New Composite Production Factory Official Opening
March 4-5, 2025
In celebration of the New Grand Banks and Palm Beach Motor Yachts' state-of-the-art Composite Production Factory, we are excited to invite you to the GB Marine Group Manufacturing Precinct, the home of Grand Banks and Palm Beach Motor Yachts, as our guest for the official opening celebrations.
Hosted by: CEO Mark Richards and the entire Grand Banks and Palm Beach Motor Yachts Team
OFFICIAL ARRIVAL DAY
MONDAY 3RD MARCH 2025
11.00am - Muster Point at Crown Plaza Hotel Changi Airport, Singapore
Bus transfer to Hotel Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel Address: 2, Jalan Permas 11, Bandar Baru Permas Jaya, 81750 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
7.00pm - Dinner with Mark Richards at Gianni’s Italian Restaurant - Press/ Staff -Open invitation ( 5 minute walk, transport available )
NEW COMPOSITE PRODUCTION FACTORY OFFICIAL OPENING
TUESDAY 4TH MARCH , 2025
Breakfast - Renaissance Johor Bahru 9.00am - Bus pick up from Renaissance Johor Bahru to GB Marine Group's Factory.
10.30am- New Composite Production Factory Official Opening - Ribbon Cutting - by Mark Richards and Shareholders
11.00am- Free time in VIP room for Press
12.00pm - New Composite Production Factory Long Table Lunch
1.30pm - Factory and Product Discovery Tour hosted by Mark Richards and the Grand Banks and Palm Beach Motor Yachts Teams.
2.00pm -Latest Model Grand Banks 85 on display in the Testing Pool hosted Mark Richards
4.00pm - Bus Departs to Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel 6.30pm - Bus Departs to Sho Yakitori Bar (Senibong Cove) 7.00pm - Dinner with Mark Richards at Sho Yakitori Bar (Senibong Cove) 9.30pm - Bus Departs Sho Yakitori Bar (Senibong Cove) to Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel
PRESS SEA TRIAL AND OFFICIAL DEPARTURE
WEDNESDAY 5TH MARCH, 2025
Breakfast - Renaissance Johor Bahru 9.00am - pickup from Renaissance Johor Bahru to Senibong Cove Marina 10.00am - Press sea trial of the new Grand Banks 85 2.00pm - Bus Pick up - Departure to Changi Airport, Singapore via Renaissance Johor Bahru
WHAT OWNERS SAY ABOUT GRAND BANKS
“We love our overnight trips. Recently we came down from Yamba to Sydney, about 300 nautical miles and, although we sat on 24 knots the whole way, we were only burning 100 litres (26 gallons) of fuel an hour!!! The EB44 is the best thing we’ve done for the family… we call it the ‘family wagon’”
MATT SPENCER, EASTBAY 44 OWNER
“This is my 4th Grand Banks and I’ve always liked them – they’re sea-kindly, fast and fuel efficient. But the stuff Mark Richards has done has made them even better. He’s raised the game and they’re now next generation in terms of design. My wife and I love cruising on it – each August we live onboard for 30-40 days. She feels very safe as it has a really nice ride. And we love the style and the lines.”
TOM WHIDDEN, GRAND BANKS 60 OWNER AND 8 TIMES AMERICA’S CUP PRO SAILOR.
“I was in Mexico when COVID hit and had to get home. I had an 1,100nm trip, uphill (upwind & up current) and, let me tell you, the boat did better than I did! I had to keep going day and night. Almost no boat of this size can go from Puerto Vallarta to San Diego non-stop. And thanks to the hull shape and lightweight carbon superstructure, it’s amazingly efficient.”
GARY WEISMAN, GRAND BANKS 60 OWNER
“The range of the boat had huge appeal. Because of the V-WARP Technology® hull that slips so easily through the water, the weight reduction of the carbon fibre and the new Volvo engines, we could simply go further with less stops. Of course, it saves money but the real plus is the convenience. At 10 knots I can travel for over 2000 nautical miles without refuelling. As a sailor, I don’t like to stop once I get going!”
JOHN BACON, GRAND BANKS 60 OWNER