Head of Sales Damian Raxach
Creative Director Marjolein Van Der Klaauw
Accounts Els Van de Sande
Writer and Online Manager Melanie Winters
Writer Lisa Thompson
Writer Mia Naprta
Writer Lucie Gardiner
“ What made you do that?!” As the news broke that Simon Relph and his wife Helen had handed over The Islander to me, this was the common reaction I received from friends, family and professional relations.
Of course, Simon left me with big shoes to fill after having developed The Islander into a glossy +120 page, monthly publication with a stellar rep utation. I am sure that everybody in our industry is grateful for the work they have done and ap plauds them for it!
So, when they ask me what made me do it, I ignore the “are you crazy?” undertone. Instead, I explain with enthusiasm how it will fit in my life which -as they know- is already quite full-on with 2 kids, a yacht management business, a passion for music with a gig here and there on weddings and in bars, sailing, diving, SUP’ing, surfing and occasional horseback riding.
One person who really questioned my sanity was actually a publisher himself! I defended my case easily because I realise what is so unique about The Islander.
The other difference with The Islander is that it is FUBU. In my late teens I wore hip hop bag gy jeans from the brand FUBU. It took a long time before I learned that it stood for “For Us By Us”. (I still doubt I was deeply enough involved in Hip Hop culture to wear those legitimately,... but I di gress...) The Islander is FUBU; made For Us; pro fessional yachties By Us.
One of the many amazing things about our community is that we can be found in different corners of the world. My wife An and I sailed into Auckland in November 2010, about as far away from home as we could be. That evening we, unexpectedly, had dinner with a group of 11 peo ple that we knew from the Med and Caribbean seasons.
For this community we will work to make sure you can find your copy of The Islander magazine wherever you land. Whether you’re in St Maarten or Dubrovnik, Antibes or Fort Lauderdale,... by of fering information, education, entertainment and continued community building, The Islander will always aim to add value to your life as profession al yacht crew or industry professional, so it stays top-of-mind with you!
An improved online publication and strategy will be instrumental in enhancing this. But we call on your efforts to contribute your knowledge and share your experiences -the fun and the harrow ing ones!
On paper I may now be the owner of The Is lander, but it is not my magazine. I remember a scene from Downton Abbey where the father of the family looks at their estate and declares: “We are not the owners but merely the custodians who have to safeguard all of this for future genera tions.” That’s what I’ll be, the custodian of a maga zine that -since 25 years- belongs to everyone that works in this very special, close-knit Industry.
Our advertisers, without whom The Islander never could have existed, pitch in financially and often with their intrinsic expertise, to keep their brand names in front of you while you are visiting their locations or plotting course to where they are based.
That’s what I’ll be, the custodian of a magazine that -since 25 yearsbelongs to everyone that works in this very special, close-knit Industry.
We asked photographer Stuart Pearce from Yachtshot if he had a picture that would be suitable for the Decem ber cover. We were thinking snow and ice... Stuart sent this unique picture of M/Y Eminence where the sun, magically, adds different colours to the splashing water particles. He wrote: “No snow, but it has fairy lights!”
Eminence was built in 2008 at the Abeking & Rasmussen shipyard. The interior and exterior de sign of Eminence was done by Reymond Langton Design Ltd.
She can carry 12 guests in 8 cabins. She is manned by 24 crew. She was a finalist in the World Superyacht Awards 2009.
Stuart Pearce was praised by Eminence’s Sen ior Captain Chris Waine “Billion thanks again for the amazing shots and footage of our stunning EMINENCE, you have done us really proud”
By Lisa Thompson
Having just waved farewell to their re cent charter clients in Turkey, Cap tain George Curtoys and First Mate / Cook / Stewardess, Harriet Dubey were taking SY Aenea, a lovely CNB76, 23 metre sail yacht past the southern tip of Greece. On a beauti ful calm September day, they were heading to Sicily to pick up their next guests. Having motored across -since there was literally no wind- they stopped to have a swim. They were in the international water border zone between Italy and Greece. The weather was amazing, and the conditions were just per fect, with the water completely flat and still as a millpond.
After a refreshing dip, they wanted to get moving again. It was then that they noticed a boat in the distance, right in the direction where they headed for. They assumed it was underway and moving. An hour later, it was still directly in front of them, and it was defi nitely not moving. The autopilot had them heading straight for it! They were now 150 miles from land… It was an eerie situation… Cautiously approaching and then circling the seemingly abandoned vessel; they tried to receive a sign of life via the VHF. To no avail. Then they wolf-whistled a few times but re ceived no response... As they got closer, they saw a school of fish gathered underneath the blue hull. It looked like any other family cruising yacht. They noticed the sails were properly stowed away and all lines were coiled and tidied up.
George: “I started to think that maybe some poor old boy had died or had a heart attack or stroke and the boat was just drifting around. So we stopped our boat, and I swam over to it, feeling a bit anxious about what I might find. Would there be a dead body or maybe someone crazy on board? As I neared the boat, there was a really heavy, awful smell……”
George and Harriet also observed that the port side of the boat looked as though it had taken a hit from a larger vessel. The guard rail had been cut and there was a dent in the cap rail. It seemed as if a boat had maybe pulled up alongside and taken everybody off… At least, that is what George and Harriet hoped!
George : “It was an Ocean Star 51, almost iden tical to a 2000 Beneteau. It could berth 10 peo ple, had 4 heads and was a nice-looking boat. It had a dark hull, white top and dark blue sails and looked like a typical Beneteau fibre glass construction yacht.”
With Harriet nervously observing from Aenea, she saw George reach the back of the spooky cruiser and gingerly look over the edge, where he saw a lot of rubbish, clothes, and mattresses.
George: “Once I got on board, I didn’t im mediately go inside, but went around the top and looked through all the windows to see if there was any movement inside. It was pretty gross and all the toilets were a bit like the film, Trainspotting! There were about a hundred bottles of urine dotted around the place. The occupants had all been eating Nutella, and it was difficult to tell whether it was this or faeces on the beds and other surfaces!”
George’s immediate thought was that it might have been a migrant boat, although Harriet didn’t think it seemed like the kind of vessel you would immediately associate with migrants. But as they started to realise that so many of the clothes were women’s and children’s, it was looking very much like it. They uncovered bags with notepads, head phones, and other personal effects, and it felt as though everyone had left in a hurry. Then they then found a wallet with an ID card be longing to a young Afghan lad aged just 21 years old. This pretty much confirmed the refugee theory.
Life jackets inside the boat and the life raft on the side looked ready to be deployed.
George and Harriet tell me that the yacht had a Greek name and an American flag on the back, but the hull number had been scratched off. Also, the name had been tampered with, so it wasn’t particularly clear. There was also no paperwork on board. George knew that Ocean Stars are built in Greece and mainly produced for Greek charter companies, so that made its origins certain…… but what had happened with it since?
George : “We tried to call through to the port on the VHF but we were too far offshore and no one was picking up. So I set up a towline, and we towed the ghost vessel for 170 miles to Syr acuse in Sicily. There had been absolutely no wind the entire way. It was crazy, but these un usual conditions made it possible. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to swim across and attach a line to it. We would have been forced to leave it there.”
Harriet was concerned that if they left the abandoned yacht where they found it, it could have posed a risk to other vessels, especially
©Pierre Borthiry“Would there be a dead body or maybe someone crazy on board?”
“Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to swim across and attach a line to it. We would have been forced to leave it there.”
at night. George agreed but also had his mind on the rumours he’d heard about salvage rights and that you can claim what you find at sea. So they towed it in and handed it over to the authorities so that it wasn’t drifting around. They also wanted to investigate any potential reward… But soon they realised they had sailed headlong into Italian bureaucracy!
owners. After that, the boat is impounded for another 30 days, after which it goes to auction for 30 days - so the whole process should take approximately 90 days.
George : “We arrived in Syracuse and they put us into quarantine with the boat until they could figure out what was going on with it. So we were stuck at anchor with this boat still at tached for 5 days! They were refusing to let us moor it in the marina or put it in a dry dock. They wouldn’t let us move from the anchor age and we weren’t even allowed to anchor the salvaged boat, as it would then need its own Captain! We needed to get up to Naples for our next guest trip, and it was all becoming very stressful.”
As they now had internet access, George and Harriet could search for any report of a boat like this being stolen or going missing, but nothing came up. They also researched the law and confirmed that Italy is signed up to the International Maritime Convention. George explained to the Port Authority that according to maritime law, he -as the salvag er- had the legal duty to hand the vessel over to them. They legally have to take possession and responsibility for the vessel and search for its owners. The protocol dictates that a 30-day advert is placed in the local newspa per offering an opportunity to find the boat’s
George explains how things got really tricky when the authorities tried to get him to sign a document, which stated that he is responsible for the vessel but is leaving it in their possession. He had the good sense not to do this because if, for example, the boat had caught fire in the marina, he would have been liable for the damages. They ended up having to get advice from a lawyer and found a great guy at Luise Group, who sat down with them and the Port Authority. They were eventually able to sign a document stating that the au thorities were taking possession AND respon sibility for the vessel, but that George and Harriet have a financial claim over it.
Harriet tells me it seemed like the harbour master didn’t want the hassle of it. One can only imagine the paperwork he would have to deal with. But I guess that goes with the job. I was curious to know what would happen if the boat was identified to be a migrant vessel. George explained that if the Italian authorities had discovered it carrying illegal immigrants, they would have removed them and the boat would have been marked with a red cross and later destroyed. They haven’t destroyed the boat and they haven’t yet found any informa tion regarding it. This means they will have to re-register the vessel, create a boat certificate and then sell it.
Unfortunately, this opens up all kinds of questions regarding the boat’s history of use and the fate of its last occupants. With all the tragic stories we hear about desperate mi grants trying any way to save themselves and their loved ones from whatever perils exist in their home countries, this find can lead one to grim and dark thoughts…
Harriet “I have thought about that frequently and just had to quash it. All I can do is hope
that things turned out OK for everyone and that they are now living better lives. But actually encountering the boat first-hand and seeing the reality that these people were living for a while was quite disturbing. I was also very nervous on the journey towing the boat back to land in case someone was hiding on it who might climb along the towline and board our boat at 3am! On the night shift, I was staring out in the direction of the ghost boat and felt really uneasy. I felt a lot better when the sun came back up and I could see the boat again. But there were a couple of times when I wondered if we had might the right decision.”
George and Harriet are currently waiting to find out when the ghost vessel is going to auction. The law entitles them to a third of the vessel’s value and they can claim reimbursement of salvage costs. This means they could eventually buy the boat at a much-reduced rate and have their own charter, or receive a reward amount for salvaging it. All will become clear in the next month or so and we will give you an update for sure!
They also wanted to investigate any potential reward… But soon they realised they had sailed headlong into Italian bureaucracy!
Madrid and its Power over the Port of Palma
The Brokerage and Sales Market remains healthy as we reach the End of 2022
Ft. Lauderdale International Boatshow (FLIBS) ‘22 Review
The Guardian Angels of the Waters around St. Maarten – St Martin
Palma Yards and Marinas thinking about the Future
Raise The Roof Party for Marine Aspirations
Paper Charts out
STP and its conflicts with the Harbour Authority (APB) is a subject I have followed up on since it started. I have previously written about this in Spanish publications. The Islander’s new editor, Jens Oomes asked me to clarify the structures and politics behind this impor tant outfit in Palma.
Palma harbour, all of it, is ruled by the Palma Harbour Author ity (APB), and the 28 harbour authorities in Spain ruling on 46 harbours depend on “State Harbours” in Madrid. This is a department of the Spanish Mari time Ministry. So, Palma harbour follows the rules of Madrid, not the Mallorca government rules! So Madrid -despite being land locked and far away with no af finity with the Yachting Indus try- rules the port: almighty and autonomously.
The Ports administration from Marid instructs the APB in the Balearics to deny the permit. Why?
APB grants the concessions to the marinas, shipyards and every building or surface (this is why your Palma parking app doesn’t work in Sector G Tarifada) within Palma Harbour. This is also the case with four other important
Oscar Siches CMP oscar@siches.com +34 667 494 858 www.siches.com
Balearic harbours: Alcudia, Ibiza, Mahon and La Sabina (Forment era).
For the last 15 years, there have been corruption cases involving the APB’s director and president, granting marina concessions and extensions and applying dodgy law interpretations. Like the best Sicilian practices, the Omertá pre vails and nobody speaks up fear ing retaliation.
Lifting 1000 Tons and nowhere to go.
STP Servicios Tecnicos Portu arios, since it started in 2006, did a very good job. They increased their clientele year after year. So they needed more space. On sev eral occasions they requested to increase their concession sur face, the size of the yard. A few requests were granted, and when the concession renewal time ar rived they asked again for more surface. You may know that STP sports the largest Travel Lift in Europe. Investing in the 1000 Ton Travelift was one of the many im provements STP made, much to the benefit of the Madrilenian APB. They also increased the an nual lease to APB. A totally legal and above-board affair.
Once the Travel lift was up and running, STP put in a request to extend the shipyard surface once
Oscar Siches is a marina design er and consultant for marina projects in various countries, in cluding the marinas of Pantalan del Mediterraneo and Moll Vell in Palma. He has shared his ex perience through more than 30 conferences in 12 countries and has written numerous articles for Marina World and other in ternational nautical magazines. He explains the historical pow erplay of Madrid over the Port of Palma. Days after submitting this article to The Islander, the long awaited breakthrough re garding the expansion of the yard-area was announced.
again. They expected to add more than 56.000 m2 reaching towards the end of the long pier which ends at the old lighthouse. And then BOOM! The Ports adminis tration from Madrid instructs the APB in the Balearics to deny the permit. Why?
My educated guess is that, af ter all the corruption and admin istrative mess which generated very bad press, Madrid prefers to block everything that is not 100% strictly by the book or that can be seen as benefitting a concession aire. One must realise that none of the public officials of the “Ports of the State”, no matter whether they are directors or technicians, have a clue about yachting. This doesn’t help the case of course. My views on this issue stem from my experience running two con cessions in Palma Harbour be tween 2001 and 2016 -Pantalan del Mediterraneo and Moll Vellhaving suffered APB’s unfair be haviour consistently during those 15 years.
And now, on the 27th of Octo ber, days before a demonstration demanding the expansion to be granted, the APB has given the green light! This is a big break through for STP, Astilleros and the yachting industry as a whole!
There is much uncertainty in the world; fi nancial markets are shaky and gas pric es are skyrocketing and inflation is very much happening. You don’t have to be an econo mist to know that things aren’t all moonlight and roses.
As we enter the 4th quarter of the year, I have spoken with several brokers from different seg ments of the market. And once again, it seems we are blessed with an industry that is -dare we say it - unshakable. As one broker put it: “Most of our clients are not affected by rising interest rates as they don’t need to borrow. In some markets that will be an issue – and perhaps for some boat deal ers who have to stock yachts and borrow to do so. The clients that buy expensive motor yachts are generally not people who are personally worried about the electric / gas bill. But increased fuel costs may cause some to wonder about how much use they put their motor yacht through.”
Lukas Stratmann of Ocean Independence is brief, he’s too busy selling boats I guess: “Our market of superyachts between 30 and 40 metres is still very strong!”
Jens-Petter Flesvig from Heitmann Marin in Oslo says: “Lagoon sold 45 boats in Cannes! But where people used to buy more at the show, the deals happen in a less impulsive way, mostly after the boat shows.”
At the Oslo Boat Show, Heitmann displayed mostly production boats (Jeanneau, Beneteau) for the domestic market. Sales of yachts under 1,5 million has slowed down. However, it has only slowed down in relation to the epic post-lockdown spike in sales. Motorboat sales in the same market
segment however, are K.O. due to fuel prices. In Norway they were close to 3 Euro per litre in the summer and early fall.
Boatbuilder’s production halls are full and working flat-out because of the post covid peak in combination with the backlog in production and availability of parts. This has changed the privileges of the good clients. Jens-Petter ex plains: We used to be good clients because we would order a stock of 10 boats. Now we are giv en the possibility to order as few as 3 boats be cause we are good clients!”
The Brokerage market has had its expected cool-down after the post lockdown peak and brokers are happy to have some listings again whereas a few months ago they couldn’t make money because they had no boats to sell.
Simon Turner from Berthon Palma shares similar observations: “I would say that yes – there are now more listings coming on the market than say six months ago.” As an ex ample: 30 Swans are listed globally, the majority are quite new – later than 2017. That is an area where there was sparse availability. Older boats are still stuck in the market to a degree over the last 2 years of buoyant sales. 76 Oysters are list ed, again most fairly new. In the last 2 months, about 50 motor yachts over 30m and over 1 mil lion euros have been listed. “We have found that the sales market is still pretty good.”
Contrary to the input from Norway, and per haps due to Palma attracting a more internation al clientele, Simon mentions: “The recent modern yachts we have listed (sail or power) –and in par ticular sub 50’- have been sold.”
He adds: “Larger (more costly) yachts naturally
have a smaller client base but again sales contin ue and again particularly the modern yachts. The strong USD has meant some boats sold more quick ly from Europe / UK to the US.
I do not see any alarming situation in the market. I would say it has slowed – but that was expected –even before the recent oil / gas situation and lower EU currency, increased interest rates.”
Boats that have stayed on sale through, say the last 12 months (in the good times), certainly need to rethink something – either price, place, broker, or condition of vessel … why have they not sold and what will help? The political world is also changing – recently in France, in Italy, Sweden and of course the UK! Whether this will affect our yachting industry we shall have to wait and see.
Meanwhile Princess Yachts emailed us to report record order books.
The UK Hydrographic Office’s (UKHO) plans for the phased exit of paper charts to be compliant for digital navi gation by 2026, and the MCA’s shift to ward digital and the modernisation of training, including immersive training tools. The MCA is looking to overhaul its suite of student training and assess ment criteria by the end of 2023.
The e3 team visited FLIBS late October for the first time in a few years. Albeit the show has taken place each year over the pandemic, it was not possible for the EU side of e3 to visit due to the pandemic travel restrictions, so it was good to be back.
This year the superyacht area of the show returned to the pre pandemic level of activities, and all of us from across the pond were welcomed back.
Not much has changed at the show since my last visit. It is still huge, hot and humid but this time the sky was blue every day, filled with the noise of circling planes towing advertising hoardings but with not a drop of rain.
Sharon Philips, e3’s US director, always takes the most advantage of being able to dock walk and was able to make contact with many yachts which these days are getting more and more difficult to access without appointments.
The largest yacht at the show was Coral Ocean which has recently been refitted in Mallorca.
The third largest yacht was the striking DB9 from the Palmer Johnson stable. Palmer Johnson designs such fantastic yachts with real power profiles.
Over the years FLIBS and Miami have always been the place to see boating excesses. One of the meas ures I always look for is to see how many outboards can be mounted on the transom of a small dayboat! This year I was not disappointed with 6 found!
It was great to be back and to catch up with a lot of old friends and business colleagues.
The SNSM (Société Nationale de Sauveteurs en Mer) de Saint Martin is a Sea Rescue Service operated entirely by volunteers; whom head out at the request of the MRCC to assist Mariners in distress in Sint Maarten/ Saint Martin and its neighboring islands on one of their 2 Rescue Vessels. They have a 30ft inflatable RIB as well as the 39 ft “Vedette Classe I” vessel “SNS 129” on which they head to sea whenever someone is in need of help; they are on standby and available 24/7, 365 days of the year.
The SNSM consists of over 60 volunteers from all walks of life, half of whom are active as crew or captains on the vessels; whilst the remain der are land based. Most of the volunteers are employed full time at a paying day job elsewhere but will drop whatever they are doing at a moments’ notice to assist with a Rescue Operation if called upon by the SNSM Call Coordinator.
The station in SXM St Martin was classed as one of France’s busiest SNSM stations with between 50-60 rescue operations per year prior to Hurricane Gonzalo in 2013; when the SNS 129 was severely damaged during a Rescue mission in the storm.
Since Hurricane Irma in 2017 and Covid19, consequently things have been a bit slower; but the station is still very active and volunteers hold weekly trainings at the pool as well as onboard the vessels.
The SNSM is not funded by the local government and relies entirely on private donations to remain operational.
For more information: S.N.S.M. B.P. 723 - 18, Bd du Dr Hubert Petit, Front de mer de Marigot, 97150 SAINT-MARTIN (Antilles françaises). Tel. 05 90 777 056
Weekly volunteers meeting from 7 to 8 PM every THURSDAY evening, all year long. Information & Souvenir Shop open at the station every Tuesday & Wednesday from 9 AM to 12 PM .
Secretary present at station every Sat urday from 9 AM to 12 PM for inquiries & donations.
Emergencies 24/7: SNSM St. Martin: (590) 690 767 500CROSS AG : Direct call: 196 from French based opera tor or (596) 596 70 92 92 for international calls
VHF Ch. 16
students in the final year of the Higher School of Naval Engi neering of the Polytechnic University of Madrid were welcomed to the STP Shipyard Palma as part of their training program on the 31st of October. They learned about the operation of the outfit and its in teresting ‘open shipyard’ model in the process they learned a lot about all the professional facets related to repairs and maintenance of different yachts. Meanwhile in RCNP a project has started that allows underprivileged youngsters to work alongside the Marina staff. This allows them to become ac quainted with the marine industry, broadening their horizons and increasing their chances in life.
The Marine Aspirations party at Astilleros Shipyard on the night of Friday 14 October, raised about 6000 euros. Phil and Anne Wade, Theo Jack and Colin Squire mobilised the 119 people from the Yachting com munity to join and donate. On the night, a nice, spontaneous cash donation was made by Roger Horner of E3 which in turn inspired Master Yachts to do the same!
On Saturday morning, with the help of Nick Entwisle of “Yachting Gives Back”, a significant donation of left over quality asado meat was made to the soup kitchen just off the Avenidas, which provides meals for homeless peo ple. The Mallorcan wine donated by Can Feliu and served from the famous big 18 litre bottle was also popularNone of that was left over...
Usually ships sound their horns to announce an arrival, a departure, or even impending danger – but sometimes, and only very rarely, as a sailor’s salute. On Wednesday, October 26th at 1700 the yachting community came together to blast their whistles in unison as a spe cial send off for a fallen sailor who touched the hearts of many here and all over the world.
Martin George Krog passed away on October 20th 2022 in the comfort of his home with friends, losing an ongoing battle with his health. Marty as his friends knew him, was born Port Elizabeth, South Africa on May 13th 1962. After his army service, Marty joined a small sailing vessel out of Cape Town in 1986 and began his jour ney north to America where he quickly engrossed himself in the yachting community around Fort Lauderdale.
In the late 90’s he started to make a base for himself in Europe, eventually settling in Palma de Mallorca. During his sailing years he crewed and raced on notable yachts such as Shamrock V, Alexia, As piration, Maximizer and many more. With multiple trans Atlantics, Mediterranean, US East Coast, Indian ocean and Caribbean seasons under his belt, he rose to be a respected captain in the industry and a friend to many along the way. His departure is an immense and widely felt loss, conveyed in that rare and special sounding of the ship’s horns. A sign of deep respect for a man who was truly loved and adored, and a final farewell tribute to a yachting legend we’ll never forget. Marty will be kept alive by his stories and his family name will survive by his daughter Kayla, his sister Renee, and his nieces Shelby and Dew.
I have always been very engaged in activ ism, as I believe everything is political. Brad, the founder of Save The Med, reached out to me and we had a meeting in my stu dio. His enthusiasm was so infectious that it only took a few minutes for me to be on board. He showed me videos of species I didn’t even know existed in the Balearic sea.
During my teens I got involved in activism. I realised lots of things needed to change, and social movements are crucial for mak ing those changes happen. I became active in the squatting movement in Barcelona, and with time my activism would bleed into my artwork and vice versa. I encountered the Beehive Design collective in Maine, USA and it showed me how activism and art can merge into something powerful. That in spired me to come back to Spain and work on collaborative storytelling graphics. So far, I have worked on a huge graphic about
Just before the pandemic, Save the Med started an artistic collaboration with the Majorcan artist Carles Garcia O’Dowd (aka Carles G.O’D.), based in New York. Shortlisted in the World Illustration Awards, the Back4theFuture drawing, re sulting from this unique collaboration, is a very special project both for the artist and for the foundation.
The drawing represents the foundation’s work, which focuses on marine regen eration through different projects that aim to reduce single-use plastic pollu tion, raise awareness about the marine environment and integrate land and sea regeneration. The art piece was printed as a giant banner to allow oral storytell ing, much like medieval troubadours, and was presented during the 2022 Biennial of Thought in Palma, in the framework of the Crida de contractació de projectes de mediació 2022 CAC Palma.
abortion rights and another about the tourism industry. I also started one about human mi gration and borders. Activism has completely shaped my life.
The creative process was very long and inten sive. My connection to the subject matter and narratives is very personal. The first step was to meet with the foundation members, talk about their work and hear all their stories. Step two was to craft intricate mind maps with all the information and scenes that had to be drawn. The final step was to draw the image using Procreate, in a very intense process with a lot of feedback and many revisions.
“The drawing Back4theFuture is a love letter to the Mediterra nean”, Carles G.O’D.
I think it’s a tool to deal with complexity, a tes timonial of a historic moment, and a love letter to the Mediterranean.
Choose one of the scenes of the drawing and tell us why.
The prairie of posidonia on the bottom left is a great starting point to tell the story of the drawing. Posidonia contributes to create the white sand of our beaches and filters the water to make it transparent. It also captures carbon and produces oxygen, which then travels into the air that we breathe. I think photosynthesis should be a religion [laughs].
I grew up diving from the rocks and exploring the sea bed. I am part of the sea, I need to be near it. I have seen the reduction of marine spe
cies and changes in the ecosystem over time. The land-sea relationship is cru cial. Ecosystems are part of us and it is so shocking to see how we treat the sea as a dump and an endless extraction pit. We are still fishing in the most destruc tive ways, dumping untreated sewage and dangerous plastics, and promoting polluting motor boats with anchors that destroy the seabed.
That we need to do more presentations!
EEarly intervention is very important. The duration of untreated depression influences the long-term course of the depression and severity of episodes.
Once a person has had an ep isode of depression they become more prone to subsequent epi sodes. They may fall into depres sion more easily with each sub sequent episode. For this reason, some people go on to have repeat ed episodes throughout their life. To prevent this pattern occur ring, it is important to intervene early with a first episode of de pression to make sure it is treated quickly and effectively.
You’ve been concerned about Carla, a crew member who hasn’t seemed herself for quite some time. She hasn’t been involved with things on board that she usu ally enjoys. You think she may be depressed. You decide to discuss it with her.
As a mental health first aid crew officer, if you believe some one is experiencing symptoms of a mental health problem, you would use the Mental Health First Aid Action Plan, discussed in the first issue 1/4 as a guide about how to approach the person and see if there is anything you can do to as sist them.
When approaching someone you
believe may be depressed choose a suitable time and a space where you will both be comfortable.
When approaching someone who you believe may be depressed, let them know that you’re available to talk when they are ready; do not put pressure on them to talk right away. It can be helpful to let the person choose the moment to open up.
However, if the person does not initiate a conversation with you about how they are feeling, you should say something to them.
You might mention to Carla that some of the symptoms you have observed suggest that she may be experiencing depression. You could explain to her that men tal health problems can make it difficult to manage work, relation ships and day-to-day tasks, and that effective treatment is availa ble.
Remember that you must re spect the person’s privacy and confidentiality unless you are concerned that they are at risk of harming themselves or others.
As you approach and engage with Carla, you also need to assess if she is in crisis and, if so, to assist with this crisis.
In the November issue of The Is lander you can find part 1 of this ar ticle by Amanda Hewson, covering depression and suicide. Amanda Hewson, MSOS & Extreme Marine Medicine Trainer, has been a regis tered nurse and professional sailor for 20 years. She’s from a family of active sailors and has sailed ex tensively herself, covering 60000 nm at sea. She has nursed in the Outback with flying doctors, in refugee camps and offshore on oil rigs. She has also been the medic on multiple sailing races, the Syd ney Hobart, the Fastnet, and the Rolex 600 amongst them. Amanda has a master’s degree in Marine and International Medicine, and has worked widely with a number of yacht racing campaigns around the world. Amanda comments: “This is a difficult topic and it has been quite challenging to summon the courage to make the space for it in yachting, I believe education is crucial. We can only begin to under stand these issues through accu rate education & making space for Mental Health issues in yachting.”
What could the crises be?
Two main crises that may be asso ciated with depression are:
• The person has suicidal thoughts and behaviours
• The person is engaging in non-suicidal self-injury We will focus on helping someone who is having thoughts of suicide, next.
Suicide is a significant risk for people with depression. A per son may feel so overwhelmed and helpless that the future appears hopeless. The person may think suicide is the only way out. Some times a person becomes suicidal very quickly, perhaps in response to a trigger (such as a relationship breakup or arrest), and act on their thoughts quickly and impulsively. However, not every person who is depressed is at risk for su icide and nor is everyone who is
at risk of suicide necessarily de pressed. The risk is increased if they have also been using alcohol or other drugs.
• In 2012, the suicide death rate in developed countries was 13 per 100,000 persons. While suicidal behaviours are more common in females in these countries, completed suicide is 3.5 times more common in males (20 per 100,000 for males and 6 per 100,000 for females).
• According to the WHO World Mental Health Surveys, in developed countries 2% of adults think about suicide, 0.6% make a plan for suicide and 0.3% attempt suicide over a 12-month period.
The main reasons people give for attempting suicide are:
• Needing to escape or relieve unmanageable emotions and thoughts. The person wants relief from unbearable emotional pain, feels their situation is hopeless, feels worthless and believes that other people would be better off without them.
• Desire to communicate with or influence another individu al. The person wants to com municate how they feel to oth er people, change how other people treat them or get help.
People are at greater risk of suicide if they have:
• A mental illness
• Poor physical health and dis abilities
• Attempted suicide or harmed
themselves in the past
• Had bad things happen re cently, particularly with rela tionships or their health
• Been physically or sexually abused as a child
• Been recently exposed to sui cide by someone else.
Suicide is also more common in certain groups, including indig enous people, the unemployed, prisoners, and gay, lesbian and bi sexual people.
• If you have seen some warning signs that Carla is feeling sui cidal, engage her in discussion about your observations. If you suspect she may be at risk of suicide, let her know that you are concerned about her and are willing to help.
• Ask Carla directly about sui cidal thoughts.
• Do not avoid using the word ‘suicide’.
• Ask the question without ex pressing a negative judgment.
• Be direct and to the point.
Activity: Asking Carla if she is suicidal.
Question: If you are thinking that Carla may be suicidal, which of the following questions are suitable to ask her?
We will differentiate between the right and wrong things to say.
• It might be something that’s hard to talk about, but I’m worried about you. Are you having thoughts of suicide?
• Are you thinking about killing yourself?
Wrong
• You’re not thinking of doing something stupid are you?
• A friend of mine committed suicide. You’d never do that would you?
• Someone like you would never consider suicide…would you?
• You’re not thinking about taking your own life are you? Think about what that would do to your family.
If the person says ‘Yes, I am think ing of suicide’, you need to act quickly to help keep them safe.
• A person who is suicidal should not be left on their own. If you suspect there is an immediate risk of the person acting on suicidal thoughts, act quickly, even if you are unsure. Work collaborative ly with the suicidal person to ensure their safety, rather than acting alone to prevent suicide.
• Remind the suicidal person that suicidal thoughts need not be acted on. Reassure the suicidal person that there are solutions to problems or ways of coping other than suicide.
• Find out who or what has sup ported the person in the past and whether these supports are still available.
• Ask them how they would like to be supported and if there is anything you can do to help.
• Although you can offer sup port, you are not responsible for the actions or behaviours of someone else and cannot control what they might de cide to do.
• For information about suicide helplines, contact the Seafar ers Association.
What about professional help?
• Encourage the person to get appropriate professional help as soon as possible.
• Find out information about the resources and services available for a person who is considering suicide, including local services that can assist in response to people at risk of suicide such as hospitals, mental health clinics, mobile outreach crisis teams, suicide prevention helplines and local emergency services.
• Provide this information to the suicidal person and dis cuss help-seeking options with them.
• If they don’t want to talk to someone face-to-face, encour age them to contact a suicide helpline, or Pastor Ken & the Seafarers.
What to do?
• If the suicidal person is re luctant to seek help, keep en couraging them to see a men tal health professional and contact a suicide prevention hotline for guidance on how to help them.
• If the suicidal person refuses professional help, call a men tal health centre or crisis tele phone line and ask for advice on the situation.
• If you believe the suicidal per son will not stay safe, seek their permission to contact their regular doctor or men tal health professional about
your concerns.
• If the person has a specif ic plan for suicide, or if they have the means to carry out their suicide plan, call a men tal health centre or crisis tele phone line and ask for advice on the situation.
• If the suicidal person has a weapon, contact the police. When contacting the police, inform them that the person is suicidal to help them respond appropriately. Make sure you do not put yourself in any dan ger while offering support to the suicidal person. Be prepared for the suicidal person to possibly express anger and feel betrayed by your attempt to pre vent their suicide or help them get professional help. Try not to take personally any hurtful actions or words of the suicidal person.
What should I talk about with a suicidal person?
People will usually be honest if they are suicidal because in most cases they don’t really want to die. Instead, they want their pain to end. If they think you can help, they will probably speak honestly with you. If you appear confident in the face of the suicide crisis, this can be reassuring for the suicidal person.
Ask the suicidal person what they are thinking and feeling. Re assure them that you want to hear whatever they have to say. Allow them to talk about these thoughts and feelings, and their reasons for wanting to die and acknowl edge these. Let the suicidal person know it is okay to talk about things that might be painful, even if it is hard. Allow them to express their
feelings (e.g. allow them to cry, ex press anger, or scream). A suicid al person may feel relief at being able to do so.
• Other people are worse off than you.
• You’ll ruin the lives of your friends and family.
• It’s just a bad day, you’ll get over it.
• Suicidal thoughts are often a result of a mental illness that can be treated.
• I care and I want to help you.
• You’re feeling really bad right now, but you won’t always feel this bad. I know you do not think so at the moment, but things will get better.
You have covered a lot of material about suicide in this module and may be finding it overwhelming. Remember you can review the material any time.
It can be useful to keep in mind the following three actions. If you can remember little else, these ac tions can be enough to save a life.
• If you think someone may be suicidal, ask them.
• If they say ‘yes’, do not leave them alone.
• Link them with professional help.
Do your best for the person you are trying to help. However, you should remember that despite a first aider’s best efforts, some people will still die by suicide.
Amanda Hewson, MSOS & extreme marine medicine Trainer
Mid October E3 Systems held the fourth edi tion of the yachting industry-based cycling events that they host each spring and autumn on Mallorca’s most beautiful and demanding routes. The events raise money for Yachting Gives Back, the magnificent charity work of Nick Entwisle and his lovely team. This time the riders were faced with the island’s iconic and challenging climb at Sa Calobra – ‘The e3 Speedcast Fraser Yachts Sa Calobra Big Wrig gle’ – a nomenclature almost as fiddly as the route itself..
The only shame was that our cycling clashed with the Roaring 40s charity golf event organ ised by Dan Wise (SY Mystery) at Alcanada, as I would like to have played golf with him and he would have liked to have come cycling with us as perhaps a more enjoyable part of his train ing for his forthcoming row across the Atlantic in the Talisker Challenge..
Around 40 captains, crews, engineers, ETOs, agents, project managers and owner’s reps joined the hosts – e3 Systems, Speedcast and Fraser Yachts - at the beautiful Es Guix res taurant near the Lluc Monastery for an early breakfast and the 40km ride over the Coll des Reis, down the insane descent to Sa Calobra for a quick breather by the sea, before the long and spectacular climb back up to the top and
Hamish.Goddard@e3s.com +34 686 634 038
along to Es Guix for a hearty and very enjoya ble lunch. – some being brave enough to dive into the restaurant’s beautiful natural rock swimming pool on the way to their table... Well done Steve Worrall (Atalante Group) and Soren Christensen (MY Odyssey) for your Wim Hof presentation!
These events are always entirely free of charge for the participants to enter and The Big Wriggle enjoyed magnificent additional sup port from our great friend Bart Noordhoek at satcom provider Speedcast and from Raphael Saleau and Steen Christensen of Fraser Yachts (always fun to have in the room..), the only re quest being for a donation that goes in full to support of Yachting Gives Back.
Nearly 3000 Euro was raised on the day, enough to provide the Associacio Tardor soup kitchen in Palma with a meat supply for six weeks. The meat budget is a constant worry for the Tardor volunteers, whose kitchen not only feeds hundreds of people daily but also caters for residents at their two homeless shelters Llar Kurt and Llar Inge.
This pushes the total amount raised in the four events so far over the 10,000Euro mark! A big thumbs up to all involved!
This pushes the total amount raised in the four events so far over the 10,000 Euro mark! A big thumbs up to all involved!
Theearly
slopes of Sa CalobraColl des Reis Upper hairpins - Sa Calobra. Big Wrigglers bottom right..
By Karen Passman
Did you ever think you would still be in yachting now, when you took that first job?! While many people start out in their careers with clear goals and aspirations, many more evolve and find themselves in positions where they are expected to motivate, teach and lead others. Not because they are naturally great leaders, teachers or mo tivators, but more often because they are compe tent and reliable.
So how do you make the move from follower to leader, from being the shining light, to helping others to shine? Simon Senik’s view is that lead ership is a learnable and practicable skill and great leaders never stop learning.
“Act like a student. Not like an expert.” (Simon Senik – British-American author, motivational speaker and marketing consultant).
Sinek compares leading to being a parent, stat ing that you’ll never be an expert parent, but you keep practicing every day in the hope that you’ll get better!
We have compiled 10 top tips from business leaders and advisors that may help you when you are trying to get the best out of your crew or are unsure of the best way to handle a situation. Have a read through, and we hope that by using one of these top tips you will overcome the chal lenges and grow as a leader.
Never forget your responsibility – you are the caregiver of the people you lead.
“Think of leadership as a responsibility as much as an opportunity, effective leaders understand that they are responsible for everyone that they are leading.” Michael Talve – Founder of The Ex pert Institute. The key here is in the word car egiver, the attitude with which you lead others is paramount.
Impact Crew specialises in developing Superyacht leaders, whether through individualised coaching or on board workshops for your senior crew. Give Impact Crew a call and ex plore the many different ways we can support you as you grow in your leader ship role.
Karen Passman www.impactcrew.com info@impactcrew.com t: +44 (0)1425 614 419
vulnerability. Arrogant leaders lead through fear, blame and ego.” Troy Hazard TV host & businessman. Listen to your people, be empa thetic and understand their views. You never know where the next great idea may come from!
Find great people, then leave them to get on with the job.
Jack Welch, CEO and Author. There are a few sen ior crew who resist passing on their knowledge and information, for fear of losing their position. How ever, the leaders admired and respected the most (and for whom you work hardest) are those who share their experiences and want to support you to become the best you can be.
In the words of Sir Richard Branson CEO “Train people well enough so that they can leave, treat them well enough so that they don’t want to”.
You never forget those great leaders you worked for, reflect each day and ask yourself the question “would I like to be led by me?”
“Be honest and candid while still maintaining your employees’ self-esteem.”
Jeff Miller, Director of Learning & Performance. Stand in the other person’s shoes before you deliv er your message and ensure it lands with the ‘right’ intention.
Show gratitude.
“Never underestimate the importance of the words ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. Using them demonstrates a level of respect that people desire and appreciate, which can help build trust.” Michael Timmes – con sultant, author and speaker. Just because it’s some one’s job, doesn’t mean we cannot treat them with courtesy, respect and gratitude.
Be a confident leader, not an arrogant leader. “Confident leaders lead through values, vision and
“The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good people to do what needs to be done, and enough self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” Theodore Roosevelt – US President. Give your people the opportunity to show how good they are, they may well do things differently to you, but you didn’t start out perfect either.
“Repeat the words, ‘it’s not about me!’ every day, multiple times a day. Don’t make your leadership about being in charge, being right, getting promoted or looking the best.” Jeff Harmon – Author. His view is that leadership is about serving the people you lead. Give clear direction, the tools and time to do a great job, and at all times have their backs.
“The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision.”
“It’s got to be a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet.” Reverend Theodore Hes burgh. If you want to unite your crew and de partments, you need a single vision for the yacht that everyone buys into. If two departments’ pri orities come into conflict you can revisit your vision and answer the question, what should we do to strive towards the vision?
“Authentic leadership is revealed in the alignment of what you think, what you say and what you do.”
Michael Holland - Consultant and Author. Peo ple can see through ‘fake’, be honest with your self and your crew. It’s not about sharing your deepest secrets, but it is about leading with in tegrity and being true to both yourself and those around you.
“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”
From your modest boss-off t-shirts to your top of the line offshore gear, pretty much all your uniform is available in sustainable options these days. This doesn’t mean you have to find a provider that special ises in sustainable clothing as we have it all at Wave! Your yardwork and off-charter t-shirts are all avail able in an organic cotton option. Prefer quick dry ma terials? No problem. Your quick dry polos, tees, shorts and skorts are all available in yarn made from recy cled plastic bottles. Our exclusive line of men and la dies board shorts from OceanR is made from plastic
bottles and nets fished out of the ocean by Greek fisherman in partnership with Enaleia. Every product purchase removes a kilogram of ocean waste! These are no longer exceptions to the rule but are be coming the rule. The clothing suppliers, whether it be your top brands or the com pany that makes a recycled fleece that you wear in the shipyard, all know that the future is in sustainability and have acted accordingly. Big brands are now choosing fabrics from Repreve® which recycles old clothing and plastic bottles to make its yarn. The market has spoken and the sup pliers have listened!
If you have been thinking about sus tainability in your uniform, give us a call. You’ll be surprised that you don’t have to break the budget by changing to sustain able products and even more surprised to know that some of your uniform already is. We still have a way to go but the change is there.
Sustainability: Perhaps a niche market five years ago but not anymore!
Anxiety can be a tricky thing to manage when you don’t know how. The good news is that by learning coping strategies, you can learn how to manage anxiety effectively. A lot of Crews hide their mental health issues in fear of loosing their jobs, however, unfortunately it is something you cannot keep hidden for ever. In most cases, the longer you leave mental health issues unaddressed the worse it becomes. Here are some tips for keeping your anxiety under control:
Recognising when you are feel ing anxious can help you to manage your anxiety. This is important because the sooner you can identify the thoughts and physical signs connected to feeling anxious it can buy you time to regain control of your thoughts and feelings. Some common physical signs are: Sweaty palms, heart palpita tions, unsettled tummy.
One of the most important things you can do is use affir mations. Negative thinking can increase anxiety, but positive thinking can have a calming ef fect. This strategy is useful for very mild cases of anxiety or can also be effective as part of a management plan once you have sought professional help.
Here are some examples of positive statements that you
could use:
• I am strong
• My anxiety will not control me
• I am going to be okay
Many good habits can help you manage your anxiety. Here are some of the most important ones:
• Being physically active every day
• Avoid drugs and alcohol
• Sleeping well, especially on a regular schedule (no napping in the afternoon)
• Eating healthily and avoiding processed foods as much as possible
• Getting enough rest (at least seven hours per night)
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
It’s okay to ask for help.
It might be hard, but it’s neces sary. You can’t do everything on your own, and you should know that there are people who want to help you. Your parents, friends
Karine has a Bachelor of Social Science in Organ isational Psychology and Psychology, Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling from the Australian College of Applied Psychology and a Postgraduate in Collective Entrepreneurship from Tor rens University. She helps Crew become confident leaders, master their own mental health and access a powerful network of indus try leaders.
and crew may not always have the best advice, so it is important to reach out to a professional who can teach coping strategies. One of the most effecgie strategies that I use with my clients is cognitive behavioural therapy.
Anxiety is a tough thing to man age, but with the right help, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Anxiety is not a weakness. It’s not something you choose. It’s simply how your brain responds to the world around you. Seeking counselling is certainly an inter vention that can help get results faster than struggling with it on your own.
If you are wanting support to manage your mental health, the Crew Coach as a trained counsellor, offers free 15 min discovery calls where she will offer guidance and support. You can reach out to her via www.thecrew coach.com
This year, as the Mediterranean season drew to a close, the yachting industry gathered in the October Mallorca sunshine for a week of networking, events, fun and raising money for many worthwhile caus es. Here’s a round up of 3 more events that were attended by prominent yachting per sonalities, in addition to the Marine Inspi rations Party and the Big Wriggle cycling event which are also covered in this issue.
Cherise Reedman (founder of Pearls Of Wisdom), Gemma Hulbert (founder of The Yacht Stew) and Tim Reedman (owner and principal of Reedman Wealth Managament)
Pearls of Wisdom held their third event this year, the first to be held in Palma at the Sarato ga Hotel. Founder Cherise Reedman brought together women in yachting for an evening gathering of insights and fun. The event was sponsored by Marine Accounts, Mimo Con nect, Divergent Yachting, Luxury Hospitality Management and Döhle Yachts.
Superyacht Charities Golf Döhle teed off the first of three consecutive industry-support ed golfing days with their well-attended in vite-only event held at Golf Son Vida. Next, Superyacht Charities held their inaugural golf day at Golf Son Quint in aid of ‘Yachting Gives Back’ and the Shambhala Fundacion. 140 players tackled the course and many more supporters arrived to join in the evening revelry. The BBQ, prize-giving, DJ and danc ing kept the party spirit going until late in the evening. Corporate sponsors included Jotun, Northrop & Johnson, and Master Yachts
The final golfing event of the week was held at the stunning Alcanada course and was the 2nd annu al event for Dan Wise and Ian Yates’ Team Roaring 40s. A raft of sponsors including Fraser Yachts, Doyle Sails, Pinmar, Gym Marine, BM Composites and BWA contributed to a successful day whilst funds were raised in support of the Pink Ribbon Foundation, Cleanwave, Ocean Generation and Joyron charities. A sunrise breakfast preceded a full morning of golf for the 72 players on the challeng ing course and wrapped up with a plentiful lunch, prize-giving and live music, thoroughly enjoyed by all.
E-Touch Joyron Karting Closing out the end-of-sea son week of events saw the return of the immense ly popular E-Touch Joyron Go-kart Championship race day – a two-tier, exhilarating day of racing at the Magaluf Karting Track.
Grey Waste Water Purifying Solution, even for smaller Yachts
Svante Borgenas and the Development of E-Tech
The Equipment you must have to feel safe on Board
Less Fuel Consumption, fouling free Hull, minimal maintenance... is it a Dream?
Since my last column it has been a busy month with a lot of travelling! Last month I had just fin ished a week at the Monaco Show and had moved onto the Superyacht Technology Conference in Barcelona.
This was my first visit, albeit my colleagues had visit ed last year. We decided to support Jack Robinson, as we totally endorse the idea of specialist service com pany shows, so we took a booth.
During the pandemic we at e3 decided that “Yacht Shows” should get back to what they were originally conceived as, which was to sell and charter yachts. As such we believe the organisers should focus heavily on making it easy and comfortable for potential pur chasers to visit. This is what the organisers of Mona co have done by putting the day ticket prices so high and having a VIP Day on Wednesday. Yacht owners feed our industry which is why they should be given this dedicated access. The “Yacht Show” organisers have always added the service companies as a second income stream, and we have always been treated as second fiddle.
As such, there is now definitely space for a special ist superyacht technology event, combining new tech nology launches with a conference.
The best new tech launch that caught my attention at the Conference was from VBH. They call it “Invis ible Technology” and it certainly is! Televisions and remote controls can be fully integrated inside mate rials like natural stone and wood, and they appear from what is a wooden panel or a marble wall! Ex traordinary! It blew my mind trying to work out how it works.
The development of this technology arose from a survey of their clients and two of the comments were: a) we don’t like the residual black panels/plates that are left on the walls when the TV is off and b) we don’t like using iPads as remote controls.
After the Conference it was back to Mallorca for our cycle event. There is a full write up in this issue by my colleague Hamish, who together with Mat organised the event, with sponsorship from Fraser and Speed cast. As you will read and see it was a great success, everyone enjoyed it and we raised nearly €3,000 more for Yachting Gives Back. Look out for the next event in April next year. Take a look at the fantastic event video https://e3s.com/inside-e3/media/ October used to be a quiet month after the Mo naco Show with just three days for the Pinmar Golf, but not the case anymore as Monaco was followed by the Superyacht Technology Conference, then the cycling, followed by the Inmarsat Conference in Lon don. Then it was onto Fort Lauderdale to visit our new office and then to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) to support our USA team to pres ent an educational workshop on the next generation of satellite communications, at The Bahia Mar Hotel in Fort Lauderdale.
At the end of September, we closed our office in Coral Springs and have moved to Fort Lauderdale alongside the New River. This is the view from our office. This is a fantastic location and brings us much closer to our clients and is very accessible to FLIBS.
If you are a regular reader of this column over the last few months, you will be aware of the LEO Su per Broadband Updates I have been providing. This resulted in us writing a White Paper on the subject which has been viewed hundreds of times on-line.
My colleague Mathieu Cros and I ran two, onehour, Educational Workshops on the first afternoon of FLIBS, which was effectively our White Paper – Live!
We are moving at a rapidly changing pace in the satellite industry, and we have been asked by our cli ents so many questions about the new LEO constel lation Starlink from SpaceX, as well as changes with MEO and GEO constellations, that we felt that the emphasis at FLIBS should not be selling a product, nor a solution, but promoting impartial education to Captains, Engineers and Systems Integrators on what they can expect to see on their boats regarding satel lite communications in the short and long term. Each session was well attended, and we were really pleased by the feedback.
One attendee said: “Thank you for the opportunity to attend. It was a great presentation, very factual and excellent reactions from the clients. Education is key and these events are a perfect platform”.
We will be repeating this presentation at the ACREW Event in Astilleros de Mallorca at 10:00 on Wednesday 9th November.
service about users receiving a monthly allocation of “Priority Access”.
Clearly, they are preparing to impose high speed data caps for Starlink users in the USA to address the growing congestion woes facing the service.
According to the new policy, residential, business and the new Starlink mobile plan users will receive a “monthly allocation of Priority Access” with fast in ternet speeds, but once they exceed the specific limit, speeds could be reduced if the surrounding area is al ready full of other data hungry users.
Effectively, it appears that with the capacity they have, which is limited, they are going to introduce a Fair Use Policy, to manage the expectations of users. They did this in August in France by slowing down the service to users once they had exceeded 250GB.
In December the first of the three massive Viasat VS3 F1 satellites will be launched, coincidentally by SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
These satellites are the largest and most powerful satellites ever launched. They will all provide 1Tbps which is multiples more than the nearest current larg est satellite.
VS3 F1 Americas will be in service for maritime in July/August 23 followed by VS3 F2 EMEA for mari time in Sept/October 23 and VS3 F3 APAC for mari time in April/May 24.
The key features that come with this new service are:
• 50Mbps streaming
• A new Intellian NX conversion kit to avoid pur chasing a proprietary antenna
• Evolution toward month-to-month contracts
• 4 x breakouts USA, Spain, UK, Germany for na tional IPTV breakouts
This month Starlink have quietly mentioned they will be introducing high-speed data caps for US users. Starlink have added new language to their terms of
Next stop is METS! We have Intellian and Viasat with us on our booth at METS this year, so come and talk to us, especially if you are building a new yacht.
A compact, integrated and intelligent waste water filtration system developed by Wave was shown for the first time at METS. The water treatment system is contained within a single unit only 36cm x 67cm x 33.7cm and weighing 30 kgs so it’s compact and lightweight and easy to install on new builds or as a retrofit. The Wavebrite(TM) SMART re moves all contaminants from onboard grey water, including plastics, and dis charges clean water to meet the EU Waste Water Standard. No more excuses for pumping grey water directly over the side! We love it!
Marine Engineering Palma, C/ Alexandre Laborde, 3, local 3 07011 Polìgono Can Valero, Palma de Mallorca Office: 0034 - 971 447 477, info@me-palma.com, www.me-palma.com
Our container inside STP is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 0930-1030 to receive donations of food, toiletries, bedding, toys, cleaning materials etc. Alternatively please donate: Bankia: IBAN ES81 2038 3480 5160 0019 8061
All proceeds will be used to buy food for the homeless and hungry See website or Facebook for details, or contact Nick Entwisle (+34) 619 117 937 nick@yachtinggivesback.com www.yachtinggivesback. com
by Lisa Thompson
I met with Svante Borgenas, CEO of E-Tech Yachting (ETY), along with recently appointed Oliver Rduch, Commercial Director, to find out more about the expert services the company has been providing for more than 40 years. Having completed over 1,000 projects and electrical re fits during this time, Svante’s knowledge and expertise, as well as his Scandinavian manage ment style have resulted in a solid and successful company. Not only is E-Tech used as a reference in the marine industry but it’s also the largest yachting electrical engineering and electronic specialist in Spain.
How did you make the transition from regular Electrician to the ma rine sector?
Svante: “Having trained to be an Electrician, I soon realised that thanks to my logical think ing skills and clever hands, I could fix anything with no limitations. Some friends had a boat with electrical problems that they tried to fix in America but couldn’t, so they asked me to help. I arrived young and happy with my tool bag in one hand and a bag of underwear and t-shirts in the other, and got stuck in. I then worked in Antigua for 3 years and slowly made my way to Mallorca where I started a small company based in Portals which just grew and grew!”
ness, it just gradually happened. The highest priority in life for me was to sleep well at night, do a good days work - with no messing around. I’m very flexible with my team and if they need time off we help each other out and create a family-like bond by sharing energy between us. This has proved to work incredibly well. I have always run the company like a small family business with everyone involved in everything.”
to source from anywhere in the world as we do not believe in making nice little white sealed units with our branding on that can only be accessed by us and only use components bought from us at a hyper-in flated cost to generate us extra income. We have the complete reverse thinking and offer total transparen cy with our pricing and our system is so successful and our standards so high that we do not need to be greedy and act in this way to yield further revenue –both our product and service speak for themselves.”
Do you supply the BLUEWAVE™ to any other vessels apart from superyachts?
Svante: “BLUEWAVE™ is a system we have developed that enables the complete electri cal integration of the vessel’s power manage ment, navigation, alarm monitoring systems and switchboards. It uses real-time signals on board to alert you to any potential issues before they become critical. ETY can then go online and log into the boat’s system remotely, check everything and instruct via video call if/when necessary. This means a fix can be completed almost immediately without the huge cost and time it takes to fly a specialist Electrician to the vessel’s location, therefore avoiding downtime of essential system components and, of course, disruption to the owner’s time on board.
Svante: “Yes, we are working in commercial areas such as wind farm vessels and small service ves sels and this has meant we are selling our systems big style now. We are also working with a company in Scotland that build bridge consoles and put our alarm monitoring system, switchboard and distri bution board into the console, and then crate it to the shipyard in the UK where the boat is being built. Now, they are also exporting to America as the elec tricians in America are so expensive that it is cheaper for them to buy the pack and send it there where it will be installed, and we commission it remotely.”
I hear you have set up a new partner ship in the USA – can you tell me more?
Svante: “I never pushed hard to grow the busi
BLUEWAVE™ is designed, built and tested by ETY and each system is personalised and fine-tuned to every vessel’s individual specifica tion and can be installed at the time of build, or as part of a refit as each BLUEWAVE™ system integrates seamlessly with any existing system. With this, the yacht owner can rest assured that his vessel’s entire electrical and mechanical sys tem will be maintained to the highest level pos sible, with nothing being neglected, ultimately ensuring its longevity. We also use readily avail able advanced components making them easy
Svante: “Yes, we have launched a cooperation with Vanguard Tech Services LLC in Florida. They have direct representation in Fort Lauderdale and will as sist us in enhancing sales and service support of the BLUEWAVE™ system in the Americas. Their CEO, Garvis Paisley, will be using his vast knowledge, ex perience and leadership skills to further improve the network support required by the increase in systems refits on yachts, as well as commercial vessels. There will be an official launch celebration at the Fort Lau derdale Boat Show this October. We have also devel oped strong partnerships in the UK over the years, supplying the BLUEWAVE systems to commercial vessels.”
Oliver: “I’m an Economist and Business De veloper and have worked many years for large industrial companies, mainly in Germany as I am German. I’ve spent many years develop ing markets in the Middle East for construc tion machinery such as mobile cranes, tow er cranes, etc, for a company called Lapare, and then for a Japanese competitor, Tadano, who I set up the European markets for. It was
How would you describe your clearly successful management style?
Can you tell me about your innova tive BLUEWAVE™ system?Svante Boargenas and Garvis Paisley from Vanguard Tech Services USA Oliver Rduch
heavy machinery that was very capital-intensive and needed a lot of servicing and if it breaks down, it needs to be fixed very quickly. Having that under standing of the importance of immediate support was essential and is the same here with a vessel’s systems - you need help immediately, especially if you are out on the water or if you are in dock and need to go somewhere.
Having developed dealers in larger regions such as the Middle East that sell and service these larger construction machines, for me it was natural to see that this is a good, developed, mature product that we now need to find distributors for to roll it out and see how we can initially install and support, and then help them to grow and do their own in stallation and support. We can then guide them and check the system remotely to ensure everything is correct and ready for the local party to take it for the sea trials.”
So Svante, when do you envisage handing over the reins and finally putting your feet up?
Svante: “When….? 15 minutes, 14 years!? The more plans you make, the more disappointed you will be so there is no pressure and everything comes when it is ready. When I’ve done my work well, it means I have no more things to do, so I can back off more and slowly disappear.
Over the past 5 years, I have set up for the next generation of super yachts and commercial vessels and have succeeded very well. The company is now in a place where I wish I was 20 years younger hav ing recently teamed up with Vanguard in America
and developed a presence in New Zealand and Aus tralia, so things are just going to explode from here. But I believe that at this stage in life it is important to do the things you want to do while you can still do them. It is important to give the younger ones a chance and you must take care of yourself and your family and enjoy life – this is the balance. There fore, Oliver will be taking the reins into his capable hands as I slowly back off.”
It is clear to see Svante’s very deserving pride in what he has created and achieved with E-Tech Yachting. From an exceptional product/service package that will be invaluable to vessels for many years to come, to a solid team that has flourished under his well-balanced management style. Svante can rest knowing that he has left a seriously im pressive and innovative legacy in the yachting world………and beyond!
An excellent security system at sea can save you from many situations that compromise the integrity of the crew on board. The equipment cataloged as GMDDS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) evolve with better technol ogy and greater coverage. At Disvent Ingenieros we recommend some products that shouldn’t be missing from your boat.
Em-Trak AIS transceivers guarantee the best performance, reliability and connectivity. With technology focused on security, constant and sustained, the English firm has a long experi ence developing products for 20 years. EmTrak provides our customers with the best transceivers on the market, thus becoming the preferred and referenced brand for profession als in the industry, as well as rescue and coast guard organizations that value performance and reliability above all else.
For each boat, depending on the navigation area and the required performance, we dis cover a product in the Em-trak portfolio. Class A and Class B AIS systems. Vessels adhering to the SOLAS convention must incorporate a Class A.
A benchmark in recreational boating is the AIS B923/B925, equipped with an antenna split ter, allowing to share the existing VHF antenna with the radio. Quick and easy to install, with
integrated smart connectivity, state-of-the-art GPS receiver and antenna, and the exclusive FLEXI-FIT® bracket system. NMEA2000 and 0183 protocols, along with serial and USB ports, make connecting to all your displays, navigation and PC devices easy and straightforward.
Standard Horizon VHF transmitters
For over 50 years, Standard Horizon has man ufactured and delivered the best radios on the market, meeting every boater's need.
Portable radios, also double station equipment, among our products, we highlight the GX-1400 VHF, which is class D ITU-R M493-13 with a sep arate channel 70 receiver, it has the DSC DIS TRESS function which, when activated because an emergency onboard, transmits a digital MAYDAY that includes vessel ID, latitude/lon gitude, and time, to facilitate a quick response.
It has a high-resolution dot matrix screen that makes it easy to navigate through the station's menus, which are very intuitive.
The EPIRB and SART transponder are two of the most important safety elements on board and that no sailor would want to use, but it can save lives.
Being at the forefront of technology, Jotron complies with current international standards
in accordance with IMO and SOLAS, in addition to all the mandatory requirements of commer cial, maritime, fishing, deep sea and recreation al vessels.
The Tron 60GPS with float-free bracket stands out as it has a portable, small and compact size. Designed to have IMO SOLAS requirements this kit is suitable for all vessel segments from lei sure sail or motor boats to commercial vessels, fishing, work boats, offshore tugboats, etc.
Remember that you can see this and more products on our website: www.disvent.com
Fouling has a domino effect on cost and mainte nance workload. It increases the roughness of the hull’s surface, consequently increasing a yacht’s drag through the water. It leads to higher fuel consump tion and thus increased cost. Increased fuel consump tion leads to increased emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Maintenance costs also increase with fouling. The superyacht must be dry-docked more often, and will require extra surface treatment and painting. In addition to all that, fouling also has a negative effect on a ship’s manoeuvrability.
The antifouling paint and its performance is becom ing more and more talked about for 2 reasons: first; Su peryachts are often static for extended periods of time, which inevitably results in more fouling and more main tenance. Second: antifouling plays a huge role in the pre vention of the invasive species migration between dif ferent parts of the world’s Oceans and seas.
Superyacht captains and management companies will do anything they can to reduce their maintenance workload while maintaining efficiency. Monthly clean ing regimes delay drydocking as long as possible.
In order to be more environmentally friendly, more and more captains are reaching out to biocide free solu tions, however the question remains how efficient are these solutions?
Is there really a product out there that ticks all the boxes?
At Hempel we believe we’ve found one!
Hempaguard X7 provides excellent results improving the yacht’s performance while also reducing the maintenance costs, the fuel consumption and the overall emis sions. It helps keeping the hull clean even when the yacht is stationary for long peri ods.
The advanced fouling defence coating Hempaguard X7 is based on ActiGuard® tech nology which utilizes the combined effect of ad vanced hydrogel silicone and an efficient biocide.
We recently applied it to the Superyacht Sau dade.
Although the previous underwater hull coat ing of Saudade was also a silicone system, ac cording to the crew, it required regular diving and cleaning.
‘We tried Hempel’s X7 on the rudder and keel for the last 6 months and had fantastic results and now decided to do the whole boat.” - Rob Cumming, Captain of Saudade.
This more eco-friendly alternative to stand ard antifouling products is suitable for all su peryachts, with no limitations on service speeds. It’s very suitable for vessels operating with long service intervals up to 60 months and long idle periods of up to 120 days.
Whether enjoying a leisurely cruise or some serious sailing, a good night’s rest is as essential on water as on dry land.
Approximately 30% of your time on board will be spent sleeping and we feel that’s too long to tolerate any discomfort. Having produced premier mattresses for new and refitted yachts of all sizes since 1992, Neptune specialises in high quality mattresses, slatsystems and bespoke bedlinen. We can provide bespoke advice on the exact product that best suits your needs. All mattresses and bedlinen are hand-made in the Netherlands and represent the finest quality in terms of materials and craftsmanship. We deliver directly to owners or yacht builders, anywhere in the world.
When it comes to New Year’s celebra tions, the world’s largest continent of Asia has plenty of options to offer for the big occasion, from lavish beach par ties to dazzling light shows. Here are a few of the best yachting destinations in South East Asia to spend The Holidays!
Andaman Islands, India: All I want for Christmas is... gourmet dining on the beach!
Andaman & Nicobar Islands one of the cleanest and green est parts of India, with a lot of calm and peace. Christmas and New Year are a big deal in An daman, with Christmas lights and decorations all around the Islands. In between all these festivities, allow some time to dig into the Islands of the An daman. Visit museums in Port Blair to explore Andaman’s cul tural curiosities and then head out to Havelock Island for the best beaches.
For the best gourmet dining, consider a reservation in Have lock Island at the Havelock Is land Beach Resort, blending upscale dining and a party at mosphere, offering you the best
of both to celebrate the new year. Savor the elegant cuisine of the Sea Dragon bar and res taurant. For a trendy ambiance and a memorable candlelight dinner, reserve a seat at Nemo Beach café and bar.
Every year there is a wide variety of New Year’s Eve par ties on Havelock Island and your agent can book in advance for NYE events. Here guests from around the world gather at the showcase lagoon for an exciting midnight celebration as Havelock Island lights up the city in three New Year’s Fes tival countdowns!
In light of the season of giv ing, Karma Kandara will have a giving tree initiative. A se ries of Christmas trees placed throughout the resort, where guests are asked to donate 300k – this money will be used
to purchase gifts for the disad vantaged kids of Bali Life Foun dation. On Christmas Eve, they will visit Di Mare restaurant for carols, and afterwards receive a special visit from Santa, with gifts purchased from the mon ey donated.
Continue the party at the recently refurbished Karma Beach Bali. The beachside space has long been a hub of live music and nightlife, and this festive season will remain a haven for those who want to dance the night away. During the 12 Days of Karma there will be daily parties with a rotating line-up of international DJs.
After indulging in some lively New Year’s Eve celebrations, guests can recover at a pop-up hangover remedy bar courte sy of a collaboration with Co coon Medical Spa. Infusion packages aplenty are available here for a decent dose of vita mins; choose from the jet lag hydration booster, detox and recharge, and anti-ageing reju venation.
Bali’s Nusa Dua’s most excit ing beach club, Manarai Beach House, is set to take everyone on a journey where sounds from all around the world col lide. Ending the year on a high note, the Carnival of Rhythm is the ultimate beach party where you’ll definitely get a taste of mix customs. Located right at the beachfront, Manarai is a perfect blend of Balinese tradi tion and modernity.
Langkawi, Malaysia: Flying lighted lanterns. An archipelago along the west ern coast of Malaysia, Lang kawi celebrates New Year in a different style. Enchanting celebrations start with lighted lanterns released into the sky an hour prior to midnight cre ating a fairytale feeling. Home to extensive diversity of ethnic ities, the people of Malaysia are always seen celebrating various festivals and events, making it one of the happiest destina tions on earth. From New Years and Christmas to Onam and Hungry Ghost Festival, being a part of these events leave every traveler spellbound.
Langkawi island’s restau
rants for Xmas and NYE din ners are mostly located at Kuah, Pantai Cenang and Pan tai Tengah with delicious fresh seafood such as crabs, prawns, lobsters and squid on offer. After sundown at Pantai Ce nang, comes the sky lanterns, released into the skies, symbol ising good luck and letting go of worries and fears as 2023 is ushered in Fireworks will light up the sky of Pantai Cenang as the sky lantern count-down to a new decade concludes at mid night.
Exotic Maldives is a great place for international yacht visitors seeking unique holiday events and celebrating Christmas and New Year. Examples of a luxu rious New Year’s party might be W Maldives (Fesdu Atoll) or a gala dinner at Hard Rock (South Male’) resort with the
symbolic burning of the old year. Or a special program at the Huvafen Fushi Spa (North Male’) or see the festive extrav aganza at Lily Beach (Ari Atoll). Almost all resorts have nice large lagoons enabling yacht anchorage and day access to yacht clients. There are so many op tions to choose from and the following suggestions can be arranged by Asia Pacific Su peryachts Maldives: • Book private uninhabited island or resort for private groups of families and friends
• Book day visit to resorts for kids to witness ‘Santa ar rival on Christmas day’
• Relaxing Spa experiences at various high-end resorts enroute the journey
• Experience multi-cuisine restaurants at various highend resorts en-route the journey
• Experience one-of-a-kind underwater restaurants for holiday feast
• Book Xmas / NYE Gala Din ner at high-end resort - live music, fire shows & enter tainment
• Experience multi-cuisine restaurants at various highend resorts en-route the journey
• Experience one-of-a-kind
underwater restaurants for holiday feast
• Book Xmas / NYE Gala Din ner at high-end resort - live
Visit the Land of Smiles, Thailand!
On New Year’s Eve Phuket turns into one giant disco with world-famous music bands, fire works and barbecues literally on every beach. For yacht visitors it‘s easy to combine the colossal range of New Year’s Eve events with privacy and maximum mo bility.
Each December, the more popular beaches around Phuket
become effectively giant parties. Hundreds gather on the sand to see in the New Year. Patong Beach has organised music and entertainment and is definite ly the most popular choice, but you’ll also find celebrations on Karon, Kata, Kamala and Bang tao beaches, among others.
The pulsing club scene in Bangla Road close to Surin, one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, adds to the already hip aura of partying here on the last day of the year. Since Paris Hilton partied here two years ago the entire island is essential ly transformed into a party hav en with fireworks, beach bar becues, live entertainment and exclusive gala dinners! Many of the west coast hotels celebrate the New Year with their own shows - virtually the entire coast from Surin to Kamala and Pa tong, turning it into Asia’s larg est free party!
You can anchor right in front of Amanpuri, which invites yachtsmen to join its beach discos, cooking extravaganza and fire show (pre-registration required) and the nearby Twin palms Phuket Resort with the Oriental Spoon Restaurant of fers a special seafood menu.
Koh Samui, Thailand. Nikki Beach in the Tropics.
Koh Samui is located in the Gulf of Thailand and is one of the most attractive destinations in SE Asia for welcoming the new year. A beautiful island with white sandy beaches and an am bient tropical weather, it’s un
like any other in the region. The dark Koh Samui night sky lights up radiantly with the most spec tacular fireworks during New Year’s Eve.
On the west side, Nikki Beach entertainment comes with Live Bands, acclaimed DJs, and me lodious music and a fireworks display with numerous fire works illuminating the sea wa ter below. W Retreat Koh Sam ui is a great place to visit in the New Year with some gentle mu sic, a glass of champagne, and a spectacular display of fireworks. On the east side at Chaweng Beach, yacht visitors can anchor and join the popular Ark Bar celebrations on the beach. Bigname DJs and huge fire shows, it’s a raucous affair! Or, you can simply enjoy the firework dis plays from your yacht.
Seychelles, Creole Christmas.
Visiting the Seychelles during the end-of-year holidays, you can enjoy a festive atmosphere in the tropics. In the capital of Victoria on the island of Mahé you can wander through the al leys in which the Creole houses lining the streets are decorated with Christmas lights.
Christmas is a time of cele bration and discovery of all the other riches adorning this city. Stroll through the city streets to the rhythm of the Creole music played by locals in a tradition that will make your trip to Sey chelles for the New Year magi cal. Your taste buds will be tan talised by traditional street-food
stalls and the many barbecues organised for end-of-year meals with exotic Seychellois cuisine.
New Year’s in Seychelles will culminate with a countdown at midnight and magnificent fire works which light up the sky of the Seychelles islands. This is an opportunity to discover the history and culture of these is lands while enjoying the festive atmosphere of the tropics at the end of the year.
Watching the fireworks at Mari na Bay, attending a beach party and visiting the Civic District are some of the most popular activities in Singapore on New Year’s Eve. It’s hard to single out just one celebration in Singa pore as one of Asia’s most pop ular New Year’s destinations hosts several fireworks displays and beachfront parties. Though perhaps the most unique aspect is the tradition of the ‘Wishing Spheres’, special orbs on which people write their wishes for the New Year, which are then lit and set afloat in the night sky.
Sail into the capital city of Galle and moor up at the Galle Fort, one of the most popular attrac tions, built in the 17th century by Dutch colonists. Here, you can participate in some of the interesting activities in Galle to ring in the New Year 2023.
More upmarket NYE parties are found in the Colombo town
hotels; e.g. Galle Face Hotel always has a huge one, and all upmarket hotels with discos like the Taj and the Hilton offer great celebrations.
Since Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the azure waters of the Indian Ocean, some of the best New Year’s Eve parties happen by the sea. Beachside parties are a common sight during this time of the year, and the best areas for this are Mirissa, Hikkaduwa, Bentota, and Unawatuna. After exploring, relax and dine in some of the most beautiful boutique hotels and ad venture lodges the country has to offer.
International visitors can con tinue the area’s yachting season, joining in celebrating the Chinese New Year in late January, an event that lasts fifteen days. This is also known as the Spring Festival, one of the most important celebrations in the Chinese calendar. Chinese New Year 2023 will fall on Sunday, January 22nd, 2023, starting the year of the Rabbit. Celebrations traditionally last for 16 days, from Chinese New Year’s Eve to the Lan tern Festival.
Many festivities take place in the cruising grounds of South East Asia islands during the holidays. Spending a holiday in a new cultur al setting definitely adds a unique, memorable experience to a yacht ing journey. If you are planning to immerse yourself in the holi day traditions and celebrations in South East Asia during a cruising voyage, hopefully the above des tination descriptions will provide some useful insights!
Photography by PADI
Chad Sinden is a PADI Master Scuba Diver Instructor™ and owner of Ocean Fox Dive Centre, a PADI ® Dive Centre in The Bahamas. His journey to becoming a diving professional has been any thing but easy, yet despite all odds he continues to choose to dive-in to seek adventure and save the ocean every single day. Here is his story.
Chad Sindenhand smaller than the left and gave me webbed fingers on my right hand. My medical condition also left me with severe depression, anxiety and a lack of confidence for most of my young adult life.
I also grew up with a fear of water. I nearly drowned three times before I was 16 and didn’t learn to actually swim until I was 25. And getting in the water with sharks? No thanks!
My
is to inspire others to feel good about themselves regardless of their chal lenges and to fall in love with the ocean. An ocean full of magic and wonder. If I can inspire just one person with my own challenges and fail ings, then I have succeeded.”
While I have been a PADI Open Water Dive Instruc tor since 2009, a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer since 2019 and the proud new owner of the PADI Dive Centre Ocean Fox Dive Centre, I wasn’t born loving the ocean.
I’ve been lucky enough to introduce a wide range of people to the beautiful underwater world. Regard less of age or ability, my goal is always the same with my diving students—to teach them to love the ocean and encourage them to explore and protect it. I am a firm believer that there truly is nothing more magi cal than the planet we live on and the contributions you as an individual make to it.
My love for sharks and the underwater world, that I am blessed to explore as a diver, arose from a time in my life where the world held no magic, won der or mystery above the surface.
In fact, my journey to get to this point has been anything but magical. But my challenges and choic es have led me to find sanctity at sea.
I was born with a rare medical condition called ‘Po land Syndrome’, which left me without my right-side pectoral muscle or lateral muscle, made my right
At the age of 11 my family moved to Austral ia. While we were surrounded by the New South Wales oasis of green valleys, I remained scared of the ocean and life there was anything but easy. We were illegal immigrants and were very poor. We first lived in a 30-foot-long caravan before moving into a small house that didn’t even have a real toi let. But looking back I realise this prepared me to deal with less than ideal living conditions in years to come.
When I moved back to the UK as a young adult, I got run over by a drunk driver and was left with severe brain swelling, amnesia and post-traumatic stress that took me three years to recover from.
But my time at hospitals also led to my jour ney as a PADI Professional. It was at a hospital in Northampton that I did my first PADI Discov er Scuba Diving experience. Shortly after I went on to become a PADI Open Water Diver at Stoney Cave near Leicester. My instructor on that course inspired me to start my own journey to become a PADI Open Water Instructor. I had discovered a whole new world beneath the surface and had fallen in love with the ocean.
The ocean and all its inhabitants accepted me without question. I found home. I found peace. All the struggles I went through did not define me un derwater.
Soon after diving into life underwater, I discovered my passion for megafauna.
“
mission
I remember the first moment a huge shark glid ed past me and looked me straight in the eyes. At first, I felt completely powerless and all I could do was stare back. But then that transformed into a beautiful moment of mutual curiosity and respect. A moment of connection between two species who realise they don’t want to harm each other. It is a moment that I will remember forever and I never felt more alive.
I eventually quit my full-time career as an elec tromechanical engineer to pursue ocean conserva tion. This led me to the beautiful Fiji Islands, where I volunteered for four years teaching reef conserva tion and scuba diving to international volunteers and indigenous locals. I was also there in 2016 when the devastating Category 5 Cyclone Winston devastated the island nation. But I will never forget the hospitality and kindness that was given to me by people there who lost everything. They taught me a valuable lesson in hope and kindness.
After continuing to work for many dive centres around the world, I found myself in the Bahamas in 2018. I invested my small life savings into 10% of a dive centre on the beautiful island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. It was the biggest financial risk I had ever taken.
After two years of working at this dive centre, and for reasons beyond my control, the relation ship with the other owner had taken a turn for the worse and I was looking for ways to get out of my partial ownership.
At the same time, the global pandemic upend ed the dive industry and my livelihood. Tourism was shut down in the Bahamas and we entered one of the strictest lockdowns in the world. From Monday to Friday each week we were not allowed to leave the house, not even for food or medical care. The hospitals were simply overrun and the beautiful beaches we were surrounded by were now off limits.
After five months of zero income, a depleted savings account and a maxed-out credit card, I had to give up the small house I was renting and moved into my trusty 22 yr. old Toyota Rav4. It then dawned on me that the dive centre I used to work at was empty. The company couldn’t close or function due to all facilities being shut down.
The wetsuit racks became my wardrobe. The retail floor of the shop became my bedroom. And the occasional crab would become my roommate while the crickets sang to me all through the night. I lived off the generosity of friends, family and lo cals. And I reminded myself how lucky I was in comparison to those who suffer worse than me.
However, I would still cry myself to sleep won dering if I would ever see my family again. I won dered how on earth I would pull through. I hit rock bottom, but reminded myself that I don’t go down without a fight, ever.
I began to formulate a plan to borrow money to buy the remaining assets of the dive centre. Since the banks were not lending, I made a list of every person and company I knew of affluence who I had met over my career that could be in a financial position to help me. I created a business plan for the dive centre and pitched it to everyone on the list. I expected zero response, but to my surprise I had three offers within a month! People recog nised the importance of continuing shark interac
tion training and, more importantly, the excellent professional reputation I had attained from years in the industry.
But the hard times weren’t quite over yet. I managed to return to the UK after eight months of solitude, only to be put through another fourmonth lockdown with my family. In total, I had now spent more than 12 months without a single paycheck. But hope in my dive centre kept me go ing.
I eventually returned to the Bahamas and reo pened the dive centre in March this year. Things were slow at first. I found myself having to apol ogise to guests as they entered the dive shop and saw my bed leaning up against the wall and my clothes next to the wetsuits and a gas cooker in the corner. But my guests were very understanding. In fact, the tips this year have been the best ever! 2021 has turned out to be one of our best years
ever! I’ve moved out of the dive centre and into a new home. The bills are paid. The dive centre has teamed up with the beautiful Cape Eleuthera Re sort and Marina and we are now a PADI 5 Star Re sort and Dive Centre.
Since taking over this dive centre, life has been on the up for both myself personally and profes sionally. After a whole year out of the water, I am now back diving with my favorite animals on the planet—sharks—and teaching others to love these beautiful creatures as well.
From humble beginnings I am now the proud owner of Ocean Fox Dive Centre in the Bahamas. I am a PADI Master Scuba Diver Instructor who gets to introduce people of all ages and abilities to the magic that lies beneath the surface of the ocean. I get to dive with sharks and be inspired by them every single day.
Life is about choices. What choices will you make today?
By Stephanie Skinner
Our expertly curated list includes sipping a G&T in Spain’s best cocktail bar, jumping off a vertiginous cliff, and devouring the most succulent deep-fried prawns in the Med.
Imagine standing on the edge of Mallorca’s Cala Varques cliff with nothing but thin air and a 14m-long drop into the Balearic Sea in front of you. Cliff-jumping is spectacularly life-affirming, and Cala Varques is one of the Balearics’ most beautiful and best spots to do just that.
Ibiza’s Ses Salines nature reserve comprises shimmering salt pans, secret beaches, and pine-cloaked coastal cliffs. If the park’s other worldly vistas and World Heritage Status haven’t convinced you to visit Ses Salines, then maybe the promise of seeing flamingos will do the trick — they gather in their hundreds!
While any bar in Mallorca worth its juniper will offer you a decent G&T, Ginbo’s gin-based beverag es take craft cocktails to another level. If your primary pursuits are sampling exquisite drinks and people-watching, you’ll love Gin bo (declared Spain’s best bar by FIBAR) and its lively location.
Visit Formentera’s Es Cap de Bar baria, the Balearics’ southernmost point, at the day’s end for a unique sensory reward. Feast your eyes on a captivating seascape (next stop Algeria!); and a sky lit into peach, lemon, and mauve, and all to the sound of waves crashing against the cliffs to boot.
If you’re seeking to tick off an ac tivity that scares the heck out of you, then Deep Water Soloing is for you. Mallorca just so happens to be the Med’s best place to ex perience exhilarating traverses at water level, all with the bro chure-blue Mediterranean Sea as your safety net.
The 700-year-old Camí de Cavalls is a bridle path that covers Menor ca’s entire coastline and goes right through S’Albufera de Grau, a Un esco biosphere reserve. Whether you’re into birds, butterflies, wild flowers, or hidden coves, every section of the path will leave a lasting impression.
As a boutique charter agency, we offer a personalized service and a smooth negotiation process. In a nutshell: we’re great at doing big things with less.
Captains keen to hear about our var ious management options or owners wanting to know more about the benefits of putting their yacht on the charter market are invited to get in touch via phone/email or to drop into our Palma office. www.snsyachtcharter.com
From Punta Malgrats to Cap de Llebeig, seasoned scuba divers know there’s no shortage of excel lent dive sites in Mallorca. How ever, the one that blows miscon ceptions about Med diving out of the water is El Toro. Descend and be dazzled by anything from scar let scorpionfish to long-snouted seahorses.
Given that it’s the world’s club bing capital, it is no surprise that Ibiza comes into its own after sunset. Visiting perennial favour ites like Hï Ibiza, star-studded and with a slide to the dancefloor, or Privilege, officially the planet’s largest club, is an Ibiza must-do.
Head to Restaurante Cap Roig in Menorca for a sea view that will leave you positively speechless. Fish is as fresh as can be here, and every single dish on the menu hits the spot. Try the deep-fried prawns — they’re so juicy you can eat them whole, head, tail, and all.
Light winds in The ROLEX MIDDLE SEA RACE
AC Cup Team: Training and Testing out of The Islander’s Home Port of Palma
ClubSwan 80 Debut Makers of mind-blow ing Documentary Free Solo and Skydance Sports Partner to create all-ac cess Documentary on the Americas Cup.
Upcoming RORC Events
New Owners for J Class Yachts Ranger, Svea and Rainbow further consolidate the Iconic J Class Fleet.
The 43rd edition of the Mediterranean’s most demanding and renowned 600 mile off shore race, The Middle Sea Race, will be re membered for light winds. Only those determined enough made the finish line, but the majority of the fleet did not finish. The conditions couldn’t have been more different than last year’s race. The principal success stories of the 2022 Rolex Middle Sea Race recognised at the prize giving in cluded:
• Teasing Machine – overall winner under IRC and recipient of the Rolex Middle Sea Race Tro phy
• Mana – multihull line honours winner and re cipient of the Captain Morgan Trophy for victo ry under MOCRA
• Leopard 3 – monohull line honours winner and recipient of the RLR Trophy Wild Joe – ORC Category winner and recipient of the Boccale del Mediterraneo Trophy.
The British America’s Cup team, INE OS Britannia, launched their first test boat for the 37th America’s Cup codenamed T6, designed and built-in collaboration with Mercedes-AMG F1 Applied Science, a di vision of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team.
The 40-foot test boat will play a vital role in the team’s programme through to the next America’s Cup, to be raced in Barcelona in the summer 2024. T6’s work will commence with an extensive testing period, primarily aimed at validating the team’s design tools and testing key componentry ahead of the design dead line to start the build of the team’s race boat.
New ClubSwan 80 My Song blows away the fierce competition at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup as well as the consecutive Swan Cup. Being a brand-new yacht with a new bie crew they beat the odds and dominated some of the toughest big boat competition in the world! Swan is hoping to see this new CS80 taking off as a one design class. With My Song’s impressive debut in mind, it can be expected to see the CS80 fleet grow fast. But even on handicap she was compet itive despite her canting keel and rotating canard.
My Song’s owner, the hugely experienced maxi sailor and industrialist Pier Luigi Loro Piana, was thrilled. “This boat has been a labour of love played out over three years. Not a day has gone by when I haven’t intervened in the project directly. Just to step aboard this beautiful yacht now is a delight, but to make two podium finishes in our first regat tas shows there is exceptional potential here.”
Many Islander readers will remember how the previous “My Song”, the 40m Baltic, was lost after falling off a cargo ship in May 2019. We are pleased to read this quote, filled with excitement, from an owner who puts his heart and soul into yachting. These people are the pillars of our industry.
©Carlo Borlenghi
-
RORC Transatlantic Race
DATE: Sunday 8th January 2023
COURSE: Lanzarote - Grenada DISTANCE (nm): 2995
The ninth edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race takes the competitors through the islands of the Canaries, with their reputation for large acceler ation zones and big waves, before heading out across the Atlantic Ocean to a finish off Quaran tine Point on the east coast of Grenada
If you haven’t watched the climbing documentary Free Solo yet, you’re missing out. The great -and more relevant- news for The Islander readers is that the same people: Chai Vasar helyi, Jimmy Chin and Evan Hayes, will now create an all-access docu on the America’s Cup. (Think of it as the equivalent of the Netflix series “Formu la 1: Drive to survive”). For the first time ever, all the teams competing in the iconic sailing event will allow never-be fore-seen access into their prepara tions and execution of the race, and the documentary series will showcase the people and the drama – on and off the water – throughout the competition. The 37th America’s Cup will take place in September and October of 2024 in Barcelona where the event’s defending champions, Emirates Team New Zea land, which has won four Cups since 1995, will be challenged by teams in cluding: United States, American Mag ic; Great Britain, INEOS Britannia; Italy, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli; and Switzer land, Alinghi Red Bull Racing
RORC Caribbean 600
DATE: Monday 20th February 2023
COURSE: Antigua – Antigua DISTANCE (nm): 600
The RORC Caribbean 600 has firmly established itself as a must-do modern classic for boats based on both sides of the Atlantic attracting many of the best racing yachts and crews from all over the world.
The 2022 season has seen the J Class gather considerable mo mentum. After five years marked by limited and sporadic racing at mixed fleet regattas, this season followed a consolidated, popular programme of class racing at three great events in the Caribbean and Europe. In many senses this season has been the perfect lead up to 2024 when a very strong fleet of J Class yachts look set to muster in Barce lona to take centre stage at J Class World Championship during the 37thAmerica’s Cup period.
New owners breathed new life into two J Class campaigns and were re warded with regatta wins on their respective debuts. As class racing returned to the Saint Barth’s Bucket in March where three boats enjoyed classic Caribbe an trade winds conditions, Ranger, took the top award ahead of Hanuman and Velsheda.
For the new, younger generation owner of Ranger, for whom their first ever racing sailboat is the 2003 built J Class, a debut win might have been unexpected. It was, howev er, a well-earned result for a team which is full of talent, with offshore and ocean racing experience fired by great enthusiasm with America's Cup winners Ed Baird on the helm and John Kostecki as tactician. The theme of debutant winners contin ued in June at the Superyacht Cup Palma where the J Class returned in numbers for the first time since 2014. During last winter a trio of well-known Swedish entrepreneurs - who are all accomplished and passionate sailors - acquired the Swedish designed Svea from the USA, looking to enjoy racing with the class under the Swedish flag for the first time. In mainly light winds on the Bay of Palma, all the competing J Class teams Svea, Topaz, Ranger and Velsheda - won rac es, but the Swedish flagged crew prevailed.
J Class Secretary Stuart Childerley com ments "We are pleased to know Rainbow is starting an extensive refit in Palma, like ly ready to race in late summer 2023, while Svea is planning to continue cruising and racing in 2023. Lionheart and Velsheda have recently commenced deck replacement pro jects and hope to sail in June 2023. Hanu man is expected to continue cruising on the NE coast of the USA. Endeavour, based in Palma, is sailed regularly, Shamrock contin ues her refurbishment programme in the UK and owner Hugh Morrison is looking forward to racing her in 2024."
Rainbow has been bought by passionate New Zealand racer Neville Crichton, and boat captain Matthew Sweetman reports, "We aim to have the boat out of the water at the end of November and do a full refit to bring her up to 2023 J Class racing stand ards. That will involve new teak decks, new paint, some work on the hydraulics. We aim to be on the water next year and we will see how we go before brining some new sails on line. We want to do some training with some
of the other boats before we go racing."
Sweetman expects Rainbow to be back in the water in July next year and reports that Erle Williams, who has a strong J Class track record previously on the helm of Rang er, will play a key role.
"We are looking forwards to getting the boat back racing, it is what they were designed to do. Everyone tells us Rainbow is a quick boat, but we will see. She has not really raced since Porto Cervo 2014 and we are eight, soon to be nine years down the line. Things have changed dramatically with the class since then, so we will see how we go when we are back in the water next year to see what else we need to do. We have a decent understanding of the class. Everyone is doing the same to make the boats faster and we need to see. With the America's Cup in Barcelona and Neville Crichton being a proud New Zealander, he wants to be there in a good posi tion to compete at the front end of the fleet and Neville wants to fly the New Zealand flag."
The J Class programme for 2023 looks set to focus on the early and late September Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, and the Ibiza JoySail Regatta of which The Islander Magazine is the proud media partner!
How long did you work in yachting? Can you tell me about your yachting career – highlights, low points?
I flew to Palma, searching for my first yachting job, in April 2014. Since then, I’ve worked in various interior and exterior roles and had a couple of stints out of the industry. But, I al ways seemed to gravitate back to boats. Although I had grand ideas of leaving the industry, for years I was never really able to achieve that goal and found it impossible to resist a good itin erary or interesting boat.
I’m glad that was the case though, because there have been so many highlights as a result!
I’d have to say that my crossing onboard S/Y Amazon Creek was a real high point for me. It taught me lots about myself and my abilities as a person, as well as a crew member. It also brought me some lifelong friends and was incredibly good fun. I don’t think I’ve laughed as hard or as often as during that time.
I think the same can be said for a lot of crossings. They are
certainly unlike any other work environment I’ve known. I so en joy how your world shrinks and nothing apart from the boat, the crew and that journey seems to matter. I always thought it such a privilege to be able to sail across an ocean and be paid to do it! Now, I’d say it’s probably the aspect of the job I miss the most.
Another high point was actual ly my very first boat, M/Y Mia Zoi. It was a private yacht that toured the Greek islands each summer, owned by a loud, charismatic Greek Australian. He took great pleasure in teaching his five crew members about the islands we were visiting and his Greek her itage. I always felt very valued in that role and found the experience to be an enriching one. The crew onboard were a real family unit too, which is what I needed at 19, living away from home for the first time.
Of course, it wasn’t all highs, I have had low points too. Most of them were induced and amplified by stress and sleep deprivation though. The work hard, play hard culture in yachting can seem invig orating at first, but wearing sleep
Hannah Lawes left home at the age of 19 and has since worked on yachts. It took her a few attempts to move from Ship to Shore: “...noth ing seemed to match the ex citement and freedom I had working on yachts.” She is now based in Antigua work ing for Starboard Card, an onboard financial manage ment tool that helps manage yacht budgeting, reporting and expenditure.
deprivation as a badge of honour is something I definitely left be hind when I left the industry. Not only is it bad for the head, it can be dangerous in too.
How did you know it was time for you to make the move to land?
As I said earlier, there have been a couple of times when I thought it was time to move on from the in dustry, but ended up back the next year nonetheless. I think I came back each time because nothing seemed to match the excitement and freedom I thought I had by working on yachts.
But, I think I knew it was time for me to go when the work didn’t excite me anymore. Once I’d re alised that, I stopped taking sea sonal or permanent work and just took freelance gigs until I worked out my next move.
What was the most dif ficult thing about the transition?
I always thought that the wage drop would be an issue when I left, but it really didn’t matter, be cause having a base felt so much
more fulfilling than a healthier bank balance and those kinds of adjustments are often temporary anyway. In truth, it wasn’t diffi cult because I felt ready for it, so all the little challenges that came with moving ashore were just part of the adventure. I have settled in Antigua, working for a compa ny within the industry, so I don’t feel like my transition has been as big as some, I’m still around boats every day!
I’m sure I’m not unique when I say that having my own space was a huge novelty for a while. I think it goes further than just physical space though, I have total auton omy over my own life now. I get to choose where I go 100% of the time because my bed isn’t going to leave without me if I want to stay!
Now, I work for Starboard Card, an onboard financial manage ment tool that helps manage yacht budgeting, reporting and expend iture. So, I still haven’t been able to sever my ties with the industry completely!
I love that my knowledge of the industry has been repurposed to help build a really impressive product that is of genuine bene fit to current crew. Accounting is an area of the job not often talked about, but it is important. Manag ing expenses onboard can some times be a hassle but, it shouldn’t be a part of the job that takes up any time at all, considering all the other things to think about during a busy season. I’ve heard so many horror stories about days of rec onciliation or thousands paid on crew’s personal cards when the boat card just didn’t measure up. What we’ve built makes things so much easier and I’m glad to have been a part of that.
Make sure you leave the industry because you are ready to do so, not because your current position isn’t the right fit. The next one could be a totally different expe rience. If you are ready, try and give yourself the space to explore your options. That might be by working in a different capacity for a while, like me with freelancing, or it might be saving up your char ter tips all year so you can support yourself while you find your feet ashore.
For me, still being part of the industry in some way has been the right choice, made easier by a flex ible company culture that means I can still go sailing if I want to, or go for a swim at lunchtime if I need a break.
We take a sneak peek into the routines and lifestyle of a Mallorca based business owner
Michelle explains that Bolsita Verde is a meal kit delivery service, ideal for health and environmentally-conscious Chefs and Stew/Cooks.
Bolsita Verde delivers plant-based recipes -in cluding portioned ingredients- to your doorstep or passarelle! Every week you can take your pick out of 9 recipes. Once you decide [or] have decided on the meal plan that suits you best, you can simply start cooking! It takes the stress out of meal planning and shopping whilst making conscious cooking easy and fun!
Bolsita Verde promises inspiring and healthy recipes, local and organic ingredients, all delivered in reusable and plastic-free packaging. The result is stress-free conscious cooking! You can try it any time without any commitment required!
Running such a great business, with such a clear ethos and message would make anyone curious to learn how you live day in day out. So allow us to be curious and ask about your routines! Starting with...
Yoghurt with my home-made granola and a kiwi. And a cup of green tea.
My alarm goes off at 7 in the morning. I’ll put my sports clothes on and either go for a run by the wa ter or do a little HIT workout on our rooftop terrace. Then I’ll take a shower, have my breakfast and I’m ready to rock the day!
My sports routine in the morning! Before Covid, I al ways said that I could never do sports in the morning and that I needed to have breakfast before going for a run. But ever since I changed my routine, I couldn’t advise it more. You start your day full of energy and you’ve done your portion of sports for the day. Your evenings are free for whatever comes up!
Cheese!! Coming from the Netherlands, there’s just not a day that goes by without eating cheese. I’ve been guilty of greeting the cheese in the fridge, be fore even saying “hi” to my boyfriend after coming home from work.
A must-watch are the documentaries ‘Game Chang ers’ and ‘What the Health’.
In Mallorca, where is your favourite place to:
• De-stress: The mountains! There’s no other place where I can completely disconnect and live the moment.
• Move: Again, the mountains! Whether on the bi cycle or hiking, I can’t get enough of them.
• Shop: I love to check out little concept stores.
• Dine: Vent in Portixol. Simple and good!
• Stay: Palma! Although I’m a big fan of the moun tains, I love the city buzz and having everything in walking distance.
Palma’s Rialto Living, conven iently located on Carrer Sant Feliu 3, is just a stone’s throw away from STP and sells a wide selection of eye-catching su per yacht must-haves. Have a snoop around and see for yourself. And if you make a pur chase, don’t forget to flash your STP (or other) entry card so you can relax in their leafy, oasis-like café and sip on a complimenta ry “cafe con leche” before you head back to the boat.
Whether you’re seeking upholstery material to spruce up the yacht’s interi or or to decorate your own Palma pad, Rialto Living will have you covered. Browse the store’s ground floor and you’ll find an extensive collection of gorgeous interior and exterior textiles, in every shade imaginable. From soft peach to earthy olive and everything in between, either plain or decorated with elegant patterns.
Our favourite in-store collection is made by high-end fabric makers Güell-Lamadrid, popular with interior designers and stylists alike. The collec tion, evocatively named Mediterranean Seaside, is dreamt-up by Rialto Living’s Swedish owner Klas Kall. What sets this collection apart is that it’s been inspired by some of Mallorca’s most awe-inspiring sceneries. Think Cuevas de Arta’s postcard looks, Puerto Pollen sa’s historic charm, and Cala Figuera’s sapphire waters. Kall’s artistic flair has translated the distinct shapes, colours, and textures of these gems into fabrics that will instantly transform the look and feel of any home or yacht.
The Mediterranean Seaside collec tion’s Bellver Floral and La Calobra Rocks are durable fabrics that are per fect to upholster sofas and armchairs. Orient Road Stripe, Cuevas de Arta, and Puerto Pollensa Waves are cot ton/linen blends and ideal to use as curtains. Cala Figuera Stripe is made from 100% cotton. The fabrics feature a
stunning array of browns, earthy reds, vibrant blues, and greens as well as neutral colours inspired by the island’s rocks, mountains, and sand. And if you’ve seen a design that is a perfect match for the yacht’s saloon, or your home, talk to Rialto Living’s in-house seamstress. She can whip your material of choice into the perfect sized cushion or seat in a heartbeat.
Ahhh the December holidays – it’s the most won derful time of the year! Whether you subscribe to Christmas or not, it’s great to have a well-earned break after a year of buckling down. The holidays can be a stressful time as there is a lot to coordinate, plan and prepare. We’re sharing our top three tips to make this festive season the stress-free break that you deserve!
This goes without saying in terms of eliminating stress in any facet of life but the sooner you start, the better. When you start seeing Halloween decorations, that’s your cue! From writing Christ mas cards & ordering presents (specially to avoid the price hikes!) to making sure you’re stocked for the month on all non-durable items so you only need to pop to the shops for the fresh stuff. Do what can be done today and don’t leave it for tomorrow.
We all have an idea of how things are going to go in our heads, and that’s no different for a holi day. If you’re the one doing the planning, be clear about what the others should expect. Be clear with your communication and give others the freedom to not be tied in too tightly to a sched ule. A holiday should be relaxing after all!
Virtual Pursers co-found ers, Bec McKeever and Dominique Smit, offer 3 of their top tips for keeping yourself stress-free and organised for the holidays.
Virtual Pursers provide yacht administrative assis tance to all vessels; no mat ter the size of the yacht or the extent of the need.
Don’t RSVP yes to every end-of-year function you are invited to. There is a lot going on this time of year and you will need some free time to get your own tasks done. It is also important that you take some ‘me time’ every now and then to reflect and relax, your family will thank you for it.
Whether you’re going abroad, work ing away, or staying put at home, we hope you have an absolutely wonderful festive season!
Dominique Smit & Bec McKeever, Co- Founders of Virtual Pursers; the shoreside solution to yacht administration
Don’t over-commit and make time for yourself
11
Palestinian
Just finished my season on a 51m M/Y, enjoying a break and looking for new opportunities.
Who is your food hero (dead or alive) and why?
• My Father (alive) as he was one of the best bakers in my country. I have joined him in the bakery since I was 7.
• Thomas Keller: an American chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author. He and his landmark Napa Valley restaurant, The French Laundry in Yountville, California, have won mul tiple awards from the James Beard Foundation, notably the Best Califor nia Chef in 1996, and the Best Chef in America in 1997.
• Bjorn Frantzen because he is the best! Frantzén runs Frantzén and Zén, res taurants that holds three stars in the Michelin Guide each and owns sev eral other restaurants in Stockholm and Asia.
What three ingredients could you not live without?
Herbs, seafood, oil
What are your three favorite cookbooks and why?
Actually I like to read a lot of cookbooks and I have up to 70 at home!
Currently I am enjoying:
1. Very Serious Cookbook: The first cookbook by the wunderkind New York chef duo Jeremiah Stone and Fabián von Hauske of Contra and Wildair.This is the story of two places
beloved by chefs and foodies worldwide - Lower East Side tasting-menu restau rant Contra, and its more casual sister, Wildair.
2. Bread is Gold: Massimo Bottura, one of the world’s best chef, prepares extraordi nary meals from ordinary and sometimes ‘wasted’ ingredients inspiring home chefs to eat well while living well.’These dishes could change the way we feed the world, because they can be cooked by an yone, anywhere, on any budget.
3. The Whole Fish: seafood chef Josh Ni land reveals a completely new way to think about all aspects of fish cookery. From sourcing and butchering to dry ag ing and curing, it challenges everything we thought we knew about the subject and invites you to see fish for what it re ally is - an amazing, complex source of protein that can and should be treated with exactly the same nose-to-tail rever ence as meat.
Wagyu burger. You can literally create as much marbling as you want by add ing fat to the ground beef mixture.
Smoked paprika, giant couscous, livers and duck fat.
You have to be tough, work long hours, take care of production, the entire kitchen, brigade of kitchen staff, plus the executive and admin roles etc. It is a high pressure environment. The chef role is demanding but if you love what you do, and you are strong, you can handle everything.
Most of the time they are right! There are exceptions but most of the chefs are Primadonnas. Sometimes I tend to behave like that, but when I’m aware of it I try to go back to normal ASAP!
I don’t have a problem with that. But, when they change from one day to another, I don’t tolerate it. For example, there was one crew member who was vege tarian until burgers were served. That put an end to my special treatment for that crew member.
Lambs brain comes to mind! And also a request for chocolate mousse without chocolate was a challenge!!!
As a chef, I’m more than a little obses sive about finding the best ingredients for my kitchen; I also believe that we as cooks have a duty to really get to know and understand where those ingredients come from, how they are made and why they are so special. One of the ingredients that I’m obsessing about right now is Acquerello rice. It’s organic, aged Italian carnaroli rice. That’s right, aged! It is grown using a crop rotation system and is the only rice variety sown on the farm, to avoid the possibility of inadvertent hybridisation with other varieties. After the harvest, the grains of Acquerello carnaroli are aged from one to three
Marc FoshMarc Fosh (born 14 August 1963) is a British chef who has lived and worked in Spain for over twenty years and is now based in Pal ma de Mallorca. His epon ymous restaurant, Marc Fosh, gained a Michelin star in 2002
years, a process which, by allowing the rice to “breathe”, optimising its qualities and charac teristics. Aging renders starch, proteins and vita mins less water-soluble, improving the consist ency of the grains and enabling them to absorb more cooking liquid. When cooked, the grains become bigger, firmer, do not stick together –and taste even better. Acquerello produces 500 tons of Carnaroli rice a year, and while the rice sells for about double the price of other risotto rice’s, it has become the go-to choice for many of the world’s top chefs including Heston Blu menthal, Thomas Keller and Alain Ducasse who named it, “The rolls Royce of Rice”.
I love the texture of Acquerello in creamy rice dish es and off course, Risotto. For some strange rea son, risotto has a reputation for being difficult and time-consuming to make when in fact the reverse is true. Making a good risotto is rather like riding a bicycle: It takes a little bit of practice to begin with, and a certain amount of concentration thereafter, but in essence it’s such a simple dish and always a joy to make. A basic risotto is just rice, stock and Parmesan cheese. I always start my risotto with finely chopped onion, crushed garlic and fresh thyme sweated off in a little olive oil or butter. But before you attempt this simple, Italian classic, it’s worth understanding just a little science behind the perfect, silky smooth risotto. Two very basic rules apply when making risotto; it needs continual stir ring with a wooden spoon and the liquid or stock should be hot, full flavoured and added slowly to help dissolve the starch. Basically, your job is to ex tract as much starch as possible from every single grain of rice to achieve a delicious, creamy risotto and you need to create a little friction and steam in the saucepan to achieve that. If you add too much liquid at once, the grains are just floating and swim ming around in the stock when they need to be in constant contact and rubbing against each other to release all that wonderful starch hidden in the cen tre of each grain. Without getting too technical, the most nutritious part of the grain is the seed and its endosperm containing the starch. If you add cold liquid to a risotto the endosperm closes up and the finished dish will never be right as the more starch released, the creamier the final risotto will be.
The flavour combinations for risotto are endless so you can be adventurous and add all the ingredi ents you like. Try anything from pumpkin, beetroot to saffron, wild mushrooms and asparagus. One of my new favourites is pollen & capers.
Risotto’s are also very sensitive to timing, and have to be served immediately to display their rich, creamy texture that a good homemade risotto will exude. Happy cooking!
Ingredients:
Serves 4
1l vegetable or chicken stock
1 sprig fresh thyme
100g finely grated parmesan
300g risotto rice
(preferably Acquerello)
1tbsp mascarpone
1tbsp olive oil
50g unsalted butter
2 shallots chopped finely 1 crushed clove of garlic 1 tbsp pollen
1 tbsp capers
Add enough oil to cover the bottom of a thick-bottomed pan, heat and add shallots, garlic and thyme. Sweat gently until the shal lots start to break down.
Add the rice and stir. Add a little hot stock until the rice is just covered; continue to stir until all the liquid has been absorbed by the rice. Over a medium heat, continue to add the stock gradually and stir until all the stock has been absorbed and the rice has sof tened. Make sure the risotto is loose and not too thick. Add the butter, mascarpone, grat ed Parmesan, pollen, capers and season to taste. The risotto should be light and creamy. Serve immediately.
Often under-appreciated and considered the under dogs in the world of wine, sweet wines tend to be rel egated to the top shelf and are rarely requested. These are wines that have had a glorious past but sadly, their future remains uncertain.
When we had our wine bar in Santa Catalina, it was very rare that a client would specifically ask for a sweet wine. So, I came up with a plan. I took a selection of 6 to 8 different sweet wines to the table and ‘sold’ the various delicacies by the glass. Nine times out of ten a client would be curious enough to try a glass and the response was often approving surprise.
Some sweet wines still have some acidity and can be refreshing on the palate. At the other end of the spec trum are sweet wines with cocoa and plum flavours. And in between, with their soothing textures, there is a whole range of fruits and spices to seduce you. Flavours such as apricot, raspberry, blackberry, banana, mel on, dried figs, raisins, honey, sweet grape –obviously-, and even chocolate, are waiting to be discovered inside these wonderful bottles.
Normally sweet wines are presented in the smaller format of 50cl or even 37,5cl bottles. This is because you need a larger percentage of grapes per bottle when making a sweet wine, which makes it more expensive. In addition, some sweet wines can have more sugar than a can of soft drink, though you only need to drink a very small glass. In fact, to be considered a sweet wine there must be a residual sugar content of more than 45 grams per litre.
Unlike regular wine, sweet wine will keep for a longer period as the level of sugar in it preserves it very well. This is exactly why sweet wines were widely made in the past. They were prized for their sublime flavours and longevity. In the days before refrigeration and technology, increasing the sugar content in the grapemust was the easiest way to stabilize the wine before transportation.
Sweet wine went out of fashion when new winemaking techniques were introduced, when the use of sulphites to stabilize wine be came more widely used, and when methods of transport improved in the 20th century.
Various methods can be used to create this nectar of the wine world:
• Air drying the grapes after harvest. This technique dates back to the 8th Century and is often referred to as the ‘raisinate’ method (the French call this passerillage and the Italians call it passito). Examples: Passito in Italy and Pedro Ximenez in Spain.
• Adding alcohol (such as brandy) during the fermentation process to create forti fied wines. Examples: Port in Portugal, Marsala in Sicily and Sherry in Spain.
• Using overripe grapes often referred to as ‘late harvest grapes’. The most extreme example of this is Eiswein. The grapes need to be frozen during harvest and when pressed so it is produced in very small quantities. Examples: Eiswein can be found in Austria, Canada, Germany and Switzerland.
• Using mature grapes that have been affect ed by ‘botrytis cinerea’, or the much easi er name ‘noble rot’. This is a fungus that shrivels the grapes into raisins. Examples: Sauternes from Bordeaux and Tokaji Aszú from Hungary.
To end this article on a more positive note, there are still many vineyards creating sweet wine today (in Mallorca too) so it is worth ex ploring what there is to offer and the story be hind them. Only recently, 7103 Petit Celler an nounced that they have created a sweet wine made with the indigenous variety Mantonegro.
If you would like to delve into some sweet delights from Spain and Mallorca, here are a few of our recommendations:
Casta Diva Cosecha Miel 2018 is the flagship wine of Bodegas Gutiérrez de la Vega. Cosecha Miel is made from Mos catel de Alexandria grapes that have been harvested from 40-year-old vines. The wine is fermented gradually in bar rels for 6 months, with grape distillate added slowly to stop fermentation and retain residual sugars. It is then aged for just over a year, in French, Ameri can, and Hungarian oak barrels. This wine was served at the Spanish Royal Wedding!
Selva Vins is the personal project of veteran Mallorcan winemaker Carlos Rodriguez Furthmann. His small win ery is located in the Sierra Norte region of Mallorca. His artisan wines are cre ated using minimum manipulation and he prioritises using indigenous grape varieties. A native Mallorcan variety, Malvasía, is used to create this natural ly sweet white wine. This sweet wine spends three months in a used 400-li tre chestnut barrel (from the forests of Montseny, California).
Can Vidalet's Port de Cecili Blanc Dolç is a white for tified wine that is a blend of three different vintages, 2018, 2019 and 2020. The natural fermentation process was stopped by the addition of wine alcohol, and it has been distilled in small batches. Oxidative ageing oc curred in French oak barrels. The wine is left unfiltered and bottled, sealed and labelled by hand. The careful combination of vintages gives complexity and charac ter to the wine.
Punta del Sol is a blend of the local white grape vari eties: Marmajuelo, Gual, Verdello and Malvasía, and it has been aged in French and American oak barrels and then later on, in stainless steel tanks. The name of this wine refers to the place of origin of its grapes; the area of Punta del Sol, in La Matanza, Tenerife, where Bodegas Cándido Hernández Pio has some plots at an altitude of 200 metres above sea level. The grapes were harvested late, and the Malvasía and Marmajuelo vari eties were sun-dried, giving the wine a natural, charac teristic sweet touch.
Recóndita Armonía is a sweet wine with red tones from the Monastrell grape variety. According to Gutiérrez de la Vega, 'it is the playful, cheerful, lively and fresh cousin of Fondillón'. The grapes are harvested late from 60-year-old vines, and then they are de-stemmed, crushed, and fermented in open barrels. The wine is pressed in barrels and left to age for 3 years.
The MYBA Charter show which will take place in Barcelona from 24 till 27 April of the coming year will, as always, include a Chefs’ competi tion. Taking into consideration the evolving cu linary landscape, the theme for the 2023 MYBA Superyacht Chefs’ Competition will be “sus tainability”! The competition is going to revolve around foraged fare !
The challenge for the superyacht chefs will be to create a guest dinner party using as many foraged items as they can in 3 courses (starter, main and dessert). A minimum of two (2) for aged food items must be included in each dish.
The chief steward/esses will need to prepare a rustic dinner party table setting also using el ements of foraged and upcycled items in their decor.
Details concerning both competitions have already been uploaded to the “Competition” section of the Show’s official website and can be downloaded. It is certainly a challenging theme and one that requires careful planning and preparation. The foraged food items can be gathered over time (dried, frozen, fermented or preserved in any way). They can also be gath ered at the time of the competition. So advance notice ensures that our superyacht chefs won’t find themselves in a pickle!
More info on: www.mybashow.com
Coffees, Cakes, Chocolate and Cava Dock Maarten Antigua Charter Yacht Meeting Out and About in Mallorca The Book Corner
Ihave been known amongst my friends as some one who once ate over three kilos of assorted chocolates within about a week and got quite sick after that. This was a gift from a friend from Germany, while I lived in England, and when it comes to commercial chocolate we all know which country wins!
Ever since that little binge, I have been looking into “healthier”, “better for us” chocolate that still tastes as good as the “regular” bars. I even wrote a paper on that at my last job in the UK, so I do consid er myself as a bit of an expert.
Sadly, there is not that much choice when it comes to high quality, bean-to-bar chocolate here on the island. Even less - if one is looking for the raw stuff. That is why I decided to talk to Tino Wolter, a master chocolatier who has been making some pret ty amazing chocolate in Santa Catalina in Palma for the past eight years.
Tino Wolter is a professional chef and pastry chef. His goal was to be a pastry chef in a Michelin star restaurant and he achieved this early on in his career. He then worked in a confectionery shop, making wedding cakes and pralines, and afterwards again as a pastry chef in a restaurant. All this was in Berlin. From there, Tino was invited to Mallorca to develop a project with Christine Leja of BConnected, a well-known name in the world of architecture, de sign and real estate on the island. Christine financed the Cachao project, while Tino brought years of ex perience and the idea of making the first bean-tobar, raw, organic, vegan chocolate on the island.
When we met, Tino recounted many months of experimenting, of trials and errors while making chocolate without any stabilisers, without any re fined sugar, all the while trying to achieve a familiar
taste and the texture.
I asked Tino how his chocolate is different from any other chocolate around, what makes it unique. He told me that the starting point of difference were the beans - sourced from specific organic, fair trade plantations in Peru and Ecua dor. The second point was using raw cocoa, full of iron, magnesium etc. He drew a comparison with raw vs. cooked vegetables, and we all know what is better for us there. Another interesting fact he told me was that raw cocoa butter was like cold pressed extra virgin olive oil, or avocado, or omega oil from fish. Never thought of it that way, but it totally makes sense. Furthermore, Tino does not add any sugar, but uses coconut nectar instead, meaning that his chocolate is suitable for diabetics and has low GI. We got into all the technical talk about conching, tempering etc., but I will not bore you with all that, except to say that it takes Tino four days to get from the bean to the chocolate (more to add flavours).
This concept might sound “too good” to be appealing to an everyday consumer. Raw choco late might take some getting used to for someone who has only ever eaten commercial stuff. How ever, I assure you that once you do try it, and once you start appreciating all the work that went into it – from the fact that each bar and each square is completely hand-made and all the ingredients aside from the cocoa are locally sourced – you will not want to go back to your usual favourites ever again.
I have a friend who is a fan of 100% cocoa bars, or anything as close to that as he can find. I am not quite there yet, but I do increasingly ap preciate a high cocoa content, with as few ingre
dients as possible. At the same time, I am all about the flavour, and there are some very interesting flavours at Cachao, such as rose mary and nuts, apricots from Porreres and lavender (my current favourite!) or orange peel from Soller oranges. Their latest is rasp berry and I like that very much too!
Cachao store has recently been refur bished, and (in the coolest possible way!) it now looks more like a very stylish lab than a sweets shop. All their chocolates have been rebranded with creative help from Patrick from We are Yellow and I absolutely love the new packaging. From the smallest 30g bar to the signature box, these are high end treats that catch the eye as well as the palate.
This year, just like the last few years, Tino will be making his Christmas trees, consist ing of discs of raw dark chocolate, generous ly sprinkled with dry fruit and nuts. These little delights make a perfect gift for any seasonal party and a healthier alternative to tonnes of chocolate consumed at home in December and all the way till Three Kings.
Have a happy, healthy and sweet 2023! Till next month…
Yours sweetly, Mia
Text: Mia Naprta
E-mail: mia.naprta@gmail.com Instagram: @mianaprta
Photos: Santiago Gallardo Mobile: +34 722 25 51 19 Instagram: @santiagogallardooficial
Cachao – Authentic Chocolate
Plaça de la Navegació 14ª, Santa Catalina, Palma WhatsApp: +34 673 45 82 16
Web: https://es.cachao.eu Instagram: @cachao_chocolate
Opening hours
Mon-Fri: 10am - 5pm Sat: 10am - 2pm
Dock Maarten, the newest marina on the Dutch side of St.Maarten-St.Martin is already proving to become a success as reservations are rolling in!
The last pre-season preparations are underway. Dredging down to 4 - 5 meter depths allows access to the larger superyachts. The marina already became a preferred spot for many yachts last season seeking to avoid the Simpson Bay Bridge transit and associat ed fees to enter the lagoon and other marinas. Dock Maarten is situated close to the cruise ship pier and ac cessible straight from the sea while protected from the waves and swells by its break wall.
Frontstreet with all the tax-free shops, the Chester field restaurant and a nice beach bar on the premises all make the marina even more attractive. Our favourite part is the vicinity to the Boardwalk Gelateria Milano shop owned by Tim. They offer a direct order and de livery service to the chefs (and sweet toothed crews) on the yachts.
The friendly and diligent Dock Maarten manage ment and staff are looking forward to welcoming you!
• Our contacts tell us that at last pretty much all wrecks from Hurricane Irma (Sept 2017) have been cleared which makes navigation and anchoring the Lagoon much safer!
• Obviously anchoring in the channels or in front of the marinas is forbidden.
• When anchoring on the Dutch Side, a fee will be charged.
• Smaller yachts can enter through the French bridge (width bridge = 10m) and anchoring is free in the French part of The Lagoon
• Marigot Marina Fort Louis’s website offers clear info on all bridges (including Cause way Bridge). https://www.marinafortlouis. com/bridge-opening-times.html
December marks the start of the Caribbe an season! The annual Antigua Charter Yacht Meeting is the deadline for many yachts to make it across the pond from ei ther Europe or the US.
Over 30 yachts will fill up Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua Yacht Club and Fal mouth Harbour and registrations are still being processed. The attending motor and sail yachts range in size from 15m to 85m creating a wonderfully complete rep resentation of our industry and communi ty. There is no doubt that it will be a great edition of a show that has been going for no less than 61 years! The show gives the opportunity for yacht crew to meet with brokers, marine vendors as well as the press. Chefs and Steward(ess) / Cooks will be able to enhance their reputation by competing in the Chef’s Competition. They will be judged by Canadian Chef Elizabeth Lee who graduated with hon ours in culinary arts before embarking on an impressive career as a yacht chef. With social events taking place every night of the show, this will be an event where many new yachting relations will be forged and old ones rekindled!
If you have ever bought bread from UCO Bakery, you know that they are much more than just a bakery making sourdough and mixing it with interesting and innovative ingredients, such as figs, carob and a lot more. In their own words, “UCO emerged as an opportunity to bring together the es sential things in life (food, art, music and people...) and above all as an opportunity to tell stories and promote health, awareness and sustainability in a warm, welcoming and safe environment” . Cate and Gus, the couple behind the brand, “want to generate a feeling of union and community... of a family that shares similar values and is enriched by the connec tions and synergies that are created as a result of something as simple as going to buy bread”.
This past October they brought together the owners of several small businesses on the island so that they can share with the people of Palma their history and their products. They created a market day where these businesses had an opportunity to sell anything from permaculture fruits and vegeta bles, to fresh flowers, organic preserves, artisanal ice cream, natural and biodynamic wines and many other special and interesting products that are not found in markets around Palma or Mallorca.
As I went in, I was greeted by the guys from Cabraboc, offering local gin and spirits. I tried their fruity “orange spirit” produced with 100% oranges from the valley of Sóller. It warmed up my insides and put me in the good mood to explore the rest of the market.
I stopped by Mica Joyeria, and was mesmerised by a demonstration of jewellery being made right in front of us, using what appeared to be traditional tools. Mica´s rings, bracelets and necklaces would make some pretty cool Christmas gifts.
I also spoke to the guys from Bar La Sang / Lundgren Wines and they told me about an imminent opening of their new premises, where they would be offering wine tasting workshops. Follow them on social media for their next event.
Bright coloured pop art by Belen Paz adorned the white walls at the back. Depicting moments from life on Mallorca and other Balearic islands, it made a per fect backdrop for this eclectic market.
Another spot that caught my attention was a large ta ble full of permaculture vegetables. It surprised me to see that is was run by a very young man, Jacopo, who enthusiastically told me what he does and invited me to visit his place in person. Hi basil could be smelt throughout the whole place.
I had an interesting conversation with a represent ative from Son Moragues about their organic oils and preserves and tried some almond snacks (coated in chilli, curry etc.) from Ametlla de Mallorca an I wowed to visit both these places at an earliest opportunity.
On the way out I bought a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers suitable for home drying from Aurora’s Floral Studio and a pot of incredibly creamy 70% chocolate ice cream by the new arrival to Santa Catalina named “Elaela fabrica de helados”.
The soundtrack to the day was provided by Le Kar toon playing some pretty great live music, followed by a cool DJ set by DJ Mauri.
Altogether, I think that this was one of the most fun days I have had on the island this year. At the same time it was a great example of collaboration rather than a competition within a community. There was so much positive energy, talks, exchanges of ideas…Now, I am really looking forward to UCO´s Winter Market Day at some point mid-December and I hope to see you all there!
Text: Mia Naprta
E-mail: mia.naprta@gmail.com
Instagram: @mianaprta
Photos: Alvar Paz
Instagram: @alvarpazph
Further info on participants:
Organisers: UCO Bakery, C/ Berenguer de San Juan,
Live Music: Le Kartoon (www.lekartoon.com /@Lekartoon)
DJ: Dj Mauri (@mauri_music_mixologist)
Local drinks: Cabraboc (cabraboc.com / @cabraboc_gin)
Natural Wines: Bar La Sang (@barlasang)
Organic oils and preserves: Son Moragues (www.sonmoragues.com / @sonmoragues)
Almonds and more: Ametlla de Mallorca (ametllademallorca.com / @ametllademallorca)
Artesanal ice cream: Ela Ela @elaela.helados
Vegtables “de permacultura”: Jacopo Puschiasis @jacopo.puschiasis
Jewellery: Mica Joyeria de autor (www.micajoyas.com / @micajoyeriadeautor)
Flowers: Aurora’s Floral Studio (www.aurorasfloralstudio.com / @aurorasfloralstudio)
For many of us early December is a time to relax and unwind at home, before getting out for various Christmas dinners and New Year Eve´s parties at the end of the month. This time Marina and I have selected five great reads – three for adults and two for children.
Richard Osman- an author, producer and tele vision presenter – has made a name for himself with his previous two murder mystery novels, The Thursday Murder Club and The Man Who Died Twice. Both were multimillion-copy record-break ing bestsellers all over the world. In his third novel – The Bullet That Missed – a decade old case leads our characters to a local news legend and a murder with no body and no answers. Elizabeth´s mission is to kill – or to be killed. See how she gets on in this fantastically en tertaining page turner of a book.
From mystery murder to something very different and much more serene…baking! The Nordic Baker is described as a collection of “plant-based bakes and seasonal stories from a kitchen in the heart of Sweden. Sofia Nordgen “guides you through a year of baking” and “invites you to keep things simple, go back to basics and cook with nature in mind”. The book is full of stunning photos on loca tions and general tips and tricks related to the Nordic way of life. Sofia´s Lingonberry roll cake reminded me of a similar roll my mother and grandmother used to make with plum jam – a real seasonal treat for the autumn. For Christmas, she shares her own take on hot chocolate for the kids and mulled win for the adults.
From mystery murder to something very differ ent… Stories of trees, woods and forests is “an en chanting anthology of tales by a surprising mix of writers who have been inspired by trees” , edited by Fiona Stafford. It is a part of a beautiful hard back series by Everyman´s Pocket Classic that includes Stories of the Sea, Christmas Stories and a couple of dozen other collections.
I particularly liked A Tale by Jane Austin, but also The Shade of Spring by D.H. Lawrence and Love by Yuri Olyesha, whose work I have not read till now. There are 29 stories in total and you could read one or two each evening during Advent, as an alternative to an Advent Calendar.
Talking about Advent Calendars, I think you will be hard pressed to find a better calendar for any kids in your life than The Gruffalo and Friends Advent Calendar Book Collection by Julia Don aldson and Axel Scheffler!
First of all, this large book is visually stunning and I guarantee that it will put a smile on the face of any little recipient lucky enough to get chil dren’s favourite monster this Christmas. Second ly, the calendar is made up of 24 mini books, one for each bedtime story during Advent, meaning that your little ones might start looking forward to their bedtime routine. There are even several new, never published books in this collection.
Marina´s Book Club
Marina also runs a couple of popular monthly book clubs in English and Spanish at La Salina. The English book club is usually set for the first Monday of the month and lasts for about 1.5-2h each time. You can check La Salina´s Instagram account for the currently read title and the date for December, get the book at La Salina and join the club by messaging Marina.
La Salina Bookstore
C/ Bayarte 21 Palma Instagram: @lasalinapalma Web: www.lasalinapalma.com
Text: Mia Naprta
E-mail: mia.naprta@gmail.com Instagram: @mianaprta Photos: Private archives Notes for the designer:
Last but not least, Marina and I would love to recommend another gorgeous looking Christ mas themed children´s book. It is about a boy called Nicky Claus (clever character naming, don´t you think?) who is working with his three uncles at Claus Brothers Toy Shop. One of the uncles adds a special, magic sparkle to each toy, meaning that it will find a perfect child it is meant for. There is a little love story in there too, some sad social issues are dis cussed, but – as it should be at this time of the year – there is a happy end to it all!
