Wet again
Gutted Andiamo moves to LMC.
A6
Safe Haven Hurricanes, bah. Visit Venezuela
A38 Vol. 3, No. 2
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Get connected Captain cruises the Bahamas for good WiFi.
A18 May 2006
Bridge: STCW-95 Bringing back a classic – S/Y Tiziana no replacement for experience Spring is a busy time in Ft. Lauderdale. Yachts come back to town and crew follow them, looking for work – more work, different work, better work. We thought it an appropriate time to ask captains if they have noticed a difference in the quality of crew looking for work. A decade ago, the international maritime community enacted the Standards of Training, Certification & Watchkeeping, known as STCW-95, which was From the Bridge fully implemented in 2002. Lucy Chabot Reed In that time, these captains said they have seen some plusses and some minuses to the training. As always, individual comments are not attributed to any one person in particular so as to encourage frank and open discussion. The attending captains are identified in a photograph on page A26. “STCW gives good general training,” one captain said. “I was a captain 15 years and I had never actually launched a life raft or donned a Gumby suit. And for non-deck crew, it’s a good orientation.” “It taught me that if you can’t get a fire out in the first two to three minutes, you need to launch the life raft.” But aren’t those skills that any mariner already knows? Why make a 20-year-old who grew up on a sailboat on Lake Michigan take this class? “Redundancy is what eases panic when something
Capt. Alex Greenson (second from right) and his crew finish the first phase of the refit of S/Y Tiziana, which left the shed at the Vitters Shipyard in late April. The rest of the crew are, from left, fulltime refit dayworker Darren Monk, Chef Nivea Panequar, First Mate Tom Glanville and Eng. Dean Filewood. Read more about the refit and Tiziana’s plans for summer in Getting Under Way, which begins on page A32. PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPT. ALEX GREENSON
See THE BRIDGE, page A26
Mention piracy and yachties want their right to bear arms
Not everyone takes ship security as seriously as others. This rope is meant to keep people away PHOTO/ANITA WARWICK from this yacht in Antigua.
Even though no flag state allows firearms onboard their megayachts, nearly everyone at The Triton’s recent Connection seminar on piracy wanted to know if having one would keep pirates off their boats. While the panel discussion on piracy and security at sea on April 5 could have taken one of any number of veins – from complying with the ISPS code to dealing with vendors – most in The Connection the audience of more than 50 had Lucy Chabot Reed questions about guns. “If they are going to confiscate your weapons or arrest you, isn’t it better to hide them?” “What authority do they have to come after you if you kill someone?” The experts on the panel assembled at Bluewater Books & Charts in Ft. Lauderdale were cautious to offer answers, though, since weapons are illegal to
carry on board yachts in most places. The conversation began in a general way, noting that there have been no recent piracy attacks on yachts in the areas they frequent most – the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and along the U.S. coasts. “It’s all about risk assessment,” said Stephan Mort, vice president of maritime operations at Wright Maritime Group in Ft. Lauderdale. “No flag says you can carry a weapon. If you are going to carry a gun, know the local laws where you are traveling. Weapons just add another risk to the situation.” Andy Carrie, who once worked on security issues with large tanker companies including Shell Oil, noted that few piracy events result in death. “They’re coming on for the ship’s stores, for the electronics equipment,” he said. “It’s a business to them.”
See THE CONNECTION, page A27
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May 2006
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WHAT’S INSIDE Spending time with ‘Action’ .... Page A18 Chef Andie Kouyoumjian of M/Y CarryOn shares a moment with “Action,” a Bahamian ch a ra c te r. Read about Carry-On’s trip and the search for strong WiFI. P H O T O / CAPT. CRAIG JONES
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May 2006
CREW NEWS
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Time to raise money and awareness, party While a record number of yachting professionals gathered at Sunrise Harbor to party on April 8 (see story on page A22-23), about 200 more met at Marine Max to raise money for cancer research. Freelance chef/stew Ellen Evans volunteered at the event and reports back that more than Latitude $50,000 was Adjustment raised through Lucy Chabot Reed donations and a silent auction at MarineMax Pompano South Marina in Pompano Beach, Fla., that night. The Italian-themed fund-raising event – hosted by MarineMax International and FerrettiGroupUSA – benefited the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.
contestants, and the night’s emcee Paul Castronovo from BIG 105.9FM entertained the guests. UM/Sylvester opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services. Today, this facility serves as the center for cancer-related research, diagnosis and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine.
The birthday boy
Capt. Bob Kimball, who manages three yachts, took a little time off this spring to celebrate his 60th birthday.
Brighton-Solitude at Big Cottonwood Valley. So he skied for two weeks, including the Big Day on March 23. For more lovely photos, visit www. the-triton.com and click on our photo galleries. Happy belated, Cap.
The working girl
Capt. Wendy Umla took over the 70-foot Lazzara Castaway this spring. Already she’s made two trips to the Florida Keys, and at least two to the Bahamas, and remembers why she loves being a captain. The boat is based in Palm Beach in private use and likely will head up to the Chesapeake this summer. Congrats. Mate Johan Wildres, below, covers a tender on the 130-foot M/Y Sacajawea at Swimming Hall of Fame Marina. After being off the circuit for months, the yacht may go back in charter this summer in New England. PHOTO/LUCY REED
MarineMax CEO Bill McGill, far left, and Tony Pasca, president of MarineMax Motor Yachts, enjoyed the evening. Pasca is a patient at UM/Sylvester. Guests were welcomed aboard five Ferretti yachts that had been decorated to represent different cities in Italy and were treated to Italian food, espresso and delicious gelato as well as Italian pastries. Guest host Nadia Turner, one of 2005’s hottest American Idol
(Don’t let the number fool you; he was celebrating No. 16 in his heart.) Capt. Kimball visited family in Salt Lake City, Utah, where the license plate reminds visitors that the state has “the greatest snow on earth.” And 20 minutes away: either AltaSnowbird at Little Cottonwood Valley or
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May 2006
NEWS
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Storied yacht Andiamo closes another chapter By Lucy Chabot Reed
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M/Y Andiamo, the 122-foot Azimut that’s been under the shed at the abandoned Fort Lauderdale Shipyard for the past 17 months, was put back in the water in April and towed to Lauderdale Marine Center. A team of 10 men from Beyel Brothers in Cocoa, Fla., used two 275ton cranes to first haul railway ties to pull the yacht out of the shed, then cradle her in slings to lift and drop her in the water. The maneuvers took five days, said Phillip Beyel, which oversees his company’s heavy haul division. “We rolled it out of the building on rollers, and we had to add rollers because the wood had deteriorated somewhat,” he said. “We brought in portable bridges and set them down in the pit to get the cranes as close to the yacht as possible.” Andiamo was the last yacht stuck in the former Fort Lauderdale Shipyard after its Synchrolift collapsed in midNovember 2004. Capt. Rob High was the last person to take the 24-year-old yacht out. He worked on her in the early 2000s and when she was M/Y Frosty Sleigh and was onboard that fateful Friday the 13th in April 2001 when she hit the Dania Beach Boulevard Bridge. She spent eight months in the yard after that and was for sale the following
It took 10 men, two 275-ton cranes and five days to haul Andiamo from the shed at the old Fort Lauderdale Shipyard and into the water. PHOTO/LUCY REED year. “She was in great shape after the yard,” High said. Still, though, the new owners decided to refit her again. High said he tried to talk them out of it, but they went ahead. He resigned in July 2003 Built originally for the royal family of Kuwait, Andiamo was a 105-foot Azimut. She was traded in on a larger Benetti and sold to an eye surgeon in Washington state, High said. Roscioli Yachting Center in Ft. Lauderdale extended her 15 feet and the yacht was purchased by the owner of the 7-11 convenience store chain. That owner
added the sky lounge and extended the bulwarks two feet, giving her a length of 122 and a new name, Frosty Sleigh. The yacht had a remote control system for steering with 50 feet of wire that could be plugged into one of four stations around the boat, High said. On April 13, 2001, as the then-captain was docking at Martha’s Restaurant in Dania Beach, the wire shorted and the starboard engine slipped into gear. The yacht hit and sank a dive boat docked nearby and hit the bridge. Contact Editor Lucy Chabot Reed at lucy@the-triton.com.
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NEWS
May 2006
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Megayachts need specific oil spill response plan in Alaska By Neil Huddleston In May 2003, the state of Alaska started requiring operators of non-tank vessels over 400 gross registered tons to have an approved oil spill plan when operating in state waters. Since then, several yacht operators have received notices of violation, some resulting in financial penalties, for visiting Alaska without an approved spill plan. Some of these operators have said they were unaware of the plan requirement. In an effort to eliminate this kind of violation, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is trying to increase awareness of the state’s spill preparedness requirements. If you plan to operate a yacht over 400 GRT in Alaska, you must have a state Certificate of Financial Responsibility (COFR) and a state non-tank vessel oil spill contingency plan approval prior to entering state waters. Both are issued
Investigator: ‘poor’ safety management plan contributed to Land’s End sinking An investigator looking into the sinking of M/Y Land’s End in the Mediterranean last summer concluded that the standard of navigation was “poor,” according to a preliminary report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch of the UK’s Department for Transport. “A significant contributory factor was the inadequacy of the safety management system with respect to basic bridge procedures,” the investigator wrote in the report. “Concern was also expressed at the management arrangements for the vessel, which did not provide any external audit mechanism for how the ship was run.” The 162-foot megayacht ran aground Aug. 9 on the St. Joseph Reef on the west side of Corsica in calm weather, according to the report. News stories at the time indicated the yacht had 12 guests and 13 crew. Everyone was evacuated safely. The vessel flooded slowly and sank three days later. The MAIB inspector wrote to the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency about the application of the new large commercial yacht code, highlighting the importance of effective audit of the safety management systems in vessels under 500 tons. MAIB investigates all types of marine accidents to or on board UK ships, and other ships in UK waters. It is not part of the MCA. – Lucy Reed
by DEC. Minimum lead times prior to entry for submitting applications are 15 days for a COFR and five days for a streamlined spill plan. The federal COFR and SOPEP do not fulfill the state’s requirements. Neither does the Non-tank Vessel Response Plan (NTVRP) that the U.S. Coast Guard is requiring. An operator must have an Alaska-specific plan. The streamlined plan is a fairly simple document – the form is three pages – that contains information about the vessel and its principals, and certifies the existence of contracts with approved contractors who can provide
incident management and cleanup services that meet certain standards. The state does not charge a fee to issue a COFR or spill plan approval, but there are costs to secure the incident management team and cleanup contracts required for the spill plan. Captains or designated persons ashore may obtain response contracts and submit a spill plan themselves or with the help of an approved Response Planning Facilitator, most of whom are companies offering maritime services nationwide. (For a list of those approved facilitators, visit www.thetriton.com.)
For more information, contact DEC’s financial responsibility office in Juneau at +1-907-465-5283, or the spill planning office in Anchorage at +1-907269-7681 or 269-8487. There is a link to information and applications online at www.dec.state.ak.us/spar/ipp. Neil Huddleston is the non-tank vessels plan reviewer with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Spill Prevention & Response, Industry Preparedness Program for Non-tank Vessels in Anchorage. Contact him at Neil_Huddleston@dec.state.ak.us.
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May 2006
BOAT SHOW REVIEW
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Palm Beach show keeps industry coming back Billed as one of the top 10 U.S. boat shows, the Palm Beach International Boat Show is probably not one of the world’s top megayacht shows; at least, not yet. Certainly from a superyacht perspective, it would be hard to argue that the show doesn’t compare in size to Monaco or Florida cousins, Analysis Ft. Lauderdale and Rocky Bean Miami. But then, Palm Beach is different. In fact, the Palm Beach show is to Monaco what Jimmy Buffet is to Julio Iglesias or, even better, what a Dodge Ram is to a Bugatti. I visited this year’s Palm Beach
show in March to consider it from the perspective of the superyacht industry. Coming on the heels of a Lauderdale show that almost blew away, and with the Miami show beginning to outgrow its britches, could Palm Beach be the next big superyacht show? I spoke with organizers and exhibitors, often asking: “If your marketing department said there’s money for just two shows, and you had to choose Miami, Lauderdale or Palm Beach, which one would you miss?” The answers were surprising. Entering its 22nd year, the Palm Beach show continues to grow – if not in area, in boat size – and in a folksy way. Visitors are still happy to allow themselves to be visibly impressed by really big boats with unabashed luxury and a bit embarrassed to have to
remove their shoes. “Wow, honey, look at this!” - de rigeur in Palm Beach - just would never do in Monaco, where blue blazers escorting supermodels seems to be the norm (besides, you can’t get a decent barbecued turkey leg in Monaco). But with its more down-to-earth ambiance, the Palm Beach show has a significant superyacht dimension and could have more. There’s a lot of business done in Palm Beach because there are a lot of people in the neighborhood with M-O-N-E-Y. “The show is about where I remember Lauderdale was when I joined the company in 1982,” said Andrew Doole, vice president of Yachting Promotions, producers of the show. “But Palm Beach has physical limits; the boats are getting bigger, so the boat count is tending down.” One thing you notice at Palm Beach besides the proliferation of small fishing boats on trailers and car dealers is the absence of manufacturers. MTU was in Palm Beach in the form of dealer, Florida Detroit Diesel; Allison and Cummins was represented by Cummins Power South of Fort Myers. I chatted with Russell Gomulski with MTU and Barry Stamm of Cummins. They saw Palm Beach as accessible and appealing to a different crowd.
Stamm had an insightful yarn. A guy wanted to buy a boat - a “big” boat. So he headed to the Miami show with an appointment to buy. After being stuck in traffic, he arrived hours late. When he couldn’t park conveniently, “he turned around, drove back north and didn’t buy the boat,” Stamm said. So what’s the bottom line? It seems that if you’re seriously in the superyacht biz, you have to be at all three shows. Miss Miami and you miss the South American and European markets. Hurricanes or not, Ft. Lauderdale is the American international yacht show. But pass on Palm Beach and you miss Central Florida and a good chunk of the eastern United States at the start of the season. Said one dealer: “There’s an awful lot of money in Jupiter.” As I was leaving on the last day, I collected my size 13D Sperry Topsiders for 2006 from Nautical Boatiques, leaving my 2005s for burial. Sales manager Ralph Bolanos summed it up: “Palm Beach? We wouldn’t miss it.” And the barbequed turkey legs are pretty good, as well. Bransom “Rocky” Bean is a yachting industry business consultant, ocean sailor and freelance writer. Contact him at bbean@the-triton.com.
Today’s fuel prices
One year ago
Prices for low-sulfur gasoil expressed in US$ per cubic meter (1,000 liters) as of April 19.
Prices for low-sulfur gasoil expressed in US$ per cubic meter (1,000 litres) as of April 17, 2005.
Region Duty-free*/duty paid U.S. East Coast Ft. Lauderdale 623/672 Savannah, Ga. 598/NA Newport, R.I. 642/NA Caribbean St. Thomas, USVI 735/NA St. Maarten 685/NA Antigua 670/NA North Atlantic Bermuda (Ireland Island) NA/NA Bermuda (St. George’s) 777/NA Cape Verde 580/NA Azores 545/NA Canary Islands 586/711 Mediterranean Gibraltar 572/NA Barcelona, Spain 599/1,168 Palma de Mallorca, Spain NA/1,100 Antibes, France 617/1,370 San Remo, Italy 702/1,355 Naples, Italy 675/1,365 Venice, Italy 656/1,343 Corfu, Greece 678/1,211 Piraeus, Greece 658/1,187 Istanbul, Turkey 570/NA Malta 568/NA Tunis, Tunisia 555/NA Oceania Auckland, New Zealand 653/NA Sydney, Australia 661/NA Fiji 673/NA
Region Duty-free*/duty paid U.S. East Coast Ft. Lauderdale 453/485 Savannah, Ga. 451/NA Newport, R.I. 505/NA Caribbean St. Thomas, USVI 580/NA Trinidad 460/NA Antigua 546/NA North Atlantic Bermuda (Ireland Island) 559/NA Bermuda (St. George’s) 588/NA Cape Verde 521/NA Azores 550/NA Canary Islands 510/635 Mediterranean Gibraltar 505/NA Barcelona, Spain 530/1,123 Palma de Mallorca, Spain 488/1,070 Antibes, France 516/1,235 San Remo, Italy 659/1,281 Naples, Italy 631/1,277 Venice, Italy 620/1,284 Corfu, Greece 561/1,030 Piraeus, Greece 535/1,016 Istanbul, Turkey 497/NA Malta 443/NA Tunis, Tunisia 457/NA Oceania Auckland, New Zealand 515/NA Sydney, Australia 520/NA Fiji 543/NA
*When available according to customs.
*When available according to customs.
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May 2006 MARINA NEWS
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The business of keeping marinas clean By John Freeman
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SAN DIEGO – No yachtie wants to berth at a dirty marina. And no selfrespecting marina operator would run a dirty marina. It’s not only bad for the environment, it’s bad for business. That in mind, H.P. “Sandy” Purdon, a San Diego marina owner/operator, came up with an idea that has evolved into Clean Marinas California, the nation’s first industry-sponsored marina certification program. “It’s the right thing to do and we’ve found this is the right way to it,” said Purdon, owner of Shelter Cove Marina on Purdon San Diego’s Shelter Island. CMC’s origins date back to late 2003 after the San Diego Water Quality Control Board cited some local marinas as sources of bay pollution, raising the specter of stricter, even punitive regulations. First, Purdon persuaded the board to grant an extension. Then, working with a cadre of San Diego marina operators, he spent the next nine months developing a Page 1 comprehensive manual on how to
Clean Marinas California Contact: Chairman Sandy Purdon, (619) 822-1177 www.cleanmarinascalifornia.org A partnership of private marina owners, government marina operators and yacht clubs in California, aimed at providing clean, environmentally-friendly facilities to the boating community. operate an environmentally compliant marina. “Our plan was, let’s see if we can come up with some program to alleviate the problems. And that’s what we did,” said Purdon, also chairman of the California Boating Commission and an accomplished yachtsman. He once sailed solo from San Diego to Honolulu in a 46-foot sailboat in 17 days. CMC has certified 34 California marinas – including prominent marinas in San Diego, Dana Point, Newport Beach, the Los Angeles Basin, Ventura/Santa Barbara and San Francisco – and a few lakes including Lake Tahoe. A marina in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, has been certified. In all, there are more than 400 sea- and salt-water marinas in California. At first, a few San Diego marinas were skeptical about self-regulation. “There was some talk of, ‘Let’s not open a Pandora’s box,’ ” Purdon said,
“but we found that most of the marinas were doing the right thing already.” The CMC handbook and evaluation form are posted on www. cleanmarinascalifornia.org so marina operators can prepare for the $250 inspection and test. The inspectors usually include Purdon, plus selected state marina operators. After a marina attains CMC certification, the operator receives a burgee and a certificate good for three years. With the growing success, Purdon has tentative plans to open offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco, along with the San Diego office, operated in partnership with the non-profit San Diego Port Tenants Association. While a number of other states have government-run programs (see next page), Clean Marinas California is still the only one fully administrated by the industry itself. It has been endorsed
See CLEAN, page A11
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Cooperation Florida’s ‘Clean Marina Program’ is in its eighth year has been key to the venture CLEAN, from page A10 by the San Diego Association of Yacht Clubs, San Diego Oceans Foundation, California Department of Boating and Waterways and the Recreational Boaters of California. Recently, the Marina Recreation Association of California – the marine industry’s advocate in the state – agreed to sanction the program. “We’re getting much more cooperation because we’re not the government,” said Tim Leathers, a CMC founder and an executive with Almar Management, operator of seven San Francisco Bay Area marinas. “So far, no marina has said they’re not going to participate. What a few have said is, ‘Oh, we’re not ready yet.’ When that happens, we work with them so they’re up to speed and ready to pass. We want them to comply.” For Scott MacLaggan, general manager of Sunroad Resort Marina on San Diego’s Harbor Island, CMC’s selfregulation aspect holds special appeal. “The exciting thing is, we’re working together to improve our industry while at the same time keeping government off our backs,” said MacLaggan, whose facility was among the first to be certified and one of only a few to earn a 100 percent grade. He said regular government inspections continue by agencies such as the U.S. Coast Guard, the California Fish & Game Department and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. “But we’ve proven we can do this ourselves and get positive results.” The Port of San Diego, which oversees tidelands activities along San Diego Bay and holds environmental jurisdiction over nearly all San Diego’s salt-water marinas, applauded the selfregulated effort. “We’re very supportive of what Sandy’s doing,” said David Merk, the port’s director of environmental services. “We’ve noticed improvements during our inspections that are no doubt attributable to their program.” For Leathers, the program has brought an added feel-good benefit. “You get very few opportunities in life to give back to an industry that has given me so much,” he said. “This is one of them. I couldn’t be happier with the way this thing has taken off.” John Freeman is director of communications for Knight & Carver YachtCenter. He spent more than a dozen years as a journalist at the San Diego Tribune and Union Tribune newspapers before joining the marine industry. Contact him at jfreeman@ knightandcarver.com.
Florida’s effort to certify boating marinas and boatyards began in 1999 under the jurisdiction of the state’s Department of Environmental Protection. So far, 115 marinas and 21 boatyards have been approved by the “Clean Marina Program.” With 2,000-plus marinas – more than any other state – DEP work has only begun. Of course, the onslaught of hurricanes the past few years has also hampered the program’s growth. “Along with the hurricanes and all the problems they’ve caused, we’ve got a tough program here and it’s not easy for marinas to qualify,” said Brenda
Leonard, manager of the statewide program. “It’s also becoming clear that many marinas don’t yet realize the full benefits of getting certified. We’re working on getting that word out.” While the program operates under government auspices, private industry cooperation is its hallmark. “We believe partnership is one of the main reasons why our program has been successful,” Leonard said. “[Marina operators] are in the field actually dealing with everyday issues, and they tell us firsthand what’s really going on. We have an open forum. We can discuss anything that comes up.”
A11
A program founders, Jan DeLaney, served as manager of Florida’s “Clean Marina” program until last year, when he was appointed manager of Florida’s Pollution Prevention Program. “I think we made excellent progress, even though it took a little longer than we anticipated to get it going,” said DeLaney, who first proposed the concept in 1996. “In general, the [boating] industry was somewhat skeptical and wary, working with a government agency. It took time to build trust between the two groups, but it’s coming along.” –John Freeman
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May 2006 NEWS BRIEFS
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Crew accused of 1982 murder Two British women appeared in court April 13 accused of murdering the German captain of a yacht during an Atlantic voyage almost 25 years ago, according to a story on The Telegraph, an online daily newspaper in the UK. Katherine Brenchley, 48, and Angela Thompson, 50, face extradition to Germany for allegedly stabbing Hans Nagel to death with a fishing knife and throwing his body overboard in 1982, the site reported. The women, who were working aboard the yacht on a 28-day voyage from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean, claimed they acted in self defense, believing Capt. Nagel intended to rape them. Claire Dubbin, defending Thompson, told the site the women told police that they had acted in self defense as soon as they arrived in St Lucia. “Ms. Thompson has a very clear recollection of being called by the director of public prosecutions to say that no further action would be taken. As far as these two ladies are concerned, this matter was concluded in 1982. We understand the German authorities say it took 24 years to come up because it appears they believed the UK didn’t extradite its own nationals.” Thompson and Brenchley were remanded on bail and will reappear in court on May 11, the story reported.
Fuel truck explodes in BVI
A Delta Petroleum truck on Tortola exploded near Sopers Hole Marina in early April, sending the driver to the hospital with first-degree burns. The truck was delivering fuel to a charter yacht in Freshman’s Cay, according to a story on Caribbean Net News.com. The site referenced police reports as saying the truck was pumping fuel to an underground fuel tank for Voyage Charters, there was a
small spill and the truck was ignited, which resulted in the explosion.
Maine: $15M for marine workforce
Maine received a $15 million federal economic development grant that Gov. John Baldacci committed to using to strengthen the state’s 400-year-old boatbuilding industry. Funds will be used toward marinerelated educational programs and employee training, he said during a visit to The Landing School in Arundel. The grant will target Maine’s coastal region with special attention given to the Midcoast area in anticipation of the closure of the Brunswick Naval Air Station, according to a release from the governor’s office.
500/1600-ton mate course to begin Pacific Maritime Institute announced that its U.S. Coast Guardapproved 500/1600-ton mate program is scheduled to begin May 30. Funding is available through the Veterans Administration for G.I. Benefits and from SLM Financial Corporation, a “Sallie Mae” Company. The program is a two-year training curriculum aimed at creating a pool of qualified able-seamen and mates for the towing industry. The program includes 25 weeks of shore-based training, 52 weeks of onboard training, and access to the latest license examination preparation software. Students who choose to obtain their sea time on towing vessels will also be issued a ‘Towing Officer’s Assessment Record’ certificate. For more information, call +1-206719-2801, send e-mail to gtrunnell@ mates.org or visit www.mates.org.
U.S.-flagged yacht attacked
According to a story in the Kuwait Times, a U.S.-flagged yacht with three people aboard was attacked on April 16 by pirates wielding rocket launchers off the coast of Yemen. The newspaper attributed the information to the Italian Coastguard, which said it received a distress call from an Italian freight ship. Yemen shares territorial waters with Somalia, whose coastal waters have become among the world’s most dangerous in the 14 years the country has lacked a central government.
City commits $4.8M to marina
The Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency has reached an agreement to purchase about 80 percent of the Two Georges Marina in this southern Palm Beach County town. The marina, which includes 24 boat slips, a building housing an office and dive shop, and a waterfront restaurant, was purchased from DSS Properties headed by marina restaurant owner Steve Scaggs.
See NEWS BRIEFS, page A16
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May 2006 USVI ROLEX REGATTA
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St. Thomas’ Rolex Regatta a bit of ‘paradise’
Spinnaker Racing: Cruising up the first beat on Day 1 of racing. PHOTO/DANIEL FORSTER - ROLEX
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Ninety-two boats competed in the 33rd International Rolex Regatta held on March 24-26 in St. Thomas. Winds were perfect for the weekend races in eight classes for boats from 24 to 80 feet. From the first day, Martin Jacobson’s (Greenwich, Conn.) Swan 44 Crescendo led the Spinnaker Racing Cruising class, with 1984 Australian Olympian Jamie Wilmot (Sydney) steering. “It was just paradise,” Jacobson said after the first day’s racing on which his team aced three windward-leeward races in 12- to 16-knot breezes. The next day’s races, held in even brisker breezes, gave the team a 4-1 to add to its score line. After a finish and restart just inside Charlotte Amalie harbor, a reverse-direction race brought the fleet back home to the St. Thomas
Robby Hirst’s S/Y Sea Hawk, first overall in the IC24 division. PHOTO/DAN NERNEY - ROLEX
Yacht Club, hosts for the event. On the last day, a distance race among the islands in Pillsbury Sound handed a fifth victory to Crescendo,
which became the only entrant among 22 registered from the U.S. mainland to claim a class crown. “It was a great experience,” said Jacobson, a newcomer to the International Rolex Regatta. “I loved how close everything was: the boats at the yacht club, the parties on the beach, the crews staying within walking distance. It made it very easy to come and enjoy myself.” Danilo Salsi of Milan, Italy, also led right out of the gate. He steered his Swan 45 Dsk Comifin to victory in Spinnaker Racing Class 1 and, like Jacobson, won all but one of his six races. Though Salsi hadn’t expected it, his CSA (Caribbean Sailing Association) rating served him well, leaving the class’s larger boats such as Donnybrook (a Santa Cruz 70 owned by Jim Muldoon of Washington, D.C.) and Equation (an Andrews 68 owned by Bill Alcott of St. Clair Shores, Mich.) in his wake. Two other Swans, a 48 footer named Privateer (owned by Ron O’Hanley of Ipswich, Mass.) and a 45 footer named Devocean (owned by Steve Devoe of Stamford, Conn.) took second and third, respectively, in the class. “We are overseas here until June, training for the Newport to Bermuda Race and the Rolex Sydney Hobart,” said Salsi, who won Rolex Capri Sailing Week in 2005, more recently finished second at Acura Key West Race Week and plans to next compete in the BVI Spring Regatta and Rolex Antigua Sailing Week. “The configuration courses are not so important to us. We like the distance races; it is what we need for our training.” Before the third day’s distance race was scored, Gilberto Rivera of San Juan, Puerto Rico, sailing his J/24 Urayo, had sewn up the series for the CSA 24 Spinnaker Class. “We sailed the last race anyway, because we wanted to enjoy the day; we tried to not be aggressive, since other boats were sailing for second place,” Rivera said. Urayo’s fifth-place finish in that race, held in comparatively
See ROLEX, page A15
The Triton
www.the-triton.com
USVI ROLEX REGATTA
Spin Racing 1 overall winner Dsk Comfin crosses Abracadabra.
May 2006
PHOTO/DANIEL FORSTER - ROLEX
U.S. Virgin Islands led the way with 30 entrants ROLEX, from page A14 light breezes, was well balanced with a second-place finish and half a dozen first-place finishes posted over the previous two days. “The strong winds and waves of the first two days separated the more experienced sailors from the less experienced,” he said. Rivera finished second at last year’s regatta, losing out to six-time Rolex winner Fraito Lugo (Ponce, Puerto Rico), who chose this year to sail in the IC-24 Class and finished fourth there. It was Rivera’s first time to win a Rolex watch, which he gave to his father in thanks for his support and “sponsorship” of Rivera’s sailing program over the years. Another Puerto Rican winner was Enrique Figueroa, a multiple world and national catamaran champion who has represented his country in the Olympics four times. He defended his title aboard the Hobie 16 Suzuki Red Bull in the Beach Cats Class and has won this Rolex regatta “more times than I can remember.” Puerto Rico was represented by 22 boats, but the U.S. Virgin Islands had the largest contingent with 30 competitors. One, St. Croix’s Robert Armstrong sailing the J/100 Expensive Habit, took Spinnaker Racing Class 2 by storm. With the help of 2004 J/24 World Champion Jens Hookansen, who grew up in St. Croix but resides in Middletown, R.I., Armstrong posted all first-place finishes except one in his six-race lineup. A fellow St. Croix sailor, Tony Sanpere, likewise steered his Soverel 27 Cayennita to victory in NonSpinnaker Racing Class 2, defending his title. The balance of the racing fleet came from the British Virgin Islands (7), Antigua (2), St. Martin (2), Canada (1),
Belgium (3), Ireland (2), Italy and the UK (1 each). Two BVI entrants won their classes: Christopher Lloyd (Road Town, Tortola) with his Beneteau 44 Three Harkoms, in Non-Spinnaker Racing Class 1 with all four first-place finishes, and Robby Hirst (Road Town, Tortola), who leapt from third to first on the scoreboard on
the last day, driving his IC-24 Sea Hawk to finish positions of 1-2-2 in three final races. More sailing results can be found by visiting www.rolexcupregatta.com on the Internet. This report was submitted by the public relations firm working for the regatta.
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May 2006 NEWS BRIEFS
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Looking to become a world-class fishing destination this century NEWS BRIEFS, from page A12 For more information, visit www. boyntonbeachcra.org.
Chub Cay work continues
The marina has been dredged to 12 feet at low mean tide and floating concrete docks by Bellingham are being installed. The dock boxes and power pedestals are in and water and power hook ups were expected shortly. The marina should reopen at the end of June, according to Maura Brassil, marketing director for the project.
Senate OKs emergency bill
The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee approved an emergency supplemental appropriations bill in April that would give America’s seaports a major boost in security funding. The committee approved an The work to transform the Bahamas’ amendment that would provide an Chub Cay from a family destination additional $648 million in resources for of the 20th century into a world-class radiation portal monitors, container fishing destination of the 21st took inspections, port inspections and port BMR-8516 The Tritonthis LO7spring. 9/19/05 1:20facility PM Page 1 another step forward security grants.
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Yachties join Sister Cities
Delivery Capt. Steve P. Naimoli has been named president of Greater Fort Lauderdale-Sister Cities International. He joined Triton Publisher David Reed on the board of directors for the organization in late April. Reed represents the marine industry. “As a delivery captain I was visiting all these places that are sister cities so I was sort of an ambassador Naimoli for them,” Naimoli said. One trip took him to Isla Margarita in Venzuela, one of Ft. Lauderdale’s sister cities. In July 2007, Ft. Lauderdale will host the international conference, bringing together representatives from 127 countries. Naimoli suggested last year that the organization add a marine chair to its board of directors. After Reed attended the marine mission trip to Australia last year, he’s been active with the group and was nominated for the seat. Of Ft. Lauderdale’s 14 sister cities, 13 of them are on the water and have a significant marine economy. “I think that position has tremendous potential,” Naimoli said. “Think how much we could all learn from each other.” – Lucy Reed
New head of USCG
Thad Allen was confirmed March 29 by the U.S. Senate as the 23rd Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. Allen has served in the USCG for more than three decades, including stints as vice admiral and chief of staff.
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Daewoo to build Jones Act ships
General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, and Daewoo Ship Engineering Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering based in Busan, Korea, announced a formal teaming agreement on April 3 to build ships for the U.S. market under the Jones Act. The Jones Act, among its many provisions, requires ships that carry cargo between U.S. ports to be built in the United States. Under the agreement, DSEC will provide detail designs, support services and some of the material. NASSCO will also procure material and will provide labor and facilities, according to a press release. For more information, visit www.dsme.co.kr, www.idsec.co.kr or www.nassco.com.
Geronimo tries for Fossett’s record On her seventh day at sea, the trimaran Geronimo covered 462 BMR-8516 The Triton LO6 • 4.92 X 8
nautical miles at an average speed of 19.28 knots heading back north toward Japan on her record attempt. Geronimo and her crew have covered 3,178 nautical miles, leaving “only” 2,344 nautical miles to reach Yokohama. However, this latest track is giving skipper Olivier de Kersauson cause for concern. (Audio reports available at www.superyachting.com.) “It’s going pretty well. We’re making nearly 500 miles a day, which is a good average. The problem is that those 500 miles bring us only 380 closer to the finish line.” The trimaran is attempting to break Steve Fossett’s 1996 record from San Francisco to Yokohama, Japan of 19 days, 15 hours, 18 minutes and 9 seconds. Visit www.trimaran-geronimo. com or www.superyachting.com for more information.
IMO gets Canadian grant
The International Maritime Organization announced in April that it has received a two-year grant for $432,701 (C$500,000) from the government of Canada for its Global Technical Cooperation Program on Maritime Security. The grant will fund regional seminars and workshops on maritime security in the Caribbean and Central America; maritime security train-the-trainer courses in the Arab states; and needs assessments and advisory missions in Asia.
Largest waves measured
Scientists aboard a research vessel sailing about 150 miles west of Scotland have measured the largest waves ever recorded by a scientific instrument, according to a story in Maritime Executive Magazine on April 6. Until now, these large waves were thought to appear alone, but the scientists encountered a group of monster waves up to 98 feet high that continued for about 12 hours. This data should help perfect computer simulations of this type of phenomena. More important than the record height was the method by which they were generated. Rather than being caused by winds, the scientists think a “resonance effect” was responsible. This means that waves and wind traveled across the Atlantic at virtually the same speed. The storm pumped energy into the waves efficiently for a long time, building them to giant size.
Winn-Dixie to sell Bahamas stores
Jacksonville, Fla.-based Winn-Dixie Stores announced March 30 that it plans to sell the 12 supermarkets it operates in the Bahamas – nine under the City Markets banner and three under the Winn-Dixie banner – to Bahamian company BK Foods, Ltd. for $50 million. All 12 stores are expected to remain open following the deal.
The Triton
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FROM THE FRONT
May 2006
A17
China’s Kingship splashes its first build for the U.S. market Kingship, a new Chinese builder of megayachts, put its first yacht in the water in April. Built of Dutch steel with all Western components, the 110-foot expeditionstyle yacht is the first in this spec line built for the U.S. market, according to Doug Hoogs, sales director for Kingship USA. The yacht will have a shallow draft and only hits speeds of 10-14 knots. But it’s a sea-going vessel, Hoogs said. “If you’re going around the world on your yacht, you’ve got to keep it simple,” he said. “We’re looking for more traditional buyers where speed is not as critical.” The 110-foot series lists at about $8 million and will debut at the Miami International Boat Show in 2007. Four of the yard’s seven bays will be used for series boats ranging from 90-110 feet and the rest for custom builds. The steel for a 90-footer was being cut as The Triton went to press.
Merrill-Stevens adds office
Merrill-Stevens Yachts continues its expansion with the opening of a U.S. West Coast office in San Diego. The office can provide commercial assistance in sales, charter and management of luxury yachts; crew placement; project management for new construction, refits and repair; scheduled maintenance; and concierge assistance. Merrill Stevens recently purchased Bradford Yacht Sales and Koch Newton & Partners with offices in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Palma de Mallorca, and Singapore. These acquisitions among others have positioned Merrill Stevens to capture a sizeable portion of the expanding yacht services market. For more information, contact the office at 2240 Shelter Island Drive, Suites 200-202, in San Diego or call +1619-523-1284.
Crew Network opens in San Diego
The Crew Network, a crew placement agency, opened its sixth office in San Diego, Calif., in April. A division of Fraser Yachts Worldwide, The Crew Network has a global network and database. The new San Diego office – at 2390 Shelter Island Drive, Suite 210C, +1619-523-8723 – will be managed by Robin Smith, a California native with a background in recruiting and hiring. She spent the past six years in the staffing industry. The Crew Network
also has offices in Fort Lauderdale, Auckland, Antibes, Viareggio, Palma de Mallorca.
Bahamas airline hires manager
Yellow Air Taxi, a private airline with regular flights from Florida to the Bahamas, has hired Julie Lynn as sales and marketing manager. Lynn has been working with yachting-related destinations in the Bahamas for years. The airline’s fleet of 402s are painted bright yellow and have a black-andwhite checkerboard tail. They make regular scheduled flights from Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach to Marsh Harbour, Treasure Cay and North Eleuthera for both passengers and cargo. On-demand charter service is available as well. Visit www.flyyellowairtaxi.com or call +1-954-359-0292 or 242-367-0032 in the Bahamas.
Platypus hires sales director
Capt. Charles Crane is the new marketing/sales director for Platypus Marine in Port Angeles, Wash. With more than 25 years in the marine industry, Capt. Crane brings experience in project management, new builds, major refits and consulting. Platypus Marine specializes in refit and repair on private yachts, fishing and commercial vessels from 40 to 200 feet. For more information, visit www.platypusmarine.com, call +1877-752-8978 or send e-mail to capt@ platypusmarine.com.
TRAC certifies GSS
Global Ship Systems of Savannah, Ga., has become a certified service center for TRAC Ecological products. TRAC of Ft. Lauderdale has developed a line of biodegradable chemicals that dissolve scale, barnacles, zebra mussels, calcium, rust, lime and other mineral
deposits that can reduce water flow in onboard water and sewage systems. For more information, visit www.traconline.com or call 1+954-987-2722.
Surveyors expand to Northeast
Slakoff, Stahl, Gordon & Associates, the Ft. Lauderdale-based survey company, opened an office on Long Island, N.Y., in April. Surveyor Baron Rohl will manage the office. With over 18,000 surveys completed, Slakoff, Stahl, Gordon & Associates Marine Surveyors and Consultants conduct pre-purchase, damage, and insurance surveys worldwide.
ISM reporting made easy.
Regs4yachts, the UK-based specialists in regulatory conformity, has developed a new reporting tool that ensures reliable and fast reporting to comply with the International Safety Management code with completely auditable document control. Portal4yachts can be expanded to handle all documents to be communicated to a yacht. The documents can be accessed securely over the Internet and are retained in their original format. Flag state audits have confirmed that the system is fully compliant with the ISM code. For more information, send e-mail to peter.small@regs4yachts. com or call +1-954-663-9958, or +44(0)-870-444-1524.
IYT signs two schools
Ft. Lauderdale-based International Yachtmaster Training certified Knotica Sea School of Dubai and Cooper Boating of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to teach IYT courses. Both schools offer IYT’s recreational power boat courses, and Cooper Boating also offers the IYT Yachtmaster
Coastal and Offshore program. Knotica plans to offer those courses, as well as STCW-95, by the end of 2006. Knotica Sea School plans to expand with more training centers in the Gulf region. For more information, visit www.knotika.com, www.cooperboating.
See BUSINESS BRIEFS, page A21
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May 2006
WIFI UPDATE
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The Triton
The upload on WiFi, other vitals services in the Bahamas Capt. Craig Jones took M/Y Carry-On, an 86-foot Burger, and her owner on a two-week Bahamas cruise in April, gathering the skinny on WiFi and other vital services in the islands. Here’s the low-down, from one captain’s perspective. (To see Capt. Jones’ photos in their awesome Bahamian color, visit www.the-triton. com and click on our “newest photo galleries.”) It begins, of course, with my memory of last summer. Atlantis was $10/day; Sampson Cay was free but iffy; Staniel Cay was free and strong; Highbourne Cay charged a fee but it didn’t work with my Mac. Had to use the office PC. Wonder if it’s sorted out. Before leaving, Boca Resort offered WiFi for free on the property and docks. Ft. Lauderdale yards Roscioli Yachting Center and Bradford Marine have Yachtspots.com and charge on a daily, weekly or per-use basis, or monthly/annually. Signal depends on location in yard/shed and what is alongside you. Same at Ocean Reef Club for the Burger Rendezvous; all that alloy next to me ate up my bandwidth! How do others boost WiFi to their boats? There are both active (boosted) and passive (simple antenna with a plug or to a router) systems.
Wednesday, Sampson Cay
If you ever had to custom design weather for the Bahamas, then we are experiencing it this week. Flat calm, next to no breeze. This is so unlike April.
Some guys have obviously had time to explore the anchorages and find those special hideaways. Oh, for the time alone on the boat to do that. Everyone’s working their asses off. Good for the industry but a shame crew don’t have time to appreciate their surroundings, learn more about the local waters, find great beaches for owners and clients, etc. Out to Big Major’s, then into Staniel. The breeze picked up but it’s still amazing for this time of year. WiFi at Wardrick Wells: Not sure if they charge or not as I did not get ashore with my Powerbook to try it. WiFi at Sampson is free and pretty strong on the west dock. Those to the east side seem to come up to the dock office to log in. Staniel? Will know later today and report findings.
I’ve found bandwidth at Wardrick Wells and Highborne to be low with long downloads or sending large files taking a long time. I tried using my Apple iSight camera out of Atlantis ($10/day) but not enough bandwidth. Tried the audio only part; still not enough.
The next day
WiFi at Sampson is out today; may be weather related. Major winds and rain, miserable. Holed up here, waiting for the weather. Some good crews around here but none of us have time to visit. Shame. Is it the same in the Med – no time, all work and no play?
Saturday, Staniel Cay
Free WiFi but only at the dock office/bar/dining area. I am looking at it but not a glimmer of a signal. At least it is free, as was Sampson. The electric power off the dock at Sampson was perfect. Power here at Staniel is about normal. We are on the genset for 18 hours a day. Bummer.
Monday noon, back at Sampson
The next week, back in Atlantis
Slip No. 46, Carry-On Chef Andrea Jane Kouyoumjian poses with Action, the local fire eater and general entertainment guy who runs around Nassau Harbor in a little boat with all sorts of stuff written on it.
Highborne’s WiFi was out, but it’s supposed to be up this week. Wardrick Wells was busy but we managed to get a mooring in the south mooring field; not a manmade light in site. We ran round to the park office this afternoon to make sure we get in next week. Great run down to Sampson this afternoon. Food stocks at the island store are very low and this just after the mailboat was in. The islands are packed with yachts of every shape and size. Highlander has sort of shadowed us since Nassau. The Highland Fling (their chopper) flew in and has stayed aboard since Sunday. Some real big ones seem to have scooted into some real tight places.
Here’s the crew of M/Y Coy-Koi, an 85-footer. From left, Mate Seaton, Chef Stacey and Capt. Michael. Fresh water is 50 cents a gallon! I am making all I can and when/where I can. Staniel Cay’s WiFi signal used to reach the docks but I think they make more bar and food money by having the signal close to the bar. At least it is free, and fairly reliable. Bandwidth in most places appears to be good.
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The Emerald Bay marina has been anticipated since ‘03. PHOTO/GINGER HORNADAY
Emerald Bay: terrestrial oasis By Jennifer L. Reber The yachting community has a new port of call thanks to the establishment of the Club and Marina at Emerald Bay on Great Exuma, Bahamas. Since 2003, Emerald Bay has been on the radar as the next big thing in the Bahamas. It is currently the largest developed resort in the Bahamas since Atlantis. This world-class resort sits on 470 acres of beachfront property and already includes a Four Seasons Resort with a Greg Norman-designed championship golf course, a Balinesestaffed spa, and a European-style casino, and is also home to Grand Isle Villas, an exclusive residential community. November marked the opening of Phase One of the 23-acre deepwater marina at Emerald Bay. It has 47 fixed concrete floating docks to accommodate vessels up to 175 feet. A high-speed fuel dock can service vessels up to 225 feet. Also available at the slip are water, electricity (120v, 60cycle AC/ single and three-phase power options), telephone, cable television and wireless Internet access with voice-over-IP service. As a designated port of entry to the Bahamas, the marina has customs officials on site to process foreign vessels. The clearance fee is $300 for
Event on the Radar Bahamas Billfish Championship (BBC) at Emerald Bay Hosted by Bertram Yacht and Allied Richard Bertram Marine Group May 14-19, 2006
Approach
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Latitude: 23.38.118 N Longitude: 075.54.928 W The 120-foot-wide entry channel has a controlling depth of 14 feet at mean low water and is well marked with lighted navigational buoys and radar reflectors along an 800-foot breakwater. Captains are recommended to follow a course bearing 210 degrees magnetic to
boats larger than 35 feet, which covers the cruising permit, fishing permit and a $15 departure tax for four people; each additional person is charged a $15 departure tax. The marina also includes showers and laundry, a crew lounge with a computer terminal, TV and billiards table, Wahoo’s Waterfront Restaurant, complimentary shuttle and concierge service. It also has a mini hospital, established by Boston-based World Clinic and staffed by a U.S. boardcertified physician and nurse. Marina guests have access to Emerald Bay’s golf course, Four Seasons Spa, Il Cielo Restaurant and Sea Breeze Grill at the Four Seasons Resort, the new Casino at the Four Seasons, and the Pallappa Pool Bar & Grill with infinity pool and beach access at Grand Isle Villas. Yacht and social memberships are offered for $5,000 and slip memberships start at $100,000 and range to more than $1.5 million. Transient rates start at $2.25 a foot per night. Phase Two, which is scheduled to open next winter, will nearly triple dockage to 135 slips, a dry storage facility for boats up to 40 feet, and expansion of the 800-foot breakwater.
See EMERALD BAY, page A21 channel marker 2. Note: The Marina at Emerald Bay requires yacht insurance papers for any vessel that stays overnight. E-mail emunroe@ themarinaatemeraldbayresort.com or fax this information to 242-3366101 prior to arrival.
For more information Doug Black, VP of Marina Operations Glenroy Smith, Harbormaster Leonard MacKenzie, Fuel Harbourmaster VHF working channel: 11 1-866-EMERALD or www. emeraldbayresort.com
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Stronger piers, quickly built BUSINESS BRIEFS, from page A17 com or www.yachtmaster.com.
Maine grant for composite piers
to-day operations, customer relations and service, and the development and fulfillment of effective distribution strategies.
Harbor Technologies, a provider of composite solutions to the marine infrastructure market, announced in late March that it has received a seed grant from the Maine Technology Institute to develop a method for constructing marine piers using composite components. The company will work with the University of Maine’s Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Center to reduce the cost and time of building marine piers while boosting strength and durability. The amount of the grant was not disclosed. For more information, visit www.harbortech.us or www. mainetechnology.org.
Captain launches surfer site
Beard Marine turns 25
MarineMax acquires Surfside-3
Beard Marine Group – a marine air conditioning, refrigeration and watermakers sales and service company – celebrated its 25th anniversary in April. Service Manager Ron Gritz also celebrates his 20th year with the company.
Soda Works hires new VP
Washington state-based The Soda Works, manufacturer and distributor of soda-blasting equipment and materials, announced in April that Paul Alexander has joined the company as its vice president. He is responsible for day-
CrewSurfer.com is designed for yacht crew who surf and find themselves in various parts of the world, looking for waves. The intent is to get surfing crew together so they can get out there with tips on where to go, who to go with, what the hazards are and how to get there. CrewSurfer.com is based in Encinitas, Calif., and run by Capt. Mark Drewelow, who has 250,000 sea-going miles under his hat and has pioneered numerous spots around the world that remain unnamed. For crew running between Panama and Glacier Bay, the site claims to help with boat-access-only spots. MarineMax, the United States’ largest recreational boat retailer, announced April 3 that it has acquired Surfside-3 Marina and its affiliated companies for $24.8 million in cash plus 665,000 shares of stock. With 2005 revenue exceeding $140 million, Surfside is one of the largest privately owned independent boat dealers in the country. Surfside operates eight locations and distributes products and provides services through seven affiliated locations in New York, Connecticut, Maryland and Rhode Island.
Exumas add a new runway EMERALD BAY, from page A20 “We’ve had a number of repeat guests who seem to be using the marina as a launching pad to remote places like Rum Cay, Conception, San Salvador and Long Island,” said Doug Black, Emerald Bay’s vice president of marina operations. “And we’ve had boats stop here that were transiting to the Caribbean.” The Exumas also recently opened a new 8,000-foot runway at Great Exuma International Airport. Charter flights from carriers such as Bimini Island Air (www.flybia) have added regular stops at Exuma and several international airlines now fly direct to Exuma from several points in the United States, including Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and most recently, Charlotte, N.C. The Exuma Islands offer a plethora of activities in and out of the water. Bonefishing is superb as the warm flats make for an ideal habitat; experienced local captains will be happy to tell you where the fish are biting. Diving is also a popular pastime in the area so be sure to check out the
spectacular dive site of Mystery Cave, a 400-foot-deep blue hole near Stocking Island where Jacques Cousteau and his team spent many days exploring. On Staniel Cay, north of Great Exuma, is Thunderball Grotto, a breathtaking underwater cavern named after the James Bond classic and also the site for the movies “Splash” and “Never Say Never Again.” Exploring the island itself is a great way to spend the day. Its hills and rocky outcroppings are quite unique to the Bahamas island chain and proffer beautiful vistas above the turquoise waters. The lack of mainstream tourism means it’s still as peaceful as it was back in the days when Capt. Kidd stayed here. In Georgetown, Exuma’s capital city, the famed straw market is an island must-see. Nestled under the big African fig tree, vendors come to sell handmade crafts and to mingle with old friends. Jennifer Reber is a freelance writer and photographer who lives in Massachusetts. Contact her through editorial@the-triton.com.
May 2006
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May 2006 SUNRISE HARBOR PARTY
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Sunrise Harbor throws big bash More than 900 yacht crew and business folks attended the 6th annual Captains & Crew Appreciation Party on April 8 at Westrec’s Sunrise Harbor Marina in Ft. Lauderdale. “The huge turnout showed that everybody realizes captains and crew are the heart and soul of the industry,” said Gary Groenewold, southern regional vice president for Westrec Marinas. Forty-two sponsors contributed to the festivities, which included Japanese Tyako drummers, a belly dancer and Brazilian Carnival dancers. A treasure map raffle game, sponsored by Bluewater Books and Charts, raised $1,500 for Helping Hands of Harbour Towne, a non-profit organization Westrec formed to aid children in extreme medical need in the local community. Don Kenniston, president of Feadship USA, won a two-night vacation package with spa and golf at the Four Seasons, Great Exuma and three nights of free dockage donated by The Club at Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas. Rob Giacoppo, mate/engineer and relief captain on M/Y Thunder, scored a two-night stay at Anse Chastanet in St. Lucia. For more, visit www. the-triton.com and click on “events & photos.”
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May 2006 TRITON SPOTTER
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Unlike the Ferrari Team, The Triton saw the F1 Melbourne Grand Prix from start to finish, thanks to Capt. Timothy Straw of M/Y Arriva. Here’s Capt. Tom Serio outside the Hotel Puur in Venlo, The Netherlands. Not near any major body of water, Venlo is nestled on the eastern side of the province of Limburg, just miles from the German border. “Even though I was traveling on business, I carry The Triton since it is chock full of news and articles and the ninehour flight gives me time to enjoy it.” Aw, shucks.
Where have you taken your Triton recently? Send photos to lucy@the-triton.com. If we print yours, you get a T-shirt.
M/Y Been There Done That, a 100-foot Hatteras, made a quick trip to the islands in April and sent us this shot from the Antigua Yacht Club. Back row, from left, is Chef Peter Ziegelmeier and Capt. Kirk Thieme. Front row, from left, is Mike Treanor, who worked the delivery, and Mate Mike Mycko in the driver’s seat.
The Triton
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May 2006
Harbor Shops is Now Open! “Say hello to some old friends and some new neighbors” ps is Now Open! ends and some new neighbors” Publix
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May 2006 FROM THE BRIDGE
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Captains: Maritime schools push certificate to sell classes THE BRIDGE, from page A1 goes wrong,” one captain said. ‘The course isn’t helpful to everyone,” another said. “I remember taking it and thinking it was a waste of time, but there was a guy in my class who couldn’t swim. They helped him with the man overboard drill, but if he hadn’t taken the class, he would have
had no clue.” Still there were a few captains who didn’t support the premise that a piece of paper – the STCW certificate – qualified anyone to work on boats. “It was sold by all the schools that if you didn’t take this course and get this certificate, you weren’t going to find work,” one captain said. “They did it just to sell courses.”
Attendees of The Triton’s May Bridge luncheon were, from left, Kent Kohlberger of M/Y Financial Statement, Rowan Brown of M/Y My Girl, Mitch Mitchell of M/Y Sacajawea, Rusty Allen of M/Y Cracker Bay, Bob Kimball of M/Y Subconscious (and others), Kim Lofquist of M/Y Lady Monroe, Wendy Umla of M/Y Castaway, and Doc Proctor of M/Y Simaron. PHOTO/LUCY REED “I can guarantee you if something happens and your crew doesn’t have it, the insurance company will find a reason not to pay,” another said. “It becomes a liability issue for the owner.” “But the schools are telling crew that if they have this paper, they’re qualified, but they have no experience,” the first captain said. “School should just be a stepping stone. Captains used to be able to put someone up when it was time to move on. In a practical environment, they had earned their wings. The caliber of crew now has gone like this,” this captain said, dropping a hand to the table. “We can train a monkey to run a boat. It’s what happens when things go wrong that the training comes in.”
Several captains noted that the industry has grown so much in the past decade that it has been difficult to find qualified crew. Then the conversation turned into one about crew in general and, of course, crew agencies. “Crew agencies are overpaid,” one captain said. “Someone needs to put a stop to it. I’ve fired three mates in the past three months because they couldn’t do the job. I’d rather pick them up off the dock than use a crew agency.” “I have a contact in South Africa and I can get a young guy, 20 years old, who has potential,” another said. “I tell them I’ll pay for their ticket [STCW] after three months if they work out. That way, I get them fresh, not talking to all the people in Ft. Lauderdale, and I can train him my way.” But with so many boats and usually so little time to find crew, several captains said they do use the agencies, but also do their own research. “I use crew agencies and I almost always know someone who worked with the [applicant] so I can call and get the real story.” “There’s been such a change in the industry,” one captain said. “There are so many boats; you have to get these people somewhere. Our industry is maturing. It’s a profession now.” “STCW made getting crew easier but the caliber is lower because they didn’t have to work up to it,” a captain said as most everyone agreed. “The training is good, but it’s not worth $800.” Contact Editor Lucy Chabot Reed at lucy@the-triton.com. If you are a yacht captain and in Genoa, Italy, on May 4, contact Lucy for an invitation to our Bridge luncheon. Space is limited.
The Triton
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FROM THE FRONT
Panel: If you carry a firearm, be trained, prepared to use it Jake DesVergers, head of the U.S. Maritime Institute. “Have crew make But a delivery captain who recently rounds, use your lights, keep a charged completed a trip through the Red Sea fire hose, and keep a vigilant watch.” wanted to know more. One engineer in the audience noted “It’s nice to avoid these areas if you that on the new builds he’s worked can, but sometimes you have to go on, owners and designers are finding through them,” he said. “How do you creative ways to hide and disguise their deal with boardings?” weapons so that they can carry them “There is no cast-in-concrete answer and not declare them. Telling owners for that,” said Patrick Estebe, owner they don’t need guns was naïve, he said. of a security consulting business “If you take someone’s life, you are called AffAirAction in Ft. Lauderdale. liable,” said Mort, who also is Wright “We have to think about security in a Maritime’s chief security officer. “Unless different way. It’s not safety. Safety is to they [guns] are written into your ship avoid the incident. In security, you’re security plan and your crew has been dealing with people’s minds. You must trained to use them, your insurers act with alertness and purpose. Your probably aren’t going to stand up next security will rely on the same senses to you to support you. you use as a captain.” “In most cases, robbers leave when And he warned the audience not to the alarm is raised,” he said. “If you provide a means of escape, the pirates will get out of there.” A representative of the Philippines Coast Guard was present in an unofficial capacity and noted that if his agency or government finds a weapon on a yacht, not only will it be confiscated but the person in charge will be prosecuted. He advised anyone transiting the Philippines to contact his agency on Channels 16 and 22. “Keep a good radar watch,” he said. “If we see More than 50 people gathered at Bluewater you without your running Books for The Triton’s piracy Connection on lights, we’ll think you’re a PHOTO/DAVID REED local fisherman. I’m not April 5. suggesting you run without your lights. I am suggesting you underestimate pirates. establish a good relationship with us as “They aren’t stupid,” he said. “They you transit.” are excellent seafarers.” The Philippines Coast Guard – a He did suggest keeping a low profile uniformed civilian service – is one 10th while in dangerous areas, minimizing the size of the U.S. Coast Guard (4,500 chatter on the radio and turning off officers compared to 45,000) with 10 running lights. He did not recommend times the shoreline, he said. guns for everyone. “My advice is to use non-lethal “If you are going to carry them, you force,” Mort said. “Get training and have to be prepared to fire them,” he know your security risk. Sound the ship said. “And if you are going to fire at security alert system, sound the EPIRB, one of the bad guys, you have to be use the UHF if you’re being boarded.” prepared to finish what you started, “If someone comes on board, what because his son there on the boat with do you do?” Estebe said. “Security is all him will surely tell the police that his about alertness and purpose. It’s up to father was approaching the yacht for whatever you think you can do. There’s some food or some ropes. So if that son no way anyone can overpower you if is a 16-year-old kid, are you prepared you know what you are doing, and if to reload and shoot him? There will be you don’t panic. You can do so many consequences for what you do.” things if only you remain centered. Every country had a different law “We’re all conditioned for fear,” he concerning weapons on yachts. In the said. “I say, if the wolf comes, eat him United States, the law varies by state. alive.” [Read more about this in Rules of the Road, page B2.] Contact Editor Lucy Chabot Reed at “More than anything, you want to lucy@the-triton.com. stop them from boarding,” caid Capt.
THE CONNECTION, from page A1
May 2006
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May 2006
INSURANCE
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The Triton
Keeping pace with mercurial industry of marine insurance By James Barrett and Ian Watson The period between 1997 and 2003 has seen a substantial drop in the number of major marine insurance underwriting groups. Some 67 percent of U.S. groups and 60 percent of European groups have ceased to trade. A factor in the decline has been the risks associated with the pleasure marine industry. For instance, the state of Florida ranks No. 1 in pleasure vessel registrations (which total 12.8 million for all of the United States) and yet, in the wake of the 2004 hurricanes, some underwriting firms have ceased to write new policies in the state. The purpose of this article is to identify the major risks associated with the operation of pleasure vessels and desirable mitigation strategies for the insurance underwriting industry.
Current Situation
The cruising grounds of pleasure vessels are generally dictated by the owner with each area requiring individual risk assessment by insurers.
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M/V Electra hit the reef in Lyford Cay in February and broke apart upon FILE PHOTO salvage. Reasonably accurate assessments of physical, climatic and political risk can be made, however certain isolated events such as piracy and weather anomalies are often beyond the control and forecasting ability of the operator and insurer. Unlike deep-ocean vessels, pleasure vessels make frequent entries into small ports and harbors and are often in proximity to coral reefs, national parks and protected sea areas. Variable levels of crew skill, vessel repair and the opportunity for operation by unqualified individuals, all present both a tangible operational risk with the potential for high-value loss. Recent foundering and groundings of several high-profile yachts in the past few months bear testimony to this. Of the 4,904 reported accidents in the United States in 2004, carelessness/ reckless operation, operator inattention, operator inexperience and excessive speed are the leading contributing factors of all reported accidents (a combined total of 39 percent). Of these accidents, 30 percent were collisions with other vessels and 6 percent involved alcohol (of fatalities, 33 percent involved alcohol and 70 percent involved operators with no safety training). Political, economical and social factors can greatly influence the requirement, consistency and level of training.
Condition of vessel
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Pleasure vessels require constant preventative maintenance. Once a process of dilapidation has begun, it becomes harder to rectify thus increasing risk of loss and reducing the market value. Unlike in the aviation industry, there
are few mandatory quality assurance measures in place in the marine industry for maintenance and these are rarely enforced. There is also an absence of codified standard marine practices. As a result, the operator is often the de facto inspector but generally lacks the specific detailed knowledge and training to act as such. It is worth noting that newly built vessels do not necessarily represent a more desirable risk than a well-proven yacht that has been operating for a number of years, whilst subject to a strict and comprehensive maintenance program.
Risk assessment by underwriters
Provision of insurance cover for a second-hand vessel generally requires that in most cases the purchaser must provide an “application for insurance” and a “pre-purchase survey.” In assessing the application, the underwriter must consider all associated risk (including the insured’s loss history) and not just those pertaining to the vessel. The survey is an assessment of the condition of the vessel at that particular time together with recommendations by the surveyor to improve the safety of the yacht and highlighting areas of potential risk. Some insurers request written statements that the survey recommendations have been addressed, however this is rarely subject to inspection and verification. Insurers may require periodic inspection of a vessel’s hull however it is not industry practice for regular third-party inspections of the general condition of a vessel, the associated
See INSURANCE, page A29
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INSURANCE
May 2006
A29
Refit/repair work would benefit from industry standardization INSURANCE, from page A28 equipment and machinery. This can lead to considerable difficulty in assessing the current and specific operational risks involved. Such risks may include structural damage/wear/ corrosion, poor maintenance practices and increased likelihood of accidental damage due to malfunctioning control or monitoring systems.
Settlement of the claim
Given the relative youth of the large pleasure yacht market and despite the high values involved, there is often a cottage-industry approach by many operators, boatyards and subcontractors. This manifests itself at many levels and can directly impact the cost of work paid by insurance companies after an insured loss. Unlike many other industries there is still a general acceptance of vague and incomplete quotes for refit/repair work, which in many cases leads to higher-than-expected cost, extended timescales, poor quality of work and subsequent costly disputes. Factors that contribute to this problem are: l Indistinct and/or incomplete initial specification of the work required, l Reluctance by yards/contractors to quote on a fixed price/time basis, and l Absence of formal and comprehensive service contracts once the work has been awarded. The absence of formal and binding tender processes at best does little to encourage comprehensive quotations and at worst provides an opportunity for the more unscrupulous contractors to under-bid in attempts to secure the work. Should repair work go ahead on the basis of an informal agreement there is little provision for quality analysis and monitoring during the execution of the work, and often there are no pre-agreed processes for conflict resolution in the event of a dispute – all of which can lead to an unnecessary escalation of the total cost of settling the claim.
What can be done?
The underwriter can mitigate the risks associated with the area of operation by establishing geographical and seasonal restrictions in the policy. It is crucial that the pleasure vessel be used in the manner and under the conditions for which it was intended and insured. Extended distance/time away from safe havens, inappropriate loading/movement of equipment or persons, and the nature of the voyage itself can compound and alter the probability of a loss. Education, instruction and recurrent training are considered among the best methods to counter human error and misjudgment. Since the late 1990s, the promotion
of safer manning and operational practices in this sector by state administrative bodies such as the U.S. Coast Guard and the UK’s Maritime Coastguard Acency has become prevalent. The adoption of the IMO’s STCW-95, the creation of a Yacht Code of Practices and greater international cooperation has done much to improve safety and operational standards. Although licensing is a useful yardstick to measure the degree of training and competence of the individual, it is important that the training is augmented with the appropriate level of real-world experience. Insurers should insist on documentary proof of appropriate and up-to-date qualifications of crews by stipulation in the policy.
Condition of vessel
The marine leisure industry should be encouraged to adopt a more commercial approach to the execution of remedial work, which would lead to the creation of and adherence to recognized industry practices. Protocols and quality assurance programs should be stipulated and agreed in advance of work performance. Furthermore measurable standards and methods of compliance should be scrutinized by an independent party. Where appropriate, the use of independent experts should be promoted. Given the increasing complexity of modern pleasure vessels, the captain’s traditional role of “Jack of all trades, Master of none” is out-dated and inappropriate in today’s industry.
Risk assessment
It is clear that the greatest element of risk for marine underwriters is the one that cannot be eliminated, humans. Whilst unforced human error cannot be entirely removed from the equation, certain measures such as regular documented inspection and maintenance of the vessel can reduce the risk of loss. The implementation of the surveyor’s recommendations and the standards to which they were performed should be conducted in an evidentiary manner. This is best achieved by adopting a commercial approach to selection and engagement of a suitable supplier to carry out the work. Accurate definition of requirements is a necessary precursor to success in such circumstances. Similarly, documented proof of the nature and quality of repair work throughout the vessel’s life preserves the market value of the yacht and allows the underwriter to frequently assess associated risk. Advanced planning would allow for well prepared periodic surveys in conjunction with repair work. Information regarding previously performed work would
greatly assist the surveyor, reducing the difficulty in assessment of the current condition of the vessel and the specific risks involved.
Minimizing impact of claims
When an insurance claim is filed it is in the commercial interest of the insurance company to minimize the cost of the claim whilst still satisfying the terms of the policy. Steps that could be taken to achieve this objective are: l Produce a comprehensive work schedule with content agreed by insured and insurer before any work has taken place. l Enable suppliers to provide comprehensive and fixed price quotes to reduce the risk of costly, unforeseen work. l Ensure work does not include non-insured elements and reduce opportunity for costly disputes between insurer and client over level and content of claim. l Provide a platform for quality assurance program. l Execute a controlled tender process to isolate the “best value” supplier. l Provide a level playing field for suppliers and prevent unscrupulous bidders from hiding costs. l Ensure key contract terms are
negotiated when the suppliers bid for the work, rather than when the vessel is in the yard. l Ensure the successful bid is supported by a formal service contract structured into modular deliverable segments supported by documented quality inspection points, which in turn enables regular monitoring of the standard of work and allows for early detection and timely resolution of quality issues. This focus on quality assurance reduces future risk of loss due to undetected problems and/or poor workmanship. l Evidence of policy compliance. l Financial incentives to over-deliver (and penalties for under-delivery) provide encouragement to supplier to meet terms of agreement. “Above and beyond” price levels are controlled in advance. l Formal processes are in place for dispute resolution. James Barrett and Ian Watson are principals with Custom Yacht Consultants in Ft. Lauderdale, an independent company specializing in providing procurement services for the leisure marine refit/repair industry modeled, in part, on agreements and modalities employed by leading aircraft manufacturers. Contact them through www.customyachtconsultants.com.
GettingUnderWay T E C H N I C A L N E W S F O R C A P TA I N S & C R E W S
Pages A32-37
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Hinckley merits consideration as yacht tender
May 2006
S/Y Tiziana is reborn
GettingUnderWay
What would it take for a distant descendant of a Maine lobster boat to qualify as a megayacht tender? Simple. It would have to be stylish, easy to handle, have low air draught/shallow draft, be rugged and simple to maintain. Well, that’s a Hinckley. So why aren’t more of them carried on megayachts? Thru the ’Scope “I don’t know. If Rocky Bean the boss had said to me, ‘Scott, maybe we should have a Hinckley,’ I’d say let’s go take a look,” said Capt. Scott Sanders of Ft. Lauderdale. “They’re just beautiful. They’ve built a fine wooden boat in a modern composite hull.” But before I go on, a confession: I consider a Hinckley to be not just a fine sea boat but a thing of understated elegance and craftsmanship, “a symphony of curves” in the words of the company’s Web site (www. hinckleyyachts.com), which admonishes, “See wood - smell wood - feel wood.” Doesn’t sound much like a RIB, does it? A Hinckley also happens to be built as solid as a brick, and thanks to the jet drive and control system, anyone can look like a master ship handler. This I know from experience, having driven a 36-foot (11m) Hinckley picnic boat named Peep Peep (long story) on an 800-mile voyage from England’s Hamble across the Channel through a pea soup fog across the north coast of France and then down to Vannes, however you pronounce that. So, with all that cleared up, last month I joined the Hinckley experience at its yard and sales center in Stuart, Fla. It seemed like a good opportunity to gauge Hinckley’s effort to become tender of choice for megayachts. The event was a gathering of the faithful; a chance for Hinckley owners to meet members of the extended family from Mr. Hinckley to employee spouses. They attended workshops on things like passage planning to the Bahamas and, over cocktails, dinner
See HINCKLEY, page A33
By Lucy Chabot Reed
Like a new tulip bud, S/Y Tiziana emerged from a Holland shipyard shed in mid-April ready to bloom. Tiziana is the former S/Y Aspasia Alpha, a well-known yacht in the Mediterranean. Designed by Sparkman & Stephens and built by Abeking & Rasmussen in 1963 for Fiat Chairman Gianni Agnelli, the 117-foot (35.6m) yacht was originally named Tiziana and cruised the Med in the 1950s and 1960s. The new owner – just the yacht’s third – is Conrado Dornier of Germany. He bought her in March 2005 and changed the name back to Tiziana. The 43-year-old classic ketch is expected to be in charter service in the Med by the end of July, said her captain, Alex Greenson. “She’s got those great lines with the long overhang on the stern,” Greenson said. “She’s lovely.” The past year has been a busy one. Mr. Dornier hired Capt. Greenson last spring to refit the 117foot (35.6m) yacht. Greenson has experience with classic yachts, including being build captain on the 139-foot schooner America, captain of a 100foot Camper & Nicholsons classic ketch built in 1939, and captain of the former presidential yacht Sequoia. When Mr. Dornier told Capt. Greenson of his plans to refit the yacht, “my response to this was, ‘You’ve got the right guy,’” Greenson said. “We spent last summer putting together the refit specification, and then set out to find the right yard to do the job,” he said. After considering five yards, Greenson and Jens Cornelsen, a technical and financial consultant, selected Vitters Shipyard in Holland, which had See TIZIANA, page A37
T E C H N I C A L N E W S F O R C A P TA I N S & C R E W S
After a year of planning and six months of work, S/Y Tiziana left the shed at the Vitters Shipyard in late April. She still needs two months of interior work before she will be ready for the Med. Below, the way she looked before the refit. PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAPT. ALEX GREENSON
Consider a new tube before a new RIB By David Wieldt If you are replacing your tender because it looks tired, take a closer look. If your gel coat and upholstery can be brought back, you may be a good candidate for a re-tube. A new tube can make your tender look new again, as it represents such a large portion of the boat and draws the eye. Each component of your boat – the tube, hull and engine – has a different life expectancy. The tube, of course,
likely has the smallest lifetime of the three. Should you consider replacing it all when your tube is no longer yacht quality? If you have never seen a used boat with a new tube, you would be surprised at how new the entire boat looks. Re-tubes are most commonly performed on deluxe, center-console type boats, due to cost. However whether you decide to re-tube a boat really depends on your particular
circumstances. I spoke to Brian Bohne of 84 Inflatable Services of Ft. Lauderdale, who offers full service including retubes. “I consider each re-tube candidate individually, taking a good look at the hull, engine, and electrical system, to determine if a tender is a good candidate for a new tube,” he said. According to Bohne, RIB tubes
See RE-TUBE, page A36
The Triton
www.the-triton.com
FROM THE TECH FRONT
May 2006
A33
U.S.-made Hinckley ‘is a floating Steinway piano’ HINCKLEY, from page A32 and dancing, gained insight into what’s new up “nawth” in Southwest Harbor, Maine, Hinckley’s home. The first thing you notice is that Hinckley power boats are powered by Hamilton water jets (www.hamiltonjet. com). There’s no rudder, screw, shaft or skeg, so they draw only 18 inches (0.46m) of water. You can drive right up onto that isolated beach and step off onto dry land with a picnic basket. Even more importantly, the T29 runabout measures just 7 feet (2.14m) from the top of her windscreen to the bottom of her keel, so she’ll slide into a cramped megayacht storage bay. “We’re starting to get calls from superyacht designers and owners asking for the dimensions of our boats,” said Eric Champlin, Hinckley’s sales director. “They actually seem to be building yachts around the tender and they are pleasantly surprised when we tell them the dimensions of our boats because they take up so little space.” Champlin observed that one of the most inhibiting things for any new boat owner is close quarters manoeuvring and the embarrassment of a botched landing. As someone who’s been driving power boats for 50 of his 54 years, I know only too well that if I’m going to mess up a landing it will be when there are lots of people watching. Hinckley’s patented JetStick control system integrates the longitudinal propulsion with steering and bow thrusters into a single joystick, which means anyone can make a good landing every time, although it does take a little getting used to. “When a boat is delivered, we provide a two- to three-day orientation to ensure they have a great time from Day One,” Champlin said. For megayacht masters, this means bosses can take themselves to dinner ashore. Bosses like it because they can go anywhere, by themselves. As I hoped he would, Champlin invited me for a spin. As he advanced the throttle and we eased the 29 up onto the step, I was reminded how quiet the Yanmar/Hamilton propulsion system actually is. The day was calm so there was little opportunity to demonstrate the smooth ride, but after a week in Peep Peep chasing America’s Cup boats in gales in the Solent, I already knew. Despite a shallow draft, the Hinckley doesn’t pound. “People comment on how smooth and solid the boat feels under way,” Champlin said. The secret is the hull is designed specifically for use with the water jet, and the hull construction features a Kevlar/E-glass outer skin with carbonfiber inner, making the boat stiff and strong while relatively light. The hull is laminated via the patented SCRIMP or
Seemann Composites Resin Infusion Molding Process. www.pslc.ws/macrog/ scrimp.htm. Hinckleys are built in the United States. When I asked Champlin if they’d consider following other boat manufacturers and cheap labor to China, the look on his face said it all. “When we begin a boat, we encourage owners to visit,” he said. “We want them to know personally the people who are crafting their boat.” As positive as I am, I tried to get the straight scoop from perhaps a more objective source. John Reitzammer
runs Bristol Care, a Miami company that provides full-time care and temporary crew for boats. Of 25 boats in his charge, several are Hinckleys. One staffer is a megayacht master. “Frankly, a Hinckley is a floating Steinway piano,” he said. “And they’re a joy to work on. Everything is well thought-out, simple and where it should be.” So, bottom line, the fact that more haven’t found their way aboard megayachts is still a bit of a mystery. But with all due respect to their marketing department, perhaps it’s
because Hinckley’s not really trying all that hard. The Monaco show is conspicuous by its absence from on the company’s Web site events page. All I really know is, having just recently become boatless for the first time in 54 years, if I had the US$600,000 for a floating work of art that makes me look good in a cross wind and opposing current, oh yes, I would. Bransom “Rocky” Bean is a yachting industry business consultant and ocean sailor. Contact him at bbean@the-triton. com.
A34
May 2006 COMMUNICATION
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Exploring choices in high-speed Internet By Darryl Matfin It is safe to assume our yachts should be equal to or better than our homes, however this is not always the case in communications. As mentioned in last month’s article, Inmarsat has many options and services, most of which are quite costly. However, since when has owning a boat not been? Today, in addition to Inmarsat, there are numerous services available. These services provide the highspeed Internet that we have become accustomed to and crave the most.
The basics
These services are: BGAN, Connexion by Boeing, and VSAT. Let’s start with BGAN, or Broadband Global Area Network. This Inmarsat service is land based and offers fast Internet speeds in a small package. Unfortunately, a marine stabilized antenna has yet to emerge. BGAN will offer connection speeds up to 492 kbps with antenna sizes in the 18-inch to 24-inch range. It will offer voice and data for uses such as VoIP (Voice over IP), Web surfing, and e-mail. Until a stabilized maritime antenna is available, BGAN is limited to shore service. Uses for BGAN include charters that remain in remote marinas offering little telephony service. Because of the antenna’s small size, it can be stored onboard, set up at the dock or carried to the local mountain top and used to communicate globally. Costs for these products vary from manufacturer and can be found from $2,500 to more than $5,000. The service is billed per megabyte for data, and per minute for voice depending on where the call is terminated, i.e. land line, cell line or other. Connexion by Boeing began as an Internet service designed primarily for airline use. Based on Ku-band technology, Connexion will now allow vessels access to the Internet across the mid-Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions for trans-Atlantic coverage. This service provides a 256-kbps uplink and up to 5 mbps downlink to the vessel. The maritime contract offers 2,000 minutes of data, 100 minutes of voice, as well as access to global live television lineup for $2,800 a month. Equipment is inclusive on a three-year lease. VSAT, or Very Small Aperture Terminal, is the most popular satellite Internet service available today. It is also based on Ku-band technology and provides for a 128-kbps uplink and up
to 1 mbps downlink to the vessel. Rates vary by provider and are usually based on guaranteed bandwidth, from $1,495 to $4,000 a month. Equipment for VSAT is provided by marine dealers and is usually purchased up front followed by a 2- to 3-year contract for service. Pricing for the 40-inch antenna with all necessary equipment will run from $45,000 to $55,000.
Pros and cons
Now that the basics are covered, what are the differences? And what advantage does each service provide over the other? BGAN continues to provide the reliability of Inmarsat, has the largest global footprint and is the smallest of the antennas mentioned above. It does not currently provide for a maritime solution and therefore is hard to consider, other than for a back up. For additional info, go to http://broadband. inmarsat.com. Connexion is a relatively new service. The equipment is inclusive so out-of-pocket expenses are considerably lower, and the transAtlantic coverage offers today’s international vessels less downtime. It is currently choosing companies globally to maintain its equipment contracts, and service and installation may be difficult. This service is definitely going to compete directly with VSAT, I just do not know if it is 100 percent ready at this point. VSAT has been and, I believe, will continue to be the choice of many. Coverage is not trans-Atlantic; it is limited to Europe, the United States and Caribbean. There are many providers of VSAT, and it is typically sold through local marine dealers. However, as more providers come online, we may start to see reduced connection speeds due to over-selling of the available bandwidth. France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications will supply service around the world with the Connexion by Boeing solution. For more information, visit www. connexionbyboeing.com or www. francetelecom-mobilesat.com. In my next article, I will address some of these providers and supply a glossary of terms to help us all understand this service a bit more. Darryl Matfin is in marine sales with Larry Smith Worldwide, a marine electronics company with offices in Florida, Italy, Germany and the Bahamas. Contact him at 954-463-6292 or dmatfin@marine-electronics.com.
The Triton
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TECHNOLOGY BRIEFS
May 2006
A35
Brookdale recalls RPEDs Brookdale International Systems has voluntarily recalled the EVAC-U8 and the EVAC+ emergency escape smoke hoods, which are designed to provide respiratory protection in a structural smoke/fire emergency. The recall involves about 290,000 devices. Recent tests confirmed that the emergency escape smoke hoods could fail, exposing users to carbon monoxide that could seriously compromise their ability to escape the fire threat, the company said in a statement. This recall extends to referenced products that have not reached their expiration date (printed on the side of each canister). Customers returning products will receive a prorated refund based on remaining shelf life. Units that reached their expiration prior to March 2006 are not eligible for refund. For instructions to return products, visit www.evacsafety.com or call (866)823-4416. Products from U.S. and Canadian customers must be returned by June 16 to be eligible for refund. A recall is also in effect for the following SCBA emergency escape respirators: EVACpro for Scott Emergency Escape Respirator; EVACpro for Dräger Emergency Escape Respirator; Survivair SmokeEater AirPurifying Escape Canister.
South Bay Boat Yard gets refit
South Bay Boat Yard near San Diego is preparing to develop a new, state-ofthe-art facility, drastically enhancing its equipment capacity, and changing its name to reflect its new image. In 2007, South Bay Boat Yard will be known as The Marine Group and will be one of the largest capacity U.S. boat yards. It is upgrading its current lifting capacity of 100 tons (90 feet long and 22 feet wide) to 665 tons (220 feet long and 54 feet wide). Construction on the $6 million facility began April 15. Completion is scheduled for mid-December. For more information, visit www. southbayboat.com or call (800)2815565 or +1-619-427-6767.
Flinders getting converted again
M/Y Plan B, the former M/Y Flinders (50m), is at Atlantic Drydock in Jacksonville for another conversion. Originally an Australian hydrographic vessel, she was first converted into a yacht in New Zealand a few years ago and renamed Flinders. Now with a new owner, Capt. Grant Maughan is overseeing another conversion, this time to prepare her for extensive global operations. “She will actually be a real expedition yacht, not just in name and looks,” Maughan said. – Lucy Reed
FCI watermaker on Trinitys
Trinity Yachts has begun offering yacht owners the option of installing
the new wall-mount Neptune system from FCI Watermakers. The wallmount configuration is ideal for vessels where space is at a premium. The system can be monitored and accessed from a remote location or personal computer, using additional display panels and UROC technology. The Neptune can deliver 1,200 to 8,300 gallons of water a day. The price starts at $17,394. For more information, visit www.fciwatermakers. com or call 714-850-0123.
Pursuit automates production line Pursuit Boats announced in April that it automated assembly and lamination production lines, part of the company’s expansion plan that began early last year and has included 60,000 square feet of additions to the lamination, mill shop and engineering buildings. The expansion is designed to increase production by more than 20 percent. For more information, visit www.pursuitboats.com.
New U.S. Zodiac factory opens
A new 40,000 square-foot facility opened in April in Summerville, S.C. to manufacture and distribute Zodiac rigid hull inflatable boats. Earlier this year, Zodiac signed a lease with Scout Boats for the new facility. Zodiacs slated for immediate production at the facility include the Pro Open 650 (21 feet), the Pro Man 15 and the full line of Yachtline sport runabouts and tenders.
New plate improves performance
To improve low-speed handling of outboard-powered boats, stabilizer plates have been used for years. The True Tracker Stabilizer Plate from Bob’s Machine Shop in Tampa, Fla., features a patented rudder-fin design that provides additional performance. The True Tracker fits under the cavitation plate of most outboards. It has a broad-tail design that gives quicker “hole shots” by delivering cleaner, harder water to the prop, helping provide on-plane performance at lower speeds. The plate’s fin prevents the boat from wandering side to side during low-speed operation. The $39.95 stabilizer plate is cast from aluminum alloy to resist corrosion. For more information, visit www.bobsmachine.com or call 813-2477040.
Engineers conference planned
On Oct. 11-13, the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, in conjunction with the Ship Production Symposium, will host a marine design and engineering event in Ft. Lauderdale. A forum at the SNAME Marine Technology Conference and Expo will address developing trends in the megayacht market and the latest from the industry’s top manufacturers Visit www.maritimeexpo.com.
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A36
May 2006 FROM THE TECH FRONT
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Keep your receipt safe because tubes don’t have serial numbers RE-TUBE, from page A32 involved in accidents can also have individual chambers replaced, when appropriate. 84 Inflatables can re-tube any brand that works with local dealerships, including Novurania, and can do a retube in three days time. The cost of a tube replacement ranges from about $2,500 for a 10-foot RIB to $10,000 for a 20-footer. Also located in Ft. Lauderdale is Esprit Nautics, Novurania’s factoryowned showroom and service center, offering pick-up and delivery. Esprit Nautics re-tubes Novurania tenders exclusively through their factory in Vero Beach, Fla. In North Miami, Lifeline Inflatables has a full-service department and is experienced with re-tubing many brands. Their experience with many commercial customers has earned them expertise with boats like the Zodiac Hurricane and derivatives there of. “Removable tubes like those designed by Zodiac are much cheaper to replace, which, when normally glued on, is labor intensive,” said Brian Mink of Lifeline.
According to Mink, most commercial vessels buy RIBs with removable tubes. Within the yachting market, popular brands such as Nautica and Novurania glue their tubes on, requiring more time and money to replace. Mink suggests that a removable tube can be replaced by the crew, onboard. For replacement costs of your specific tube, contact your local service dealer or manufacturer. A newer tube is relevant to the value of your RIB. You may one day be selling your tender with years left in the tube. Your tube may be worth more than your boat at the closing table. A tube does not come with a serial number. It’s best that you keep your receipt, because you will need it to get a good price for your tender. So take another look at your tender. It may be a candidate for a re-tube. David Wieldt, a former refit engineer and salesman with Esprit Nautics, now owns Tender Care, a Ft. Lauderdalebased company that sells pre-owned yacht tenders. Contact him at 954-8549156, dave@pre-owned-yacht-tenders. com or visit www.pre-owned-yachttenders.com.
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FROM THE TECH FRONT
Tiziana should be ready in July TIZIANA, from page A32 a vacancy in its build schedule and slipped the yacht right in. Louis Hamming, a principal of Vitters, made an initial inspection of the yacht in July 2005, Greenson said, and in September, Jan Vitters went to Palma de Mallorca to have a look at the yacht and do a more thorough inspection of the technical aspects of the yacht, which included the engine room, electrical systems, rig, accommodation spaces, and the hull, Greenson said. “It was after this visit from Jan Vitters, the other owner of Vitters, that we made our decision to come to Holland,” Greenson said. “It was the best decision. The entire team at Vitters is great, an absolute pleasure to work with. They have done a great job. This is typical of Dutch yacht builders.” What started out as a refit has turned into a complete rebuild. There was “considerable corrosion” in the steel hull so more than 40 square yards of metal plating was replaced, Greenson said. She’s been completely rewired and replumbed, too. Originally, she had a central helm position, but in this refit, it was moved to the aft deck to open the cockpit. The entire cap rail was replaced to
treat the corrosion, two fuel tanks were added as were two new Northern Lights generators. The engine was replaced with a more powerful one and the exhaust system, too, was replaced. She’ll have a bow thruster and the wheel house will have new radar with ARPA, a 17-inch flat screen monitor for charts, new wind instruments and hydraulic winches. The yacht still has two months of interior work at the yard and expects to be available for charter in the Med by the end of July. With room for 10 guests in five staterooms, she will run with a crew of six. (Greenson said he still needs a “dynamic” stew to work with a steward/ deckhand who can handle the relatively small accommodations.) “It really should be a seven-person boat,” Greenson said. “But we’ll all have to do our part and that comes down to me opening a bottle of wine and mixing drinks when I need to.” At 5 p.m. on April 20 as The Triton was going to press, Tiziana left the shed. After the Med season, she’s expected to head to the Caribbean next winter, including the charter show in Antigua in early December. Contact Editor Lucy Chabot Reed at lucy@the-triton.com.
May 2006
A37
A38
May 2006 CRUISING GROUNDS
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The Triton
Consider Venezuela for hurricane-safe harbor By Ellen B. Sanpere
Lecherias, the adjacent settlement. What a nice surprise. Engines, paint, varnish, Your yacht insurance canvas, rigging, metalwork, has been renewed and refrigeration, carpentry and the premium is not galvanizing are some of the much greater than last areas in which expertise is year – but, read the fine available. print. The Northern Rates are often far Tropical Storm Zone, less expensive than in which the coverage elsewhere in the Caribbean; for windstorm damage workmanship is goodevaporates faster than a to-excellent. The arid cruising kitty, may have climate and historic lack of changed. hurricanes also help get the Markel American’s jobs done. popular Jackline Policy, As in any place, the for example, moved quality of the job is the zone’s southern enhanced when the work boundary from 12° 40’ is well managed and to 10° 50’ North latitude supervised closely. Chris in the Caribbean, Robinson is a Lloyd’s effectively shutting qualified surveyor and rents the door on yachts in air conditioners, too. Grenada, Isla Margarita, Does your crew also the ABC islands and need repair? Venezuela Tobago. (Colombia is has many well-trained excluded at all times and experienced medical in this policy for other and dental professionals. reasons.) If you plan Cruisers have had dental to be in those areas, implants, LASIK surgery, you can pay an extra joint replacements, and premium for coverage, cosmetic surgery in PLC, but how many yachties and the internationally will love doing that? So Caracas’ attractive Altamira Plaza. PHOTO/E. SANPERE famous clinics of Caracas where are you going to are a bus ride away. go? Several English-speaking Morro tourist complex is an area apart Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, 10°13’N veterinarians are available for furry or from the rest of the country, something 064°40’W, where cruisers have feathered crew. Unlike many Caribbean like a gated community. Marinas were traditionally congregated for hurricane full during 2005, and the number of ports, Venezuela has no problem season in the southern Caribbean, has admitting four-legged crew members. incidents in PLC were in proportion much to offer besides a legal latitude. Additional furry crew are usually to anywhere else cruisers gather, as Comfortable marinas, secure boatyards, security is tight. available, too, should the need arise. competent marine services, good If the dinghy is in the “hospital,” Once the boat is safely tied to restaurants, easy travel connections, a taxicabs, por puestos and buses are the dock, launch the dinghy: getting large cruising community, convenient plentiful and cheap. Several taxi drivers around is easier by water than by provisioning, and cheap fuel all make speak English and accommodate land. Plaza Mayor Mall has a large PLC a logical refuge for the season. cruisers, monitoring the VHF as well supermarket (free delivery to the The favorable currency exchange as their cell phones. Pick up a free copy dinghy dock), bakery, Internet, rates allow even the most frugal cruiser opticians, banks, pharmacies, movie of “PLC Yacht-Info” for maps and a to fix the boat and have a good time, business directory. theaters, clothing and shoe stores, too, as everything seems less expensive. video game arcade, sports bar and A short ride will take you downtown, English-speaking cruisers monitor Plaza Mayor, Lecherias or somewhere a variety of restaurants. Most of the VHF Ch. 72, where the cruisers net in between. As always, be alert for marinas on the canal have restaurants broadcasts Monday through Saturday pickpockets in a crowd. PLC is a and bars and sightseeing amongst at 0745. Although mail and package bustling oil industry city, not a beach the large private homes is always service to Venezuela has a terrible resort: leave the jewelry in a safe place entertaining. reputation, trustworthy courier The national guard patrols the main and dress appropriately. services are available. Everybody uses mobile phones in canal for speeders so take it easy on An unstable political scene has the throttle. Always carry PFDs, a light, Venezuela – it might be a law. Cruisers been a concern in the past, and 2006 who own a SIM card phone will find personal identification and ownership is an election year, but the country has Digicel offices downtown, Los Garzas papers for the tender. (One yachtie settled down since the unrest of 2004. and Lecherias, where a new chip can be scanned the ship’s documentation The opposition has been in control certificate, then typed in the tender and purchased. No phone? Quality phones of the media, which emphasized the engine serial numbers in the “remarks” are sold everywhere at low prices. problems of a non-violent revolution, Incoming calls are free. Prepaid cards box.) but there is little doubt President Hugo are widely available to add airtime. If your boat needs work, PLC is a Chavez will win again in November, Internet cafes are also abundant and good place to get it done. The local boat continuing the move to participatory often have inexpensive international population includes everything from democracy. phone service, too. With increasing oil tankers to Optimist prams, go-fast Local and international media quality and lower cost for wireless noisy things to graceful ocean cruisers. feature many scare stories, but yachties The majority of local vessels do not Internet service, using Skype.com should recognize the source of the carry sails, but a variety of marine coverage and remember that PLC’s El services are available in PLC and/or See VENEZUELA, page A39
The Triton
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CRUISING GROUNDS
May 2006
A39
Dolphin population off the Mochima coast is ‘staggering’ VENEZUELA, from page A38 for phoning home is often the cheapest option. Computer headsets are available at Plaza Mayor for less than $15US. For cruisers, PLC is the gateway to South America. Several travel agents cater to foreign visitors, arranging trips to the interior wonders of Venezuela (see sidebar) and points south, or to wherever home is. They can also handle your yacht clearance and visa paperwork. Access to the international airport near Caracas is via a national airline from the Barcelona airport, hired car or motor coach. The luxury ($15USD) motor coach takes about five hours including a lunch stop and goes to Caracas, not the airport. A visit to the capital is well worth the time and effort, though. Senior citizens may present a copy of their passport to get a discounted bus or national air fare. Occasionally, cruisers are encouraged to volunteer for Fundamigos, an organization headed by Dra. Ana Velasquez de Manyon, who performs corrective facial surgery on hundreds of Venezuelan children with cleft palates, cleft lips and other congenital or acquired facial abnormalities. When surgical teams arrive from the United States for the week-long mission, help is needed in the recovery room, operating room and kitchen. Knowledge of Spanish is not required, and the experience is immensely rewarding. With all the services and activities available to cruisers in PLC, one might want to escape for awhile. Hurricane season is still going strong, but at this latitude the odds are small a big swirly thing will
- ,6 UĂ&#x160; Â&#x153;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Â&#x201C;Ă&#x160;*>Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x152; UĂ&#x160;<Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;VĂ&#x192; UĂ&#x160;/Â&#x153;ÂŤĂ&#x192;Â&#x2C6;`iĂ&#x160;*>Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x192; UĂ&#x160;6>Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;Â&#x2026; UĂ&#x160; >Ă&#x20AC;ÂŤiÂ&#x2DC;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x17E; UĂ&#x160; iVÂ&#x2026;>Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2C6;V>Â? UĂ&#x160;*Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x153;ÂŤĂ&#x2022;Â?Ă&#x192;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160;-Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x152;iÂ&#x201C;Ă&#x192; UĂ&#x160;,Ă&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;}Ă&#x160; i>Ă&#x20AC;
If you go: Puerto La Cruz l
Punta Palma: This looks like a marina, but the slips PHOTO/E. SANPERE are private. make your life miserable. (Besides, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re out of the zone, so insurance coverage is in effect if it does.) Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nice to take a short cruise along the Venezuelan coast. Pozuelos Bay is defined by several red rock islands with beaches and protected anchorages, a pleasant day sail from Puerto La Cruz. It makes a fine racing venue as well. The dolphin population in the waters between Pozuelos and Mochima is staggering and always fun to watch. To the east are CumanĂĄ and the red rock islands, fishing camps and anchorages of Mochima National
Where to leave the boat
Years ago, 50 or more yachts could be found at anchor in Pozuelos Bay in front of Puerto La Cruz. As dinghy thefts and boardings increased, local and transient yachts have migrated entirely to the marinas, where security is tight and peace-of-mind inexpensive. There are eight marinas in the area, each with different features that will appeal to different cruisers. All offer water, electricity and security. Most have bilingual staff, telephones, showers, laundry. The majority of marinas are west of the city in the El Morro Tourist Complex, a series of canals and landfill with hotels, condos and private homes, not unlike Ft. Lauderdale. Depth in the main canal is 12 feet minimum. Marina Puerto La Cruz, downtown PLC on Paseo Colon, has a fuel dock and some slips for transient cruisers, but few amenities other than being convenient to the city and Xanadu Marine chandlery. Controlling depth is greater than shown on charts. El Morro Marina is also outside the â&#x20AC;&#x153;canalâ&#x20AC;? area and offers shallow draft vessels a slip away from the rest. Lecherias, a suburb of PLC is convenient, offering upscale shops and services. Maremares is the luxury landing for those done with boatwork and looking for a
See IF YOU GO, page A41
See VENEZUELA, page A40
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A40
May 2006 CRUISING GROUNDS
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Services in Bali, Vietnam Benoa and has been helping visiting vessels since 1970. Maiershofer is working on the Web site, which should be up and running this fall. In the meantime, contact Gerip at baliyacht_service@yahoo.com or (62-361)771.922. – Lucy Reed
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Sunsail opens charters in Vietnam 7ii ÞÊqÊ Ì Þ vwV i V iÃÊqÊ-ÌÕ` ÃÊqÊ «>ÀÌ i Ìà Ó]ÊÎ]ÊEÊ{ÊLi`À i`ÊÊ ià /> >À>Ê °Ê >Û Ã
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Chef Karl Maiershofer, left, is working with Made Gerip to help yachts in Bali. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHEF KARL MAIERSHOFER The chef on M/Y Double Haven, Karl Maiershofer, works double duty as a representative with Bali Yacht Service, an agent company in Indonesia. Maiershofer first visited Bali in 1997 and now returns whenever his yacht doesn’t need him. Like any agent, Bali Yacht Service can arrange anything a yacht needs in Bali, from a cruising permit (which can take four weeks to get) to engine parts to shopping trips. With his background in the galley, Maiershofer is particularly keen on provisioning. While there were none when he first visited in 1997, several provisioners have emerged in the past decade as well as grocery stores and liquor stores that do a fine yacht business, he said. He can organize a barbecue or garden party for the crew or guests and, if needed, he can fill in as a temporary chef while yours takes in the sights of Indonesia. Made Gerip is the owner and director of the company based in Port
Sunsail, a sailing vacation company, has opened a yacht charter base in Vietnam. Based at the Nha Trang Sailing Club in central Vietnam, Sunsail’s inaugural season will run from May 21 through Sept. 10. Offering bareboat yacht charters along a 60-mile stretch of coastline, Sunsail’s Vietnam fleet comprises Jeanneau and Beneteau monohulls ranging from 37 to 46 feet. The yachts can be sailed on a bareboat basis. Charter guests will be free to explore the Khanh Hoa Province, which stretches from the Cam Ranh up to Van Ninh. The cruising area has a choice of restaurants and resorts on many of the islands and the locals are renowned for their warm hospitality. The coastal city of Nha Trang in the central Vietnamese province of Khanh Hoa is located a short flight from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Sunsail, based in Annapolis, Md., has nearly 1,000 yachts based at more than 30 locations worldwide. The company was founded in 1974 and is owned by First Choice Holidays PLC. For more information, call +1-800-281-8350 or visit www.sunsail.com.
See TRAVEL BRIEFS, page A41
Even if bad weather threatens, find safe harbor just 40nm away VENEZUELA, from page A39 Park and the Gulfo de Cariaco; to the west are the Morrocoy National Park, Higuerote, Puerto Cabello, Puerto Azul, all south of The Zone. To the north and east, Isla Cubagua (10°50’N 064°09’W) offers spectacular snorkeling and beach shelling. It was the first European settlement in the Western Hemisphere, when pearls were the major attraction. Neighboring Isla Coche (10°47’N 064°00’W) is a day tourist destination from Margarita, boasting a small hotel, white sand beach, world-class windsurfing and excellent protection from the east. In the unlikely event weather threatens, Mochima’s well protected bay is only 40nm away. Tortuga (10°57’N 065°13W) is a group of beautiful small islands that are a day sail away from the mainland. At 10°59’N 065°23’W, Cayo Herradura
(Horseshoe Cay), offers protection on three sides and a mile-long white sand beach. Summer breezes can be fickle, but when they fail, it’s an easy motor sail back east. When November is done, the trip north to the Virgin Islands is just enough off the wind for a fun, fast romp. Bid farewell to Mochima’s dolphins and head to Isla Blanquilla, 96nm due north. The snorkeling there is excellent, the desolation divine, making it a convenient rest stop and jumping off point for the winter season inside the Zone. Ellen B. Sanpere lives aboard Cayenne III, a Beneteau Idylle 15.5, with husband Tony and feline naptician, Shade. She has benefited from LASIK surgery, had a fingertip re-attached, volunteered at Fundamigos, raced the house and has enjoyed Puerto La Cruz often since Cayenne III first visited in 1998. Contact her through editorial@the-triton.com.
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May 2006
A41
Dockage, provisions plentiful, anchoring not permitted IF YOU GO, from page A39 comfy spot to relax. A resort complex catering to local petro-people, it offers a high-end hotel with restaurants (and room service), gorgeous landscaping, giant free-form swimming pool, Internet and golf. A beach is across the street, just past the Caribbean Mall. It is the marina closest to Plaza Major, the upscale shopping mall and Unicasa supermarket. Dockage rates have been competitive in the past. Marina Bahia Redonda is where the English speaking cruisers tend to congregate. The marina and attached boatyard (PR Services) appeal to the transient cruiser with a restaurant, swimming pool, mini-mart, wireless Internet, weekly pot-luck barbecues and dominoes, monthly flea market, 50ton Travelift, ramp & trailer (up to 30-foot beam), sail maker/rigger, high security dry storage yard, travel agents, chandlery and dinghy hospital. The slips are all tucked into the bay, away from the boat traffic and wakes of the canal-side marinas. Kostan Sails, a North Sails loft, is above the restaurant, next to the marina office. The marina and yard host the annual Clasico Regatta in October. Marina Americo Vespucio has a protected area for local boats as well as stern-to slips on the canal for visiting boats on a budget. The yard has a 50ton Travelift for boats needing repairs, carpentry and paint, but little space for long-term storage. A chandlery offers basics, as does a small market. A disco bar/restaurant makes excellent pizza and loud music. Although visitors must get fuel loading permit slips from the office here, the fuel dock is next to Bahia Redonda. Puerto del Este is a condo/hotel complex on the canal with stern-to slips. Other amenities are in the planning. Adjacent is the Puerto Viejo fuel dock (gasoline only), catering to local powerboats. PMO (formerly CMO) has the largest yard and offers an impressive array of in-house marine services. A 70-ton Travelift and large secure dry storage yard can accommodate large and small vessels. Most of the 60 slips are Med-moor on the canal. Aqua Vi has 40 stern-to slips on the canal
Anti-piracy treaty TRAVEL BRIEFS, from page A40 The Republic of Korea (South Korea), India and Sri Lanka signed the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP), according to a story on MarineLink. com. Concluded in Tokyo in November 2004, ReCAAP is a Japanese initiative aiming to boost anti-piracy cooperation. Eleven countries have signed the agreement and seven (Japan, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Myanmar and South Korea) have ratified it. Brunei and Cambodia are in the process of ratification. The ReCAAP will enter into force 90 days after the 10th country ratifies it, according to a statement.
with hotel amenities including free-form pool, restaurants, cable TV and telephone. The boatyard has a 50-ton Travelift but limited long-term storage. Victor, the manager, has an excellent reputation for painting hulls and the dry climate makes a good job that much easier. Orient Canvas, well known for canvas dinghy covers, is located at the rear of the yard. Aqua Vi is closest to Vemasca, a branch of the Margarita chandlery. Many of the homeowners along the canals have slips for rent in front of their private homes, another option for the visitor. Check the VHF cruisers net for contact info. Anchoring is forbidden anywhere within the canal area. Several hotels on El Morro peninsula, including Punta Palmas, have marinas and may offer slips to visitors in the future. Currently all slips are for condo/hotel guests; no live aboards. Some of the islands surrounding Pozuelos Bay contain anchorages away from the crowd, but do not offer the best security. During 2005, there were incidents at Isla La Borracha and Islas de Piritu, very pleasant day stops, but do not expect a good night’s sleep. l
Shopping
Almost anything you need can be found in Puerto La Cruz or Lecherias. Marina personnel, taxi drivers or other cruisers will gladly direct you. Using a foreign credit card is possible, but the currency exchange will be at the official rate, and many U.S. credit cards add a surcharge for such transactions. With an active black market for dollars, cruisers can get a much better exchange rate for Bolivares from any of several operators, then pay vendors in cash. Many shops will accept U.S. dollars at a favorable rate. Banking laws are somewhat in flux, so check with other cruisers for the latest rates and requirements. Plaza Mayor and Caribbean Malls are easy to reach by dinghy or taxi. l
Provisions
Unicasa, Plaza Mayor Mall – clean, large, well stocked. Good produce. Butcher, seafood, deli departments give personal service. Bag boys will
cart your purchases to the dinghy dock. Exitos, Av. Intercommunal – something like KMart with groceries; good prices, selection. Makro, Av. Universidad – big-box, no-frills, similar to PriceMart. One-day memberships available to foreign visitors but credit cards are not accepted from them. La Fiorca, Sector Las Garzas – upscale, imported gourmet items, good produce La Cava, Av. Principal de Lecherias – specialized butcher service, seafood, deli Mini-Mart at Bahia Redonda – small convenience store, fresh bread daily; cruiser’s flea market on the first Saturday of every month, 08301200. La Panaderia, Plaza Mayor Mall – fresh bread, pastry, cookies, deli Cada, Av. Municipal – large local supermarket Public market, Paseo Miranda, 0700-1200 – get there early for the best produce; cheapest prices, cash only La Casa Cava, Cl. Libertad – best price on wine and liquor l
Inland destinations
Mérida – high in the Andes mountains, altitude 4,914 feet, stay with Gioia at her family home, wear mittens to ride the teleférico up Espejo Peak 14,295 feet, view Mt. Bolivar (15,000 feet), tour the countryside, learn Spanish at the Iowa Institute La Gran Sabana and Angel Falls – highest falls in the world, fly in for a day trip or bus to Canaima and camp out in hammocks, paddle canoes Guácharo Caves, near Cumaná – see the blind cave birds Los Llanos – savannah or plains comprise about one-third of Venezuela’s land area, hosting abundant wildlife in marshes and woodlands Caracas – capital of Venezuela, once a worldclass center of government, art, architecture, now a bit shopworn, though some areas have been rehabilitated. Colonia Tovar - a little piece of Germany at 10° south. Margarita – take the ferry from PLC for duty-free shopping, beaches, tourists
A42
May 2006 WRITE TO BE HEARD
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Accepted practices and the art of cleating a line By Capt. Herb Magney We all have our pet peeves; let me tell you about one of mine: improperly cleated lines. There are few items we all rely on to keep us safe, control vessel movement and maintain position. One is the mighty dock line. How many times a day are millions of dollars at stake and the only thing separating millions of dollars from smashing into millions of other dollars is the dock line? Making a line fast is extremely important to the person in charge of bringing the vessel to the dock or springing a vessel away from it. This is why the preferred practice is keeping the bitter end on board, where trained crew can take up slack or ease the line. Simply put, when approaching the dock, make the eye or closed loop ready to pass to the attendant line handler on shore. This may include the securing of a “Monkey’s Fist” and smaller heaving line so that the person on the dock only has to place the loop on a cleat, bollard or piling and stand back while the deck crew takes in the line. If you pass the bitter end to someone on the shore, you just might be handing the safety of the vessel to someone who may have little-to-no training and who has no responsibility to the safety of the vessel and crew. This mistake has cost
some professionals their jobs. Make it easy; give them the eye. Cleats – the typical solid base, twohorned cleat found on most vessels – can be simply addressed by taking the line around the outboard side and around the fore and aft portion of the base. Ensure the line passes under each horn once. This is one of those times when size does matter and bigger is not better. The line needs to be sized according to the deck gear. Then, depending on the amount of friction you need, you can cross over or complete a full turn around and then cross over the top diagonally and under the horn where the first turn passed. Back over the first diagonal pass twisting the line so that the pass around the opposite horn finishes with a half hitch. More wrappings and hitches are not needed and only slow the process of casting off. This also leaves room on the cleat for other lines. Once there is a load on the line, you can feed small amounts of line without unwrapping the line from the cleat. Check out the diagram in Chapman’s, 64th edition, Chapter 23, page 788, “Cleat HitchCleating a Line.” Now on to bitts. They are usually polished stainless steel and offer little-to-no friction whatsoever. Start the same way: The first turn should
be around the lowest part of the bitt away from the direction of the load. Then make at least three full turns; this gives you more surface area to apply braking pressure to the line. The idea is the second and third turns should compress the first. Then you make several figure eights and you can finish with the same hitch as the standard cleat or a pair of half hitches, something to secure the end of the line. When someone is injured because they secured a line the way the captain told them to – the Good Ol’ Captain’s way – then both the master and attendant deck officer can be held responsible. It happens. For those crew without a license, if someone asks you to do something you feel is not safe, make note of it in your sea book, through an e-mail or at least in your own journal. Document the issue, and take a photo. Bring it up at a safety meeting or turn in a NonConformance Report. How wonderful are you going to feel if you do not do something, and after you leave the boat your replacement loses the use of a limb for the rest of his/her life? Capt. Herb Magney skippers the 103-foot charter yacht Lady Frances IV. You, too, have a “write to be heard.” E-mail your thoughts to editorial@the-triton.com.
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WRITE TO BE HEARD
May 2006
A43
How to make good use of leftover food I am a chief stew. For years, we have had the problems of what to do with unwanted or recently expired dry stores and beverages. Everyone tries to avoid getting into that situation, but the sad fact is that it happens too frequently on yachts. We always try to give it to friends, crew houses or day workers, but people are hesitant to accept (and also donate) food to people in the fear that someone may sue them later. I have found a great solution. A lady was collecting money for a homeless feeding program and I spoke to her to get more details. It turns out Florida has a Good Samaritan law that states if you donate food to a registered non-profit organization you cannot be held liable for anything that may happen to a person consuming it. I thought others might want to take advantage of this when they are in Ft. Lauderdale, so here are the details: Cooperative Feeding Program / A LifeNet4Families Bruce Harris, Marlene Holder 1 N.W. 33rd Terrace Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33311 Tel. +1-954-792-2328 It is not far from anyone’s day of driving around Ft. Lauderdale. From I-95, go west on Broward Boulevard about a mile and turn right onto Northwest 33rd Terrace. The building is the first one on the left. Pull up to the loading door on the right of the building, let them know you are there, they will take the food and/or drinks and give you a receipt (which you need for the captain to stop him being worried about the legal situation). It takes about 10 minutes to get there from I-95 and Broward, so it’s not a whole day’s excursion. They also provide counseling, training and help in finding employment to people in need, and they also take clothing and personal hygiene donations. Britta Fleischhack Chief Stewardess, M/Y Lohengrin
Publisher David Reed, david@the-triton.com Editor Lucy Chabot Reed, lucy@the-triton.com
Article on crew radios enjoys great reception Thanks for the great article in last month’s issue on crew radios [Photo Gallery, pages A30-31, March 2006]. After reading the comments from the various crew members, I immediately contacted our favorite purveyor, Judd from Yacht Chandlers. I asked him to read the article and do the research for us. As some of the crew noted, we too had been using some UHF family-type radios for crew intercoms, and often got a lot of interference. Due to your article and the research, I am happy to say we are now the proud owner of several of the Icom M88 radios that were talked about in The Triton. Yacht Chandlers programmed several discreet UHF frequencies for us, and we have been using them with audio ear pieces and a clip-on lanyard so we don’t lose them overboard. So far so good. The crew love them, and we have clear frequencies as well as the ability to use the VHF channels. Thanks for another great and informative article. You continue to make a difference. Capt. Peter Vazquez M/Y Blind Faith
Taylor a great loss
As you no doubt have heard, the St. Bart’s bucket had very little wind at all this year. Shame really. My prime motivation for attending was to show my respect and to honor the loss of a great yacht owner, Mr. Tom Business Manager/Circulation Peg Soffen, peg@the-triton.com Production Manager Patty Weinert, patty@the-triton.com Administrative Assistant Samantha Smith, sam@the-triton.com Graphic Designer Christine Abbott, sales@the-triton.com Abbott Designs Distribution Ross Adler, zakad68@aol.com National Distribution Solutions
You have a ‘write’ to be heard. Send us your thoughts on anything that bothers you. Write to us at editorial@ the-triton.com Taylor, a Texan who along with Nelson Doubleday started the Nantucket Bucket back in the late 1980s. I sailed is the first bucket with Mr. Taylor when his yacht was named Gleam, a Ron Holland 108-foot ketch. He sold the yacht in the late 1990s and had just recently purchased it back. In the summer of 2005, Avalon (the old Gleam and back under the ownership of the Taylor family) won the Newport Bucket. Mr. Taylor and his wife were involved in a deadly snowmobile accident; Mr. Taylor lost his life about a month ago. Mrs. Taylor has recently been released from intensive care. Hank Halsted of Northrop & Johnson, one of the founding organizers of the Newport Bucket, organized a small tribute to Mr. Taylor aboard Avalon after the St Bart’s Bucket where several of us older crew members, including Ron Holland, Contributing Editor Lawrence Hollyfield Contributors Carol Bareuther, James Barrett, Rocky Bean, Jacqueline Brinkman, Mark A. Cline, Capt. Jake DesVergers, Chef/Stew Ellen Evans, Chief Stewardess Britta Fleischhack, John Freeman, Capt. Alex Greenson, Jack Horkheimer, Neil Huddleston Chef Mary Beth Lawton Johnson, Capt. Craig Jones, Capt. Bob Kimball, Capt. Herb Magney, Darryl Matfin, Donna Mergenhagen, Steve Pica, Jennifer Reber, Rossmare Intl., Ellen Sanpere, James Schot, Capt. Tom Serio, Capt. Timothy Straw, Linda Turner, Anita Warwick, Ian Watson, David Wieldt, Maya White, Chef Peter Ziegelmeier
relived our memories of sailing with the Taylor family and particular Mr. Taylor. John “Kiwi” Pirovano Bradford Marine
It was worth the trip
I had to bring my yacht up to Cable Marine West for haul-out and fixing of the bow thruster. After some consternation about having to travel all the way up the New River, I was pleasantly surprised by the attention to service, assistance and ease of dealing with the workers and yard manager. Also, the service company I used for the repair was very helpful, patient and supportive through the troubleshooting and repair process. Capt. Tom Serio
Thanks, Capt. Hare
I’m writing to thank Capt. Dave Hare for the excellent article in the April edition [“From a dream to world class; a shipyard with style,” page A34]. I am glad that he noticed my efforts to keep his project on schedule and on budget. The article was very well received by all the staff at Ocean Marine. The staff likes to hear about happy customers. They take pride in their work and I hope this is noticed by the crews who have used our facilities. Greg Cox Project Manager Ocean Marine Vol. 3, No. 2.
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Capt. Kent Kohlberger and Capt. Andrew Deas rescue four fishermen at sea.
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EarningYourStripes CAREER NEWS FOR CAPTAINS & CREWS
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May 2006
A resume can be your key to opportunity By Linda Turner When looking for a job, a resume is the most important tool a crew member can possess. It is the key that opens the door to the job interview. It presents the first impression of who you are and if you meet the qualifications the employer seeks. It determines your future. A resume must be concise, yet portray the scope of your experience. A color photo of your face grants visual recognition in addition to the introduction of your name. Each person assimilates information on different levels. Some absorb information best by reading, some thru graphics and some by sound or touch. Therefore, it is best to use at least two forms of communication – both literate and visual, both the written word and a photograph – to get an introduction. Then, you may proceed with the second two levels available – the sound of your voice and the touch of a handshake – to establish the communication necessary to close the interview. The information on a resume must get qualifications, experience and commitment to longevity across to the reader within the first half of a page. The total resume should be no longer than two pages. The objective statement at the beginning should be general, unless you are only considering an exact job. Many times an employer will not consider someone who has made the objective too specific because the position does not fit the criteria exactly. For each previous employer, include the name of the vessel, size and type of vessel, dates of employment, your job title, contact information, and a short job description. If you have long-term as well as short-term contract jobs, it is best to group them, putting the longer-term commitments at the beginning. Jobs unrelated to the industry should be grouped toward the end. The layout should be simple, organized, uncluttered and easy to read. Your contact number and e-mail address should be included at the very beginning. A few references should also be included at the end.
It is best to avoid long essay-type presentations. Long job descriptions are not easily assimilated and will not hold the new employer’s attention. Narratives about your love of the sea, etc., do not do much to impress either. The employer is not interested in supplying you with a good time at his expense, nor a free ride. When a captain or owner is considering someone to hire, they look for someone interested in presenting the owner with a helpful, willing, pleasant attitude. Your qualifications and experience hold merit, but your willingness to be helpful and contribute to the owner having an enjoyable time is the most important impression you need to portray. A willingness to work until the job is done is also
helpful. If you are more interested in what time you can have off, how much you will be paid, where the boat is traveling, or other extraneous issues, you are putting the cart before the horse. If you state those facts in your resume, you will not receive a good response. Those facts do need to be covered at the interview, but not before the mutual interest in making an agreement has been seriously considered. Presenting your information in a concise, easily assimilated format is the most successful formula to reach your goal of getting an interview. Linda Turner is the owner of Crewfinders International in Ft. Lauderdale. Contact her at lindat@crewfinders. com or +1-954-522-2739.
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May 2006
YACHTING REGULATIONS
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Prepare to fire: guns on board – yes or no? With the 2002 enactment of the ISPS Code and heightened security throughout the world, many in the yachting industry, both commercial and private, are asking, “Should I carry a gun on board?” Let us ask a follow-up general question, “When would you use a gun?” Based upon conversations with several key figures in our industry, following Rules of the Road the scenarios were Jake DesVergers discussed: You are asleep and awake to hear a noise on deck. You grab your gun and find someone stealing your tender. He has cut the line and is 20 feet from the boat. Would you shoot? He is stealing your property or that of your owner. You are asleep in your cabin and awake to see someone going through your wallet. Would you go for your gun and shoot? Are you being threatened or just robbed? An intruder is threatening you with a knife. Would you go for your gun and use it? These questions cannot be answered with a simple yes or no. They are
purely subjective and certainly depend on many factors, including personal experience, ethics and level of risk, but they are definitely food for thought. Taking the human factor out, what are the legal ramifications and when is it allowable to use deadly force? Those of us living in the United States may think we know the answer to this one, but what about in the many countries that we frequent? Consider this: a homeowner in the United States hears a noise at his front door and goes to investigate. There he finds a would-be intruder trying to break in and yelling that he is going to kill the homeowner. The homeowner gets his gun and kills the would-be intruder. Self-defense, right? No. The homeowner is tried for manslaughter because he did not exercise all other options before resorting to deadly force. The court said he could have gotten away from the intruder by going out the back door. That same scenario can be played out on any yacht. Let’s look at this subject from a matter of convenience. Every country a yacht visits will be less tolerant of guns than the United States. All will require the captain to declare guns on entry and some, such as the Dominican Republic, will require that they be turned over to the authorities while the yacht is the country.
Other countries, such as the Bahamas, require the crew to account for every round of ammunition. Some countries in the Leeward Islands require yachts to clear in and out of customs at each port of call. That means the captain is constantly turning in and picking up guns. What a pain. A few countries allow yachts to keep a gun on board if it is in a secure gun locker that a customs official can seal with tape. However, in our research, we never found anyone who could define “secure gun locker.” Of course, one could lie on the customs form and not declare a gun. Congratulations, you fooled them, but now you have an illegal firearm in a country whose gun laws you do not know. Even if you were in a situation where you had a legal right to use the gun, did you just forfeit that right by smuggling the gun into the country? In the United States, laws differ based upon federal, state, county or parish, and even municipality. There is extensive information available on the Internet. Perhaps the best source is the National Rifle Association, www.nra. org. The legal department of this notfor-profit consumer advocate group has exhaustively researched each state and the reciprocity laws for the carriage of firearms.
For example, Florida residents who possess a license to carry a firearm have reciprocal rights to carry that firearm, without need for a new license, in Georgia. But if you are enjoying a nice stay in Savannah and decide to sail for Charleston, S.C., you have just illegally trafficked a firearm into that state. What about a non-lethal weapon, such as a nightstick or pepper spray? The highest recommendation from all security experts emphasizes training, training and more training. These are not toys. The mere presence of such an item may have the opposite effect of deterrence and require its immediate use. Pepper spray may be a better option, but this is also considered a weapon in some places. Also, imagine being interior on your yacht when pepper spray is used; everyone present would be gassed. I know someone who tried to spray a rat like this, but that’s a story for another time. Capt. Jake DesVergers is president of the US Maritime Institute. Prior to his current role, he sailed as master on merchant ships, acted as designated person for a shipping company, and served as regional manager for an international classification society. Contact him at 954-449-3444 or through www.usmaritimeinstitute.com.
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May 2006
HOW I GOT MY START IN YACHTING
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A trip with ‘Uncle Richard’ was just what Pepe needed By Lucy Chabot Reed Capt. Stephen Pepe has been on boats all his life. Growing up in Philadelphia, he water skied on the Chesapeake and learned to love the water as his father does. Those memorable vacations on his family’s cabin cruiser gave him the foundation of a yachting career that would take nearly 20 years to realize. It all started for Pepe when he was a sophomore in high school. At 16, his cousin – an older relative he called Uncle Richard – took him from their hometown of Philadelphia to Tortola and St. Thomas aboard his 50-foot steel schooner. “I got there and said, ‘You mean people can make a living doing this?’” Pepe said. “This is what I want to do.” The schooner was dressed up like a pirate ship, with a black hull and mast steps in the rigging so those 21 days – broken rudder and all – were pivotal in Pepe’s life. “That trip taught me a lot,” he said. “Richard taught me how to sail.” “Uncle Richard” is Richard Manto, a pioneer in the Caribbean charter industry. When Pepe called him for a job after he graduated high school, Manto suggested he get some other skills first. So he enrolled in a diesel mechanic course in Florida. The next winter, he flew to St. Thomas and worked a season on the 78-foot ketch High Barbaree. It was 1981, and he earned $75 a week as a steward. “I thought, ‘I can do better than this,’” he said. “I was 19; I thought I should be captain, just like every 19 year old.” Pepe returned to Philadelphia to work, save money and get more skills. He took over another cousin’s hoagie shop and enjoyed it, so he enrolled in the Restaurant School of Philadelphia. A year later, he landed a management job at the Four Seasons. “I wanted to go back to Florida,” he said. “That’s where you go if you want a job in yachting.” There were no transfers to Florida. But there was one to Newport Beach, Calif. Pepe, now in his early 20s, researched the city and discovered it had more yachts per capita than any place in the country at the time. He traded in his manager’s job for one as a waiter. Working fewer hours and making more money, he was able to get a second job teaching sailing and running day charters. And he got his captain’s license. Eventually, he moved back into management and “started going bonkers,” he said. So he started looking for a yachting job. Uncle Richard’s wife, Carole Manto, heard he was looking
Pepe’s perspective: “I thought, ‘I can do better than this.’ I was 19; I thought I should be captain, just like every 19 year old.” PHOTO/LUCY REED
and found him a mate’s job on a 125footer in the Mediterranean. It didn’t last long. “I was living the California life,” he said. “I had a girlfriend, a sports car, a motorcycle and all this stuff. I learned that if you want to live this life, you can’t have all that.” He stayed in California three more years, getting rid of his stuff and saving to buy a sailboat to cruise the Caribbean. Then he met Lan, the woman who would become his wife. Together they bought a 1972 Islander 36 and decided to cruise the South Pacific instead. They spent more than a year and three times the purchase price to fix her up. Over the next three and a half years, they sailed Pacific High from Southern California through the South Pacific, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, and eventually to Turkey, where they got their first yachting job together in 1999, a 74-foot Sunseeker. They came back to Florida, took their STCW classes and landed a job running a 95-foot motoryacht that they still run today. They cruise the U.S. East Coast now and haven’t made it to the Caribbean yet. Pepe’s father is watching over Pacific High, so that dream may still come true. How did you get your start in yachting? Contact Editor Lucy Chabot Reed at lucy@the-triton.com. Who knows? You might inspire someone.
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CREW NEWS
May 2006
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Career highlight: Captains rescue four men By Lucy Chabot Reed Coming back from the Miami Boat Show in mid-February, Capt. Kent Kohlberger and Capt. Andrew Deas had an afternoon they’ll never forget. Taking Kohlberger’s new command – the 95-foot M/Y Financial Statement – to a photo shoot with several other Cheoy Lees, they spotted a capsized boat about three miles offshore of Haulover Inlet in North Miami. It was about 12:20 p.m., and as they got closer, they saw four people holding onto the hull. The Cuban-American men weren’t wearing life jackets and had no identification. “Some were still wearing their running shoes,” Kohlberger said. “I think they’d been in the water less than an hour.” Kohlberger and Deas pulled the men, all estimated to be in their 30s, on deck. They were excited and scared but spoke little English, Kohlberger said. He gave them towels and dry polo shirts
Answers to puzzles on page B22
Calm
Stormy
and radioed for help. The U.S. Coast Guard wouldn’t permit the yacht to bring the stranded men into port, so officers met them at the Port Everglades sea buoy, he said. It took about three hours to get under way again. “If you can save someone, it makes you feel good inside,” Kohlberger said. “Both Andrew and I were stoked the whole day.” M/Y Financial Statement had been running at 18 knots about a quarter mile farther offshore than the other yachts in their party. The day was clear
with 2- to 4-foot seas and 5-10 knots, according to Kohlberger’s log book. “We don’t know, but we suspect there might have been a missing plug,” he said. In a 17-year career, Kohlberger said he’s “worked on people” who have had heart attacks and strokes, but he’s never rescued anyone before. “That was a highlight of my career,” he said. “There’s no second chance on the water. Contact Editor Lucy Chabot Reed at lucy@the-triton.com.
Capt. Kent Kohlberger was a hero in PHOTO/LUCY REED February.
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May 2006
THE AFTERLIFE: LIFE AFTER YACHTING
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Don’t leave the business without a new passion By David Hall Before yachts, I worked on sportfish boats in Alaska and on tug boats on the Mississippi River, with a brief interlude where I helped open and run a successful timeshare sales office. The thing was, like most who get into the yachting industry, I wanted to travel and experience a sense of adventure. So after living in Fiji for a short time, I returned to San Diego and was referred to Lacasse Services by a friend. Lacasse got me three interviews that turned into three job offers and I ended up on the M/Y Crystal. It was the captain’s first job and the owner’s first boat, which filled the experience with a bit of confusion. I stayed with the boat for about six months, making our way from San Diego to Costa Rica before I decided that a change was needed. In Costa Rica, I was introduced to the M/Y Dorothea and found an absolutely ideal situation: wonderfully gracious owners; an experienced, strong yet fun captain; and an outstanding crew. However, on a brief trip home, I found the love of my life. I returned to the Dorothea and
stayed with the boat for six months on the return trip to San Diego, where I decided to return to life on land and pursue other passions. I write, paint and play music. During my various travels I created many works that have earned praise and encouragement that I should pursue these art forms as a career, though I hardly want to live my life as a starving artist. Yet at the same time, I, like most artists, want to maintain the integrity of my own expression, blah, blah, blah. Therefore, I decided to go into publishing. I went to the hometown newspaper to become a writer, but noticed they needed help with their sales. This newspaper is the largest community paper in San Diego and has been around for nearly 20 years. However, I felt that it was falling well short of its earning potential and submitted a proposal to reinvent the sales structure. After a few weeks of arguing with the publisher about how things should be run, he put me in charge of a section and in the first year I increased profits roughly 4,000 percent. In the second year I doubled my first year’s volume.
David Hall has found a way to combine passions and talents - and look like he is posing for an album cover at the same time. PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID HALL While I still work at the paper, I am devoting large amounts of time to developing a business plan for a publishing company of my own. The business and marketing plan are being developed and I will soon be looking for financial backing. This project will change the way that college-age writers, artists and musicians develop and pursue their careers, and the way that the world discovers hot new talent. Finally, I have found an incredible way to combine my passions and talents, acquired skills and experience to compliment and feed off of each other. This is the sort of idea that inspires excitement and anticipation in everyone who comes in comes in contact with it. It is what I left home to discover and returned home to create. The only difference between the decision to set out to sea and the decision to return to land is this: 99 percent of the time, when anyone first
makes the decision to become a yacht crew member, an adventurous hope for inspiration is a primary driving force. There is an elusive thing out there that they hope will inspire their lives. The decision to return to land is more often due to giving up the search or some feeling of obligation. Where is the inspiration in that? The key is to never give up. Always seek what will inspire you. Pursue your passions, learn from your experiences and figure out how to tie it all together. That is the key to finding that sense of purpose. It’s the key to success. It may just be the key to happiness. For more information, contact David Hall at dghsearch@gmail.com. If you know someone who has made a successful transition from yachting to another career, let us know. Contact Editor Lucy Chabot Reed at lucy@thetriton.com.
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May 2006
CREW NEWS
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Lady Monroe survives Katrina’s battering By Lucy Chabot Reed Capt. Kim Lofquist and the 85-foot M/Y Lady Monroe have spent the past seven months in a shipyard in Ft. Lauderdale. It could have been worse; the yacht could have ended up in a cemetery. Lady Monroe is a refugee of Hurricane Katrina, the Category 3 hurricane that slammed into the Gulf Coast of the United States on Aug. 29 near the border of Louisiana and Mississippi. Homeported at the Gulfport Yacht Club in Mississippi, Lady Monroe found refuge with 53 other boats in a back bay harbor called Kraemer Marine in Biloxi, Lofquist said. Biloxi ended up being one of the worst hit towns, and even the protected dockage was destroyed. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Lofquist had flown back to the States from Mexico five days before the storm to take the yacht to Destin in Florida’s panhandle. Several bridges have to open for her to get to the Gulf, however, and a tow boat pushing coal had hit one of the bridges in the days before the storm. Lady Monroe was stuck inland. So Lofquist set out 32 lines – “Every line I could find, with chains and everything” – and all the fenders
See LADY MONROE, page B9
Capt. Kim Lofquist tried to get M/Y Lady Monroe out of harm’s way, but a PHOTO/LUCY REED wayward boat knocked out a bridge, trapping her inland.
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CREW NEWS
Despite a 4-foot-deep gash, aluminum hull didn’t breech LADY MONROE, from page B8
could leave the area. Gulfport was basically leveled to the railroad, about he could beg and borrow. When he a mile inland. The port was closed and returned the day after the storm, the boaters were told not to even start their 20-year-old Lady Monroe was one of engines. just a few boats still afloat. Most of his “It was so quiet, you could hear a pin lines were gone and two of the pilings drop,” Lofquist said. were floating nearby, his lines still A couple days later, the U.S. Army attached. drove by and tossed Lofquist a few Lofquist jumped in the water and cases of ready-to-eat meals “that swam about 30 feet to the yacht, weren’t bad,” he said. He stayed aboard climbed aboard, started a generator for about a week before a channel was and took a shower. (The water was full opened and Lofquist started Lady of diesel and other debris, plus all the Monroe to leave. muck and crud of the marina bottom.) Both of her 892 Detroit Diesels The yacht didn’t look much better. were knocked out of alignment about The aft window had been blown out, a quarter of an inch, he said, causing destroying the aft salon, but the main terrible vibration. Yet she managed door was closed so the interior was to make the trip down Florida’s Gulf protected. There was Coast and across water and debris all the Okeechobee The marsh-bound over, including about Waterway to Ft. Lady Monroe started three inches of dirt Lauderdale under to list, then slid a little, her own power. The and sand on every deck surface. normally five-day listed and slid, again A man on a 40trip took 10 days ish-foot Grand Banks and again, until she instead. trawler who rode returned to the marina. Lofquist took out the storm told the yacht
*-]Ê -Ê Ê /-to Cable Lofquist that 28 feet Marine where she of water had surged into the marina, had had a paint job just last year. In the taking many boats with it. One 70-foot past seven months, she’s gotten new Cheoy Lee was found in a cemetery a struts and had her shafts straightened. Ê / , ",Ê - -Ê ",Ê9 /half mile away. She has new windlesses, a new The man told Lofquist that Lady watermaker, and a new interior for the Monroe rode that surge and started aft salon. She’s had her hull repaired to move inland, but her lines kept her and the paint job is expected to start nearby. As the water receded, Lady this month. Monroe settled on the reeds and grass New carpets and ostrich-skin wall of the marsh surrounding the marina. coverings are on order and a new galley She started to list, then slid a little, will come when the yacht leaves the listed and slid, again and again, until yard sometime this spring. The yacht she returned to the marina with a will dock at Baytown Marina in Destin splash. from now on. “He said it was the most incredible “We figured since we were in here thing he’d ever seen,” Lofquist said. and everything was pulled out, we A river barge had broken loose and might as well make all the repairs,” hit Lady Monroe, digging a 25-foot Lofquist said. “Everything is so new, I’m gash about 4 feet deep in the starboard so anxious to get it out there. I feel like side. Incredibly, though, the aluminum a little kid.” hull didn’t breech so the interior didn’t suffer much water damage. Contact Editor Lucy Chabot Reed at Although she was afloat, no one lucy@the-triton.com.
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May 2006
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B10
May 2006
IN THE GALLEY
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One chef ’s opinion on yacht provisioners Not every chef has the opportunity are and they are not available. to leave the yacht in search of food Most chefs don’t even break a sweat provisions or walk the streets of the over this because no matter where we port they are in to find the perfect are in the world, several yacht provision cut of meat, the companies make it easier to have what best produce or we want when we want it. To serve the specialty items best, you have to start with the best they have on their company that provides the best service list. They are just and products. too busy. If they Unless you have set up an account do get out, it is with an established company you might straight to the just be gambling on what is available shop and back to when you get to a destination. When the yacht. Time is yachts arrive in the Med for the season, Culinary Waves precious for us. they have to ensure – before they Mary Beth So to make arrive – that the provision company Lawton Johnson things easier, I can service their needs. A provision set out to find company is the middle man. It will out who the best were in the business search out the best product that fits of yacht provisioning. What we want your needs. It will pay a price for an as yacht chefs are item and, of course, purveyors who want pass the cost on to When yachts arrive in our business and the Med for the season, you.Many chefs hit get right back to us. So I am going to list they have to ensure the markets every only those provision before they arrive - that morning, which companies that not their boss a the provision company saves only I know but the little money, but ones who made the can service their needs. the extra time effort to obtain my and effort is also business, as well whittled away as the ones who always give superb as they could have spent that time service. preparing food. Not to mention the Obtaining provisions in different cost involved in searching for food countries has its particular challenges (taxis, tips, fuel, transport of the food). and sometimes drawbacks. We all want The yacht provision company has done to feel as though we are special and all this for you. have our needs met. If you don’t speak So to start the list off, I am naming the language, reading labels in a foreign the top yacht provision companies that grocery store will have its limitations. respond in the shortest amount of time Another thing to consider is if the because that is what counts for yacht produce you are about to buy is safe. chefs: response and follow-through in For example, you have just been asked a timely manner. I am also awarding to procure a rare breed of beef from them stars for excellent service and a a grass-fed farm or a certain kind of can-do attitude. We seek these qualities demi-glace that really puts your sauces in companies that we intend to do head and shoulders above the rest, and business with. I am also giving contact you forgot to buy them before you left. See WAVES, page B12 You have checked the stores where you
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IN THE GALLEY: RECIPE
May 2006
B11
Five-Spiced Poached Asian Pears with Ginger Cream and Poaching Sauce Enjoy the coolness of this dessert with the hot weather. Serves 8 For the pears: 1 vanilla bean 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 tablespoon Chinese Five Spice powder 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger 1 cup Japanese sake (optional) or a sweet dessert wine 2 star anise 1 cup sugar 2 cinnamon sticks 8 Asian pears, no bruises Enough water to cover them Heavy lid to keep pears submerged in water or a heavy plate to weigh them down Bring all the ingredients, except the pears to a boil in a large pot. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Peel pears, leaving tops on and add to the water bath. Cover with a plate to keep the pears submerged in the water. Turn heat down to simmer. Simmer for 40 minutes or until pears are tender. Remove from poaching liquid and reserve. Boil the poaching liquid down until it measures 1 cup and is thick and syrupy. Reserve for plating. Ginger Cream 4 egg yolks 1/3 cup sugar 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger 2 cups milk 1 tablespoon of melted butter
Whip the egg yolks, sugar and ginger in a stainless steel bowl until thick and light-lemony colored. Heat the milk in a saucepan until it just begins to simmer. Pour in a slow, thin, steady stream into the egg mixture, stirring continuously. Return this mixture to the saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Push through a sieve to strain and place in a clean bowl and top with melted butter. Chill about 2 hours. Reserve for plating. Ginger Tuile 6 oz. confectioner’s sugar, sifted 4 1/2 oz. all-purpose flour, sifted 1/2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger 5 1/2 oz. egg whites 3 oz. unsalted butter, melted 1 piece of cardboard or heavy card stock for making stencils Combine the sifted sugar and flour with the ginger in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Gradually add the egg whites and beat at medium speed until smooth. Slowly drizzle in the butter and mix until the butter is absorbed and batter well blended. Refrigerate. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat. Cut a stencil out of cardboard or stock paper the size and shape you would like to use. I made ovals.
For this photograph, I have reduced the poaching nage to a syrupy consistency and added a small amount. The leaves are for garnish. I suggest PHOTO/RICHARD JOHNSON keeping it simple, so I am omitting the dark leaves.
Place the stencil over the baking mat. Using an offset spatula, spread a thin layer of the tuile mix over the stencil. Remove stencil and bake for 6 minutes or until light brown.
Remove tuile from baking mat and either bend over a rolling pin or similar equipment to give it a nice curve. Serve alongside the Asian Pear with Ginger Cream and Poaching Sauce.
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IN THE GALLEY
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Spiaggi atop the list with dedication to customer service WAVES, from page B10 names and numbers to keep in your galley so that no matter where you are on the globe, you can be sure to have what you want when you want it. This is a must-have list for every chef as well as the captain or stew who needs assistance in provisioning.
List is ever-growing There are a lot of smaller provision companies that will one day make this list and if I have left anyone out that should have been on it, e-mail me and let me know so I can order from you if I
am ever in your port. l First on the list is Luigi Spiaggi, owner of Mansueto S.R.L. He was the first person to respond to my emailed request for information, and I timed the responses. One minute after sending the e-mail, he got right back to me with price sheets and product sheets. Talk about fast. He included everything I asked for, too, down to 35 pages that ran the gamut from fine wines and liquors to the best meats available. I was also told by other chefs that he offers some of the best produce in
Italy. He has five refrigerated trucks in the Med to get to you wherever you are. The prices and quality of his products are impressive. He also culled praises from other provisioners. This says something about his reputation as a yacht provisioner. Luigi gets five stars from me as a professional chef. Ask for a spec sheet on current products, prices. Luigi Spiaggi, owner of Mansueto S.R.L., mansueto136405@ mansuetosrl.191.it or at 39 0184 573346 l Next is Owen Doyle of National Provisions. I ordered from him years
ago and that was it. I am not sure why I stopped. I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even planning on calling him as I knew of his great reputation but I decided to see if anything was different after all these years. Sure enough, it was. His company is much bigger than it used to be, but Owen is still a heck of a nice guy. He has straight-forward answers but no list to speak of for the provisions he carries. He says there are too many products on the market to put in a list. Owen ships worldwide and has even shipped pork into Malaysia. But donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect a shipment to Mexico; too much political hassle. National Provisions,
See WAVES, page B13
Options abound Here are some other provisioners that responded to my request for information but with whom I have not worked. In Australia: Whitsunday Provisioning, www.whitprov.com.au/marina, (07) 4946 7344 Catering Whitsunday, Brett and Heidi Ward, (07) 4946 1930 Hamilton Island Enterprises, Marina Manager Brett Spice, (07) 4946 8352, cell 0414 475 928, bspice@hamiltonisland. com.au. Carter Marine Agencies, services cruise ships and superyachts in Cairns carrie@cartermarine.com, +61 7 4039 1046. Cairns Super Yacht Cluster, www.superyachtgroup.com For wine, Vins Sans Frontieres, Liz Reid in Nice, France; +33 (0)4 92 29 88 66, sales@vsfgroup.com; in St. Maarten +599 554 5544, or sminfo@vsfgroup.com. They also supply fresh meat and fish as well as toiletries from Crabtree and Evelyn and Gilchrist and Soames. Based in Nice, the company also has an operation in St. Maarten in the winter season, and will be expanding this summer into Palma de Mallorca, Viareggio, St. Tropez and Zadar in Croatia.
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IN THE GALLEY
Florida’s best butcher shop? Smitty’s proves tough to beat WAVES, from page B12
refrigerator. They also have a full-time chef employed. with their dedicated staff, does its Judd Parsons of Yacht Chandlers, +1best to make miracles happen. Owen’s 954-214-9881 or judd@yachtchandlers. motto: “You’re only as good as your last com. shipment.” I caught him after a hard l The next tier of provisioners day of packing more than 40 boxes that begins with Linda at Sysco in Miami. I had to go out. He not only responded have been with this company for years, quickly by e-mail but also called me. relying on it for most of my provisions. Owen says they like to sit down with However, the drawback to going with chefs to find out what they need and a large company such as Sysco is that how to best service them. For some you have to fill out paperwork for each of his best clients, he provides them Sysco company, no matter where you with hot sheets on meats, seafood and are. Their houses are independent produce that his vendors give him. The of each other. The West Palm Beach meat wars in Europe house is fantastic have forced him to with Italy Marruca send only dry goods, Bruno, the owner of as the sales rep. The but we have a remedy Froggy Gourmet in Miami house ships for that later in this Antibes, France, is solely to the Bahamas, article. responsible for getting the Exumas, Marsh Most of the Harbor and the outer chefs the salaries they clients don’t want islands. My rep, a price quote; they Linda, in Miami is earn in yachting. If know he will save fantastic, and will Bruno can’t help you them money. The go out of her way to when you are in France, get whatever I need, parent company for National Provisions even buying it herself no one can. is National Marine and shipping it with Suppliers, which also offers all kinds my order. The company accepts credit of marine equipment, even for galley cards but you will still have to fill out refits. If you are looking for one-stop the necessary paperwork, about four shopping to fill your freezers before pages long. Contact the Sysco nearest that long trip, contact Owen. He you for more information and food is definitely one of the best in the specifications as well as their Chef X business. Press program. Linda has never let me down, even getting my food permits for Owen Doyle, +1-954-764-0795 or importing into the Bahamas to setting owen@natlmarine.com up my food inspections and agent to l I also highly recommend receive the food. Bruno, the owner of Froggy Gourmet Contact Linda at lindasysco@att.net. in Antibes, France. Yacht chefs everywhere should get down on their Then, of course, are scores of local knees and bow down to this god of provisioners. While in Florida, chef a guy. (He’s a saint in my book.) If See WAVES, page B14 you don’t, then you don’t know the dues this man has paid to get where he is and where you are. He is solely responsible for getting chefs the salaries they earn in yachting. If Bruno can’t help you when you are in France, no one can. Bruno, owner of Froggy Gourmet, 33(0)4.933.40538 or 33(0)6.10.824085 l And then there’s Judd Parsons at Yacht Chandlers in Ft. Lauderdale. We have repeatedly used this company for other areas of the yacht besides food provisions and he traveled all the way from Ft. Lauderdale to see if our needs could be met. That is some service, and not just by telephone either. Judd has been our rep for years and we trust him totally. Currently, we are in refit so I am ordering my new galley equipment through him. His company is also a Miele distributor, offering the best in equipment. Yacht Chandlers also offers some of the finest cuts of meat, dry goods, sauces and anything you need to stock your walk-in freezer or
May 2006
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May 2006
IN THE GALLEY
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Internet helps open doors when looking for quality provisions WAVES, from page B13 friends frequent Smitty’s Butcher Shop in Ft. Lauderdale. This butcher has got to be the best in all of Florida. This was also told to me by numerous people including Owen at National Provisions, who uses him. Smitty does personal
grinding of sausages and meats and can hold your hand when it comes to ordering cuts of meat that you are not familiar with to proper packaging of meats. Their meats are five times better than those in even the nicest health food markets. Contact David at +1-954771-9341.
“Since 1990, The Original Boat Blinds and Shades Manufacturer”
While in France, Chef Philipe Degrois of M/Y Lady Joy suggests going to a large shopping market called Metro, a sort of large supermarket for the restaurant professional. The market will give you a one-day pass if you tell them that you are a yacht matriculate outside of France. A business card is usually enough, but don’t take a chance and bring a photocopy of the boat’s registration. It opens at about 6 a.m. and has about 10 locations in the French Riviera, Cannes, Nice, Marseille, Toulon, Antibes, etc. The choice, the variety, and of course the quality and price are the best. You will have to buy the fruit and produce in cases, but the bill will be less than with a provisioner there.
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If you are in New Zealand there are several superyacht support services that can help with provisions. If you require perishable, frozen and gourmet produce and products, try Alex C. Cole Samson at kiwicrew@ihug.co.nz, 64 7 8671620, www.kiwicrew.com. Yacht Chandlers of New Zealand Limited also offers yacht provisions. Contact them at info@yachtchandlers.co.nz in Auckland. www.37south.co.nz, in association with Fraser Yachts, offers superyacht provisions. Ask for Kate Webb, who has more than 14 years’ experience in provisioning, or Jacqui Nordstrand at 64 9 302 0178, jacquin@37south.co.nz. In Australia, Cairns Ocean Products offers local prawns, fresh fish, fresh Tasmanian oysters, salmon and deliveries to superyachts. Anything wet and wild that you can think of they will carry. Contact Stephen at +61.7.403.132.77. I do not recommend US Food Service. I have had no luck trying to
If there are companies out there that you recommend, please do so; I would love to get them on my list for next year. get someone to return my calls to set up an account. I was thinking of using this company because it has a unique division called Food Innovations, which offers some fantastic upperend gourmet items. Chef Paul at Food Innovations said if US Food Service didn’t respond, I should call him back and he would make sure I was noticed. It never happened. I fell through the cracks and won’t be using them as a professional chef. For chocolates and dessert decorations, go to www.qzinafoods.com in Pompano Beach, Fla. For specialty truffles, game birds, duck prosciutto, duck sausage and foie gras, go to www. dartagnan.com. For caviars of imported varieties, www.caviarrusse.com is the best in New York offering the finest caviars from worldwide resources. I hope this has been of some help. I am sure most of you already know these companies. If there are other companies out there that you would recommend, please do so; I would love to know about them and get them on my list for next year. Until next time, make some culinary waves. Mary Beth Lawton Johnson is a certified executive pastry chef and Chef de Cuisine. A professional yacht chef since 1991, she has been chef aboard M/Y Rebecca since 1999. Visit her Web site at www.themegayachtchef.com or contact her through editorial@the-triton.com.
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NUTRITION
Is it something I ate? Have you ever eaten something that If none of these scenarios sound just didn’t agree with you? Perhaps you familiar, then you may have a true tried this food at another time with the food allergy. An allergy is defined same result? Does this mean you have as an abnormally high sensitivity to an allergy? Maybe certain substances. An allergic reaction yes. Maybe no. often involves the production of Consider immunoglobulin E (IgE), an antibody first that you that circulates through the blood. Your may have food ability to form IgE against something intolerance. One as benign as food is an inherited form of intolerance predisposition. happens when Food allergens are proteins within a food becomes the food that usually are not broken contaminated with down by the heat of cooking or by Take It In stomach acids or enzymes that digest Carol Bareuther microorganisms, such as bacteria, food. As a result, they survive to cross and their offshoot products called the gastrointestinal lining, enter the toxins. The reactions from eating bloodstream, and go to target organs, contaminated meat sometimes mimic causing allergic reactions throughout food intolerance when they are really a the body. form of food poisoning. If you are allergic to a particular Another type of food intolerance, food, for example, you may first and one that is often confused with experience itching in the mouth as you food allergy, is lactase deficiency. start to eat the food. After the food is Lactase is an enzyme found in the digested in the stomach, abdominal lining of our intestinal tracts. This symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea enzyme digests lactose, or milk sugar. or pain may start. When the food If you don’t have enough lactase, your allergens enter and travel through the body cannot digest the lactose in most bloodstream, they can cause a drop in milk and dairy products. Instead, blood pressure. As the allergens reach the lactose is used by bacteria, gas the skin, they can induce hives or is formed, and eczema, or when you experience reach the Many allergy-producing they bloating, lungs, they may appear unexpectedly: abdominal pain, cause asthma. and sometimes In adults, the Peanuts are often used diarrhea. There most common as a protein source and are a couple of foods to cause eggs are used in some tests to diagnosis allergic reactions this condition. For include: shellfish salad dressings. one of them, you such as shrimp, ingest a certain crayfish, lobster, amount of lactose and then the doctor and crab; peanuts, a legume that is measures your body’s response by one of the chief foods to cause severe analyzing a blood sample. anaphylaxis, a sudden drop in blood Yet another type of food intolerance pressure that can be fatal if not treated is when you have an adverse reaction quickly; tree nuts such as walnuts; fish; to certain products that are added and eggs. to food to enhance flavor, provide Food allergies are treated by color, or protect against the growth of avoiding the problem foods. Once you microorganisms. and your doctor have identified the Compounds that are most frequently problem food, it must be eliminated tied to adverse reactions that are often from your diet. To do this, read confused with food allergy are yellow ingredient lists on each food you eat. dye No. 5, monosodium glutamate, and Many allergy-producing foods such sulfites. as peanuts, eggs, and milk appear in There are several diseases that foods one normally would not associate share symptoms with food allergies them with. Peanuts, for example, are including ulcers and cancers of the often used as a protein source and eggs gastrointestinal tract. These disorders are used in some salad dressings. The can be associated with vomiting, U.S. Food and Drug Administration diarrhea, or cramping abdominal pain requires ingredients in a food to appear exacerbated by eating. on its label. You can avoid most of the Finally, there are food intolerances things to which you are sensitive if you that have a psychological trigger. In read food labels carefully and avoid selected cases, a careful psychiatric restaurant-prepared foods that might evaluation may identify an unpleasant have ingredients to which you are event in a person’s life, often during allergic. childhood, tied to eating a particular food. The eating of this food years later, Carol Bareuther is a registered dietitian even as an adult, is associated with a and a regular contributor to The Triton. rush of unpleasant sensations that can Contact her through editorial@theresemble an allergic reaction. triton.com.
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BOOK REVIEWS / GIVEAWAYS
Pirates, spies and mercenaries Following in the footsteps of James Patterson, Ted Bell is a former advertising agency executive turned author. “Hawke” was released in 2003. The title character, Hawke, is a James Bond wannabe who is descended from privateer Black Jack Hawke. Hawke set the stage for the second book in the series, Well Read “Assassin,” released Donna in paperback in Mergenhagen June 2005. “Pirate,” the third appearance of the character Hawke, was released in hardback in August of last year and is scheduled for paperback release in June. Bell’s “Jackal” will follow in hardback during August. Part Clive Cussler treasure hunting, part Ian Fleming spy caper and part Wilber Smith’s Courtney family sea adventure, the Hawke series features a recurring cast of characters. The “band of merry men” fights evil in the form of individuals, terrorist cells, and enemy countries. Each of the adventures is a standalone story and there is sufficient retelling of the backgrounds to read the series out of published order. The first in the series, “Hawke,” has added appeal for the South Florida reader – the action moves from the Caribbean to Cuba and Miami. Alexander Hawke is the direct
“Assassin” begins with a gruesome murder in Britain. The action then moves worldwide, including scenes in the Florida Keys. descendant of Black Jack Hawke who was hanged by the British crown as a pirate. The 7-year-old Alexander Hawke witnessed the murder of his parents aboard a sailboat in the Caribbean, perhaps on a trip to find the treasure long buried by the ancestor buccaneer. Raised by his grandfather and the family butler, Hawke has recouped the family fortunes, attained the title of Lord, and served heroically in the Gulf War. The wealth, daring and title have connected him to political leaders in the United States and Britain who frequently ask for his assistance (a la James Bond). Much of his assistance is doled out from a 200-foot motoryacht equipped better than a battleship. In this book, an apparent coup in Cuba has prompted U.S. Secretary of State Consuelo de los Reyes to ask for Hawke’s help. What follows is a story of espionage, mercenaries and hostage rescue. “Assassin” begins with a gruesome murder in Britain. The action then moves worldwide, including scenes in the Florida Keys and Nantucket Harbor. The assignment for Hawke is to stop
Free books this month cover project management, food If you want one of these books, just ask. We only have one of each title. First come, first served. Contact Editor Lucy Reed at lucy@the-triton.com.
The Arrows Cookbook
Arrows Restaurant in Ogunquit, Maine, is one of the best rated restaurants in America. Run by two chefs, 90 percent of the food and herbs prepared in its kitchen is grown on an acre of land around the restaurant. In addition to the 150 recipes, “The Arrows Cookbook” (2003, Scribner, $40) includes kitchen tips, too, such as how to smoke a trout, preserve herbs, roast salmon on a plank, pickle hot peppers and more. There is a lot of garden information, too, so your onboard guests may enjoy reading through it, too. It’s autographed.
Megayacht Wisdom II
If you’ve ever wanted to be a project manager, you might find useful the information in “Megayacht Wisdom
II” (2004, Ikon Publishing, available at Bluewater Books & Charts). Though written with the yacht owner in mind, the 26 chapter book covers myriad topics including the five steps of construction, owner’s representation and project management. It is written by veteran captains Buddy Haack and Doug Hoogs, who said he learned much of what is in the book the hard way – through bad experiences. “If it’s used as a reference, captains and crew can avoid the mistakes others have made,” said Hoogs, who is now director of KingshipUSA. Haack is the U.S. sales representative for Lurssen.
Reed’s Professional Logbook
And we’ve still got that copy of “Reed’s Professional Logbook.” It’s a deck log for the large yacht. It purports to be fully compliant with ISM, ISPS, MARPOL and Merchant Shipping Act requirements. I must admit that I tried to give it away to several captains, none of whom said it would work on their yachts. If you want it, come get it. – LR
the murder of U.S. diplomats and their families. All indications are that the assassinations are meant to distract the attention of the U.S. armed services from the ultimate goal of a mastermind – an attack on the homeland. Fundamentalism may be at the core of the assault cleverly packaged as the benign-sounding program “Travel in the New World.” In “Pirate,” France and China have joined forces to compete with the United States over the oil supply. The action in Oman, Hong Kong and New York Harbor is aboard cruise ships, fighter jets and submarines. This addition to the series is packed with boy’s toys. Pieces of current headlines and political allegiances are woven into a fantastic plot. With statements like, “France was only the tip, China was the iceberg,” Bell’s plot feeds on the emotions and fears instigated by international affairs. The parodies of Bond, the simplistic nicknames, and the caricatures of mercenaries aside, the series is a fast read and should establish an audience with readers who enjoy Hawke’s philosophy: “We win, they lose.” Donna Mergenhagen owns Well Read, a used book store on Southeast 17th Street in Ft. Lauderdale. Contact her at 954467-8878.
• Group and Individual annual coverage as well as Short Term Medical Coverage. • Worldwide protection 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. • Coverage while serving onboard and while signed off. • Utilized by Captains, Crew, Luxury Yacht Owners, Management Companies and Marine Insurance Providers. • Contact us to find an Agent in your part of the world. • Agent / Broker inquiries welcome.
Contact Specialty Risk International, Inc. George Buskirk Director of Marine Division gbuskirk@specialtyrisk.com 317-575-2652 ext. 3377 www.specialtyrisk.com
May 2006
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May 2006
PHOTOGRAPHY
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Your camera came with settings – use them Welcome aboard, photography enthusiasts. We looked at the shooting mode dial last month; now we are going to begin thinking photographs. I don’t like to use the automatic functions on my camera. Those symbols, such as the mountain or star with a moon, are more complicated for me than simply using Photo Exposé the camera. I go James Schot right to the creative
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zone – the P, Tv, Av and M – to take my photographs, and I encourage you to do the same, especially after I explain how simple it can be. Actually you can start right away because the nice thing about digital is that it costs you very little to experiment. The P, Tv, Av and M settings all deal with the interplay between the shutter (the curtain) and aperture (diaphragm). Together they control exposure, that is, the proper amount of light to hit the capture medium. This medium can still be traditional film, but in our digital world today we are talking about a memory card or chip. Remember, photography means painting with light, and we need the right amount to expose our subject. You may ask why it takes both a shutter and aperture to control the light exposure. It’s a valid question; controlling the light does not require both. The first cameras used only a pin hole, which is a fixed aperture to make exposures. But having use of both the shutter and aperture has its advantages. Learning how and what advantages these two controls provide and how they interplay is not at all complicated, and the rewards for understanding the process will allow immense leaps in your growth as a photographer. From the original use of the pin-hole camera, we quickly learned that the size of the hole (aperture), in addition to controlling how much light reaches the photo-capturing chip, also controls what photographers call “depth of field.” The smaller the aperture (diaphragm), the greater the depth of field. A larger aperture decreases it. To really improve your photography skills, you have to know what this means, and the diagram above should help you visualize my following description. You will notice from the diagram that a small aperture is, for instance, f/8. This letter-number combination is called an f stop. Opening the lens from f/8 to f/5.6 to f/4 to f/2.8 doubles the size of the
opening. With each f stop, there is a doubling in the amount of light that enters the camera. At the same time each, opening from f/8 to f/2.8 makes it more difficult to keep close and distant subjects in focus. The inverse is also true. Closing the lens to a higher number – from f/2.8 to f/8 – makes for smaller lens aperture openings, with each f stop smaller allowing half the light in to expose. At the same time, the smaller openings increase what near and distant subjects can remain in focus. So to open up and close down f stops controls light and the depth of field – that is, the depth of focus, or what will be blurry and what will be sharp. Now, it’s your choice. This is why the lens aperture is a must have for all of us photographers. With this information, the next time you take a photograph of a friend or loved one you can consider how you want the photograph of your favorite subject to look. If you would like to solely focus on your subject, you can best achieve this result by having the background (and foreground) soft, that is, out of focus. By looking at the diagram, can you determine how to achieve this desired result? That’s right. You want to use a low or “open” f stop such as f/5.6, f/4, f/2.8, and even f/2. What if you want to show your favorite subject on deck and clearly show (in focus) distant islands in the background? How would you best handle this photographically? This scenario requires a higher, more “closed” f stop such as f/11, f/16, or even f/22. In doing either, you would also allow in more or less light, and this will be one reason the shutter comes into play. But I’ve gone overboard. Until next time, permission to come ashore. James Schot has been a professional photographer for 27 years and owns Schot Designer Photography. Feel free to contact him at james@bestschot.com with photographic questions or queries for future columns.
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PERSONAL FINANCE
Make the most of SEPs, 401(k)s and simple IRAs Now that tax season is over, do percentage of matching contributions. you feel you got the best deductions Again, you pay no taxes on this money possible? Many captains and crew until you withdraw it at retirement. who are self employed are unaware Maximum contributions in a year for that they can those under age 50 are $10,000. Those take advantage over 50 can contribute $12,500. of deductions The individual 401(k) is designed above and beyond for participants who want to make their individual larger contributions than a SEP or retirement Simple IRA allow. With his SEP, Capt. accounts (IRAs). Ed’s Maritime Services can contribute Choosing the $25,000 toward Capt. Ed’s retirement. right retirement An individual 401(k) allows the plan for a small maximum contribution of $44,000 in Yachting Capital business or a self- 2006, regardless of the percentage of Mark A. Cline employed person income, and $49,000 if he is 50 or over. can be confusing. The only catch is that the business There are many choices available, such owner and/or the owner’s spouse are as the SEP IRA, a Simple IRA, profit the only full-time employees. This plan, sharing, defined benefit and, of course, too, is tax deferred. individual 401(k)s. While easy to establish, individual The three most common retirement 401(k) documents are more complex plans are the Simplified Employee than those of a SEP or Simple IRA. Pension plan (a SEP IRA), a Savings This generally means that a third party Incentive Match Plan for Employees (a provides the plan document, keeps Simple IRA), and the individual 401(k) the plan up to date, and files reports. plan. These plans have a common (The good news is that the income tax denominator: They must be established savings should more than pay for the prior to the end of the tax year, typically needed administration.) by October. For the right small Many people get Most plans do not business owner, the require the employee individual 401(k) can confused regarding to contribute to the a great way to save the amount of money be plan when they are income taxes now you can contribute established. The while accumulating reason is that you are to your SEP or 401(k). more money for establishing – as a self- Remember it is based retirement income. As employed individual is the case with any on your salary not – your company’s voyage, you must plot retirement plan. out the solution that your income. Contributions can fits your needs. come later. So how do you determine which SEP IRAs were designed for small option is best for you? In short, how do businesses. Unlike an IRA, the company you pay yourself? If you pay yourself a primarily funds the SEP, not the large salary, then a SEP or 401(k) might employee. SEPs are usually held in the be the best plan for you. same types of money accounts that Many people get confused hold IRAs, such as mutual funds. regarding the amount of money you Since contributions are deposited can contribute to your SEP or 401(k). into employee-owned accounts, there Remember it is based on your salary is no IRS reporting to add complexity. not your income. In fact, the most common form of SEP Salaries are the amount of money only requires that the employer fill in you receive and pay Social Security and the blanks on a short contribution Medicare taxes on. agreement (IRS Form 5305-SEP), If you pay yourself a small salary and give a copy to each employee. A and take the rest of your earnings as SEP allows tax-deductible, employer profit you’re your company, you might contributions up to 25 percent consider a Simple IRA as you would be of compensation to a maximum able to contribute more with this plan. contribution of $44,000 in 2006. Start planning now for next year’s For example, if Capt. Ed is paid a tax season. It’s a lot more enjoyable to salary of $100,000 from his business keep your money for those golden years – Capt. Ed’s Maritime Services – the rather than paying more taxes. company could put $25,000 of it into his account. Just as with a traditional A former captain, Mark A. Cline is a IRA, Capt. Ed would pay no taxes on financial analyst and mortgage broker, that money until retirement. and is a partner in Capital Marine In a Simple IRA, the employee Alliance in Ft. Lauderdale. Contact contributes money and the employer him at (954) 302-2372 or mark.cline@ – i.e. your business – makes some capitalmarinealliance.net.
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May 2006
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PREDICTIONS
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Bull ahead, Taurus - it’s a good month TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Happy birthday, Taurus! Frustrating delays test your perseverance. Do your best to stay on course and move ahead as swiftly as possible before Neptune stages a bring-about on the 22nd. Something magnificent comes your way on the 12th. Your oracle this month says: “A jewelry shop filled with the most Looking Up magnificent jewels.” Maya White Keep this message close to your heart in coming months. You may meet Mr. or Ms. “right” on the 25th, or renew your affection for the one already in your life. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) The full Moon weekend will be special this month, Gemini. It’s a full-blown kumatage, and all you need do is appreciate it. You have plenty of confidence on the 11th just be sure to pay attention to details. Longstanding problems are resolved on the 12th as a fair wind opens doors that help you see things in a new light. Then, on the 14th, you’re in the driver’s seat. Maintain your focus, and don’t get off track. Your energies are high and you get the respect you deserve as Mercury enters
your sign on the 19th, which boosts both your vitality and mental acuity. CANCER (June 21-July 21) A workplace or professional friendship takes on a special shine. Are you ready to change the dynamics of this relationship? Don’t think others are oblivious to this chemistry; this is one you cannot hide even though it’s one you’d rather mull for a bit. That’s OK. This attraction must prove seaworthy through a test of time. You have plenty of chances to think about it. Peak day for this situation is the 23rd. If you are already happily attached, enjoy the spark of recommitment that is available now. LEO (July 22-Aug. 22) Your calendar is full, and your mind is on overload. The good news is that this month is productive and, best of all, to your longterm benefit. On the 3rd, take some time out. There is an inner message that must come out, and it will prepare you for the whirlwind ahead. You’re in a great position now to negotiate and get exactly what you want, but proceed with your feet firmly on deck and your eyes and ears on high alert. Check for details and read the fine print on the 11th, the 15th, and on the 22nd. You’ll be glad you did. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) You may well gauge the rest of your life as “before” and/or “after” May 7. On that day, the stars present an all-powerful lineup that transforms your future and commemorates the past. May’s full moon is in Scorpio, a sign with which you have much in common. Work at play and play at work on the 12th and 13th. Plan a special day for reflection on the 28th. It’s perfect for formulating your next strategic plan of action. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 21) You will be tested this month, and I know you’ll emerge with wind in your sails. Other people have plans and perceptions of you that may not be accurate. Keep a weather eye open; someone appears to have your best interests at heart but actions don’t match words. Stay on course. We don’t want you pooped by a high following sea. Aside from that, May is fabulous, fabulous for Librans. Peak days are the 7th and the 13th. SCORPIO (Oct. 22-Nov. 21) May reads like an action-packed novel, Scorpio. Since we are all authors of our own lives, take a moment and decide how you’d like yours to read. Last month was the intro and now you begin the first chapter. Be very clear and concise on the 15th when a small omission has potential to grow out of control. You are especially passionate and intense on the 25th. A vision formed on the 28th will bear fruit. The Scorpio heart is housed in a will of iron, but inside is
treasure equal that of the Atocha. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 20) Rules of the road tie up your time and attention. Remember red-right-return on the 1st, 3rd and 4th, the 18th and 19th, and for sure the 22nd. Haphazard doesn’t cut it. Follow magnetic bearing and come out a winner. The moon in your sign from late Saturday the 13th until Monday evening comes with a special revelation, but you need quiet time to understand all it has to say. Head out for a sea trial on the 14th; make it last all day. CAPRICORN (Dec. 21-Jan. 19) Being ruled by Saturn, yours is the sign most grounded in the physical world and all of its trappings. May is the perfect month for you to come about and then explore some new territory. Part of this journey is really hearing what other people have to say. Someone is trying to reach you on the 18th, but you don’t seem to listen. They will call out again on the 23rd; pay attention this time. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 17) May is much to your liking: organized yet with wiggle room to create magic. Lay low on the 10th as Sun squares Neptune; you are vulnerable to this energydraining aspect. Avoid conflict on the 20th when you receive a message that is not exactly what you wanted. There is more to the story that will be revealed by month’s end. You will have the real scoop by the 31st, but not sooner. PISCES (Feb. 18-March 19) You may end up on the wrong end of the witch’s broom if you’re not careful. Be very clear about your intentions on the 15th; what you say and what you mean get snarled in communication crossfire. If there is room for doubt, get things in writing. With all that in place, this can be a swimmingly lovely time. Mother Nature because has something to tell you. ARIES (March 20-April 19) Venus fills your sails from the 3rd until the 28th and she will give you lots of practice in learning to share all of the good love you have to offer. Expand your tolerance and overcome the urges of the Arian inner child who wants it all, and preferably now. The 7th is an amazing day; your energies are high, and so are your spirits. Enjoy. Ask for that raise on the 27th; you deserve it! Maya White is a professional astrologer living in South Florida. With 25 years experience, she is one of only 86 people in the world certified in AstroCarto-Graphy, a specialized branch of astrology that addresses issues relating to location and travel. Contact her at 954-920-2373 or through www. whitestarasrtology.com.
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IN THE STARS
Get a good look at massive Jupiter in May By Jack Horkheimer The king of the planets – Jupiter – is at opposition the first week of May, which means it is at its closest, biggest and brightest for the entire year. And not only will it dazzle you with just the naked eye, but with even a cheap pair of binoculars you’ll be able to see several of its largest moons. An hour after sunset any night the first week of May, face southeast. Just above the horizon, the brightest light you see will be the largest of the planets, 88,000-mile-wide Jupiter. Our little planet Earth is only 8,000 miles wide, so we could line up 11 Earths side by side across Jupiter’s middle. Although opposition is an astronomical term, all it really means is that Jupiter is opposite the Sun as seen from Earth. Whenever a planet is at opposition, it is at its closest – only 410 million miles away. That’s almost 200 million miles closer than it was in October, so it’s really close. So close that people with acute vision may actually be able to see four of its largest moons with just the naked eye, which will look like tiny pinpoints of light. In fact, May 6 – National Astronomy Day – you’ll see two moons on each side of Jupiter: Callisto and Io on one side, Europa and Ganymede on the other. All but Europa are larger than our own 2,000-mile-wide Moon. Through even the cheapest department-store telescope, you’ll see Jupiter’s horizontal bands of weather, plus you can actually watch the four largest moons change their position in relation to Jupiter night after night as
they constantly orbit the planet king. You can see Jupiter all night long for the first couple of weeks of May.
Mizar in the handle
Have you heard the story about the horse on the handle of the Big Dipper? Facing due north any spring evening before midnight and, depending on the exact hour (and whether it’s March, April, May or early June), the Big Dipper will be high up off the horizon either to the east or west of the North Star, or directly above it. Four stars trace out its cup and three stars make up its handle. But we’re going to pay attention to the one star at the bend of the handle, a star named Mizar. If you look closely, you will see that it is not just one star but two. Indeed, right next to Mizar you can see a slightly dimmer star, a star named Alcor, which in Arabic means “the lost or friendless one.” Centuries ago, it was said these stars were used as a kind of ancient eye exam for a famous sultan’s army. If a recruit could see both stars, he was in; if he couldn’t, he was out. These two stars became popularly known as “the horse and the rider,” bright Mizar being the horse and dimmer Alcor the friendless rider. You can see them for yourself any night you can see the Big Dipper. If we aim a spectroscope at Alcor, you would see that this so-called friendless one is not so friendless after all. In fact, Alcor has a companion rider, another star invisible to the naked eye, thus making Alcor two riders on Mizar the horse. But that’s not exactly true either
because if we look really close at Mizar we discover that Mizar is also not just one star, and not even two, three or four stars. Mizar is, in fact, a rare quintuple star. In other words when we look at this ancient Arab representation of a solitary horse with a solitary rider, we are in reality looking at two horsemen driving a team of five horses across the night sky on the bend of the handle of the big dipper. Seven stars all told, six of which are twice as big as our own million-mile-wide Sun and at least 50 percent brighter. Incredible isn’t it?
The moon as your guide
Starting Memorial Day weekend (May 27-29), you can use the Moon to find three sometimes-hard-tofind planets. On May 28 just before dark, face northwest and an exquisite crescent Moon will be parked right next to 3,000-mile-wide Mercury. On May 29, it will be parked between Mercury and 4,000-mile-wide Mars. And on May 30, right next to Mars. On May 31, it will be directly above the beautiful ringed planet, 75,000mile-wide Saturn. Mercury will be 116 million miles away, Mars 200 million and Saturn 900 million. Jack Horkheimer is executive director of the Miami Museum of Science. This is the script for his weekly television show co-produced by the museum and WPBT Channel 2 in Miami. It is seen on public television stations around the world. For more information about stars, visit www.jackstargazer.com.
Star gazing is easy with this expert primer By Jack Horkheimer Getting started star gazing is easy. All you need are clear starry nights, your naked eye and a little information. Mother Nature will provide the starry nights, you already have the naked eye and I’ll provide the information. Before you know it, you’ll know an awful lot, from the origins, history and mythology of the stars to the super duper science behind them. Plus, best of all, you’ll learn how to find them. For discussion’s sake, our skies are set up for mid-spring – late April, early May – in early evening about 8 to 10 p.m. facing due north, at mid latitudes across North America, which is where most North Americans live. And we’ll consider the stars the way they’d be seen on a moonless night away from city lights. We want to familiarize you with the stars under dark skies the way our ancestors saw them for thousands of years. Directly in front of you due north
are seven stars all about the same brightness. Four of them make a small rectangle with three equally spaced stars to their right. Many stars in groups like this seem to form patterns and most North Americans refer to these stars as the Big Dipper. The four stars make a cup and the three stars make a handle. A dipper with a handle was used for dipping water out of a bucket from a well and was a favorite star pattern of early American pioneers.
Finding the North Star
The Big Dipper is always above the horizon every night of the year across most of North America although in different positions. This was important because the Big Dipper is the easiest way to find the North Star, which was extremely important to pioneers and navigators at night because it always showed them where north was, and it still does. To find the North Star, simply take the two stars at the end of the cup, measure the distance between them
mentally five and a half times then shoot an arrow through them and you’ll land smack dab right on the North Star no matter where the dipper happens to be, any hour of the night, any season of the year. If we set up our skies for early evening in mid-summer, we see that the Big Dipper and all the other stars except the North Star have moved from east to west and the dipper is to the left – that is west – of the North Star. And once again we shoot an arrow through the two stars at the end of the cup five and a half times away and bingo, we land on the North Star. If we set our skies for early evening mid-autumn when the Big Dipper is underneath the North Star, our arrow trick still works. Even in the cold of mid-winter when the Big Dipper is to the right – that is east – of the north star, our arrow trick still finds the North Star. So your first step in star gazing is to find the North Star using what else? The Big Dipper.
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HOBBIES
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Andrew Grego’s ‘used’ motorcyle had 800 miles on it.
PHOTO/CAPT. BRAD TATE
‘You gotta have toys, you know?’ By Capt. Brad Tate
summer this year. “You gotta have toys, you know?” Andrew Grego, captain of M/Y Capt. Grego said. Bellflower, spends his time in Ft. He has been riding motorcycles Lauderdale riding his 2005 Harley since he was 15 years old, having had Davidson Road King Hondas and Suzukis Police Cruiser. It was (750s, 1100s, etc.) Yacht captains and a true police bike, in his hometown of crew have a variety of serving as an officer’s Christchurch, New motorcycle. Therefore, interests. This column is Zealand. it only rode in parades, And speaking meant to show off some funerals, etc. of New Zealand, of them. If you have an So when Grego’s Grego still has a 1970 interesting hobby, choice Triumph Stag in the wife, Karen, bought it as a birthday present, garage there, which he car or other diversion it had a whopping gets to drive about one from yachting, we want 800 miles on it. They month a year when he to know about it. Send us goes home on holiday. shipped it to Newport a little info at editorial@ for the summer and It is an original, then rode it back to Ft. the-triton.com. matching numbers car, Lauderdale, where he which he is extremely rides it daily to work. proud of. That one is They recently went to Daytona Bike his baby. week with it, where Karen promptly slept on the back on the way up. They Contact Capt. Brad Tate at btate@ will ship it to Newport again for the flagshipmarinas.com.
AREN’T THEY COOL? Mike Prado’s children are all grown, so he carries photos of his other babies in his wallet: a 1948 Ford c o nve r t i b l e, a 1940 Ford coupe and a 1956 Chevy pick-up. His wife, Shawna, has a photo of their 1922 Chevrolet roadster as the screen saver on her computer. All of Mike’s babies run; Shawna’s is lawn art and is filled with flowers and plants at their Pompano Beach PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE PRADO home. Prado runs Atlas Marine Systems.
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OF EVENTS CALENDAR
Page
A1A Chem Dry A14 Antibes Yachtwear A34 Argonautica Yacht Interiors A41 ARW Maritime A21 Ashley Marina A10 Automated Marine Systems A14 Axon Products A4 Bahia Mar Yachting Center A16 The Beard Marine Group A36 Bellingham Marine B9 Bennett Brothers Yachts A12 Bluewater Books & Charts A25 Boat Blinds International B14 Boater’s World A25 The Boathouse B25 Bradford: The Shipyard Group B10 Bravo Delta Engineering B13 Broward Marine A39 Brownie’s Yachtdiver B4 Buccaneer Beach Bar B10 Budget Marine A24 Business cards B16-21 C&N Yacht Refinishing A2 Camper & Nicholsons International A29 Camille’s Cafe A25 Cape Ann Towing A35 Claire’s Marine Outfitters A7 Constitution Marina A12 Deep Sea Adventures B8 D.N. Kelley & Sons, Inc. A33 Dockwise Yacht Transport A9,A37 Dunn Marine A24 Ecoland Expeditions B11 Edd Helms Marine A26 Elite Crew International A37 Emerald Bay B8 Essentials Boutique A25 Finish Masters B9 Global Marine Travel A5 Global Satellite B13 Global WiFi B24 Global Yacht Fuel B23 Gourmet Galley A38 Harbor Shops A25 Hospice Fundraiser B12 Inlet Fine Wine & Spirits B5 Island Marine Electric A34 Kemplon Marine A17 Larry Smith Worldwide B31 Lauderdale Propeller A6 Lauderdale Speedometer B28 Lifeline Inflatable Services B23 Light Bulbs Unlimited B6
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EVENT OF MONTH - 18TH ANNUAL MYBA CHARTER SHOW
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Mackay Communications A36 Mail Boxes Etc. B24 Mail Quarters A18 Mango Marine A4 Maritime Professional Training A19 Marshall Islands Yacht Registry B14 Matthew’s Marine B11 Megafend A22-23 MHG Marine Benefits B7 The Mrs. G Team A26 Multihulls A21 National Design & Print A15 Nauti Tech A11 Newport Shipyard A8 Newport Yachting Center A21 North Cove Marina B6 Northrop & Johnson A17 Ocean World Marina A3 Oregon Camera Systems A13 Orion Yacht Solutions B27 Perry Law Firm B11 Pier 17 A35 Professional Tank Cleaning A39 Quiksigns A27 Radio Holland USA A20 Resolve Marine Group B2 Rich Beers Marine A20 River Supply River Services A28 Rossmare International Bunkering B28 RPM Diesel Engine Co. A10 Sailorman A2 Schot Designer Photography B28 Secure Chain & Rope Company A38 Shadow Marine B32 Smart Move A41 SRI Specialty Risk International B23 St Augustine Marine B26 St. Lawrence Gallery A40 SunPro Marine B26 Sunshine Medical Center B31 Todd Michaels Floral Company A42 TowBoatUS A40 Turtle Cove Marina B6 Village East B3 Virgin Islands Charteryacht League B28 Wesmar B26 Westrec Marinas A42 Wet Effect A36 Windjammer B29 Yacht Entertainment Systems B24 Yacht Equipment & Parts A44 Yachting Pages A40 Yachting Unlimited B15
The 18th annual MYBA Charter Show will be held at Marina Molo Vecchio, Porto Antico in Genoa, Italy. PHOTO COURTESY OF MYBA
MAY 2-6 Genoa, Italy Now in its 18th year, the former International Yacht Charter Meeting is now officially the MYBA Charter Show. (It’s still just the Genoa Show to us.) The Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association moved the show to Genoa from San Remo in 2001 and has added lots of improvements, including WiFi access and a reception area. More than 60 yachts 65 feet and larger are registered (with an additional 13 on a waiting list), brokers from 90 companies will be there, 56 companies are exhibiting and pesky reporters and photographers from more than a dozen media organizations will be walking the docks. Triton Editor Lucy Reed will be there, too. Watch for her. Stop her. Get a little gift. For more information about the show, visit www.mybachartershow.net.
Beautiful music to be had at St. Lucia Jazz Festival April 30-May 5 39th annual
Rolex Antigua Sailing Week, www. sailingweek.com
May 3 Coral Reefs and Sustainable
Marine Tourism, a free workshop offered by the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Broward County Extension Office, Davie. Workshop will examine the socioeconomic value of coral reefs, the results of the latest scientific research, global and local threats to coral reefs, innovative local solutions, and how to market sustainability. It is funded by NOAA and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Other workshops to be held May 6 in Miami Shores and May 10-11 in West Palm Beach. For info or to register, contact Alex Brylske 239-281-1197 or abrylske@ coral.org.
May 5-14 15th Annual St. Lucia Jazz
Festival. www.stluciajazz.org, slutour@ candw.lc, or in the U.S. 800-456-3984
May 5-7 16th annual Spring
Charteryacht Show, St. Thomas, USVI, American Yacht Harbor, pamela@vicl. org, (800)524-2061. http://vicl.org/
events.html May 6-7 McDonald’s Air & Sea Show, Fort Lauderdale beach between Las Olas and Oakland Park boulevards. Featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels demonstration team and the Canadian Forces Snowbirds. Free. (954) 527-5600, ext. 4; www.nationalsalute.com
May 7 SunTrust Sunday Jazz Brunch
(first Sunday of every month) at Riverwalk from 11 to 2, Ft. Lauderdale. Free. www.fortlauderdale.gov
May 9 International Marine Standards
Summit and ISO Plenary Session, Annapolis. Hosted by the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC), in conjunction with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee (TC) 188 Plenary Session (May 11). For info, contact Cindy Love, at (410) 956-1050, ext. 28 or clove@abycinc.org, www.abyinc.org.
May 17-21 Beirut Boat 2006, Beirut,
Lebanon. The fifth annual International Boat & Superyacht show. The Middle East’s luxury pleasure boat sector
See CALENDAR, page B31
The Triton
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
May 2006
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Be a part of the in crowd at the Cannes Film Festival CALENDAR, from page B30 accounts for almost a fifth of global super-yacht sales. Surging luxury boat sales have, in turn, generated massive demand for mooring facilities. Regional seafront developers have responded by building one luxury marina after another. www.biztradeshows.com/ trade-events/boat-beirut.html
May 17-28 59th Cannes Film Festival,
Foundation, 954-467-1366, www. oceanwatch.org/reefsweep05.htm
Rendezvous, Monaco. Includes the 17th annual ShowBoats Awards at the Grimaldi Forum, the Bal de la Mer Gala dinner at the Hotel de Paris. www. showboats.com.
June 12-24
JVC Jazz FestivalNew York featuring 300 artists in 100 concerts in 30 venues across Manhattan and Brooklyn. 212-5011390/1393, www.festivalproductions. net.
June 21-25 Bahamas Summer Boating July 3-7 West Marine Pacific Cup race. Fling to Port Lucaya Marina. www. bahamas.com, 242-373-9090.
June 13-19 The U.S. Open, Winged
Cannes, France. www.festival-cannes. org
Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, NY. One of golf ’s majors tournaments. www.pga. com.
May 18-21 32nd annual Newport
June 14-18 Bahamas Summer Boating
Spring Boat Show, Newport Yachting Center, 366 Thames St., (401) 846-1115, www.newportspringboatshow.com
May 18-21 Sanctuary Cove
Fling to Bimini. www.bahamas.com, (242)347-3166.
June 21-25 ShowBoats International
of the top athletes in this sport. The local qualifier is on Friday (free), the main draw competition is on Saturday ($15), with men and women’s finals on Sunday ($15). www.avp.com
June 26-July 9 Wimbledon, London. One of the six grand slam tennis tournaments with more than 5.8 million pounds in prize money. www. wimbledon.org.
June 29-July 2 AVP Pro Beach
Volleyball Tour, Seaside Heights, N.J. This is the seventh tournament of the 2006 series featuring more than 150
www.pacificcup.org
July 5-14 Bahamas Summer Boating
Fling (Extended Fling) to Bimini/Chub Cay/Nassau/Andros. www.bahamas. com, (954)236-9292 or (800) 327-7678.
July 7-8 Shake-a-Leg Newport’s Wall
Street Corporate Challenge Cup, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Racing is visible from Goat Island and Newport Bridge. Write to P.O. Box 1264, Newport, R.I., visit www. shakealeg.org or call 401-846-5549.
International Boat Show, Australia. www.sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au
May 19 Australian Superyacht
Industry Gala Awards, Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove. For info, contact Lance Cushion at +61 (7) 5577 9933 or lcushion@superyachtbase.com.
May 24-26 Project USA, Hotel
Monteleone, New Orleans. Three-day conference of panel discussions and professional sessions. Hosted by The Yacht Report. www.theyachtreport.com
May 25-28 Monaco Grand Prix,
Monaco, www.monaco-f1grandprix. com
May 28-June 11 The French Open,
Paris. One of the six grand slam tennis tournaments with more than 6 million euro in prize money. Played on clay. www.fft.fr/rolandgarros/fr/
June 3 25th annual Great Chowder
Cook-off, Newport Yachting Center, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., $20 ($15 in advance), 401846-1600, www.newportfestivals.com
June 3 5th annual Women’s Sailing
Conference, sponsored by BoatU.S. and organized by the National Women’s Sailing Association, Corinthian Yacht Club, Marblehead, Mass. $110 for NWSA members, $145 non-members, plus $15 late fee. www.BoatUS. com/women and click on Training/ Seminars, 866-631-6972.
June 4 SunTrust Sunday Jazz Brunch
(first Sunday of every month) at Riverwalk from 11 to 2, Ft. Lauderdale. Free. www.fortlauderdale.gov
June 10 18th annual Reef Sweep
and Beach Cleanup, Ft. Lauderdale, 9 a.m. to noon, followed by a BBQ party. Organized by Ocean Watch
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