Hunt Yachts And Pusser's & Grog

The docks and waters around historic Fort Adams in Newport, RI, were teeming with Hunt-designed yachts on the final weekend of July, 2005. The Hunt organization held its first Hunt Rendezvous for owners of semi-custom and custom yachts designed by C. Raymond Hunt Associates, the Boston-based firm credited with creating the legendary Deep-V hull.

Among the yachts which were officially registered were sixteen Hunt Yachts, ranging from Surfhunter and Harrier 25's to Classic and Harrier 36's, plus three custom yachts, including the 103-foot express-expedition yacht "Moon River." Pusser's & Grog was on hand at the gala evening affairs which were attended by more than two-hundred guests at Newport's Museum of Yachting.

Among the highlights of the Rendezvous were daysails on two 12-meter yachts chartered for the occasion, tours of mansions, a helicopter photo session where each owner could have their yacht photographed by renowned marine photographer Billy Black, and lots of partying onboard and ashore. The Saturday banquet featured an informative yet humorous presentation by Peter Boyce, Hunt's Senior Designer, on the historic development of the Hunt Deep-V.

For many, this was an opportunity to share experiences with other Hunt owners of these remarkable seaboats and to inspect the latest Hunt Yacht models, including the Harrier 25 and Surfhunter 33. Additionally, the very latest Harrier 36, launched just days earlier, proved her blazing speeds and showed off her aggressive styling. In a single-file parade of the assembled fleet down Narragansett Bay, few other boats could keep up.

Grog is essentially a diluted rum mixture, with two parts water and one part Pusser's Rum. The word "grog" was derived from the nickname for Admiral Vernon who was nicknamed "Old Grogram" (grog, rum - get it?!) based on the waterproof grogram cloak he wore on ships. He first ordered this rum dilution process that yielded grog to be carried out in 1740. This command was called "Vernon's Orders" and it also encouraged the addition of sugar and limes to the grog mixture - which is the present day Pusser's Rum recipe for grog.

For further information on Hunt Yachts: www.huntyachts.com