Owners of the Integrity 380, “Gringo”, Mark and Glynda Mclaren are planning their next cruising adventure on Lake Macquarie, which Mark points out is “six times the size of Sydney Harbour”.
“There’s so much to see and do, we’re never tired of the Lake.”
Based at Trinity Point, Mark, a semi-retired Dental Technician and Glynda, are enjoying more time on their Integrity, and planning a southern sojourn with fellow Integrity owners, including Rod, who bought their previous Integrity, “Kariba”.
“It’s wonderful to see Rod and his dad enjoying Kariba. It’s given his dad a whole new lease of life.”
The local Integrity owners are a tight bunch, as Mark explains. “There are six or seven of us on Lake Macquarie,” says Mark.
“We always wave and shout out to each other, but now we’ve organised an Integrity Club and we’re planning a trip to the Hawkesbury to get to know each other and share our cruising experiences.”
The couple was extremely happy with their previous Integrity, but were looking for something a little bigger. “And the 380 has all the room and amenities of a 50-footer,” says Glynda.
“It’s a very relaxing and sociable boat. When we have people on board, and we’ve had 12 or so with us, we just open up the back [two hopper windows and slider] and it’s easy to entertain.”
“At our age, we’re looking for functionality and ease of use,” adds Mark. “Glynda can drive it and pen it. I’m just her deckhand! But we also wanted the classic aesthetic. We took one look at it and fell in love!”
A confident “tinkerer”, Mark enjoys observing his trusted marine mechanic at work on the servicing and maintenance and then giving it a go himself, which is handy for offshore expeditions.
“We also learn a lot from Adam Workman, who’s more a friend than a boat dealer,” says Mark.
“We always have a chat and a laugh. He’s a great asset for us.”
First on the itinerary is some offshore whale watching, then coastal cruising down to Sydney and the Hawkesbury for a couple of months.
“Integrity boats are sound ocean-going vessels,” states Mark. “I brought Kariba up from Sydney in a 4-metre swell. Integrity hulls just love the sea.”
Now in semi-retirement, the Mclarens say it’s all about taking their time and seeing the sights.
“We don’t need speed. It’s all about the good life.”
