Meet Mary-Clare Tomes co-founder of HopYacht on the MV Yachting stand at La Rochelle Boat Show, where our latest HopYacht 30 will be on display.
Mary-Clare played a crucial part in developing the HopYacht 30 concept. She believes that much of the motivation to develop this unique pocket catamaran, came from first hand experience chartering yachts in Southern Turkey over a two year period, just before Covid.
She recalls being shocked by how little practical living space many smaller boats offer. On one of the yachts she and her husband chartered, the wash hand basin pulled out over the toilet and it was crucial to have the seat lid open as the basin was designed to drain straight into the toilet! Mary-Clare jokes that this was a defining moment and from this point on she was hell-bent on making sure that couples could enjoy relaxed, easy sailing, with comfort as a top priority.
As you step onboard the HopYacht 30, it's immediately apparent that the lifestyle offered would normally only be possible on a much larger yacht. "No compromise!" was the typical war-cry from Mary-Clare, during the design phase. As you explore the layout, her 'comfort first' mindset is even more apparent.
In partnership with MV Yachting in La Rochelle, Mary-Clare and team are excited to have their first HopYacht 30 in France. This boat is also the first to be equipped with an onboard system, to enable the crew to raise or lower the mast themselves, eliminating the hassle and expense of crane hire.
With so many canals and waterways to explore in France, the HopYacht 30 is equally at home on inland waters. The beam is 3.44m, with the mast down the air draft is 2.57m and the hulls draw less than a metre with the boat fully loaded! If you spot Mary-Clare on the MV Yachting stand ... make sure you ask her to show you what she insists on calling (for good reason) the HopYacht bathroom and not the 'heads'!
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