SEAY 15.5 update (19.12.20)

www.thailandyachtshow.com

Southeast Asia’s yachting and marine industry magazine

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SEA Yachting News

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Simpson Marine’s Brokerage Show

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Ocean Emerald & Euro Design Furniture mesh well

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Innovative new Dehler 38SQ turning heads

This issue we hi-lite RPM adopting renewable energy (pg#10); the Bangkok Motor Expo hosting its ¿rst boat show (pg # 11); the 4LV series engine with its powerful low-end torque & stunning acceleration (pg#12); the evolution of the Phuket Yacht Club (pg#14); Indonesian visa news (pg#17); Northrop & Johnson’s Phuket Boating: Fun for the Whole Family (#pg48) the Beneteau outboard range (#pg50); PYC’s Jai-dee Regatta (#64).

Simpson Marine has done a tremendous job of ¿ghting through COVID-19 and keeping a strong presence in the region despite all the troubles the pandemic has caused as evidenced by this show at Ocean Marina Pattaya.

When Nigel Plaskett’s Ocean Emerald needed an interior re¿t he turned to Luc Parietti’s Euro Furniture Design. The result was a stylish design that continues to ooh and aah onboard guests.

Rob Williams at SEA Yacht Sales tells us the “SQ” stands Speed & Quality as this yacht shares great sailing characteristics and modern design & comes in three rig con¿gurations: Standard, Competition Aluminum & Carbon.

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East Marine cleans you up

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Crossing borders safely

Need quality products to give your boat a good sprucing up: well, look no further than the friendly & attentive staff at Boat Lagoon’s East Marine Asia who can meet all your cleaning needs.

The ever ef¿cient and reliable Marieke Derks & Zara Tremlett have gone to great trouble to detail how countries in the Asia-Paci¿c Indian Ocean region are reopening their maritime borders to visiting yachts.

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PMG shipyard – the pride of Rayong

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Jim Stoll – a life well lived

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Aloha Diving – symbiosis formed

Few people can match the charisma of Philippe Guenat: his stories and adventures are second to none and he and his team are doing fantastic work building boats at the PMG shipyard.

Few people have led such a remarkable nautical life. We recently caught up with Jim as he oversaw the building of his second schooner Vela at the Marsun shipyard in Samut Prakan.

Founded in 2014, this boutique business has developed into a well-established, innovative diving center with a high level of customer satisfaction.

www.seayachtingmagazine.com

Regional 10 NEWS

A PHUKET FIRST FOR GREEN POWER The first marina in Thailand to switch to renewable energy, award-winning Royal Phuket Marina (RPM) has gone solar and now gets a big chunk of the power used for its marina operations from a newly installed array of solar panels.

Racking up another in a series of ‘firsts’, RPM is using the latest solar technology and generating a surprising 60 percent of all the power used to keep the marina operating.

In a classic case of synergy, the solar panels sit atop Thailand’s only fully-covered, 4-storey boat dry-stack system. Aside from many other advantages for pleasure boat owners, dry-stacking boats avoids the need to coat the hulls with anti-fouling materials – chemicals that leach into the ocean over time.

Owners of boats up to 48ft (15m) at Royal Phuket Marina are incentivised to use this first-of-its-kind dry-stack facility by the provision of a truly seamless concierge service. “Our dry-stack customers can call us 24/7 saying they want to use their boat today – and it will be in the water, ready to go, within 10-15 minutes,” says marina manager Woranart Wongvanich, adding that the service includes hauling out after use and a pressure-wash before re-stacking.

“We’re passionate about nature and the environment at Royal Phuket Marina,” said Chairman Gulu Lalvani, adding, “We’re proud to say that our move to solar power reduces our annual carbon footprint by 20 tons and I was delighted, on several occasions recently, that Phuket’s air quality index (AQI) was an amazing zero – the lowest in the world.”

Solar energy is just the latest of Royal Phuket Marina’s green initiatives. July 2019 saw the marina become the first in Thailand to achieve ‘Clean Marina Accreditation’, satisfying the stringent criteria of the Marina Industry Association’s ‘Clean Marina Program’. The programme’s goal is to reduce ‘non-point source pollution’ associated with boating/marina facilities, and to promote clean water and clean air in marina industry businesses.

Mr. Lalvani is no stranger to taking the lead, having been in the vanguard of the push to abolish import duty on yachts – which was achieved in January 2004, giving Thailand’s marine leisure industry a massive boost – long before many of today’s industry players came on the scene.

Located right in the middle of Phuket Island’s east coast, Royal Phuket Marina is the gateway to Phang Nga Bay and more than 30 beautiful Andaman islands.

Royal Phuket Marina solar energy

ROYAL PHUKET MARINA CHAIRMAN, GULU LALVANI

Mr Lalvani is inspired by fresh ideas and new opportunities. He built Binatone from a start-up (1958) into a global communications giant with staff and offices around the world. In 2008, he exited the company to pursue two of his lifelong passions: travelling and yachting. Seeing the potential for Phuket to become a world-class yachting paradise, he committed to putting this island on the map as an international yachting and lifestyle destination.

The result of that vision is Thailand’s first and only award-winning marina, the recipient of Five Gold Anchor awards and International Clean Marina accreditation. Previous development phases encompass residential properties, commercial and retail units, restaurants and the largest exhibition hall in Phuket.

For further information, contact…

Wiriya Sinprasertwong (Deedee) Marketing Manager Email: wiriyas@royalphuketmarina.com Mobile: +66 (0)81 978 9550

Regional

NEWS 11

New E-Visa Bringing Superyachts to Indonesia

Superyacht waiting to cruise Indonesia will be delighted to learn of the new E-visa in Indonesia.

The new Visa is for 60 days and extendable up until 180 days (6 months), single entry only.

“The process now makes it easy for crew to leave / return to the yacht and for all to fly in or out. All our clients need is the PCR test showing ‘negative’, and there is no Quarantine. Now there is no need to go to the Embassy and lose valuable time… and we can do it for you”, reports Thomas Taatjes of Asia Pacific Superyachts (APS).

Taatjes met with the local government (Bupati) beforehand to seek permission for a visit from the 80m luxury superyacht M/Y AMEVI and permission was granted. APS Indonesia made the protocols for COVID19 clearances which they believed were best appropriate. These protocols were approved by Belitung and are now being used as an example for all other yachts and agents to follow.

Indonesia is now open to international yachts, with a strict protocol for entry. There are now new rules and policies related to foreign visit visas with Indonesia opening its borders to accept yachts for extensive stays; however, only one type of visa is possible and this must be obtained prior to coming to Indonesia. The visa application process uses an online system and this process must be carried out by a guarantor (agent).

The visit by M.Y. AMEVI was deemed as a trial for Indonesia in welcoming yachts during this time of Coronavirus. Once the process was completed (without a hitch), the government released a letter stating: “Now all ports in Indonesia are open for yachts, provided they follow the protocol as per those set out by AMEVI and Asia Pacific Superyachts Indonesia”.

Visas were granted to crew in various embassies around the world including the USA, England, Spain, Greece, Thailand and Australia. All crew flew in and/or arrived onboard with these correct visas. The local newspaper reported the superyacht from Singapore docked around the waters of Lengkuas Island, Sijuk District, Belitung Regency after obtaining permission from the authorities.

“Some crew members have now gone on leave in Bali and other places in Indonesia and around the world, reported Taatjes.

PCR tests were done for sign off crew in Jakarta in 6 hours turnaround in order to meet their outbound flights and airline/country of destination requirements”, added Taatjes, noting local government and people were very happy to have AMEVI in Belitung which helps greatly in supporting their tourism industry.

“The Crew were also happy, reporting they enjoyed the smooth operation of the APS Indo team, the beautiful offshore islets and beaches of Belitung and the friendly local people and ground support personnel of APS Indonesia”, he added. “The crew also noted the ‘crew change’ was even smoother than pre-Covid days!”

“To fly out there is no need to show anything, you just need to check with the airlines and the country flying to as to what the requirements are. Usually they need a PCR with validity of 72 hours or less. In Jakarta we can do PCR test results in six (6) hours”, Taatjes added. For more details email thomas@asia-pacific-superyachts.com The Electronic Visa (Evisa) application process uses an online system and this process must be carried out by a guarantor (agent). Taatjes noted APS can provide details/pro-formas and will require the following documents: • A statement letter in English stating that you are willing to enter quarantine and/or treatment at your own expense (should it be required), carry out health monitoring and that you have health insurance; • Proof of availability of funds of at least US $10,000 for your cost of living while in Indonesia; • A Health Certificate from a recognized laboratory stating you are free of Covid-19.

APS Indonesia founder, Captain Jimmy Blee, is spreading the message, “APS will be sending regular updates to all our friends and clients as conditions change in Indonesia, over and above what is widely reported”, adding: “These uncertain days require strength and hope and a profound humanity for others. We are delighted to share this good news to all”.

APS is the leading superyacht management company in Indonesia, handling many yachts over 95 meters, the largest ones being Octopus and Ocean Victory 120m and-146m respectively. They now look forward to welcoming new and returning clients to Indonesia. https://asia-pacific-superyachts.com

Regional 12 NEWS

POWERFUL LOW-END TORQUE AND STUNNING ACCELERATION

The 4LV series engine raises the standard for engines in its class, with exceptionally low noise and vibration alongside the 2.8 L displacement delivering powerful low-end torque and stunning acceleration.

By exceeding the strict EPA Tier 3 and EU RCD Stage 2 emissions regulations, the engines feature a virtually odor-free and smoke-free operation. Direct connectivity to NMEA and J1939 CAN-bus networks has been purpose engineered into the 4LV range, allowing future-proofed integration to any multifunction bridge display.

Regional

NEWS 13

Over and above the impressive performance, the resounding bene¿t of the 4LV Series remains its versatility, with all models available with multiple shaft and jet drive options and the durable YANMAR ZT370 sterndrive.

Ful¿lling needs across all boating applications, it is the perfect solution for new builds and repowering.

Details u u u u

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Available in 5 output models – 150, 170, 195, 230, 250 mhp All models compatible with YANMAR ZT370 sterndrive A proven solution for jet and shaft drives Controlled electronically by YANMAR VC10 Vessel Control System, with up to 3 stations (mechanical controls as option) Certi¿ed for recreational and light duty commercial applications* SOLAS option and USCG lifeboat approved

*Please note, the 4LV250 is not EPA Commercial certi¿ed

Common Rail Technology YANMAR uses advanced common rail technology to achieve the most ef¿cient engines in their class. Learn more about this technology and Yanmar common rail engines.

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Phuket Yacht Club on a roll

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Regional

NEWS 17

Bangkok Motor Expo adds boat show

The 37th Thailand Motor International Expo (2020) ran from December 3-16 at the Impact Challenger Arena at Muang Thong Thani. And for the first time, the event showcased boats and leisure marine companies through the “Join Boat Platform”. Participants included two of SEA Yachting’s favorite companies, Simpson Marine and the Island Spirit Group.

Also on display were nautical toys from ANNA, Kawaski & SEADOO as well as presentations from Bangkok Cruises, Boat Lagoon Yachting, Mr. Boatman & Petra Marine.

The motor expo itself was fabulous with the best names in cars (Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, MG, Porsche, & Rolls-Royce), and motorbikes (Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Royal Enfield, Stallions, & Triumph) on display.

There was also an exhibition of vintage vehicles. Hundreds of cars were bought and test drove during the event and with the amount of economic activity going on in the arena, you’d be hardpressed to know there was a global pandemic going on outside the exhibition’s gates.

Hopefully, the boat show will become a permanent fixture of the event enabling more Thais to participate in and learn about the wonders of aquatic life.

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id-October saw Simpson Marine stage its first brokerage show at Ocean Marina in Pattaya. It is at about this time that Ocean Marina usually stages its own boat show, but COVID-19 but a kibosh on that this year.

So Simpson Marine’s Country Manager Howard Prime seized the opportunity and working with Simpson Marine’s Pattaya Sales Manager Russell Hough and Ocean Marina Harbormaster Scott Finsten the three round-

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ed up twelve boats in the marina, including a new Oceanis 46.1, whose owners were looking to sell and staged a brokerage show with Simpson earning a commission if any of the boats were sold.

The show provided guests with good deals on a wide variety of used boats, and with COVID restrictions in place across the globe, this is a great time to rediscover and explore Thailand’s stunning natural topography and anchorages.

And there were early returns from the show as well: a direct offer was made at the event, with several serious on-going negotiations.

The event also served as a launch for Grow Boating Pattaya, a leisure marine networking event that Ocean Marina will stage every month. Grow Boating Phuket has been going for some time now, under the watchful eye of Ian Hewett, and has proved to be a great opportunity for those in the business to mingle,

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commiserate, and share ideas on how to stimulate the boating industry in the country.

Kudos must go out to Simpson Marine for staging this event. Not only has the company sold 80 boats in eight months in Asia, but while many companies have become reticent to even venture out of their office during the pandemic Simpson has aggressively staged hygienic safe-distancing events. These include a Sanlorenzo SL78 showing off of Trisara in Phuket and a 16-boat three-day show at Ao Po Grand Marina this past summer, hi-lighting to the rest of us that there will be a new normal boating world once COVID-19 is brought under control. It is very easy to get down in the dumps during times like these, but Howard and his enthusiastic staff won’t let us.

Howard has gone to great lengths to learn and study Thai culture while he has been in-country. He doesn’t just see Thailand as another footnote in his resume but as a burgeoning hot spot for young Thais eager to get involved in the boating world, and he wants to help them discover it. He’s quick

to identify that the three million or so very wealthy Thais will not be spending their money abroad during the pandemic, and are looking for ways to amuse themselves or make money in-country.

One example is just a few weeks ago Howard flew from his base in Phuket to sell a Lagoon 46 to a client in Bangkok, who will use the boat for charter to middle-class Thais for sunset cruises. This client is also thinking about buying eleven more boats (a mix of Beneteau First 14s, First 18s,First 24s & First 27s) to get more young Thais involved in sailing.

Howard said Simpson through the Show also wanted to stress that Pattaya is a competitive boat market and the Top of the Gulf of Thailand has vast potential as a boating destination.

Viewing a yacht in The Gulf of Thailand is easy with Simpson’s experienced team based at Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Pattaya. They cover Pattaya, Bangkok and Hua Hin and can arrange to collect you from one of the nearby airports, your hotel or any

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other location and take you to see yachts on both sides of the Gulf of Thailand. Simpson can also help you through the complete yacht purchase process including arranging finance, moorings, yacht care or complete yacht management.

If you have any questions about the yachts that were on display at the show, described below, please contact Russell Hough at pattaya@simpsonmarine.com. And if you have any questions in general about Simpson’s operations in Thailand please contact thailand@simpsonmarine.com.

LIST OF BOATS ON DISPLAY AT THE SHOW Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 – This yacht, based on a Finot-Conq plan, keeps the distinctive stepped hull of the Oceanis 51.1. Apart from her performance at sea and the huge amount of space, the design makes optimal use of the cockpit beam. An incredibly efficient deck plan makes her wonderfully safe and easy to use. The furling mast, self-tailing jib and all the halyards and sheets brought back to a single winch at each of the helm stations, in addition to the three electric Harken winches and a bow thruster,

make maneuvering simple when short-handed sailing. Inside large hull portholes bring a considerable amount of natural light right into the centre of the boat, so that you can truly enjoy the elegant interiors by Nauta Design.

This boat, finished in light brushed oak, sets

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the tone and creates the clean, light interior atmosphere. The Oceanis 46 boasts all the features of a large cruising yacht, with a rare balance between elegance, usable space and performance.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 36i - Originally used for weekend club racing this fast cruiser comes with an almost unused set of carbon fibre racing sails and spinnaker. The cruising sails are in excellent condition and the boat has been well-maintained. A light wood interior, two good-sized cabins and one head, including full size glass door shower offer spacious living on this size of boat. The addition of a convertible third bunk in the salon gives extra flexibility. This boat will not disappoint her crew in any wind!

Lagoon 421 Catamaran - A rare opportunity in Asia to acquire a pre-owned owner’s specification Lagoon 421 in exceptional condition. This boat has had many new features including a new anchor winch, new

Garmin Chart plotter and new cushions. The engine has been regularly serviced and dealer maintained. Walking through this catamaran you can truly appreciate the quality and spacious design of the Lagoon brand.

Lagoon 630 MY Copacabana - This luxury yacht enjoys more space than many condominiums, offering four spacious cabins, a large galley with full-size appliances, recently recovered upholstery in the salon and a spacious cockpit and flybridge, making entertaining friends a pleasure. The 300hp fuel efficient turbocharged diesels and a 3200lt fuel tank allow for long range cruising, making this an ideal blue water cruising catamaran. Privately owned since new, this Lagoon 630MY has been immaculately maintained and looks like a new boat.

Pershing 38 Endurance - This 2001 Pershing 38 Endurance does not disappoint.

Powered by two 420hp Caterpillar engines with a top speed of 40 knots this boat provides excitement in luxury. Enjoy a large cockpit, with wet bar and a Bimini sun cover.

The interior has the normal Pershing luxury designed by Tilli Antonello.

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Jeanneau Prestige 510 - A stunning example of a Prestige 510 flybridge luxury cruiser has seen little use by its owner. Powered by Volvo D6 engines, the yacht has been maintained to the highest standards with a full-time crew taking care of the boat on a daily basis. Providing ample spacious accommodation with three cabins plus crew cabin and three bathrooms.

A fully equipped below decks galley and a grill on the flybridge make entertaining a pleasure.

Lying in Ocean Marina, Pattaya, Thailand, this realistically priced, pedigree power yacht is a sound investment.

Sealine 450 - This well maintained flybridge cruiser which was originally used for high-end coastal charter has been solely used for private use for the past three years. With a replacement generator and overhauled engines, this boat runs smoothly and provides a cool interior through its powerful air conditioning. The woodwork in is very good condition and only a small amount of care is needed to fully restore the fabric lining. Realistically priced the owner is motivated to sell!

Tayana 55 - Probably one of the finest examples of this classic blue water cruiser

available in Asia. Extensive work has just been done on this Tayana 55, including anti fouling, anodes, through hull fittings, bearings, new B&G navigation electronics throughout. A new Bimini and full cover are being made at the time of this listing. The owner is sad to sell this boat, but no longer has the time to use it, so he is motivated to sell.

Classic Van den Akker Archer 6 - Built and designed by Van den Akker in the Netherlands in 1955. Moored in Pattaya & maintained by a fulltime captain with crew. This loving owner bought her in Turkey and had her shipped to Singapore in 2007. Upon arrival a large team from Strategic Marine in Singapore did a full refit including changing engines, making line plans and installing modern comforts like air conditioning.

Bayliner 38 Flybridge - This is a well maintained classic Bayliner 38 flybridge. The owner has a full time crew taking care of the vessel maintaining its systems. Air conditioning in the salon and cabin make the boat a pleasure in a tropical climate. The engines have just undergone a service and the boat is ready and waiting for the interested buyer to take a sea trial.

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Ocean Emerald + Euro Design Furniture = a synthesis of excellence

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n this issue, we profile Ocean Emerald, a Norman Foster designed 41m superyacht whose luxury charters most companies can only wish to emulate.

We also examine Euro Design Furniture, the interior design and furniture company, whose own standard of excellence allowed it to complete an interior refit of the boat in 2019.

Ocean Emerald was built in 2010, and owner Nigel Plaskett brought her to Thailand in 2013 in a container, shipping her through the Suez Canal to Singapore. Nigel was drawn to Thailand for the climate, people and a more relaxed way of life, and probably subconsciously because of the longer seasons, tremendous marine life and stunning topography.

Nigel has had boats all his life, but when he first arrived to live in Thailand he was without a vessel, then he chartered a boat for a day, caught the

bug again, and realized there was a market for 5-star luxury charters with properly trained and qualified crew.

And the Ocean Emerald staff is very welltrained. Unlike in the Med, once you leave shore Phuket or Pattaya there are very few marinas around.

So they are basically alone at sea for a week to ten day’s charter, with very little back-up, so they take the majority of their provisions with them, and must be ready to deal with any scenario that may arise.

Nigel’s 10-person staff is split between the technical and service side; the technical staff consists of a captain, two engineers (one electrical, one mechanical) and two boat boys, The service side include a male and female chef and three hostesses all coming from the high-end of the hotel industry.

Because of COVID-19, rich Thais are now starting to explore their own country and spend some

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of the money that they would be spending elsewhere here. But they still seemed fixed on the Phuket region, not really aware of the wonders that aware them into the Koh Chang archipelago. As Nigel owns a home in the Pattaya area, he is hoping that will change but for the here and now realizes that most of his charters will be Phuket-based.

Guests are given a questionnaire before boarding as to what their food and drink preferences are. But Nigel only charges people for the charter and the crew, guests are just given a bill, at the end of the voyage for the food and drink they ordered, no mark up.

Nigel also goes over the route with guests to make sure they know where they are going and to make sure Ocean Emerald brings the correct seas toys with it so guests can fully enjoy their time on the water. Nigel reiterates that service is the key; knowing what your clients want, not just what the booking agent wants, can make the difference between a good and bad voyage.

Ocean Emerald itself contributes 2 and ½ million baht into the Thai economy monthly and Nigel is hopeful that in time the Thai government will make it easier for superyachts to enter and stay in Thailand thereby boosting

the Thai economy and creating more jobs in the Thai leisure marine business.

Euro Design Furniture refuses to cut corners Have you ever felt cheated by a company or a contractor performing on your boat? Things like a lack of coordination, management, quality control? Not knowing who is actually producing your furniture? Who will be responsible if problems arise? Who is your contact person who can properly solve issues? Is the final result of your order looking like the original design and 3D renderings? There are oodles of nightmare stories of disastrous renovations, especially on a boat.

You won’t have to worry about any of that if you choose Euro Design Furniture. The company’s Vertical Integration system is the main reason for its success over the past two decades, as the company controls the entire chain of production for its clients’ orders. From conceptual design all the way to delivery & installation as well as after sales services, it’s Euro Design Furniture all the way.

Euro Design’s interior design capabilities and creativity are well showcased in Ocean Emerald, which appeared in the latest version of the Hollywood film Point Break. Luc Parietti, Euro

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Ocean Emerald’s stunning design draws oohs and aaahs wherever she is moored.

Design’s owner, and Nigel Plaskett, first developed a friendship when Euro Design designed and built furniture for a home Nigel owned in England. Then Euro Design did 3D renderings for the interior design of Ocean Amethyst, another boat Nigel owns. With Ocean Emerald, Euro Design started by renovating the kitchen then a small cabin and then Nigel decided to do a full renovation of the boat, which Luc’s firm completed in six weeks last year. Nigel collaborated with Luc throughout the renovation and Luc was keen to maintain an emerald hue, keep it organic and utilize the natural curves of the boat.

Euro Design’s unique attention to detail meshes very well with the Ocean Emerald ethos,

which goes to great pains to satisfy all their customers’ culinary, adventure and entertainment needs, giving them a unique five-star experience at sea few superyacht charters can match.

The interior design of Ocean Emerald is extremely complicated. Besides the need for maximum efficient space usage as the yacht will be way from shore for long period of time, technical obligations like emergency lighting or security exits have to be integrated in a way that will not disturb the luxurious ambience.

In yacht interior design budget isn’t usually an issue. The first priority for every owner of a luxury ship is that it has to be special. When remodeling a yacht it’s all about being different in the project and it’s important that the design-

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Euro Design aims to give customers a unique look, one that couldn’t be replicated anywhere else.

er and the owner are on the same page. That’s what happened with this project.

Euro Design Furniture brought new technology and developed unique furniture with distinguished finishings. It then combined its interior architectural expertise with Ocean Emerald’s philosophy and Nigel’s desire to create personalized interior decoration and custom-made furnishings.

Euro Design has been working with the same contractors for two decades, and can replicate the custom interior of your dreams from design drawing to reality with ingenuity and ease. And when you step on board Ocean Emerald, you are immediately met by qualified

staff, who know what they are doing and can tend to your needs on the high seas. It is their full-time job and they have been trained accordingly. Nigel was dismayed when he first arrived in Thailand and saw the “service” that some charter companies offered whereby they would run to local restaurant staff or fishermen to staff their boat at the last minute.

With Euro Design, you get a meeting with an interior architect to define your needs and select colours, fabrics, etc. The interior architect designs a mood board with a budgetary proposal for your project. When you are happy with the conceptual design and the budgetary proposal the next step is the interior design of

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your boat. The customer pays for the interior design service and Euro Design’s interior architect then designs the floor plans, technical drawings and 3D renderings according to the agreed upon mood board and budgetary proposal, and then a sales order will be made for the interior.

Site inspections will be done with Euro Design’s team of interior architects, technical designers, and production management ensuring the completion of the production drawings, which will be submitted to the client for approval before production. The production process then goes ahead at Euro Design’s factory including: cutting, edging, assembly, test-installation, painting or oiling, packing, delivery & installation.

Euro Design spends a tremendous time on detail, e.g., it has 500 different types of wood design at its disposal, all using natural non-toxic oils and finishings applied by hand. The same with Ocean Emerald, each cruise is meticulously planned, down to every meal and the yacht is thoroughly serviced and maintained on a regular basis.

Luc studied stone masonry and sculpture in his native Switzerland. He has two interior architects working in the office and two technical draftsmen working in the factory, and the company works with over 150 suppliers.

“We don’t design anything we cannot make.

We design tables, we design chairs, we design everything,” Luc says.

Euro Design’s luxurious 450 square-metre showroom is located in South Pattaya’s Theprasit Road, or you can contact Luc directly at luc@euro-design-furniture.com. You are

also welcome to visit the 2,500 square-meter production facility, located in Nongplalai, fifteen minutes away from Pattaya City. The factory is where Euro Design makes all its furniture according to its own designs or those of the customers. All the necessary production drawings are precise and made after Euro Design has re-checked every dimension in your boat. You can even go to the Euro Design website and get a quote for your proposed project (www.euro-design-furniture.com/get-a-quote/). And if you are interested in chartering Ocean Emerald, please contact Nigel at stlnigel@gmail.com.

Nigel Plaskett and Luc Parietti are both no-nonsense guys, no BS, no games. They want you to be happy with their products and service. Nigel and his staff will make sure your experience on-the-water on Ocean Emerald is one-of-a-kind that can’t be replicated elsewhere. While Luc takes great care in redefining your living space and in giving you a unique design you cannot find on the marketplace.

Nigel and Luc both take great pride in doing something well. They have imparted their knowledge, skills and expertise to their employees who can now use that experience anywhere in the world and they can also pass that expertise on to their fellow Thais. Nigel’s staff could work on any yacht in the Med or the Caribbean.

Luc’s craftsmen, the same, they could work in any high-end furniture company in Europe.

Credit must go to both of these men for demanding a system of excellence, imparting it and creating an employee base, whose skill-set is second to none.

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Innovative new

Dehler 38SQ

D

ehler has just launched its new 38SQ model, developed out of the successful Dehler 38.

SQ stands for Speed & Quality, she shares great sailing characteristics and modern design.

The D38SQ has new colours and light concepts, a more varied interior layout, as well as powerful improvements to the rig and cockpit – all while keeping the boat simple to use and fun to sail.

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turning heads Rig

She comes in three rig configurations – Standard, Competition Aluminum and Competition Carbon.

Dehler offers a square-head mainsail, as used on most high-tech racing yachts, as an option,. With its greater efficiency, better trim and less heeling moment, this pro sail is also ideal for cruising. The backstays for the squarehead rig can be easily trimmed by winch courtesy of the flip-flop blocks.

The flush-mounted traveller running the entire width of the cockpit allows 100% control of the mainsail.

The bowsprit has an integrated anchor arm and non-slip surface, making it safer to climb on and off the boat when moored bows-to, and provides an advanced tack point for gennaker or Code 0 sails.

Sails

The sails are on the D38SQ are provided by Quantum, including newly developed Tri-radial AC5 and TP6 membrane sails.

Deck

Fold-out footrests at the helm provide a comfortable and safe foothold when sailing to windward.

The new bathing platform is lighter and easier to operate with an integrated bathing ladder that features a fold-out handrail and large steps.

The 38SQ can be further upgraded with designer wheels at the helm, self-tailing race winches and a removable throttle.

Interior

There are two interior configuration options available for the forward section, saloon and aft. You can choose an island bed, chart table or a second guest cabin to meet your needs.

For more natural light below deck, the hull windows have been enlarged and two additional windows cut into the coach-roof to enhance lighting.

New worktop colours and a more modern seating area complete the sense of greater space in the saloon.

The shower cabin has also been upgraded with a clear, high-gloss design that is easy to clean and maintain.

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Pure Drinking Water and Cleaner Seas

Optional filter systems for fresh water and grey water are available.

Drinking water filter guarantees the highest quality and eliminates the need for plastic bottles on board and the grey water filter system ensures only clean waste water leaves the ship. Both filter systems even remove microplastics and can be monitored using the MyDehler Safety Cloud.

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Dimensions LOA 11.64m / 38'2''

Draft

Standard 2.03m / 6'8''

Ballast

Standard 2.38t / 5,247lb

Displacement

Standard 7.50t / 16,534lb Engine diesel 29hp

Total sail area

Standard 78.60m²/846sqft

Waterline length 10.40m / 34'1''

Beam 3.75m / 12'4''

Competition 2.24m / 7'5''

Short keel 1.60m / 5'3''

Competition 2.05t / 4,508lb

Short keel 2.75t / 6,062lb

Competition 7.00t / 15,432lb Diesel tank app. 160lt/42.27 gal

Short keel 7.60t / 16,755lb Fresh water app. 295lt/77.93 gal

Competition Alu 83.60m²/900sqft

Competition Carbon 84.60m²/911sqft

Competition Alu 48.00m²/ 517sqft

Competition Carbon 49.00m²/527sq ft

Standard 35.60m² / 383 sq ft Competition Alu 35.60m²/383sqft

Competition Carbon 35.60m²/383sqft

Mainsail

Standard 43.00m²/463sqft

Jib

SEAYSS is offering a new Dehler 38SQ equipped with many options at a saving of Euro 18,200 if ordered this year.

For details, contact: inq@sea-yss.com Thailand Malaysia Chinese/Malay SEA Region

Chanpen Paul Su Rob

+6694 591 4614 +6017 419 6933 +6012 429 3000 +6681 370 1995

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I

t’s not as simple as grabbing a sponge and some soapy water.

Ian Lok, Sales Manager for East Asia Marine, likens boat care products to car care products highlighting shampoo, wax, fuel additives, water repellent, stainless steel & aluminum cleaners and glass, vinyl & leather seat cleaners as examples that both automobiles and boats use. But boats go further needing bilge, hull & fender cleaners, teak wood brighteners, black streak removers, tougher bird and spider stain removers, and rub rail restorers, to cite just a few examples.

But what separates the car and boat products? Well, in Southeast Asia, salt for one.

Car care products don’t have to deal with the salt residue left on boats.

What about deciding on what product to choose? Ian can’t stress trusted brands enough.

Many boat care products come from trusted brands, have a brand warranty and are also environmentally friendly, and actually do what they say, e.g. they are biodegradable.

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Many foreign sailors relate to and gravitate towards brands they have used at home or have used throughout their nautical life and East Marine Asia goes out of its way to store these brands at a price similar to what they would pay back in their own country.

Education comes into play as well. Continual use of certain cleaning products can dull the exterior colour of a boat quickly so Ian and the East Marine Asia emphasize the best boat cleaners to use and their application with chandlery customers.

Some of the well-known brands in East Marine Asia’s extensive inventory include: Star Brite & Meguira’s (cleaning products), Shurhold (brushes ranging from stiff to extra soft), Rupes (professional polishing tools), Epihanes (marine varnish), 3M (cleaning products), Gelair (stops mould and bacteria), CIF (cleaner & degreaser), Orphine (biodegradable boat soap), FSR & K2r (stain removers), Rain X (water repellent), CRC(protectant) & Spay Nine (heavy-duty cleaner).

The range of boat care products that East Marine Asia offers is vast, you will be surprised at the selection and innovation of the products on offer. Everything from extendable squeegees to multi-purpose buckets, non-kink hoses, barbecue stove cleaners and tender-cleaning products. Even suction cups to attach between the tender and the boat allowing you to clean those out-the-way spots. East Marine Asia can truly service all your cleaning needs and Ian and the friendly staff are on hand to offer any assistance and advice you many need. www.eastmarineasia.com (ianlok@eastmarineasia. com)

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FREE YOUR MIND, GO BOATING!

If you want to explore Phuket’s many beautiful beaches or the Southern Thai region, there is no better and easier way to do that, than on a private yacht.

For Charter inquiry please contact Lies.Sol@NorthropandJohnson.com :: +66 81 539 6106

NJ-Charter-QP-Oct2020.indd 1

waterproofed P R O F E S S I O N A L S

PHUKET - THAILAND

29/10/2563 BE 21:15

SCUBA DIVING YACHT SERVICES courses - excursions - guiding - equipment

UNDERWATER YACHT MAINTENANCE hull cleaning - zinc replacement - anchor recovery - propeller polishing etc.

info@alohadiving.com alohadiving.com +66 (0)97 924 3483

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PHUKET BOATING: FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY Story by Lies Sol – Northrop & Johnson Charter

First-time boater Khun Panichkul “On a boat you can free your mind and enjoy the privilege of privacy”.

WHY GO BOATING?

A day out on a boat is one of the most memorable things you can do in Phuket and it sure is the best way to get away from it all!

You probably will not see many other boats out on the water and, depending on where you decide to go to, few or no other people. Furthermore, boats have high standards of cleanliness, which exceed recommended health standards, due to the much smaller area and limited number of people.

Enjoy Phuket’s islands in privacy on a boat.

WHERE CAN WE GO?

Just the two of you on a romantic trip to Phang Nga Bay.

Short distances between islands around Phuket, calm seas and a tropical climate provide ideal yachting conditions. Either explore some of the many quiet, pretty beaches and beautiful bays around Phuket or visit famous places like Phi Phi Island at your leisure. Phang Nga Bay offers an amazing landscape with towering limestone cliffs and a visit to Krabi’s ‘hongs’ is an interesting adventure. From December, the Similan Islands northwest of Phuket, are popular with scuba divers. The choice is yours.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

Relax, sunbathe, swim and snorkel enjoying colourful underwater life. Most boats carry snorkeling and fishing gear for your use. Bigger yachts have a whole range of watersports equipment such as kayaks, water skis, towable donuts and other toys. You can stay on board, have fun with the water toys or go ashore for a walk on deserted, white sandy beaches.

Plenty of water toys on XANADU OF LONDON Moonen 115’.

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HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN WE BRING?

Depending on the boat’s size the number of guests can vary from 2 to 20 or more. For example, a 13-meter motorboat can comfortably carry 6, and a sailing catamaran of that size 12-15 guests.

A 25-meter boat can easily host 12 guests without feeling crowded.

And if you celebrate a special anniversary or event, we’ll find you a superyacht which can accommodate 40 to 50 party guests!

Enjoy a day of snorkeling and Üshing with your loved one(s).

WHERE WILL WE SLEEP?

Luxury superyachts are as comfortable as 5-star villas and have air-conditioned staterooms with private toilet and shower.

Some may have a Jacuzzi, massage therapist, a private wine cellar and maybe even a home cinema and helipad. There is no limit to luxury on yachts. You will be comfortable, whether you stay for one or several days.

HOW CAN WE TRY BOATING?

One of the luxurious staterooms on MIA KAI Bilgin 96’.

Just like renting a car, you can rent a boat for the day, for an overnight trip or even longer. It doesn’t matter if you have never sailed or never even have set foot on a boat before. A charter boat comes with a qualified captain and usually one or more crew. You do not have to do anything other than get on board, sit back and relax, while your captain is taking you to beautiful destinations.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

A Phuket yacht charter varies in price depending on type and size of the boat, facilities and so on. It can be surprisingly affordable and an experience worth every Baht. Price for a day out on a motorboat can start anywhere between 30,000 and 100,000 Baht.

Or opt for a weekend with 6 guests on a 13-meter sailing catamaran for 100,000 Baht, with one night on board and all meals included.

Some superyachts offer ‘residential’ packages with a 50% discount on normal rates!

Superfast Ferrari of the Seas ATARI VI Farr Premier 38’.

WHAT’S MY FIRST STEP?

Superyacht OCEAN EMERALD Rodriquez 134’.

Northrop & Johnson can take care of all logistics besides yacht charter, such as limousine rental, hotel reservations and privately guided tours or activities. Contact us now for free information.

Lies.Sol@NorthropandJohnson.com M/WhatsApp: 081 539 6106 Office (Thai and English): 076 681 015 www.NorthropandJohnson.com

Spectacular cruising on MAXXX Sunseeker 86’.

Send us an email or text with the date you would like to go out, with how many people and for how many days you would like to cruise. Whether you want to go fishing by yourself, have a family holiday, or just have nice day out on the water with a group of friends or colleagues, we will find you the perfect choice for a wonderful (long or short) boating holiday!

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Beneteau’s Outboard Range Perfect for the Gulf of Thailand

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Antares 11 Flybridge

ake sailing yacht sensibilities and mix in a motorboat, and you have the new range of Beneteau outboards, which will appeal to yachties who appreciate comfort, storage, low-fuel consumption and style.

If you are based in Bangkok, and looking for a weekend escape Beneteau’s new outboard range is the perfect answer. You don’t need to board a plane, you can be at Pattaya’s Ocean Marina in 90 minutes and with the push of a throttle stick the Gulf Of Thailand is all yours.

Take your family on a thrilling nautical adventure, exploring the nooks and crannies of some of Thailand’s most favourite and isolated anchorages. Swimming, snorkeling, fishing, wakeboarding, even waterskiing, Beneteau’s outboard range can make it all easy and convenient. And after a fun-filled weekend on the water, you can be back in Ocean Marina late Sunday afternoon, taking in a dramatic sunset, for a quick drive home to Bangkok and be ready for work on Monday morning.

Beneteau’s new Antares 11 Flybridge

Gran Turismo 32

Beneteau’s popular Antares range will soon have a new flybridge version offering greater comfort onboard together with the thrills of outdoor boating.

Blending seamlessly into the profile of the Antares 11, this flybridge version is fitted with a starboard driving station with a contoured driving seat.

Two benches create a delightful saloon from which to enjoy sharing the thrills of boating in safety, or for use as a socialising spot to enjoy meals or drinks while at anchor. An additional stern relaxation area is located at the flybridge, with the option of bimini or solar panel addition for the ultimate yachting experience.

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Gran Turismo 36

The Beneteau Antares 11 Flybridge is the ideal powerboat for a weekend outing with the family for a wide variety of leisure activities. The power boat can hold up to 11 people onboard, with plenty of space for all and the large cockpit and wide side decks make the Antares 11 safe and comfortable. A side starboard swim platform provides a real terrace on the sea and makes the cockpit feel even more spacious. Its bench seat converts to an L and has a seat linking seamlessly with the saloon sofa inside, creating an unbroken social space in which to relax.

The interior of the Antares 11 Flybridge is equipped with a galley, an ergonomic driving station and a convertible saloon. Large windows provide a very pleasant all-round view across the ocean.

Plentiful indoor light is enhanced by the four glazed roof windows, two of which are hatches. With extra comfort and space, this Beneteau Antares 11 ensures the best quality of life onboard. Her double owner cabin has an island bed, lots of storage and an en suite head and shower. The aft cabin has opening portholes on either side and is very bright. A double berth and a single berth are located to starboard.

Beneteau Adds Gran Turismo Outboard Range Beneteau has also recently added the 32 and 36 outboard models to their highly popular Gran Turismo range – reinventing their power boat models to meet the growing demands for outboard propulsion in Southeast Asia.

Optimized to make the best use of every space, the Gran Turismo 32 leaves room for imagination by allowing a variety of potential uses, rain or shine. This power outboard boat focuses on light and ventilation with a modern-looking design and its cleverly designed layout provides many different spaces to enjoy. It also provides good head clearance highlighting the sense of openness while maneuvering the yacht.

Overnight stays on the Gran Turismo 32 can be extremely comfortable thanks to her two double berths and real shower space that comes with an independent head compartment. Long hull windows in the interiors also allow plenty of natural light to flood in.

Similar to the Beneteau Flyer 10’s deck plan, the Beneteau Gran Turismo 32 is a perfect transition from day boat to express cruiser. She lives up to the challenge the Beneteau designers set themselves of marrying the spirit of a large open boat with that of a spacious comfortable hard top.

The Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 is the first boat in her category to combine comfortable cruising with outstanding handling and sensations similar to those of a small outboard. Elegant, quality fittings and with a sensations-guaranteed design, the Gran Turismo 36 maintains the DNA of her range with the addition of some innovative touches. A large built-in mattress on the foredeck provides a safe and pleasant place to relax when the boat is underway. The spacious cockpit lounge area has room for up to eight guests. The diving station has two bench seats facing the sea that can accommodate four people looking to enjoy the thrills of navigation.

The interior of the Gran Turismo 36 is both elegant and spacious. Bathed in light from the long hull portholes, the welcoming and sophisticated vibe surpasses the standards usually found on a boat this size. The two double cabins, cosy lounge space, galley and shower spaces are details that makes comfortable overnight cruising possible.

This is innovation as its best – the only significant difference from the Beneteau Gran Turismo 36 inboard and outboard version is the split bathing platform. The 36 outboard version can go up to 700hp, making her the ideal power boat for family and entertaining friends.

Enquire about the Beneteau outboard range at at beneteau@simpsonmarine.com.

PMG SHIPYARD raises regional shipbuilding standards

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Photography by Thor Jorgen Udvang

T

here is a shipyard in Rayong that is the pride of the Eastern Seaboard and the man responsible for that yard and the craft that come of it is the charismatic Philippe Guenat, ably assisted by his intelligent and charming wife Caroline, who is the in charge of marketing and the company’s overseas sales.

But how did the pair get here? They originally met in Bahrain in 1986 where Philippe was working in the hotel business and Caroline, who hails from Colombia, was visiting her sister who was working there.

Fast forward a few years and the couple were living in Switzerland. Philippe has always been intrigued by solar power and by 2008; he thought enough progress has been made with solar panels that the world was ready for a solar-assisted yacht. But his plans were met

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with skepticism and derision with everyone he approached until while on a visit to Thailand he stumbled upon Corrie Lamprecht who had been running the Bakri Cono shipyard in Ocean Marina with his two sons since 2004.

The two struck a deal and the initial arrangement saw Philippe look after the promotion of the Bakri Cono brand, while still living in Europe, while Corrie’s son Bernard Lamprecht would oversee the finances and construction. In 2013, at age 53, Philippe took retirement from politics and the hotel business in Switzerland and came to Thailand to work full-time with Bakri Cono. In early 2016, the company moved to its new home in Rayong and in August of 2019, the partnership ended with Philippe taking sole control of the company, renaming it PMG SHIPYARD while keeping the Bakri Cono name for

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other businesses and having Dean Thompson come on board as the Special Project Production Manager.

Originally, Bakri Cono focused on OEMs for a Middle Eastern company, specifically fast catamarans. Then the Heliotrope 65 solar-assisted project took place taking advantage of a catamaran’s large roof surface. It was the first solar-assisted (8 kw/h) luxury powercat built in Thailand by people living in Thailand, including Michel Royer, the solar specialist, and Albert Nazarov, the boat’s designer. The yacht was powered by solar energy except for the engine. The Heliotrope 65 was designed in 2010, and construction ran from 2011-2013.

Bakri Cono had to invent and develop new technology for the yacht as it was an original design and build.

When the project finished Philippe noted the trend was to build bigger and bigger yachts. He realized the company needed a bigger facility. He had originally hoped to stay at Ocean Marina, but when that plan failed a six-month search lead to the current facility in Rayong, which was perfect as it was by the sea (200m of beachfront), with enough space to expand (20,000sqm), quickly making the

company the largest private shipyard in Southeast Asia. It took about four months to identify the owner, an 85-year old Thai woman living in Bangkok. The process proved arduous as everyone wanted a commission for putting them in touch with her, even her relatives, but eventually a contract was signed. The shipyard had run into despair and neglect but been building boats since the mid-70s, including the Bruce Farr designed Mirabella I and III (131 & 137 feet, respectively). The renovation took seven months and was finished in February of 2015, with the official opening taking place in May of 2015.

Early projects at the new factory included the Helitrope 48 (three boats), which has been specially designed for day charter trips accommodating medium to large groups as it has ample space for all guests to sit, sunbathe, or move around in comfort and safety.

Other projects have included a MTV 55 catamaran passenger vessel for a beach resort in Cambodia for Luzi Matzig.

This boat was designed to face any weather conditions, allowing passengers to travel in

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comfort and security. Her high waterline breaks down choppy waves and her elevated rear results in fuel economy at a cruising speed of up to 20 knots.

The company is now working on three boats for Silent Yachts (the 60), the company being a very innovative yacht designer based here, and this consumes seventy percent of the shipyard’s building capacity. PMG has also built ten military boats for a foreign navy, including BOAR 12 patrol boats, all in collaboration with Albert Nazarov.

There is a large pool on site where each new boat is given an on-site flotation test, allowing the engines, electronic equipment and navigation gear to be tested without having to go out to sea.

The company was one of the first in Southeast Asia to use vinyl infusion whereby through the vacuum extraction a “sandwich” of laminated layers is made by pulling resins through laminations resulting in a thinner stronger and longer-lasting panel. Perks of this method include minimal fiberglass dust strewn over the shipyard, as small particles are vacuumed up during the extraction process. The process also reduces fumes and dust to less than 20% of those discharged by more traditional methods.

As PMG was getting much of its fibre from China, vinyl ester resin from Dubai and technical components from throughout Europe, COVID-19 has proved a problem in trying to procure raw materials and parts, but Phillipe and his team have proved resourceful and resilient. They have found the material, kept building and even expanded, doubling the size of their staff. As the company has Board of Investment (BOI) privileges it allows it to use special tax-exempt privileges to import the best quality in technology and materials for the production of our yachts. PMG’s resin and foam core has to be approved and recorded because the company is CE certified.

The company recently took possession of a new Magicart (Travel Lift), which was built in China and is 14.4 wide x 9.6m high. This will make life much easier for transporting and testing their yachts. The company specializes in the construction of monohull and luxury catamaran yachts, both power and sailing, in the range of 41 to 105 feet.

PMG has 90 skilled tradesmen, most of who graduated from the Vocational Industrial Seaboard College of Nakhon Si Thammarat, which has a three-year shipwright course. This is a fabulous collaboration as students serve a valuable internship with PMG during their training, and if they land a job with PMG, the

skill-set they learn will serve them well throughout their working life.

The PMG factory is manufacturing world-class vessels and its staff can compete with the best tradesmen in Europe. Btw, Philippe’s family has a long maritime history as

they own the oldest shipyard in Geneva.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej kept two boats there while he was living in Switzerland, one of which can now be seen cruising on the Chao Phraya River.

Please contact Philippe at info@ pmgshipyard.com if you have any questions about his company and what it can do

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Jim Stoll –

a life at sea

J

im has spent the majority of his life at sea or teaching students about the sea. His love for sailing started at North Carolina’s Camp Sea Gull and continues to this day.

Recently, he was in Bangkok to launch Vela, the second Marconi-rigged schooner he has had built in Samut Prakan’s Marsun shipyard.

Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Jim’s father George Stoll Jr. was the black sheep of his family.

Jim described his dad as a soapbox pundit with very strong opinions, who always thought differently than the rest of the family. Jim’s great grandfather, Charles Christian Stoll, had started an axle-grease company so he was well positioned when Henry Ford started rolling Model T’s off the assembly line.

“CC” Stoll had four sons, among them Jim’s grandfather George Sr. who then started an oil company called Stoll Oil on the banks of the Ohio River,

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which was later sold to Sinclair Oil in 1953.

Jim’s mother died when he was six and his father decided to move his family to Florida a year later in 1957 where he soon remarried. In Sarasota, Jim’s father bought a piece of land, subdivided it, and then blasted a basin in order to build a canal through to Sarasota Bay. He started a small marina, sold gas and bait shrimp and rented 14-ft aluminum boats for the locals to fish and oyster along the waterways. There

was also a small motel with six rooms, though Jim and his family lived in three of them.

Recalling the times, Jim says back in the 50s, a big boat out on the bay was about eighteen feet long, and there weren’t any outboards with more than 40hp engines mostly built by Ralph Evinrude. But it was the advent of outdoor boating and there were clubs which cruised the waterways and needed a spot to buy gas and fill up on supplies, hence the idea for

58

the marina. Jim, who was the second oldest of the family siblings (he has three sisters), says it was his father’s idea that he would bequeath one facet of the company to each child, e.g., one would get the marina, one would get the motel, one would get the gas station and one would get the sub-division to manage. Naturally, Jim only loved the marina.

When Jim was in junior high school, he started attending Camp Sea Gull, a summer camp for boys in North Carolina. It was a seafaring camp, all about sailing. He took to it like a duck to water becoming the camp’s youngest Lightning Skipper. Two people from Camp Sea Gull had an enormous influence on Jim’s life: sailing instructor & camp counselor Jimmy Edwards and Tom Hart, a professor from the University of Florida Gainesville, who ran the camp’s sailing program. The knowledge that he accrued at the camp came in very handy as he was able to use it to start his family’s own Holiday Harbor Seafaring Camp. Jim’s professional nautical life had actually began by running the marina as a teenager and rescuing people who had run into trouble on the bay; yet the Camp was a natural outgrowth of that experience.

Unfortunately, Jim’s father wasn’t a seasoned businessman, the sub-division didn’t sell well, and the marina and gas station weren’t making enough money to keep the family going. Eventually, the family finances hit rock bottom and Jim needed to leave college to come home and run the marina once again. A boat builder had left three 16-foot sailboats at the Stoll’s marina on consignment and then folded so Jim used those three boats, plus a few Sunfish that he had bought (that’s what he was using at Camp Sea Gull) and the marina’s outboards to teach sailing, waterskiing and boat-handling for both power and sailboats.

He had gotten into waterskiing in a big way as inspired by water-ski pioneer Dick Pope and his group who were only 90 minutes away at Cyprus Gardens.

Jim mimicked the syllabus at Camp Sea Gull and his time as a scout so sailors earned badges and worked their way up the ranks as their sailing ability grew. The camp ran from

1965-1970 with three summer sessions (125150 students at a time) offering both a day school and overnight campers as the motel served as residence for the visiting sailors and bunk beds were put in to accommodate them.

The family used to advertise in the back of National Geographic so students would come from all over the Eastern Seaboard.

After two years of running the sailing camp, Jim’s father decided that given the sailing school’s success, they could run a full-time regular school, partly because he wanted a soapbox to promote his free-market economic theories.

The school catered to kids of well-to-do families who needed a little more attention & care than they would normally receive in public schools.

At about this time, Jim’s experience with big boat racing began when he started competing in the Southern Ocean Racing Circuit in Florida and the Caribbean, ironically starting off as a cook with Jack Eckerd’s Panacea. People like Ted Turner and Pat Haggerty of Texas Instruments were racing in that circuit. He caught a lucky break by bumping into Dick Bertram at a bar in Nassau called Charlie Charlie’s. Dick had started Bertram Yachts (selling Bertram 31s to the likes of the Aga Khan and the King of Norway), by then, Dick had already won every major offshore powerboat race and was a highly sought after sailing maxi boat competitor as well. Fame came quickly for Dick after his lucky day seeing the first Ray Hunt design deep-V hull as a tender while running the foredeck on the Americas Cup boat VIM. Dick bought a design and proceeded to build a series of deep-V super powered boats that quickly became the world’s fastest ocean racers. So well known in fact that at one point, Dicks image at the helm of a sailing yacht graced the largest billboard over Times Square in Manhattan blowing smoke rings into the sky for Camel cigarettes.

Long story short, Dick sent his five kids to Jim’s sailing school and in the process managed to get Jim on as crew aboard Sumner “Huey” Long’s Ondine. After a season of racing on Ondine, Jim was asked to join Kialoa II by Jim Kilroy, the best maxi boat in the world at that time. Over the years, Jim raced on Kialoa II,III,IV,V, all four, the top boats of the era.

Fitted-out cruising boats were still racing in the beginning days, but Ted Turner’s stripped-out American Eagle changed all that, and boats gradually evolved to the racing sleds we see today.

Back then, crew members weren’t ever paid, they all had day jobs and they arranged their schedules as best as possible to allow them to do the most sailing possible, Jim included.

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Jim ended up being a lifelong friend of Dick Bertram who he saw as a father figure even reading the eulogy as his ashes were cast into the Gulf Stream. Another father figure was Irving Johnston, who had sailed around the world seven times with young crew for National Geographic, which is exactly what Jim wanted to do. Irving and Jim corresponded and sailed on occasion together over 35 years.

Along the way, Jim also met Mike Burke of Windjammer Cruises who had converted schooners into passenger yachts to take them on Caribbean cruises and introduced him to his dad. The elder Stoll then swapped Windjammer cruises for free tuition for Mike Burke’s six kids at the Holiday Harbor Seafaring Camp. Jim thus proceeded to take boarding school students and put them onboard a Windjammer for a month at a time giving them an education at sea.

Serendipity struck when Don Patton, Dirk Bertram’s lead broker, found Te Vega, a 156 foot 1932 classic schooner, which had been used as an oceanographic research vessel by Stanford University. The Stolls lost out when they first bid on the boat to a group of 12 investors from Colorado. But the boat quickly fell into disrepair

after the captain the group had entrusted with the boat took it to Mexico and mismanaged it horribly. So Jim bid on it again yet another investor promised more until they saw had much repair work needed to be done. So Jim’s bid prevailed, and he took the US$20,000 he had received from his grandmother’s inheritance and with the promise of the semester’s tuitions (US$100,000) was able to secure the boat, his first classroom on the water.

Jim credits Dick Bertram’s help and prodding together with Irving Johnson’s guidance, follow-up and knowledge for getting him his first schooner. The boat was in rough shape, but they had stacks of lumber on board and they were still repairing the sails and patching the decks and masts when the school semester started. Eventually, both Irving and Dick served as Jim’s watch captains aboard Te Vega, in the race from Bermuda and when the Secretary of the Navy awarded the three of them the plaque as “Third Best Ship” out of 200 participating in the USA bicentennial Tall Ships parade into NY harbor in 1976.

The school then switched its focus from one month stints on Windjammer to whole

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school years at sea aboard Te Vega with George Stoll Jr. as the schoolmaster and Jim as the skipper and operations manager. The first 1970 nine-month trip started in Bimini where the kids were flown in by seaplane, and the Panama-flagged Te Vega then sailed down through the Bahamas, down to Brazil and up the Amazon River, thence back up to the Caribbean seeing the pyramids in Mexico and finishing in Fort Lauderdale. The whole 30-student crew stuck it out during the first voyage, with the option of returning home for two weeks at Christmas. The school was called “Flint School aboard Te Vega”, an homage to James Coburn’s Our Man Flint, where James was known to be able to do anything, a philosophy Jim and his dad were hoping to imbue in their students.

Jim had met a Dutch girl and fellow sailor named Els in 1969 while in Corfu Greece; they fell in love and were married in 1972. She had joined Te Vega in Gibraltar during the summer of 1971 as a French teacher, at a time when Jim’s dad and his stepmom were not on board.

Needing a second schooner in order to accommodate both couples, the Stolls went back to Don Patton who found a boat in the Bahamas called Black Douglas that was built for the family that built the Brooklyn Bridge.

They bought it for US$20,000, without masts and Jim split the cost with his dad. The 175 foot schooner Black Douglas was refitted with the original rig of three masts that Jim designed and built in Holland, then renamed te Quest. For the next ten years she sailed side by side with Te Vega with Jim doing the navigating and operations. The boats were about the same size, they docked together and the students took classes back and forth between both vessels. There were 86 students and 23 staff on the boats every year with school graduates even attending such prestigious schools as Harvard and the US Naval Academy. For 11 years altogether Jim sailed students throughout the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the North Sea and the Baltic, roaming from ports as far away as Helsinki, Rhodes, and the heart of the Amazon. But Jim eventually became disillusioned with his dad’s philosophy, as the school was hard on kids who did not perform well and rebelled against authority so he stopped the program in 1981.

Jim then found a buyer for te Quest, but the boat was in rough shape and would need to be gutted, taken down to the frames and pretty much rebuilt from scratch. The new owner, Hans Schreiber agreed to pay Jim US$70,000 to do this job so in 1981 Jim took the boat to Abeking and Rasmussen in Germany and they accomplished a complete total yacht refurbishment for US$4.2 million; a new boat would have cost US$10 million at that time. The owner was charmed when he first saw the result as he stepped aboard in Martinique in 1983.

The boat was the biggest volume sailing yacht in the world at the time and was kept in Nice, France. Many a super yacht captain today got their start aboard Aquarius, and with that job, Jim officially joined the yachting world per se. It was a dream job, he sailed as the ship’s executive captain, running the program, coming on board when the owner did in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean, and jetting off when on layovers.

He remained friends with the owner for 35 years as well, eventually managing, as a courtesy, the owners Perini Navi replacement yacht after Aquarius was sold to the Moroccan Royal Family.

In 1986, Jim decided he wanted to return to training kids as it was more important to him to help kids build their own dreams, than to sail for one owner with his own dream. So, he started ActionQuest in the British Virgin Islands, which soon earned a reputation as the best known sailing, cruising and dive training program for teenagers in the world, and still runs today training 600 kids a year (up to 220 at a time, divided into separate age groups). Jim was the driving force of the program until 2005 when Michael Meighan took over the helm full time. The company was one of Moorings/ Sunsail’s best customers as it chartered up to 18 fifty-footers every summer.

In 1999, Jim bought a schooner named Ocean Star that had been earlier used by the magazine Ocean Navigator as a training ship for celestial navigation. This time around, he decided to work with gap year and university students in a three-month Seamester program.

It worked, but Jim knew that he still needed a customized boat from which to run the Seamester program if he wanted to voyage on the world’s oceans once again.

In 2005, Jim teamed up with Bill Langan of Langan Design in Newport RI (he had been a sailing friend plus the lead designer for Sparkman & Stevens and developed many Americas Cup boats) and their goal was to build Argo, as the biggest schooner they could build

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that would fit under the 24m load waterline rule (long overhangs didn’t count), which allowed it to be sailed by an Ocean Yachtmaster, and with a British flag (BVI), they could sail anywhere in the world. Her hull was to be the same classic style (although reduced version) as the sea-friendly three-masted Aquarius staysail schooner he had learned to love by sailing her in rough high seas over the years both when he owned her and as a yacht for years after that. He knew his new schooner would be sea kindly and safe at sea for the students who would sail her.

The original plan was to build the boat in Cape Town South Africa, but then in 2004 Jim decided to take his first trip to Asia, staying at the Shangri-la in Bangkok. Unfortunately, his wife got sick but there was a silver lining, as Jim decided to use his spare time to explore shipyard capabilities in the greater Bangkok area. He first visited Asimar but a fellow at Bureau Veritas also put him on to Marsun and the rest is history.

Marsun first gave Jim a reasonable price for the hull with the understanding that they would figure out the rest of the costing later. Marsun had no expertise at building a sailing yacht in 2005, so Jim and his crew shipped in two containers full of equipment and assisted with the job. Argo took about 15 months to build and when she was first launched in 2006, the students flew in and jumped on board off of Pattaya’s Bali Hai pier; they sailed throughout Southeast Asia and even competed in the Phuket King’s Cup that year.

Argo has now sailed around the world six times in the last fourteen years.

Jim and his partners were so smitten with the success of Argo that they longed to have Marsun build her sister vessel Vela, yet Marsun was chock full of contracts for Thai Navy vessels and it couldn’t fit in the time and space.

Serendipity struck when Khun Sompope, of Marsun’s marine operations, accompanied Argo on a deadhead run across the top of Australia.

This was at the same time that Hurricane Irma ravaged the British Virgin Islands with winds so strong that it blew the masts down on Ocean Star. Sompope taking note of Ocean Star’s plight, conferred with Khun Boat, President of the Marsun shipyard. Ever since the Argo build, Jim had always considered Khun Boat and the entire Marsun Group as family and the feeling was mutual. Khun Boat found a way to work Vela into the schedule just to help Seamester Programs get back on their feet and thanks to his kindness and assistance, work was soon begun on Vela. The build took 24 months under the watchful eye of Travis Yates who was the marine superintendent, chief decisionmaker, and coordinator of the entire project. Jim watched over the ship as well, especially whenever Travis was away and she was launched this past July. She now has 24 students on board and is currently sailing in the Maldives, about to embark to the Seychelles and thence to Cape Town on the next leg of her journey.

Jim has thus sold his condo in Bangkok and will soon return to Florida with his “adopted” Thai son Anda. He still calls Sarasota home, describing it as being very different than the concrete jungles of eastern Florida - full of mangroves, scenic waterways and beaches.

“Just a laid back, nature-oriented place, perfect for being close to the water in a kayak or a laser” he says.

Jim has certainly lived a full life, sharing his skills and ingenuity with the movers and shakers of the power and sailboat world while inspiring thousands of young sailors the world over. And he shows no signs of slowing down.

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Symbiosis formed

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I

n 2011 Alice and Simon left their safe haven in Switzerland to turn their passion for scuba diving into a profession. Soon afterwards they settled in Rawai, the southernmost village in Phuket, Thailand. On a small budget but with the deepest commitment and fullest force they founded a scuba diving school called Aloha Diving in 2014. Thanks to an adorable and constantly growing diving community the „boutique“ business has developed into a well-established, innovative diving center with a high level of customer satisfaction.

An important milestone for Aloha Diving was the purchase of a 53 foot cabin cruiser in 2019 which they refurbished to a reliable dive boat mostly themselves. Regardless that the law in Thailand for commercially registered boats require a Thai crew, the boat is owner managed and operated. This enables them to provide custom boat excursions, dive packages and training individually tailored away from the crowds of Phukets usual pre-COVID „diving industry“.

However, operating a boat faces new and different challenges even to experienced scuba diving instructors. As a matter of fact working on a boat and being part of a crew is not covered in any scuba dive professional training. Isn’t that ironic, because after all, many scuba diving instructors spend most of their day on a boat. That is how a new idea was born! Aloha Diving teamed up with Java Yachting and launched the Dive Boat Crew Course with the aim to provide dive professionals an enhanced education. Candidates will learn from a highly skilled boat instructor a very broad range of maritime and nautical theory. It serves as a foundation to gain further experience and sea time under the direct supervision of a licensed captain and work towards earning a skipper license.

The Aloha Diving boat is most suitable to conduct motor boat skipper training due to its stately size and low fuel consumption. It is available to everyone either for charter or join-in.

Another symbioses between the Phuket yacht community and Aloha Diving should be mentioned.

Based on their own valuable experience as a boat owner and operator with engineering background they are offering in-water maintenance services such as hull cleaning, zinc replacement, propeller polishing, anchor recovery, mooring inspection and repair. In addition to hard physical work, especially to remove shells and barnacles, an underwater hull cleaner from Nemo Power Tools is used. Some years ago the owner of the company tested several underwater tools together with Aloha Diving. That is how the relationship started and Aloha Diving benefits from these technical achievements.

Get in contact with waterproofed professionals. +66 (0)97 924 3483 info@alohadiving.com alohadiving.com

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Phoenix & Bonza

take top honors in Jai-Dee Regatta Photography by Scott Murray

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he Phuket Yacht Club (PYC) has proved to be a beacon of light and hope for local sailors during the global pandemic as it recently staged the second annual Jai-Dee Regatta and its third major sailing event since the COVID crackdown last March. Kudos to PYC Commodore Scott Duncanson and the Club committee for pulling off these events, while maintaining high-hygiene standards and appropriate social distancing measures.

PRO Matt McGrath’s plan was to get in at least two windward-leeward races in each of the three days for the seven-boat multihull class and the eight-boat monohull class.

The crafty Dane Niels Degenkolw did it again as the veteran sailor in his mid-70s, added to his trophy case winning his second straight monohull title at the Jai-Dee Regatta. Vitalii Plaksin’s Uminoko followed in second and Andrew McDermott’s Jessandra II was third. Fourth spot saw Paul “Flatty” Baker’s Judy while John Vause’s Ruby Tuesday took fifth, Mike Downard’s Magic was in sixth, seventh went to Martyn Henman’s Second Nature and Kirsten Durward’s Fox Sails Asia switched Platus in the final day, finishing eighth.

It was great to see Mike Downard’s crew from Sail in Asia enter two boats as they sailed on over from Ao Yon in Magic and Fox Sails Asia to compete in the regatta.

The OMR Multihull division saw Warwick Downes’ Bonza, who flew around the course all regatta repeatedly taking line honors, take top spot, followed by Alan Carwardine’s Coconuts, Ian Coulson’s Voodoo and John Newhamn’s Twin Sharks. Dan Fidock’s Fugazi in fifth, Francis Guerre-Genton’s Moto Inzi in sixth and Bill Kane’s The Sting in seventh, rounded out the fleet.

John Newhamn showed great sportsmanship but pointing out that Voodoo’s final time had been inaccu-

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rately reported allowing Voodoo to vault past his boat in the final standings, a great example of what the Jai-Dee Regatta stands for. John has been stuck in Phuket during the lockdown and has been a great supporter of the PYC. Newhamn’s crew won the multihull division of the inaugural Jai-Dee Regatta in 2019.

While the Multihull Performance Handicap System (PHS) final standings saw a switch in positions with Bonza winning again but this time followed by Fugazi, Coconuts, The Sting, Voodoo, Twin Sharks and Moto Inzi.

Day two saw some confusion when PRO Matt McGrath shortened the course in race two to one lap as the wind died down, but uncertainty reigned as to which mark need to be rounded before crossing the finish and indeed where the finish line was supposed to be and where the “S” mark was supposed to be flown. Protests were called and looking like discussions and arguments would go long into the evening, the Race Committee, in the spirit of the “kind-hearted regatta”, wisely decided to abandon the race.

Bonza crewmate James Haste did a great job of MCing the final awards ceremony, where the competitors sang the praises of the regatta and were already planning for next year.

Brendan Kealy was a great help on the water, providing his boat Catapult as the start boat and continually assisting PR Matt McGrath, who fought through a lot of pain because of motorcycle mishap to get the multis six races and the monos five during the event. Brendan also provided the camera rib, which Phil Bender so nimbly drove around. And Chandran Nadarajan did his usual great job laying the marks. Regattas Asia’s Simon James also made an appearance on shore to help with the results. Stuck in Wales for months due to COVID-19 restrictions; it was good to see Simon back in his old stomping grounds.

Alan Carwardine’s Coconuts was making her racing debut at the regatta (she has only been in the water for ten weeks). Racing on Coconuts was a family affair with the husband-wife team of Alan and June Carwardine on board as well as Anthony Gates and his young son Jay along for the ride as crew.

It was too bad that PYC Commodore Scott Duncanson was unable to compete due to work commitments but he did a tremendous job of putting the regatta together.

The idea for this regatta and the Club’s Sailor’s Regatta in March was to hold affordable no frills regattas, no goody bags or T-shirts and just one final party on the last night, making it affordable for all to compete.

The Phuket Yacht Club is a non-profit organization that has been operating in Chalong Bay for over 25 years. Affiliated with the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand (YRAT) and the International Sailing Schools Association (ISSA) the club hosts regular club racing for keel boats and Multihulls, three annual regattas and a very successful inshore sailing school for both youth and adults.