And as Brittany Cooper reports, it's easier than ever for the well-informed
yachtie to gain access to this pristine hideaway.
The Vendee - France's '
yachtie' Atlantic coast - was our destination.
"I think a lot of it has to do with the weather this weekend, and also the price of gas," said Ron Bloom, a former yacht club commodore who was manning one of the committee boats with fellow
yachtie Dave Brown.
"It is an iconic yacht race, and every
yachtie wants to win it.
It's a good base for the beach at Slapton Sands or
yachtie Kingsbridge Estuary.
I was dragged along to the dressage by my horse-mad sisters-in-law - and at the other end of the sporting spectrum was given a ticket by a
yachtie friend who couldn't make the sailing in Weymouth that day.
The daughter of
Yachtie, purchased for EUR1.4m at the 2002 Keeneland November sale by Newsells Park Stud, was sold by Kulani Park as agent for AEUR420,000.
Heading west, we hit the
yachtie base of Newport in Rhode Island which was exactly that - a series of marinas filled with millions of dollars of expensive sailing craft and an overabundance of elderly American women, in one case all dressed in a clash of red and purple outfits, presumably so they could spot each other easily with their failing eyesight!
Nautical taken too literally will bring a case of mistaken identity as a
yachtie, but many of this season's offerings are much more feminine and quirky, and give a hint of nautical as well as a literal translation.
One of the highlights of being a
yachtie rather than a landlubber was the freedom to drop anchor and dive into the underwater paradise to explore the coral and wrecks whenever we wanted.
"Richard and Karen Bonato kindly host and cater this BBQ event for the club, opening their home at Cape Upstart to welcome
yachties. Richard is not a
yachtie, rather a motor boat owner, who is thrilled to share his piece of paradise," said Steel.
The posh locals will doubtless be glued to some
yachtie going for gold in Athens.