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Step aside, Goliath
By CHRISTINA REXRODE
Published February 24, 2007
It's smooth sailing right now at Catalina Yachts: Cruising World magazine has honored one of its creations as the 2007 Domestic Boat of the Year. To bestow the award, the magazine's publisher and editor were scheduled to visit the Largo manufacturer Friday. The Catalina 309, designed and built in Largo, was one of the smallest sailboats in the running. But an international jury of judges decided that function matters more than size. "This easy-to-handle boat may attract new sailors to the sport, ... an approach that's important to the health of the entire industry," Cruising World stated. This year, judges examined 23 boats. Catalina Yachts vice president Gerry Douglas, who led the 309's engineering and design team, didn't shy from likening the 309 to David and his showdown with Goliath. "We thought this was quite a coup, because generally this prize is won by very expensive boats - boats costing $1-million," Douglas said. "This boat costs about $100,000." The 309 premiered at the St. Petersburg Boat Show in November 2005. California-based Catalina has about 265 employees at its manufacturing plant in Largo.
[Last modified February 24, 2007, 02:10:31]
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