The Exclusive Xscape Marine VIP Sea Trial Event on the Invincible 37' Catamaran
On the last Thursday of July, Ian & I left a damp and drizzly UK to escape to the beautiful Balearic island of Mallorca to meet up with Michael Hardicker from Xscape Marine on board their 37' Catamaran for an exclusive VIP Sea Trial.
We would be running from the Puerto Portals, one of the island's most exclusive marinas, with a meeting base at the Diabolito Restaurant.
Introducing the Invincible 37' Catamaran
If you really want to feel free on the ocean then having the accompanying vessel to do just that is an important step, when the sea state doesn't affect the experience - you're onto a winner.
The 37' Catamaran is our bestselling model for International customers. It's easy to see why, a generous beam, high freeboard and the Morelli & Melvin patented hull design make for a smooth ride with an extensive deck area for plenty of passengers. The effectiveness of the design would prove itself over the weekend.
The Xscape edition is fully decked out with every extra you can ask for, from the indomitable quad Mercury 300 V8 Verados pushing 1,200HP from the transom to the full suite of Garmin electronics, which give the vessel the all-out capabilities of top speed and when you throttle back an efficient, stable and capable smooth cruise
Puerto Portals
Portals is one of the most exclusive marinas on the island with 650 mooring spaces ranging from 8 to 60 metres, with the long-established service yard Mundimar servicing and storage. Flanked by some of the island's best bars and restaurants - including the newest hotspot in Mallorca; The Lobster Club - Portals is a must-stop location whether you're exploring Mallorca from the water or by road.
Diabolito would be the meeting point for the event - Xscape has used the venue for several other events previously, thanks to the great marina fronting location, high quality yet straightforward menu and excellent service it would be perfect for hosting our clients.
Spread over Saturday and Sunday we would see existing clients from Xscape come to experience and with the word out on the street - some entirely new faces arrived to take that One Ride...
On the Water
Conditions were fairly typical for Mallorca, a changing breeze, a confused sea; swell with a short period coming from more than one direction - the type that will push you around and most boaters love to complain about!
As it happens, these conditions were fantastic for demonstrating the 37' Catamaran, they can make it hard going - the phrase of the day was the Invincible 37' Cat "It just eats everything up!"
You think you're going to hit hard and the cat is completely unphased, saying it just pushes through would intimate hard going, it parts whatever the ocean brings at it like Moses.
At 30-35MPH the effortless progress feels slow and relaxed like a Sunday afternoon, even when you open her up a bit above 40 the ride is still smooth and unchallenged, only when you're with an adventurous crew and go 50 plus does any sort of consideration of throttle control come into play.
Our Guests
Well, being a VIP event I cannot talk about everyone who came to visit us - thank just wouldn't be very British of me...
What I can say is that we were very honoured to host Multiple holder Spanish fishing champion Juan Jose Bonet Vidal and his family. Having an Invincible dealership on the island has caused quite a stir of excitement throughout the local fishing fraternity - the Mallorcians have a fundamental connection to the ocean being an island in the Mediterranean fishing has not only been a pastime but, going back a generation or two many islanders would fish for subsistence, so a thirst for the chase has been passed down from father to son.
Quote of the day came in from Anastasia Bonet-Vidal when Ian put in a couple of enthusiastic turns of the boat into oncoming waves, some spray was sent in her direction.
"No,no,no,no" she responds. "It was only two times, on our boat there are only two times I do not get wet!"
Juan brought along local fishing legend Toni Burbin who runs YouTube Channel Burbin Fishing.
Toni is a well-known fisherman on the island and it was great to hear his opinion on the Invincible which he sums up nicely in the video below:-
Special thanks go out to Michael Hardicker & Dave Scully from Xscape Marine for hosting Ian & I during the event, Diabolito for the hosting, Juan Jose Bonet Vidal from bonetnikolovarealty.com properties for bringing along Spanish Fishing YouTube Sensation Toni Burbo from Burbin Fishing for the coverage
