Wearing a Canadian Yachting logo shirt,  Boating Industry Canada and Canadian Yachting Managing Editor Andy Adams had just arrived at the Sea Ray Homecoming Event in Knoxville, Tennessee when he heard, “Hey! Canadian Yachting!”

It was a couple who had come all the way from Vernon, BC (and won the Long Distance Award as well) to attend the 2012 Sea Ray Homecoming. They have a 370 Sundancer and their enthusiasm as owners was all it took to convince them to make the trip.

Another couple from Quebec also noticed the Canadian Yachting logo. They were among the approximately 300 Sea Ray owners who made the trip the the Knoxville Headquarters for this a two-day event. The guests mostly arrived Thursday, September 13th for the first meeting at the waterfront restaurant, Calhoun's, at Volunteer Landing on the Tennessee River.

During the evening, Sea Ray gathered a flotilla of Sea Rays to parade past the restaurant while guests enjoyed drinks and mingled with other Sea Ray owners as well as factory engineers, designers and salespeople.

The next day, the owners and media were invited to Sea Ray Headquarters to see the full range of new boats and plant tours and rides were offered throughout the day at the beautiful waterfront Sea Ray Boulevard facilities.

Sea Ray Vice President of Marketing, Rob Noyes was the front man although several key executives including President Rob Parmenteer also addressed the crowds.

The highlights were clearly the new Sea Ray 370 Venture model powered by twin Mercury Verado outboards and also the grand new 510 Sundancer.

About 30 Sea Ray models ranging from 19 to 51 feet lined the docks and were available for rides. Many of the owners attending the event found out about it through social media, including the Sea Ray owners forum at www.clubsearay.com.

Photo: Approximately 300 Sea Ray owners gathered at the waterfront restaurant, Calhoun's, at Volunteer Landing as the new models like this 510 Sundancer paraded past.