Sounds spending spree continues

Godsiff said he was not eyeing up any other tourism ventures in the Sounds at the moment.

‘‘We’ve always got future projects in mind, but there is nothing in particular,’’ he said.

‘‘A lot of things we do involve the stars aligning, like a family business that comes on the market ... and we just happen to see the potential.’’

There would be a period of mourning the loss of the Baillies, the ninth owners of the company since its inception in 1918, as they were ‘‘well-liked by all’’, Godsiff said. ‘‘They were good, familyoriented people, and Jim and Amanda did a great job, they really promoted the mail boat experience.’’

Jim Baillie said they sold the business to spend more time with their two young daughters, and were excited for their first summer in the Sounds ‘‘for pleasure and not for business’’.

‘‘We’ve had eight summers now working ourselves to the bone,’’ Baillie said.

‘‘It was sooner than we had planned, but the opportunity presented itself, the Marlborough Tour Company was looking to expand, and we thought it was too good an opportunity to pass up.’’

But they would miss their coworkers and the mail boat community, he said. ‘‘I think people were a bit disappointed to hear we were leaving.

‘‘It was a great job, I’ve got a big passion for the Sounds ... Pelorus gets a bit neglected so it’s been good to be the one to promote it, it’s been quite satisfying showing people this beautiful part of the world.’’

The family would stay in Havelock, where the girls went to school, and Baillie planned to invest more time in the school and wider Pelorus community, he said.