ViaMari is a newly wrought yacht-inspired destination club, whose name means "by way of the sea." Its name is nuanced, poetic, and rich with a sense of need and direction – a club created for those who have a deep love of the sea, or as John Masefield wrote in his famous poem, Sea Fever, "those who hear a call to the sea that is wild, and clear and cannot be denied."

ViaMari may easily be called a theme-based destination club - the theme here being the yacht and the sea-going lifestyle infused within it. Launched in 2006, the club is growing steadily, even in this economy. Michael Aumock is the Vice President of Sales for ViaMari, having joined the club in November of 2008. He is content with the steady progress ViaMari is making, for many reasons, the recent alignment with SeaNet being the main one.

"Although ViaMari has been around since '06,” Michael says, “it only recently gained the sort of traction necessary to be a player in the DC industry when it aligned with SeaNet and their fleet of Sunseeker yachts.” The deal immediately provided ViaMari club members access to more than a dozen Sunseeker yachts in various destinations, including Cabo San Lucas and the West Coast.

“But it also does something else,” Michael continues. “ It allows the club to be a turn-key yachting solution for existing destination or private residence clubs. Those members can have their great residences and vacations, and ViaMari can provide the elite yachting experience for those who want it, without having non-seagoing members pay extra in dues. The club would be the ultimate value add for those who want it.”

The ViaMari fleet of yachts will primarily be between 60 and 72 feet, with a future option of including those yachts 80 feet and above. This 60-72 feet length is, as Michael says, “the yachting equivalent of the four bedroom, ski in-ski out chalet. It sleeps up to eight and, unlike in a chalet, there is a separate crew’s quarters. It is elegant, yet highly functional as well.”

Michael also adds that the number of yachts will be dependent on the needs of the members. “If usage patterns dictate, for example, that we need more 50 foot boats for two-couple weekends to the Catalina islands or down to Baja, we will adapt. We are not set in our ways...if it make sense, and makes our members happy, we will embrace it with open arms and a smile.”

The initial deposit for the ViaMari seven day plan is $80,000, the annual dues are $10,000.

ViaMari will be offering two types of programs:

The first is regional, consisting of 50-75 foot yachts in a specific region (West Coast, East Coast, Caribbean), and the second will launch in the near future, and is international, consisting of yachts 80 feet and up. These will be in the Mediterranean, the Adriatic, and the Pacific Rim.