marae sailing yacht owner

A sailing yacht fit for a family

Mary Shores explains why she and her husband named their sailing yacht after a Māori word which signifies family togetherness.

It is inevitable perhaps that growing up around the beautiful Chesapeake Bay would lead to a lifelong affinity with the ocean and sailing. Mary and Mark Shores’ childhoods were spent on and around the waters of this Maryland maritime haven, and when they met in high school, they would sail an 11ft dinghy together. Fast forward over 39 years of marriage and owning a string of sailing yachts ranging from 7m to 18m, and the couple are still happiest with the wind on their backs at sea. Now, however, it is on board their 33m New Zealand-built sloop  Marae .

Sailing yacht Marae is a boat of togetherness, by name and by nature. One of her owners, Mary Shores shares why she and her husband named their sailing yacht after this special Māori word and explains how yachting is the best way to bring people together.

“While we enjoy being on the water in any type of boat, for us sailing is what we enjoy the most,” says Mary. “The quiet peace of sailing with the wind, while it can offer challenges when it pipes up, if you manage the conditions successfully it makes moving from harbour to harbour as much fun as the locations you visit. There are so many dimensions to sailing; exploring new destinations, exhilarating sailing days underway, clear nights. For us, these are the special experiences that  Marae  provides.”

Sailing yacht Marae from above. Photo by Jeff Brown | Breed Media

Sailing for the Shores is unequivocally a family affair, and the couple bought  Marae  in 2012 in order to accommodate their ever-growing, multigenerational clan – their three children and spouses plus grandchildren. “We wanted a yacht that would fit our family, was truly a sailboat from a performance standpoint but also one that could fit into quiet, snug coves for those unique secluded nights,” explains Mary. “ Marae  had a perfect balance of performance and comfort.”

Marae ‘s name – pronounced ‘mar-eye’ and taken from the Māori word for “a special place for family and friends” – embodies the spirit of familial togetherness that yachting means for the Shores. “When we named her we wanted to tie back to her New Zealand roots with her being built by Alloy,” says Mary, who admits that buying a boat is significantly easier than naming it. “Through our research we found that in New Zealand, a marae is a special meeting place in the community for family and friends. This is exactly what the yacht means for us, so we knew we had the right name.”

Sailing yacht Marae. Photo by Jeff Brown | Breed Media

Loaded with toys and with plenty of areas for relaxing and socialising,  Marae  is perfect for nurturing quality time and making memories. Life on board is focused on fun, from mini sailing regattas on the two lasers, kayak expeditions, snorkelling and diving, lounging on the floating island, tubing and wake boarding behind the custom Williams tender, or, the couple’s favourite pastime, turning off the engine, putting up the sails and sailing  Marae .

“I think being on a yacht naturally helps people connect and bond,” says Mary. “ Marae  has a number of wonderful places for people to hang out – the pilot house, the upper salon bar, the helm area, the foredeck, the aft private cockpit. And we have full range of toys for everyone to enjoy. On or off water, there is something for everyone.”

Being family-friendly is a crucial part of what makes  Marae  the ultimate platform for the Shores. For Mary, this comes down to three things. Firstly, she says, it is the crew who work hard to ensure that life on board is enjoyable for family and friends of all ages, sharing their vast knowledge and experience with everyone. Secondly,  Marae  is versatile and safe over a wide range of wind and sea states, providing a comfortable vessel for both experienced and inexperienced sailors. And finally,  Marae ’s shallow draft allows them to tuck into quieter, special anchorages and protected coves for total privacy and secure fun.

A successful charter yacht,  Marae  cruises between New England in the summer and the Caribbean during the winter, both destinations that Mark and Mary love and happily explore when they are able to spend time on board (typically up to six weeks a year). From Nantucket to Martha’s Vineyard, the Bahamas to Grenada,  Marae ‘s itineraries take her to a wide variety of breathtaking places. While a recent highlight for the couple was attending the America’s Cup in Bermuda – “it was like going to a Formula 1 race on the water” – their longtime favourite destination is the BVIs, a place they started to visit in the early ‘80s and still offers new anchorages to discover and unique places to spend time.

“When you step on board a yacht, the stress of daily life just melts away,” says Mary. “I can’t quite explain it but it happens every time; quiet, peace, tranquility. Our crew just does a wonderful job of taking care of us – from the fresh coffee in the morning to happy hour, every meal and moment is special and unique. It’s these little things that make the experience special and allows us to have a true holiday when we visit.”

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MARAE Alloy Yachts | From US$ 59,000/wk

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MARAE Alloy Yachts | From US$ 59,000 /wk

The 33m luxury sailing yacht MARAE (ex PARAISO) was built by the renowned builders Alloy Yachts in 2004, (refitted in 2009, 2014) and accommodates up to 6 guests in 3 nicely decorated cabins. Designed by the distinguished architect Ted Fontaine, sailing yacht MARAE is an elegant yacht with great performance and a friendly, experienced crew. A remarkable yacht in her size range, she also boasts a raising centre board allowing access to shallower anchorages out of bounds to many others.

The Alloy sailing yacht MARAE has a traditional interior, decorated mainly in cream and navy blue, with fine walnut paneling throughout, creating an air of traditional elegance and charm. The main salon has an attractive and cozy lounge area with comfortable sofas and chairs, and a separate dining area. The upper salon has a bar area and a further dining table with comfortable leather bench seating, which converts to a reclining seating area for guests to enjoy films on the state of the art entertainment system, an innovative twist in the modern design behind the yacht’s more traditional layout.

Above decks the luxury yacht MARAE has good space forward, and a cushioned aft-deck and cockpit, offering the perfect settings for surveying the action while the yacht is underway, while the crew is on hand to prepare cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at any hour of the day. The pilothouse offers an alternative space from which to enjoy the stunning views and sailing conditions below decks.

Sailing yacht MARAE is well equipped with Wifi/ Internet, TV, DVD and CD players. The MARAE sailing yacht also has an impressive range of equipment and toys, including a 5m Williams Turbo Jet Tender with 110hp engine, 2 Laser sailing dinghies, Waterskis, wakeboard and tows, 2 person inflatable kayak, 2 inflatable paddle boards, Fishing gear, Snorkel gear, 2 mountain bikes. Rendez-vous diving is available by appointment.

Charter yacht MARAE measures 33m (108.3 feet) in length, has a beam of 8m (26.2 feet) and a draft of 2.15m (7.1 feet). Sailing yacht MARAE has 4 crew and cruises comfortably at 10 knots.

Marae is pronounced ‘Mar-eye’.

MARAE Specifications

In Polynesian societies, a Marae is a communal meeting place. Marae's owner liked the name and since the yacht was built in New Zealand translates it into "a special meeting place for family and friends."

2014 refit: - new paint job on hull and superstructure - systems and electrical needs addressed - modifications to the Owner’s cabin

Yacht Charter Accommodation

Sail yacht MARAE can accommodate 6 guests overnight in 3 cabins. The master stateroom offers a queen size bed, office and mini gymnasium with exercise bicycle, en suite shower room, a private staircase from the master stateroom to the aft cockpit. There is a double guest cabin with en suite shower room and a twin guest cabin with pullman berth and en suite shower room.

Charter Amenities and Extras

MARAE has the following Tenders & Toys: Tender 16' Williams, 2 Lasers, 1 x 2 man Kayak, Towing Ring, Wakeboard, Adult water-skis, Many board games, including Scrabble & Pictionary, Audio Visual Equipment and Deck Facilities:, TV's in salon, bar, each cabin, iPod Docker, CD - speakers in cabins, salon, cockpit, DVD, Xbox, Wii, Communications:, SSB, Satellite phone, Cell phone, Wi-Fi,

Charter Yacht Disclaimer

This document is not contractual. The yacht charters and their particulars displayed in the results above are displayed in good faith and whilst believed to be correct are not guaranteed. CharterWorld Limited does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information and/or images displayed. All information is subject to change without notice and is without warrantee. A professional CharterWorld yacht charter consultant will discuss each charter during your charter selection process. Starting prices are shown in a range of currencies for a one-week charter, unless otherwise marked. Exact pricing and other details will be confirmed on the particular charter contract. Just follow the "reserve this yacht charter" link for your chosen yacht charter or contact us and someone from the CharterWorld team will be in touch shortly.

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"Alloy Yachts built large sailing superyachts and the New Zealand company has won numerous International Yachting Awards and has been placed as a finalist on many occasions."

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