In Rome right now with my son, Chad, working with an iconic Italian leather company that will be part of a super-secret project we’ll unveil at the 2019 Miami International Boat Show, I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone at this weekend’s Cigarette Owners Rendezvous at the Lake of the Ozarks. From Brett Manire, Mark Waddington and their team at Performance Boat Center to all of you who’ve brought your Cigarette Racing Team sportboats and center consoles from near and far to be there, all of you have contributed to make this one-of-a-kind event a bigger and bigger success every year.

The fourth annual Cigarette Owners Rendezvous attracted a record-setting fleet. Photo courtesy/copyright Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

You are a major part of what we call “the Cigarette difference” and I am so very proud to call you part of the Cigarette family. The Cigarette difference starts with the product and ends with you, those who support the brand. I have no doubt that we’ll see 100 boats at the rendezvous next year, but 87 boats is an incredible number and a new record for Cigarette.

We’ll be in Europe a bit longer visiting with other vendors for our new project, but that doesn’t mean our hearts are not with you this weekend. We’ve been at every rendezvous since Performance Boat Center began hosting them; and we’re sorry we had to miss this one. We certainly didn’t want to.

We wish we were celebrating the Cigarette brand alongside you. But when you come see us in Miami next year—and we want you to be there—we think you’ll understand why.

In the meantime, enjoy yourselves and congratulations on making the fourth annual Cigarette Owners Rendezvous another record-setting success. You are a big part of the Cigarette difference.

Editor’s note: Skip Braver is the owner and chief executive officer of Cigarette Racing Team headquartered in Opa-locka, Fla.

Related story: Fourth Annual Cigarette Owners Rendezvous At 87 Boats And Counting