Pacific Northwest to help these writers generate story ideas for boating coverage.

 

The press flotilla kicked off in Seattle with the Downtown Sailing Series out of Elliott Bay Marina on Thursday, August 8. Aboard two of the more than 70+ sailboats that take part in the weekly summer event, the experience showcased the accessibility of boating in Seattle, as well as the passionate local boating community and picturesque views from the water. In fact, NMTA noted these two boats are available each Thursday of the sailing series for the general public to reserve a spot aboard at no charge.

 

On Friday, August 9, the group moved north to Anacortes to board three trawlers in the San Juan Islands. Their time aboard was spent fishing, crabbing, island-hopping, learning about the navigation, tides and tying lines, plus swapping boating/fishing stories with the captains and experiencing firsthand the fun, relaxation and overall appeal of the boating lifestyle as they cruised Lopez Island, Stuart Island/Reid Harbor, as well as San Juan Island’s Roche and Friday Harbors. On Tuesday, August 13, the trip wrapped with an on-water pick-up on Lake Washington by two powerboats where the writers got on boards and learned to wakesurf before cruising back to land past Husky Harbor and into Lake Union. 

 

It was an action-packed few days on the water for the writers. This type of intensive experiential trip provides the opportunity for newbie boaters to get their feet wet, learn new skills and connect with boating. All returned home with a love for life on the water, as well as a number of boating-related story ideas and content to explore for coverage. Stay tuned for trip coverage slated to run later this year and into 2014.