The Boaterz ‘n Bikerz Hull of a Tour² launch of “The Freedom Ride” throttled forward yesterday from Freedom Boat Club’s Marina Jack location in downtown Sarasota, FL.
The nine-day, 2000-mile motorcycle and boating tour attracted 30 members of the boating industry including their friends, and travels up the east coast to Washington D.C., concluding with participation in the 100,000-bike rally, Rolling Thunder, which honors war veterans, POWs and MIA on Memorial Day weekend.
“This ride is a celebration of freedom and the great outdoors,” said tour organizer and marine industry marketing veteran Wanda Kenton Smith. “Our tour is unique in that we combine the best of the open roads with the open seas in an adventure that promotes both motorcycling and boating activity. We are also stopping at several historically significant venues en route as part of our focus on freedom.”
Title-sponsored by Freedom Boat Club, along with national media sponsor Soundings Trade Only, platinum sponsor Hurricane Boats and event producer/publicist Kenton Smith Marketing, “The Freedom Ride” runs May 15 – 24 with official stops in St. Augustine, FL; Savannah, GA; Charleston, SC; Morehead City, NC; Annapolis, MD; York and Gettysburg, PA; Williamsburg, Charlottesville and Alexandria, VA.
The group will visit Freedom Boat Club locations along the route for boating and waterfront festivities. Sarasota’s club hosted the kick-off launch party today, while clubs in Savannah and Myrtle Beach will host cookouts. The Freedom Boat Club in St. Augustine is sponsoring a boat ride and brunch at the historic Flagler College presidential dining room, while the Annapolis, MD club has arranged for tour participants to board club boats for a cruise on the Severn River to watch the Blue Angels as part of the U.S. Naval Academy graduation festivities.
Historic sites and visits include the naval boats at Patriot’s Point in Charleston; a two-hour ferry trip and ride through the Outer Banks with a stop at Kill Devil Hills at the Wright Brothers Kitty Hawk museum; Williamsburg, VA; the Harley-Davidson museum in York, PA; the Gettysburg battlefield which includes a customized group tour; and Thomas Jefferson’s beloved Monticello in Charlottesville. The finale of The Freedom Ride culminates in Rolling Thunder, an escorted tour on Sunday, May 24 that runs from the Pentagon to the Viet Nam Memorial Wall.
The Freedom Ride is the second event hosted by the Boaterz ‘n Bikerz group. The inaugural ride traveled 3000 miles from Destin, FL to San Diego, CA in 2012.
“Our corporate organization along with our franchisees are excited to serve as title sponsor of The Freedom Ride and to support an effort that celebrates the fun and freedom of the outdoor life,” said Freedom Boat Club CEO and President John Giglio.
Freedom Boat Club (www.freedomboatclub.com) has 86 locations in 19 states coast-to-coast, with 10,000 active members and a fleet of 850 boats nationwide.
