IN THE NEWS

Formula has great expectations for Model Year 2009, and the first step toward promoting the new models’ features is our annual photo shoot.

To capture all the awesome changes for ’09, a Formula crew including photographers and videographers traveled to the beautiful island of Bimini in the Bahamas. The ‘09 photo shoot included eight exciting Formulas sporting new graphics that glistened on the turquoise Bimini waters and a crew of 32 personnel. The Sapphire Blue Metallic, Morning Sand Metallic, Caribbean Blue Metallic and the always striking FAS³TECH^® in Gold Series #2 and Platinum Terminal Velocity definitely turned heads they headed out on their way across the grand ocean.

This year, the photo shoot went extremely well, nothing compared to last year’s terrible weather of high seas, clouds and forest-fire smoke. This year, weather was hot, hot, hot from early morning till dusk, but no one complained, and the boats looked spectacular on the water, from the ground and air. Thanks to the pre-staging of the boats in Bimini over a five-day period, the video crew was able to  “hit the docks” immediately upon their arrival early Tuesday morning, shooting cockpit shots from the dock with the help of our Formula crew who were already on the island. The rest of the Formula crew boated over Tuesday morning from Miami in the 37 PC, 34 PC, 45 Yacht and 400 SS. The ocean was relatively calm—it was one of the easiest rides to Bimini in a LONG time. After everyone cleared Customs and unloaded the boats, lunch was served—an always-delicious treat prepared by Shelley Porter! The shoot was off to a smooth start.

The photographers and chopper pilot arrived on day two, leaving the Marketing team to coordinate video footage, photo appointment shots and running shots simultaneously, making excellent use of all their resources. The hands-on Formula team on the docks met each boat as it returned from a shoot and promptly made sure the boats were wiped, scrubbed, re-organized and ready for their next assignments—great job, guys! Toward the end of the week, with all of the “must have” pictures successfully “in the can,” the pressure eased and it was time to scope out some more area lifestyle shots. The group took the 37 PC with its gorgeous Sapphire Blue Metallic Designer graphic to a canal on the southern end of south Bimini—with the boat docked alongside a tropical Bimini home, it was a perfect setting. Later that day, the entire Formula fleet further headed south to Honeymoon Harbor on the Gun Cay where they anchored the boats for more lifestyle photography. (This year, the ads are going to jump off the pages in the marine publications!) Finally, late Saturday it was time to call the Model Year 2009 photo shoot a wrap—and just in time, because bad weather was heading our direction!

Day six was the official “go home” day. Each boat was captained and driven back to the States. And again, the ocean was amazingly calm-enough for some of us to fall asleep! Everyone arrived in Miami together to clear Customs and Immigration. The crew had called Customs ahead of time to arrange an easy clearing, and to our surprise it worked—another smooth operation. We look forward to the introduction of Formula 2009—thank you, Formula team, for another outstanding photo shoot!