Captain’s briefing Tips from federal officials. A4
Internet scam
Tattoo who?
Some employers frown on ink. C1 Vol. 5, No.9
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Safety drills do get done, but do they get done well?
Eager crew give Capt. JC Castro resumés for on open mate/stew position on his 75-foot Hatteras.
PHOTO/DORIE COX
A fair success: 500 crew, 27 exhibitors From many corners of the globe, a diverse crowd came armed with resumés and business cards. Each had a story as varied at their background. More than 500 l Photos, A24-25 people attended The Triton’s first Job and Crew Fair in Ft. Lauderdale on Nov. 10. From employed crew, newbies trying to break into yachting, seasoned crew looking
A27 December 2008
THE TRITON’S JOB AND CREW FAIR
By Dorie Cox
Captain warns of bogus job offers.
for change, to yachties hoping to enhance their positions, most sectors of yachting were represented. “I’m not sure if this is a good sign or a bad sign for the industry,” said Capt. Les Annan of M/Y Portofino of the high attendance. Twenty-seven exhibitors were also there, representing education, placement services, insurance and benefits, professional services, provisioning, brokerage, travel, and
more. Asked why so many appear to be seeking positions, Sue Price of Crew Unlimited elaborated on a few possibilities. “First of all, it’s getting cold in Australia,” she quipped. “We also hear stories of how someone’s brother’s friend is in the industry and said to come to Ft. Lauderdale. And, if crew do
See JOB FAIR, page A23
Yachties’ election voting totals mirror U.S. results: Obama a clear winner Yachties of the world voted decidedly for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama for president of the United States. More than 60 percent of yacht captains, crew and business people who cast ballots in The Triton’s mock yachtie election chose Obama, who came out the winner in nearly every category. See the full story and more statistics on page C1. U.S. voters also chose Obama on Nov. 4, though the margin was a closer 53 to 46 percent. Obama, the nation’s first black president, takes office after a ceremony Jan. 20. – Lucy Reed
McCain – 38% 461 votes Obama – 61% 740 votes
This month’s discussion topic comes courtesy of a captain who is worried. I bumped into him at the Ft. Lauderdale boat show and he wanted to know why we don’t write more about safety, a topic he considered the most important in the industry. And he spent the next 15 From the Bridge minutes telling me Lucy Chabot Reed why. So I invited him to lunch. He couldn’t make it but his topic did. And I asked it as bluntly as possible. Do you do safety drills? Most everyone nodded. I was skeptical, so I pressed the nonnodders. “I’m not as experienced as everybody else here so I’m glad to be here to learn more,” one captain said. “Not as frequently as we should,” another captain admitted. “You’ve got to find the time, and it’s not easy. I ask the crew to help me find the time.” 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 A20. Several captains offered some suggestions for the time problem. “We do our safety briefing with guests when they’re getting settled,” a captain said. “We give them a welcome cocktail and the first mate gives the briefing, goes over the safety gear and muster station. Within the first day, we’ve had a fire drill and a man-overboard drill. They’re part of it and they can see we can handle any situation.” “Something I found effective with time is with people on watch,” another captain said. “They have assignments. I tell them to find all the life jackets and fire extinguishers on the boat. In the morning briefing, I’ll ask them for the schematic. Then I toss out a scenario:
See BRIDGE, page A20
A December 2008 WHAT’S INSIDE
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Stews show their place (settings)
Find out the winners to the first Perfect Setting Tabletop Challenge at FLIBS. Page A16. PHOTO/DORIE COX
Advertiser directory C23 Boats / Brokers A18 Business Briefs A14 Calendar of events B21-22 Cruising Grounds B15-17 Columns: Communications C6 In the Galley C1 In the Stars B13 Latitude Adjustment A3 Literary Review C19 Nutrition C8 Personal Finance C14 Onboard Emergencies B4 Photography B12 Rules of the Road B1
Security B2 Stew Cues C7 Superyacht operations B6 Features: Life After Yachting C4 Fuel prices B5 Marinas / Yards B14 Networking Q/A C3 Networking photos C2 News A1,4-6,9-10 Photo Galleries A16-17,A24-25, B18-19, C18 Technology B1-B11 Triton spotter B23 Triton survey C1 Write to Be Heard A27-31
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LATITUDE ADJUSTMENT
O’Neill leaves Lady Michelle to take over Princess Mariana Lots of life-altering and lifechanging events from yacht crew as 2008 draws to a close. Capt. Mike O’Neill left M/Y Lady Michelle after a busy and “fantastic” Med charter season and took over M/Y Princess Latitude Mariana. Before Adjustment he left, though, Lucy Chabot Reed he helped the owner and crew plan a trip down to South Africa. Lady Michelle’s former first officer, now-Capt. Brett Gething, has taken command and by mid-November, was en route down the west coast of Africa to Cape Town and then will cruise the East coast of Africa to the Seychelles. Princess Mariana, on the other hand, was in Mexico in November, heading through the Panama Canal to be in St. Maarten in time for Christmas. O’Neill will be back in the Med next summer.
Capt. Bill Hawes was married to Colleen Lockwood (a nonyachtie) on Nov. 7 on Ft. Lauderdale beach with a reception at the Bonnet House for about 90 family and friends. If that wasn’t enough to have Hawes beaming, his latest command, the new M/Y Destination Fox Harb’r Too, graces the cover of the November issue of Showboats International magazine. Congratulations to you both. Chef Tim Wigston has stepped ashore to head up the provisions division at Yacht Chandlers in Ft. Lauderdale. After more than 10 years in the Wigston galley on some of the industry’s highest- profile yachts (including M/Y Laurel and M/Y
Utopia), Wigston said he just couldn’t leave his dog anymore. Charlie, a bulldog-boxer mix, is a rescue pooch and Wigston has helped him survive. Charlie, though, has helped Wigston survive, too. “Those sad puppy eyes, it was really getting hard to leave,” he said. “They just pushed me over the edge.” Wigston landed on his feet at Yacht Chandlers, proud of the fact that a yacht chef is helping yacht chefs in their provisioning needs. “I’m really enjoying it,” he said. “I don’t miss cooking so much because I’m still involved in food. A big part of cooking on a yacht is sourcing the best ingredients. I cook for friends now, which is much more social and enjoyable. It can be challenging to cook on a yacht.” Capt. John Campbell has left M/Y Laymar II and taken command of S/Y Timoneer, a 45m yacht designed by Dubois and built by Vitters. After a few years being Campbell based in the Med, Campbell returned to Savannah in November to sail Timoneer to Antigua in time for the Superyacht Regatta. As the holidays approach, we always wonder about ways to give back and help those who have it a bit worse off than ourselves. Inspired by her college friend who started a summer camp in Haiti, Stew Anna Kozma will this month head down to Haiti to help a village rebuild. “I’ve been looking for ways to give back,” she said. “I’ve been so wrapped up Kozma in the yacht world and there’s so much wealth in it. So I’m going down to build some houses, deliver medicine and just give back.” You may have seen Kozma at our party in October. She was trying to raise money for her trip, but wasn’t too successful. Anyone with time or money to spare and an interest in the Haiti Restoration Project, contact Kozma through www. camphopehaiti.blogspot.com. What do you have in store for 2009? Have you made an adjustment in your latitude recently? Let us know. Send news of your promotion, change of yachts or career, or personal accomplishments to Editor Lucy Chabot Reed at lucy@the-triton.com.
December 2008
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A December 2008 NEWS: USSA Captains Briefing
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Captains and crew spoke one-on-one with the panelists after the event, PHOTO/DORIE COX obtaining valuable phone numbers.
USSA’s latest captains briefing includes panel of federal officials By Lucy Chabot Reed About 75 captains, senior officers and others assembled at the U.S. Superyacht Association’s Captains Briefing at the Ft. Lauderdale boat show to ask questions and discuss immigration and clearance issues. Unlike previous briefings the USSA has organized, this one included a panel of high-ranking federal officials, several of whom had their first interaction with the yachting industry. After long introductions and short presentations, attending captains were able to ask questions. A few questions to Capt. Scott Ferguson, chief of the prevention division of U.S. Coast Guard District 7, revealed that the district is likely to require advanced notice of arrivals (ANOAs) from all foreignflagged vessels regardless of tonnage. The district stretches from the North/ South Carolina border around the penisula of Florida to midway through the panhandle, including the Keys, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “We’re a little different down here,” he said of Sector Miami, which stretches from just south of Cape Canaveral to the top of the Florida Keys. “We’re already 0 gross tonnage requirement [for foreign-flagged vessels to file an ANOA]. The Captain of the Port couldn’t handle that so we took 300 tons. When the National Vessel Movement Center got online and the system started working, Sector Miami went to 0. “Now we’re looking at, based on the capabilities of the system, 0 tonnage for all of District 7, perhaps even by
the end of the year,” Ferguson said. “I promise, we’ll walk you through it and make it easy.” Many in the room, though, wanted to hear about visas. “I know there’s a lot of confusion with visas,” said Anthony Pagliai, nonimmigrant visa chief with the U.S. Department of State, the agency that issues U.S. visas around the world. “It’s opaque, at best.” He indicated the B1 visa is correct for private yacht crew coming to the United States to work. Crew wanting to work on commercially registered yachts can ask for and hold a C1/D and a B1/ B2 at the same time, he said. “I can’t stress this enough: Be prepared,” Pagliai said. “Bring proof that you are not abandoning your home country. Bring proof that your job exists, in the form of a letter from the captain, the ship’s registration, the Coast Guard’s clearance to operate in U.S. waters and your qualifications. And bring proof that it’s a pleasure vessel.” A few other questions from captains in the room: Q: Can a professional mariner get a visa without a job? Pagliai: Yes, if the person otherwise qualifies for a tourist visa, the B2. It’s a grey zone to come in looking for work. You’ve got to convince the consular officer that you have a home that you don’t intend to abandon. The presumption of our immigration system is that people intend to stay. If a person has had a visa, it’s usually not a problem to renew it. You may
See USSA, page A5
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NEWS: USSA Captains Briefing
Q&A a chance to tackle specifics USSA, from page A4 have more trouble with a first-time applicant. Q: The engineer on my vessel has a B1 that is expiring. Should I just fly him out to re-enter? Pagliai: You can apply for an extension in 6-month increments. But it’s not Customs and Border Protection. You don’t go to the port of entry. It is CIS, Citizenship and Immigration Services. You’ve got to go to that agency in Miami. Or check online for the closest office (www.uscis.gov). Q: If I change boats while I’m here, do I need to re-enter? Pagliai: As a rule, we annotate a visa. We always do it on a C1/D. With a B1/B2, sometimes it’s annotated, sometimes it’s not. It’s at the discretion of the officer. You want to show continuity. Though not part of this panel, Jack Garofano was in attendance and offered some advice. Garofano is the assistant director of field operations in the Miami office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection “You can’t go yacht shopping within the United States,” he said. “If you go out and the conditions of continuity apply, OK, you’re coming back in, making a new application for entry. You can’t leave one yacht and go to another one without telling us.” “Flying to the Bahamas is probably not a bad idea,” Pagliai said. If you are just trying to reset your time, that won’t work. But if you are changing vessels, it’s appropriate to apply for re-entry.” Q: When a crew member quits, is it my responsibility to inform customs? Garofano: The primary responsibility falls to the individual. Some questions had no clear answers. One non-U.S. captain asked what happens to his visa and status if his boss changes boats or if his current boat sells and he remains in the employ
of the owner. The panelists were unsure and the answer was unclear. One captain wanted to know why his Polish stew was deported after attending a South Florida maritime school to obtain her STCW. Enrolling in school is not permitted under the B1 work visa nor the B2 visitor visa. A different visa is needed for school. Julie Liberatore of Maritime Professional Training, one of the sponsors of the event, said she planned to investigate that further. In an effort to make it easier for foreign yacht crew to obtain visas to work in U.S. waters, the USSA is working on a form letter for B1/B2 application. “The biggest issues are sometimes in the wording,” said Capt. George Whitehouse, who is now director of marina operations at Rybovich in West Palm Beach. He said he has several successful letters that avoid the word commercial. Daniel Piscopo with the Trusted Traveler Programs division of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Washington, introduced yachties to the Global Entry Program, and urged them to sign up for the Local Boater Option. The Global Entry Program started in late October in Miami. It allows U.S. citizens, once approved, to clear customs through a kiosk that takes 81 seconds, he said. Application is online at www.globalentry.gov, costs $100 and is valid for five years. The Local Boater Option is another expedited customs entry system in effect in South Florida. Enrollment is at a South Florida point of entry and then enables U.S. boaters to report in telephonically. To make an appointment to enroll in Port Everglades, call +1-954-761-2004. Lucy Chabot Reed is editor of The Triton. Comments on this story are welcome at lucy@the-triton.com.
New visa allows 12 months in Oz The Australian government has introduced a new visa that will allow crew members to work on superyachts and remain in Australia for up to 12 months. On Oct. 27, amendments to Migration Regulations 1994 created the temporary Superyacht Crew (class UW) visa class and the Superyacht Crew (subclass 488) visa subclass. “The Superyacht Crew visa is being introduced as part of the Government’s election commitment to support the Superyacht industry by introducing a new visa to cope with the specific needs of crew,” the government said in an announcement.
An applicant must be employed as a member of the crew of a superyacht. Applicants must be sponsored by the captain or owner of the superyacht on which they are working. Applicants can apply to stay and work in Australia for up to 12 months and can apply for a further Superyacht Crew visa onshore if required. Superyacht crew already in Australia on a business visa are not required to immediately apply for a Superyacht Crew (subclass 488) visa. These crew members can apply for the visa in Australia at any time before their substantive visa ceases. For more information, visit www.immi.gov.au.
December 2008
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A December 2008
NEWS
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Reports released in November analyze three deaths at sea in ‘06 By Dorie Cox
In the other incident, in a 2006 incident that claimed the lives of November saw the release of two two crew members, a MAIB report separate incident reports in response says the ship’s master with FR8 Ship to loss of life at sea. Both incidents Management PTE of Singapore, should occurred in heavy weather conditions. have never left the harbor and should The first was investigated by the have delayed sailing. Marine Accident Investigation Branch “At about 1220 on 11 November (MAIB), which investigates accidents 2006, while outbound from Scapa Flow involving UK ships and ships in UK and transiting the Pentland Firth, the territorial waters. The second was done 74,065 dwt Singaporean registered by the Transportation Safety Board of tanker, FR8 Venture, shipped two large Canada. waves over her bow,” the report states. Both bodies investigate accidents “This resulted in the death of two able to determine circumstances and seamen (ABs) and serious injuries to causes with the mission of improving an ordinary seaman (OS), all of whom the safety of life at sea and to help were working on the forward mooring avoid future accidents. Neither group deck. The waves also caused minor is charged with assigning fault or damage to the ship.” determining civil or criminal liability. According to the UK Coast Guard, In the first report, the training tall weather conditions were “horrendous” ship Picton Castle of Nova Scotia, including strong winds, heavy seas and Canada, lost a crew member while huge swells. Safety issues addressed by sailing in the North Atlantic Ocean. the report, say waves of the size that “On the afternoon of 05 December killed two men and injured a third 2006, the should have been barque Picton anticipated and the On Nov. 11, 2006, two Castle departed foredeck should large waves over the Lunenburg, Nova have been secured. Scotia, bound It was bow of the FR8 Venture for St. George’s, recommended resulted in the death Grenada, in the that the master of two able seamen in eastern Caribbean should revise the Sea,” a summary Scottish waters. On Dec. securing schedule, of the incident depending on 8, 2006, while in heavy from the report weather and if the weather, a deckhand states. “On board vessel is arriving were 12 crew and or leaving port to was swept overboard 16 other persons ensure crew are on on passage. who had signed deck, exposed to on as trainees. the elements, for On the evening the least amount of of Dec. 8, shortly before 2235, while in time. Also, the report stated it would be heavy weather, a deckhand was swept “prudent to concentrate the manpower overboard from the leeward side of the in one locale rather than spreading vessel. An air and sea search ensued, them out and trying to secure all over but it was unsuccessful.” as a concentrated effort will mean a The near 12,000-word report found quicker securing [sic].” seven “causes and contributing factors” The company should have had and five “findings as to risk.” These effective safety measures in place with include that the safety of the vessel was an effective plan of action. Named adversely affected by the decision to Navig8 Ship Management Pte, Ltd. sail, given the limited training of the since 2007, the shipping company has crew in emergencies and the limited reviewed all recommendations and has experience of the trainees. Issues now set policy for all its ships. regarding training, communications, Also, the MCA issued a Safety fatigue, safety drills and record keeping Alert, which gives a brief outline of the were also addressed in the report as accident and draws attention to the factors in the incident. contents of Chapter 3 of the Admiralty According to the ship’s Web site, Sailing Directions North Coast of Capt. Daniel Moreland accepts Scotland Pilot that warns mariners recommendations of the investigators of strong tides, with large waves that and has responded to the report with frequently occur in the area of Pentland an intense review and scrutiny of Firth. In light of the actions taken as a safety equipment and all practices result of this accident, the MAIB has and procedures aboard, including an issued no safety recommendations. To in-depth independent Extraordinary see details of this report see MAIB’s Safety Audit and Transport Canada Web site: www.maib.gov.uk. inspections. For the full report see The Dorie Cox is a staff reporter with Transportation Safety Board of The Triton. Comments on this story are Canada’s Web site, www.tsb.gc.ca. welcome at dorie@the-triton.com.
A December 2008 CREW NEWS: M/Y Krisujen
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Have boat, will travel: Krisujen is on the move By John Freeman Proudly Serving the Marine Community Since 1997
CREW
ACCOMMODATIONS • Active Job Networking • Nicely Renovated • Tastefully Furnished • Ideally located near Maritime Schools, Downtown Fort Lauderdale, Crew Agencies, Marinas, Restaurants, and Nightlife
Cleaner • Nicer • Safer • Cheaper
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There’s a logical explanation for M/Y Krisujen’s ususual name: It’s an amalgam of the first letters of the names of the owner’s wife (Kristine) and daughters (Susan and Jennifer). It’s pronounced “Kris-Su-Jen.” See? A 123-foot Feadship, Krisujen has “good, strong bones,” according to Capt. Simon Davidson, who has skippered the 25-year-old motoryacht the past three years. “She’s comfortable, safe and secure,” he said. “These Feadships are built to last. Given the right ownership, which we have, they’ll last forever.” Owned by a Connecticut-based auto executive/entrepreneur, Krisujen rarely stays in one place for long. Over the first 10 months of 2008, the yacht logged more than 10,000 nautical miles, including stops in Alaska, Costa Rica, the San Blas Islands off Panama and Bermuda. After a recent one-month stay at Knight & Carver YachtCenter in San Diego, the vessel headed for La Paz, Mexico, for the winter. By contrast, the favored destination for late 2009 will be Newfoundland. A New Zealand native who now resides in Newport, R.I., with his wife and three young children, Capt. Davidson has worked for the same
The crew of M/Y Krisujen, from left: Capt. Simon Davidson, First Mate Greg Love, Chief Stew Leigh Van Niekerk, Chef Tamara Thacher, day worker Santana Torres, day worker Lyndsay Allan, varnish expert Malvern Charles PHOTO/JOHN FREEMAN and Deckhand Matt Miller. owner for 17 years, mostly on sailing yachts. Krisujen marks the owner’s first venture into large yacht power boating. “Now his feeling is: What’s the point of having a boat if it stays in one place all the time? We go everywhere,” said Davidson, who was especially impressed with Alaska. “It’s spectacular, like Maine on steroids.” As for the best part of being a captain, Davidson said: “You’re in charge of a small business. You’re accountable to your crew and they’re accountable to you.” The biggest disadvantage?
“All the time you spend away from your family,” he said. “But we’re lucky because my wife and children sometimes get to join me. They go places and see things most people never experience.” 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. Comments on this story are welcome at editorial@the-triton.com.
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NEWS BRIEFS
Merrill-Stevens’ reorganization ditches yacht sales, chartering To focus on its yacht repair and refit business, Merrill-Stevens has discontinued its yacht sales and charter divisions. Those operations have been based in Fort Lauderdale for three years and will be phased out as brokers are independent contractors, according to a company release. Four positions will be eliminated and several staff will transfer to the shipyard. CEO Fred Kirtland said that shifting the core of the Miami-based business back to its origins will assure referring yacht brokers and yacht management firms that Merrill-Stevens is not in competition with them and is instead focusing on the growth of their megayacht repairs and refits. “While our general listings valued over $300 million in October, this recent action was a clear strategic business decision for us,” said Mark Bailey, Merrill Stevens’ vice president of external affairs. “‘The shipyard expansion plans remain in place and are continuing,” he said. “They will, however, needed to be carefully phased. Remember, we have to proceed while remaining operational –sort of like changing your car tires while speeding down the highway.” Founded in Florida in 1885, Merrill-Stevens is the state’s oldest continuously operating corporation and has operated at its present site on the Miami River since 1923. In 2005, the family-owned company received new ownership by Miami entrepreneurs Hugh Westbrook and Carole Shields. “The long range future of the megayacht industry is strong,” Westbrook, Merrill-Stevens co-owner and chairman, said in a statement. “Even with the unpredictability of the world economy, megayacht demand and construction worldwide remains on schedule. Our plans for an expanded and modernized megayacht repair/ refit and maintenance shipyard will continue.”
USCG targets confusing regulations The U.S. Coast Guard is amending regulations relating to merchant mariner training and service for the removal of the expiration date of the radar-observer endorsement from merchant mariner’s licenses. This would eliminate confusion regarding the expiration date of the license. The changes also permit an apprentice mate of towing vessels to reduce the sea-service time for obtaining a license as “mate (pilot) of towing vessels” by completing additional Coast Guard-approved training. This could result in an increase in the number of trained towing pilots available.
An alternate path for obtaining a license as mate (pilot) of towing vessels is created by the changes for those individuals with at least three years experience as a qualified master of steam or motor vessels 200 gross register tons or less, while maintaining or exceeding existing sea service time requirements for the mate (pilot) license. The final rule and related materials may be reviewed at www.regulations. gov, docket number USCG-2006-26202. Reported in a recent edition of Wheelhouse Weekly, a newsletter of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots.
Odd tides cause damage in Maine
Unusual tides were reported in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, in late October. During what was supposed to be low tide, residents and officials noted water to 12 feet high. Damage was caused to pilings, vessels and moorings. Initial reports suggest a rogue wave, but no agencies have verified the cause of the water movement. According to the Boothbay Register newspaper, Boothbay Harbor police officer Rich Mirabile described, “what appeared to be like rapids, going out to sea, like a rushing river.” The Register also reported that, according to Lincoln County Emergency Management Director Dave Benner, “It all started about 2:45 p.m. and we had reports of the water rising anywhere from between 4 to 12 feet. According to reports I have heard, they found no seismic activity, and I don’t think it was storm surge as reported on television.”
‘A show-within-a-show’ at FLIBS
Show Management is investigating having a show-within-a-show at the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show exclusively for megayachts. There’s not much room left to expand at the existing six sites, so show officials are “looking at other venues to make that happen,” including Rybovich near West Palm Beach, said Skip Zimbalist, owner of Show Management. “This is a top priority for us.” Helicopters have been suggested to shuttle high-powered attendees there from the Ft. Lauderdale show. – Lucy Reed
Romania eyes U.S. visa waivers
Romania has taken the first steps toward being added to the list of countries in the United States’ visa waiver program, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
December 2008
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A10 December 2008 NEWS: Yacht tax
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Critics say Washington use tax better but not good enough By Natalie Keith Despite a recent change to Washington’s use tax rules pertaining to nonresidents, the Pacific Northwest yachting community is seeking stronger measures to foster more visitors to return. Dan Wood, a founding member of the Pacific Northwest Yachting Association, said the new rule – which allows nonresidents who purchase a permit to remain in Washington for a year without incurring the tax – is beneficial to some yacht owners. For example, a yacht purchased in California can stay in Washington for a year, avoid paying taxes in California, and return to its home state after the year has ended. However, under the new rule, a yacht cannot return to Washington for two years after the permit has expired. “That works great for people from California, but there are people who want to come to Washington on a regular basis,” Wood said. “We want a waiver for people – who come from Colorado, Idaho, Utah or other places – who dutifully pay their taxes in other locations.” Wood is referring to a state law that allows nonresidents to remain in Washington for 12 months without
paying a use tax if they purchase a permit within 15 days of entering the state. Prior to the change, nonresident vessels were allowed in the state for up to 45 days without incurring the use tax. The fee for the permits is $800 for vessels over 50 feet ($500 for vessels 30 to 50 feet). After the 12-month period, the vessel must leave the state and cannot return for 24 months. If a permit is used beyond the expiration date, the owner becomes liable for the full amount of the use tax along with interest retroactive to the date of purchase. “We’re a coastal state and we want to encourage visitors,” said Mike Gowrylow, a spokesman for the Washington State Department of Revenue. “This change made it a little easier for vessels to enter Washington waters without encountering the tax man.” Nonresidents who bring vessels into the state exclusively for repairs or reconstruction are exempt if removed from the state within 60 days. Vessels in the state solely for the purpose of being sold are not subject to time limitations unless they are used in the state while they are being held for sale. The new rule went into effect July 1, 2007. As a yacht broker, Wood is authorized to sell the permits and says,
thus far, he “hasn’t sold a single one.” The change was the result of an initiative started a few years ago by yachting industry members. Chuck Foster, a lobbyist with the Northwest Yacht Brokers Association, and Cliff Webster, a lobbyist with the Northwest Marine Trade Association, lobbied upon behalf of the change. “There are annual boat shows that attract people from all over the United States and Canada. People buy expensive yachts at the boat shows,” Foster testified on behalf of the proposed change. “These people would like to remain in Washington for a year, and current law prohibits that. These people are going to British Columbia and spending their money there.” Washington isn’t the only area facing similar tax issues. In down economic times, states sometimes review tax policies in an effort to increase revenue. For example, in Maine, boats less than one year old that are docked in the state for 30 consecutive days or more are subject to a 5 percent use tax if sales tax was not paid in another location. Although the rule has been on Maine’s books for years, officials there have been enforcing it more strictly in recent years. Boating advocates argue that decreased yacht traffic harms
the local economy because there are fewer people patronizing local establishments, such as restaurants, supermarkets, etc. Fred Robinson, a maritime and tax attorney and founding member of the Pacific Northwest Yachting Association, said the new rule regarding nonresidents was instituted in response to a change in California law that required vessels to be out of the state for a year, rather than 91 days, to avoid paying taxes. Washington officials enacted the change in an effort to enhance sales opportunities in the state. “The Washington law is not limited to California residents – it applies to other states – but there are some problems with it,” Robinson said. The association has not yet began discussions with legislators about possibly expanding exemptions for nonresidents, but is having internal discussions about how to best tackle the issue. “It’s counter-productive from a business standpoint to require that yachts be out of the state for two years,” Robinson said. Natalie Keith is a freelance journalist in South Florida. Comments on this story are welcome at editorial@the-triton.com.
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DESTINATION: Middletown, RI
December 2008
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Sweet Berry Farm cherished in Rhode Island By Chef Peter Ziegelmeier
Eckhart have assembled a full culinary kitchen headed up by Chef Cory, who A little-known place to tourists but makes and bakes in the basement of special to locals, Sweet Berry Farm is the farmhouse. One of my favorites is tucked neatly away in Middletown, R.I., his white balsamic vinaigrette, which I and boasts many little treasures. buy them out of every time I visit. Upon entering the windy, rock But it is the produce that is so covered and rutted driveway, one amazing. The strawberries in the little sees a colorful wooden sign that hand-picked baskets are red through translates into “come on in.” As I and through. Small but way tasty. drove back further there were young In the late 1970s Jan Eckhart and rabbits bouncing across my path. his father planned the farm as an Smaller wooden, investment property handwritten signs with pick-your-own marked the patches strawberries and For more information of raspberries and Christmas tree sales. Sweet Berry Farm strawberries. With a failed attempt +1-401-847-3912 Greenhouses, at real estate initially, www.sweetberryfarmri.com wheelbarrows, Jan quit and went tractors and wooden into farming. tables with bright green umbrellas Meanwhile, Michelle was working lined the driveway and stones rumbled in an art gallery after graduating from under the rubber tires of my car as I Rhode Island School of Design. She came to a halt in the parking area. would go to a place called The Tap I slowly got out of the vehicle, Room, where Jan was in charge, just to admiring the scenery and the freshness talk to him. He eventually asked her to of the day. Black wrought iron tables work on the farm with him. and chairs line the stone patio on either “I wasn’t really interested in farming, side of the store farmhouse entrance. but the man…,” she said, with a smile. The store itself is a rustic wooden They purchased the farm from building that gives you that down-onAquidneck Island Land Trust, the-farm, homey feeling. encompassing 100 acres in all. Inside, proprietors Jan and Michelle Together they began to plant more
fruits and vegetables, including corn homey-feeling building came about and tomatoes, and a host of fresh-cut three years ago. Jan was a sailor for flowers. years, making yacht deliveries to the A year or so ago, the town market on BVI. Now the husband-wife team is the boulevard closed, leaving an open making a great success out of a long barn door (so to speak), which paved shot. I asked Jan where he saw the farm the way to increased sales for the farm. heading. With the demand for the produce on “We will tweak as we go along, the rise, they also capitalized on selling finding our niches, maybe making more local organic cheeses, more meats, cheeses catering,” he said. and breads. They “The sky is the They do not deliver. I are reaping the limit.” encouraged them to benefits of their Sweet Berry provide that service to commitment to Farms is a great freshness and visiting yachts just a few one-stop place quality grown for produce, miles away in Newport, organic goods meats, cheeses, but I didn’t get much And one-time homemade enthusiasm for the rock singer and goodies, olive oil, self proclaimed sea salts and so thought. jam maker, Chef much more. Find Cory makes “farm yourself one day made” soups, soon on the porch salads, pies, cakes, cookies and great of this magnificent little gem in Rhode salad dressings. Island. In a sense, it is a European-style They do not deliver. I encouraged outdoor market, where the locals shop them to provide that service to most every day. visiting yachts just a few miles away in Newport, but I didn’t get much Chef Peter Ziegelmeier is a working enthusiasm for the thought. megayacht chef. Comments on this story For 10 years, they sold their fruits are welcome at editorial@the-triton. of labor under white canopies. The com.
A12 December 2008 FEATURE: Travelers Century Club
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With yachts, list of visited countries could equal a century By Matt Adams Quick: How many countries have you visited? Crew members on active megayachts might easily believe they’ve visited as many as 20 or 30 countries. Would it surprise you to learn that there are 26 countries in the Caribbean alone? There is a club of travelers who keep track of this sort of thing: the Travelers Century Club, made up of – you guessed it – people who have visited
100 countries. Its list of 317 countries takes a little bit of liberty with how they define countries. Alaska, for example, is listed as its own “country.” The islands of the Caribbean count as 26 countries. The islands in the Atlantic Ocean would add five more. The Mediterranean would add 18 to your list. A few day trips and the number climbs. Jump on a megayacht whose owner likes to travel and that number can creep into three digits. “I can list 122 countries visited,” said
Capt. Ian van der Watt, whose previous documented their 100 or more visits command of M/Y Queen of Diamonds and became charter members of the took him to the ends of the Earth, club. In the subsequent 54 years, the literally. “My wife filled out the same list group has grown to more than 2,000 and she has 104. members and boasts 14 regional groups “We have been very fortunate to in the United States and the United travel most of the globe on boats, but Kingdom. have taken many overnight trips into Of TCC’s 317 countries, 104 are the interiors of the considered islands in various counties the Atlantic, Indian ‘We have been very to see the wildlife or Pacific Oceans. fortunate to travel most and nature you Almost anything of the globe on boats, never see from the counts as a visit. dock,” van der Watt If the plane lands but we’ve taken many said. “As we are not refuel or a yacht overnight trips into the to that interested in to provision, it decorating a bar chair interiors of the various counts as a country in every port, we are countries to see wildlife visited, but you usually out the door have to actually and nature you never by sunrise and back touch the ground of in the wee hours after see from the dock.’ the country you’re — Capt. Ian van der Watt claiming. completing about 250 miles in that day.” “The first 100 we formerly on M/Y Queen of Diamonds Though he’s not take at your word,” a member, van der said Klaus Billep, Watt could easily chairman of the TCC qualify. The club, a non-profit nonand a member for 30 years. “There are stock corporation based in Santa so many places it is easy to get to, you Monica, Calif., was founded in 1954, the don’t even need a [passport] stamp. We brainchild of a travel specialist in Los couldn’t keep track [of those]. Angeles who thought that bringing a “But once you get to 150, 200, or group of world travelers together could start talking about some of the more make for interesting conversations. difficult places to get to, we want some At the first official meeting in the See CENTURY, page A22 early 1960s, more than 40 people
Capt. Ian van der Watt counts 122 countries visited in his yachting career, including Argentina and Chile, according to a creative “countries” list with the Travelers Century Club. How many have you been to? PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPT. IAN VAN DER WATT
A14 December 2008 BUSINESS BRIEFS
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Dragonfly wastewater system wins ISS innovation award The Dragonfly Marine System, which processes 100 percent of all wastewater into reusable quality water, recently won an “Excellence in Innovation” award at the 2008 International Superyacht Society awards gala. Water processed through the Dragonfly exceeds Florida Water Re-use Standards, standards set by MARPOL/IMO, classification societies, U.S. Coast Guard regulations and the Marine Environment Protection Committee. The system is installed on M/Y Le Grand Bleu. “The system is built with 100 percent redundancy as well as the automatic logging capability that will send reports to the manufacturer (optional), the engineering department, captain, ship’s office, or any designated person on a pre-determined schedule,” the company said in a news release announcing the award. For more information, visit www.dragonflymarine.com.
New alcohol provisioner
Portofino Wine Group International, sister company to Portofino Wine Bank, is now licensed to sell duty-free alcoholic beverages to individuals leaving U.S. waters. With a store one block from the docks at Miami Beach Marina, the company has introduced a provisioning service for yachts.
“Most of the products sold in the Caribbean actually come from Miami via container,” proprietor Rick Silverberg said. “Provisioning here in South Florida should save an additional 10 percent from the Caribbean pricing and up to 40 percent from retail. Also, fine products don’t have to suffer the heat extremes from the container.” For a list of products, visit www. portofinowinebank.com.
Moore new ISS president
The International SeaKeepers Society has selected Michael T. Moore of Miami-based law firm Moore and Company as its new chairman. Moore has practiced maritime and aviation law for more than 30 years and is included in Who’s Who in American Law. Retiring Chairman Donald R. Tomlin said Moore “has expressed a passion and knowledge that will be instrumental in moving SeaKeepers forward into its second decade.” SeaKeepers was founded in 1998 by a group of yacht owners concerned with the deteriorating condition of the seas. The mission was to create a mobile, automated monitoring system to install on yachts. This SeaKeeper 1000 system has been installed in more that 55 locations. For more information, visit www. seakeepers.com.
DYT partners with German firm
Dockwise Yacht Transport of Ft. Lauderdale has announced a cooperative partnership with Global Boat Shipping (GBS) of Germany. The alliance will expand shipping coverage to northwestern Continental Europe and the southern coast of the UK and the Baltic Sea. DYT specializes in the maritime transport of private yachts with current coverage between the U.S. East and West Coasts, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean and the South Pacific. GBS operates service between the Mediterranean and Northwestern Europe. For details, visit www.yachttransport.com.
Burger promotes Mitchell
Wisconsin-based Burger Boat Company has appointed Mike Mitchell to the newly created position of vice president of manufacturing. Working up the ranks since 2002, Mitchell will now be responsible for all manufacturing activities. With an initial education in mechanical design and 23 years of manufacturing experience, including plant managing and 15 years ownership of his own business, Mitchell will now handle the company’s custom motor yacht production in aluminum and/or steel, ranging in sizes to 200 feet (60m).
Burger Yacht Sales, a division of the Burger Boat Company, relocated its Ft. Lauderdale office in November. New build and brokerage clients will find the new office at 1515 S.E. 17th St., Suite A129, or call +1-954-463-1400. For more information, visit www.burgerboat.com.
BWA Yachting opens in Turkey
BWA Yachting is opening an office in Bodrum Milta Marina in Turkey. Near the megayacht pier, the company expects the new location to assist captains with berthing reservations and more comprehensive and convenient services. BWA Yachting is a yacht services agency with offices throughout the Mediterranean, including in the south of France, Italy, Croatia, Montenegro and Greece. BWA Yachting USA has an office in Ft. Lauderdale and the company has its headquarters in Lugano, Switzerland. For info, visit www.bwayachting.com.
SXM agents open second office
Sxm Marine Trading in St. Maartin, has expanded with a second larger shop in the SkipJacks building. With storefront on the main road, the company expect to offer more services to yachts in all marinas around Simpson Bay. For more information, visit www.sxmmarinetrading.com.
A16 December 2008 FLIBS: Perfect Setting Tabletop Challenge
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Erediano takes the top prize in table setting By Dorie Cox Sky Dutoit, stewardess on M/Y Kanaloa, hauled buckets of sand aboard in preparation for the Perfect Setting Tabletop Challenge, envisioning a tabletop beach complete with shells. But when morning winds brought the risk of sandblasting visitors, Dutoit substituted decorative stones that wouldn’t become airborne. High winds caused a change of course for many stews in the competition, the first of its kind held at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Many exterior table settings were adjusted or moved inside for the first annual competition. “We believe that it is high time the interior departments of yachting’s finest vessels are recognized for their talents,” said Joanne Lockhart of Yacht Next, the Ft. Lauderdale-based interior design and outfitting company that hosted the event. The challenge was open to regular crew on yachts participating in FLIBS. Twelve yachts competed in two categories: the indoor theme, A Formal Evening Afloat; and the outdoor, more casual theme, Neptune, God of the Seas. Several crews participated in both. Table settings were judged on the crews’ styling, uniqueness, level of detail and excitement generated. The grand prize winner is Lani Erediano of M/Y Beeliever. The winners in the exterior, casual category were: 1st place, Erediano of Beeliever; 2nd place, Rene Mainstone and Lauren Steyn of M/Y Touch; 3rd Prize, Reneta Dimitrova of M/Y Pure Bliss. The winners in the interior, formal category were: 1st place, Anick Cliche of M/Y Sea Fox; 2nd place, Haley Kurtz and Coty Strabley of M/Y Paramour; 3rd place, Dimitrova of Pure Bliss.
Taking a first prize and the grand prize, Lani Erediano didn’t stop at the tabletop. Integrating blues, greens and yellows from M/Y Beeliever’s exterior décor she created an exciting mobile of ribbons, sea glass balls and sea creatures. The entire aft deck waved in the wind and the atmosphere included a menu featuring Deep Blue Sea Salad, Filet Neptune and Trident PHOTOS/DORIE COX Chocolate Truffle Torte.
A tasteful presentation stayed within budget under the creative hands of Monique Spieker of M/Y Inspiration along with the help of Julie and Zoe.
Is ‘stewardess’ sexist? As job titles change to reflect a less sexist world, we wonder what women who work on yachts think of the term stewardess. Does it sound or feel sexist? For a generation, jobs titles with -ess at the end have been changing to less feminine versions. Actress has become actor. A stewardess on an airplane is now known as a flight attendant. Lawyers and doctors are simply lawyers and doctors. We’re considering calling an interior crew member a stew or steward but we want to know what you think. Please take a moment and let us know at editorial@the-triton. com. – Lucy Reed
Paying attention to the slightest of details, Reneta Dimitrova of M/Y Pure Bliss competed in both events, winning two awards.Her“wow factor” included palm fronds adorning folded napkins. With candlelight lending elegance, fine points were covered, down to the singed, curled menus. Dimitrova’s Neptune display included shells, model dinghies and glass beads forming Neptune’s trident. She added some humor with a shipwrecked model boat atop a gray coral centerpiece.
Anick Cliche of M/Y Sea Fox hadn’t planned to compete until a Caribbean sea-colored material captured her imagination. Using a variety of sea creatures, fishing lures and sculptures from the vessel, she topped the bright display with a brilliant blue beverage. Competing in both categories, Cliche used the event as a dry run for the new vessel with a “jardin de provence” classic indoor setting.
The Triton
www.the-triton.com FLIBS: Perfect Setting Tabletop Challenge
December 2008
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Selena Williams of M/Y Nice N’ Easy used white and yellow flowers adorned with large candles to accentuate her classic setting. With guests onboard, Williams maintained flexibility when it became necessary to use place settings from her set-up to serve lunch during the competition.
Encompassing the aft deck with decorative nets, hanging balls and shells, Rene Mainstone and Lauren Steyn of M/Y Touch made full use of draping ivy to fill in a rich Neptune-themed table. CloisonnĂŠ crab napkin holders seemed to crawl toward the center in their vibrant setting. M/Y Touch also hosted the award ceremony at the end of the judging.
Susie Karlein and her sister Lisa used a white rose centerpiece to pull together a gilt-inspired table aboard M/Y Sojourn. Another autumnal flower arrangement completed the room by complementing a nearby still-life painting. The stews found the secret ingredient to combat the high winds in their outdoor setting: strong tape hidden under napkins and placemats. The stew team of Chloe Densham, Layla Elkhodr and Debra Lee Essery aboard M/Y Ohana competed in both themes. A glistening golden setting complemented the wood interior on two dining tables. A decidedly nautical blue and white setting adorned the exterior with a crisp presentation, including bleached white starfish and shells. With zebra-patterned chairs as the backdrop, Haley Kurtz and Coty Strabley kicked off a striking indoor setting in red, white and black. Mouth-watering raspberries in a Grenadine cocktail sparkled amongst the silver and crystal settings, perfectly complementing the contemporary dĂŠcor of M/Y Paramour.
Sky Dutoit of M/Y Kanaloa with her modified exterior presentation.
A18 December 2008 BOATS / BROKERS
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Burger Boat Company purchases M/Y Angus Burger Boat Company has acquired M/Y Angus, a 48-foot steel-hulled Burger Cruiser built in 1939. Arriving in Manitowoc, Wisc., on Nov. 11, the 69-year-old Burger made a brief stop at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum for interested parties to see before continuing to the Burger shipyard. Angus will be restored to promote Burger Boat Company, its employees, and to celebrate the Burger product and its heritage. She will also be made available to the Wisconsin Maritime Museum for fund-raising purposes. The yacht has never seen salt water and has had three owners who have all kept her properly maintained, including her 70 HP Kahlenberg engine.
International Yacht Collection
International Yacht Collection of Ft. Lauderdale has added to its charter fleet the previously private M/Y Linda Lou, a 2-year-old Lurssen. Capt. Michael and Heather Schueler (formerly of M/Y Pangaea) worked for the owners on a previous yacht and have been aboard for two years. The yacht will be in the Caribbean this winter (based in St. Maarten) and the Mediterranean next summer. IYC’s brokerage division announced the sale of broker Frank Grzeszczak and broker Chany Sabates III’s central listing, M/Y Second Chance, the 131foot Palmer Johnson. The brokerage also added three yachts to its central listing: M/Y Lady Broward, a 124-foot (37.8m) Broward built in 2008, by brokers Michael Mahan and Chany Sabates III for $13.5 million; the 168-foot (51m) M/Y Euphoria, a new build by Trinity expected to be delivered in April 2010 by brokers Thom Conboy and Chany Sabates III for $39.9 million; and
The M/Y Angus was built in 1939. M/Y Tuscan Sun, a 147-foot (44.8m) Izar built in 2006 by brokers Frank Grzeszczak and Chany Sabates III for $34.5 million.
Feadship
Feadship has delivered the second yacht in its SL39 modular concept. The 390m (128-foot) M/Y Kathleen Anne was christened at Koninklijke De Vries Scheepsbouw in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands, in late October.
Merle Wood & Associates
Merle Wood & Associates signed three megayachts for sale in October: the 114-foot Nordlund M/Y Alexa C2, the 100-foot Tempest M/Y Trilogy, and the 87-foot Warren M/Y Broadway. The brokerage also sold the 90foot Abeking & Rasmussen S/Y Sea Diamond and the 79-foot Leopard M/Y Totally Nuts II.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BURGER BOAT COMPANY
The brokerage also hired Barclay Tuck as a broker. Tuck started his career at Allied Richard Bertram Platinum Division three years ago. For more information, call +1-954-525-
5111.
The Sacks Group
The Sacks Group Yachting Professionals has added two yachts to its charter fleet: the 85-foot Pacific Mariner M/Y Carbon Copy, which runs with Capt. Michael Bosley, Chef Jennifer Gussack and a freelance stew; and the 112-foot Crescent M/Y Shear Fantasea (above), which runs with Capt. Wayne Nolander and Chef Nathalie Nolander (formerly of M/Y Katina) plus three crew members. The brokerage division has added several new central listings, including
See BOATS, page A22
A20 December 2008 FROM THE BRIDGE: Safety drills
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‘The U.S. Coast Guard is starting to target uninspected vessels’ BRIDGE, from page A1 The treadmill is on fire. What do you do?” “If you walk around and point them [fire extinguishers] out, that goes in one ear and out the other,” said a third. “We do a monthly checklist. The mate takes a different person around with him to check them. That way, they have checked them themselves. It stays with them.” There was a bit of conversation about the types of drills these captains do, including simple training conversations: the tender gets lost, what do you do? What do you do when ‘I worked there’s no fuel on a boat in the main 4-and-a-half engine? years with “The size and type no drills,’ of boat will one captain determine the said. type of drills you do,” one ‘Another captain said. boat, two “We don’t have years.’ a fire pump or a central hose so our fire drills are very abbreviated. We do some search and rescue, and for fire, we’ll locate and use 1-2 fire extinguishers, then go right into an abandon ship.” While regulatory agencies such as flag states or classifications societies require a certain type and number of drills be performed, these captain said no one really ever checks. “We don’t do any formal drills, but we’ve had situations where the mate has lost the tender and we’ve turned that into a training exercise,” one captain said. “Look, we’re an uninspected U.S.-flagged boat. I would
Attendees of The Triton’s December Bridge luncheon were, from left, Jack McKay of M/Y Harmony, Kent Kohlberger of M/Y Goose Bumps, Mark Diekmann, Mark Robinson of M/Y Island Voyager, Stan Glover (looking), Steve Naimoli of M/Y Lionfish, and Randy Steegstra of M/Y Tsalta. PHOTO/LUCY REED like to have a proper fire pump, but no one requires it. The U.S. Coast Guard is starting to target uninspected vessels because they realize we fall through the cracks.” One captain said his annual flagstate survey (non U.S. commercial registration) will look at the log to see that they have done drills. It will identify safety equipment the surveyor thinks the yacht should have, without
offering guidelines. “They’re calling their own shots,” this captain said. “Some [of the equipment] is reasonable, some is not. They decide what this particular boat needs. I’m not in class but I get a survey every year.” Are flag states the only ones requiring safety measures? “I’m looking to buy some new equipment, a defibrillator and some
first aid stuff,” a captain said. “But our insurance company doesn’t require it. … Our surveyor has not mentioned it at all. He has no interest whatsoever in first aid. That it’s not required is interesting.” “In 20 years, I have never had an insurance company check or ask me about drills,” another said. Have you ever worked on a yacht that doesn’t do drills? After a moment’s hesitation, several of the captains admitted they had. “I worked on a boat 4-and-a-half years with no drills,” one captain said. “Another boat, two years.” “I’d like to think the younger generation of captains is getting better at this,” another captain said. “The regulations are getting better. When you have high-level deck crew, an OOW, they all have to do advanced firefighting now” “And someone on board has to be the medical care provider,” said a third. “It comes down to a trade-off between expense and where do you put it all?” a captain said. “A lot of times, you just don’t have space for survival suits.” It was clear there was no standard for drills or safety training on board. There is no guidebook for how to do them, at least not that these captains were aware of. I couldn’t help but wonder where yacht captains are supposed to learn this stuff. “From school,” one captain said. “And three close situations with smoke. They were all electrical situations, but you learn what to do.” One captain said he called a training school for help, asking someone to meet him on his new command and help him set up drills. “They never called me back,” he said.
See BRIDGE, page A21
The Triton
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FROM THE BRIDGE: Safety drills
Captain urges others to ignore reluctance from owner, guests BRIDGE, from page A20
captain said. “The important thing to me is to make sure the equipment “I’d be willing to pay for someone to works.” come in for a day, assess the boat, go “We bring out the fire hose to wash through mock drills with us, because I down the anchor chain,” another might not have the time to set aside to captain said. “It gets the stews on do it,” another captain said. “Someone deck and the hose is being used. Lots to work with you on what you have, of people use the hose so they’re not give you suggestions.” scared of it anymore. It becomes But isn’t that the job of the captain, second nature.” to know this stuff from experience and “It should be standard operating set up his own safety program? procedure,” a captain said, “but when “I like to get another eye,” this you’re not thinking about it, …” captain said. “I’ve been on the boat for Sometimes, though, yacht owners a while. I might have blinders on and are the ones who don’t want to think not see something. When you’ve been about it. on a boat for a while, you think you “One owner did not want me to know it all.” alarm the guests with safety briefings,” So, if the main way to learn is by he said. “So I conducted them in their doing (presumably as a mate first, staterooms, out of ear shot.” then as a captain), what have you “I had an owner that was really learned about safety drills? How do you difficult about it and would interfere conduct them? with our drills,” one captain said. “With crew, everyone thinks they One captain urged his peers not to know the boat,” one captain said. “So I worry about resistance from owners cover their head and or guests. The tell them someone practice of the has collapsed in drills helps them ‘The benefit to the a stateroom. The feel secure, guests is to keep them cover simulates whether they safe and alive,’ another smoke and zero admit it or not. visibility. Now go “The benefit captain advised. ‘You find them. And they to the guests is can phrase it very have to haul the to keep them calming, say ‘we’re 150-pound dummy safe and alive,” out.” required to give this another captain You have space to advised. “You information to you.’ carry a dummy? can phrase it You have to put them “We’ll have one of very calming, say at ease. Slip it in when the other crew serve ‘we’re required as the dummy.” to give this they’re having a “We do split information to cocktail, talking about drills,” another you.’ You have to the cruise, the menu...’ captain said. put them at ease. “Sometimes you Slip it in when can’t afford to have they’re having a the whole crew in cocktail, talking about the cruise, the a drill. I’ll take the stews and blindfold menu, and the safety issues.” them and tell them there are two “There are so many things to do guests below. Get them out through a when they first get aboard,” a captain secondary escape route.” said. “You give them snacks, tell them “After a drill, I do a debriefing with the proper use of the heads – what can the crew,” said a third. “There is a scene and can’t go in them, …” leader and we time everything. I ask “That’s even more important than them what worked, what didn’t. Did the fire drills,” another captain quipped. they have quick, easy access to the “You can’t make them listen, but you safety gear? I get them to talk about did your duty,” said a third. what could go better. Then I tell them, Perhaps the best way to improve ‘This is what I observed.’ ” safety on yachts is for captains to “A great time to do drills is on influence each other. crossings,” a captain said. “But you’ve “One thing I’ve noticed is that when got to give the crew the freedom and we’re in the marina and we have a drill, voice to speak up.” the next day yachts on either side of us “But then it’s up to us as senior will do it.” staff to say, you might not think this is important, but here’s why it’s Comments on this story are welcome important,” another captain said. at lucy@the-triton.com. If you make There was a bit of discussion about your living working as a yacht captain, using equipment in drills. contact Editor Lucy Chabot Reed for “It’s not so much to see if the guy an invitation to our monthly Bridge can do it, but if the thing works,” one luncheon, lucy@the-triton.com.
December 2008
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A22 December 2008 FEATURE: Travelers Century Club
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When it comes to tallying countries, some get creative CENTURY, from page A24 proof. Some of those places are really hard to reach. We want to know how you did it, and what you saw when you were there.” Lillian O’Leary, the coordinator for TCC’s Southwest Florida chapter, has made it a few of those hard-to-reach places. It took her 30 years to reach 98 countries, she said, but now she’s up to 142. When it comes to adding a new country to their list, TCC members can get a little, well, creative. “One of the members of my club tells a story that there was one island you weren’t allowed to travel to,” said Jan Novar, coordinator of the Southeast Florida chapter of the club, which limits its membership to people
For more information
Travelers Century Club Initial membership: $100 Yearly dues: $50 for U.S. residents; $60 for international members www.travelerscenturyclub.org who have traveled to more than 100 countries. “They got pretty close to it, but the boat he was on couldn’t go. “So he, well, he kind of fell off it, and then swam there. Some can really go after those numbers.” Matt Adams is a freelance writer in Colorado. Comments on this story are welcome at editorial@the-triton.com.
Azzura working projects in Oz BOATS, from page A18 M/Y Portofino, a 118-foot Intermarine listed for $6.9 million with broker Bruce Schattenburg; M/Y Quivira, a classic 116-foot Benetti listed for $4.8 million with Schattenburg; M/Y Calypso, a 1971 long-range cruiser Feadship listed for just under $3 million with Schattenburg; M/Y Island Voyager, a 93-foot Broward listed for $865,000 with broker Curtis Stokes; and M/Y Warren, an 87-foot Express Cruiser listed for $6.5 million with Stokes. For details, call +1-954-764-7742.
Azzura Marine
Azzura Marine of Newcastle, Australia, announced in November the launch of two superyacht projects at its shipyard. The 45m M/Y Ilonka completed a 10-month refit in which her main engines were rebuilt, structural modifications were made to her exterior and a new air conditioning plant and interior ventilation system was installed, amongst other items.
The 52m Perini Navi S/Y Squall also departed the yard in November en route to Bali. With a mast reaching 57m, Azzura lifted Squall with its 900ton Synchrolift and onto the dry dock.
Luke Brown Yachts
Luke Brown Yachts has hired Marc Thomas, former sales manager at Bluewater Yacht Sales, to establish a Luke Brown presence in Maryland. He grew up in the area and cruised the waters of the East Coast and the Bahamas as a licensed captain. Contact him at +1-410-991-0939 or at marc@ lukebrown.com.
The Shipyard Group
Ft. Lauderdale-based The Shipyard Group has hired Justin Quiros as a sales broker. A native of South Florida, Quiros grew up fishing the flats and back country of South Florida and scuba diving the reefs of the Florida Keys. He is a member of the Florida Yacht Brokers Association. Contact him at +1-954-868-6920 or justin@ theshipyardgroup.com.
The Triton
www.the-triton.com FROM THE FRONT: Triton Job & Crew Fair
Captain cites passion as No. 1 characteristic of a good hire JOB FAIR, from page A1
“We got great instructional advice on our resumes, for example, the their research, they realize, this is the suggestion to change feet to meters season for getting onboard.” to be more international in our Eight speakers provided seven presentation,” Alan Little said. presentations on a host of topics, The plethora of young people in the including interviewing tips and room was indicative to some of a bigger yachting industry insider tips. And issue. piles of resumes were improved with “Owners seem to be looking for the suggestions from a volunteer fleet of lowest price at the expense of quality,” professional captains. They critiqued Capt. Paolo Crepaldi said. “Everyone CVs as applicants networked in the has a ticket and some delivery captains high-energy atmosphere throughout will undersell to get the job. Accidents the day-long event. can happen to any vessel, but you have Five hundred miles didn’t deter Kyle to pay for experience, for the safety of Rutland’s search for a job on a yacht. He everyone onboard.” drove with his father from Savannah, In professional yachting for more Ga., to attend the fair at Bahia Mar. than 15 years, Crepaldi said he was a Although experienced on the water, bit discouraged by the feedback he’s Rutland decided more training would received lately. enhance his OUPV license and he “Remember the job you were signed up for an STCW course. inquiring about?” a crew placement “You can’t publish my name,” said agency asked him when he was one employed captain hoping to find a searching for delivery crew. “Well, we post on a busier yacht. have had 250 applicants for that single In an industry known for Polo position.” shirts, khaki and deck shoes, some “You can have a professional resume crew attended in casual flip-flops and and a great appearance, but being T-shirts. Justin Hoover, however, hoped in action at sea is a different thing, to outshine in his suit coat and tie, as and that may not be reflected in the he handed out oversized business cards interview,” he said. touting his experience. Not all new crew When asked, Chief are getting positions, Stew Michelle Serrurier though. ‘The crew are said the theme of the “Owners and captains here in the U.S., Job and Crew Fair is need to give people desperado. a break,” said Laura while many “The crew are here Preston of New Zealand. of the yachts in the U.S., while many “I’m not saying hire stayed in the of the yachts stayed in inexperienced crew, but the Mediterranean this Mediterranean.’ do research, get to know season,” said Serrurier, the applicant and give whose name tag read: them a chance.” Smile for hire. “There are so many of Among the hundreds of people us looking for work, we bump over exploring the fair were professional each other in the crew house to get the yacht captains, a dozen of whom phone.” assisted crew by offering resume Serrurier explained that while critiques. anyone can use crew placement “The biggest thing I want to see is services, this event afforded her the heart,” said Capt. Robert High. “I need opportunity to meet with the key to know that potential crew really people behind the scenes. For the want to be in boating and are not just level of employment she is seeking, looking for a free ride to travel the meeting brokers and managers gave world. I want to see that they have her encouragement in her search for invested time, money and effort.” employment. The impromptu resume critique The room was filled with crew, each was one of the most popular parts looking for work for their own reasons, of the fair. At one point, dozens of and each having a different take on the crew queued up to await advice from trends they are living every day. captains. “I can’t scrub my hands anymore,” “I’m not an expert,” High said of his said Olga Kuharets of her day work, resume advice to crew. “I’m just passing which recently included degreasing on what I’ve learned over the years.” engines. She and co-worker Gregory There were some experts at the fair, Wilson came to the fair to help him however, including several of the eight break into the industry. speakers. After doing day work and small jobs Alan Noonan, a sales coach and at the Fort Lauderdale International consultant, started the day with a 10Boat Show, Californians Alan and minute presentation about networking Carol Little came in hopes of finding permanent positions. See JOB FAIR, page A26
December 2008
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A24 December 2008 PHOTO GALLERY: Triton Job & Crew Fair
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Scenes from the Triton’s job fair Photos by Dorie Cox; Story, A1
Project manager Graham Thomson and yacht manager Francois Greyling with MTS Yachts talk about their services with Capt. Michael French of International Yacht Training.
More well-known placement agents, such as Sue Price of Crew Unlimited, were busy throughout the day. Crew mingled and networked throughout the day.
About half the exhibitors showcased businesses that help crew in their daily tasks, including Blooms on Board, which cuts out the middle man and provides fresh-cut flowers direct from Holland and other countries.
Mark Cline of Cline Financial Services chats with crew members on the power of saving.
Capt. Diekmann took time to field questions from crew for hours after his presentation.
The Triton
www.the-triton.com PHOTO GALLERY: Triton Job & Crew Fair
December 2008
A25
Capt. Rob High, far left, offers advice to a crew member on her resume. More than a dozen captains sat with crew throughout the day to share Capt. Mark Diekmann addressed a standing-room only crowd to offer advice on what captains look for when interviewing potential crew. their expertise.
The fair was a chance for crew to meet with smaller placement agents such as Darryl Leathart of Nautic Crew International.
Chef Dominic Orlich chats with the agent at Crew4Crew as Capt. Dave Reams, now fleet manager with Camper & Nicholsons, wanders the fair.
Lauderdale Diver instructor Rob Davis introduces his company’s training Brokers Jason Dunbar and Pam Barlow with Luke Brown Yachts exposed program to crew. crew to their brokerage firm.
A26 December 2008 FROM THE FRONT: Triton Job & Crew Fair
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Invest: As little as $100 can grow to $16,000 JOB FAIR, from page A23 on purpose. “Create a 30-second commercial to sell yourself,” said Noonan to an attentive audience. “Leave Waxy’s [the popular crew bar in Ft. Lauderdale] at 7:30,” advised Capt. Annan. “After that hour, it is just drinking. And unpleasant as it is, walk the docks.” After his presentation on resumés, Ian and Alison Morse asked his advice on their chances of finding work as a mate and stew/cook team. Annan told them that sailing yachts or smaller motor yachts with limited space actually look for teams so they can share quarters. “What about our age?” the retired Australian couple asked Annan after his speech. “Your stability, maturity and responsibility can play in your favor,” he said. Another presentation by Mark Cline of Cline Financial Services pointed out how powerful saving money can be. “Your one night bar tab of $100 could become over $16,000 in 10 years,” said Cline, recommending crew members invest early in their careers and take inventory of their assets. Many participants requested to
In addition to the exhibitors, there were these seven presentations throughout the day. Networking with a Purpose, by Alan Noonan of Noonan Group How to Nail the Interview, by Capt. Mark Diekmann Resumés that Work, by Capt. Les Annan Making Your Salary Work for You, by Mark Cline of Cline Financial Services Getting Along in Three Cabins, by Joe Noonan of Crew Synergy Provisioning Basics, by Chef Mary Beth Lawton Johnson and former Chef Jimmy Tancrell The Good, Bad and Ugly Truth of Working on a Megayacht, by Capt. Herb Magney
remain anonymous, due to their current job status in the tight-knit industry. One such chief stew explained that she had put her job application in with several large crew agencies with little results. “They tell you ‘We can see you in 2 to 3 weeks for an interview’,” she said, noting that with smaller agencies she met at the fair, she had scheduled appointments for the next day. “There seem to be unrealistic expectations of jobs onboard yachts,”
she said. “Many people have heard that if you come to Ft. Lauderdale, you can get on a yacht and that is not always reality.” Scott Kington of the United Kingdom was excited to find the author of “Working on Yachts and Superyachts,” Jen Errico, as a vendor at the fair. “Your book is 100 percent of the reason I got into this industry,” he told her. As she plans her next edition, Errico is noting changes since the 2003 publication of her book, which looks at luxury yachting from the perspective of working onboard. “There appears to be less demand for crew,” she observed. “And the rosy picture sent back home from crew is not reality.” Communications and media such as YouTube, e-mails and digital photography misrepresent the hard work, training and responsibility required of crew, she said. “There is not enough accurate data,” she said. “Employees need to want to work on the water, and not just see the world.” Dorie Cox is a staff reporter with The Triton. Comments on this story are welcome at dorie@the-triton.com.
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WRITE TO BE HEARD
Captain warns of a job scam that came to him by Internet By Capt. John Wampler Yesterday, I received the following unsolicited e-mail from a Capt. Johnson Smith with a job offer. This scammer is trolling crew web sites like The Triton and trying to lure unsuspecting crew members with fake job offers. The following are the e-mails associated with this scam. Dear Sir, My name is Capt. Johnson Smith, 40 Years Old from United Kingdom. I work with Kay’s Yacht Club in United Kingdom. I came across your profile on and decided to mail to ask if you’ll be interested in the job. Its a private own yacht, and the destination is always from Essex London to Ireland and Norway. The monthly salary will be 3, 200 sterling pound every three weeks, accommodation will be provided by the company. Hope to hear from you soonest Best Regards Capt. Johnson In the e-mail header I found that IP address 10.140.161.19 is listed as a “private” IP address (like an unlisted phone number). I gave “Capt. Johnson” a rather vague reply, suspecting a scam, and this was his response: Dear Sir, Are you interested or not. I found your profile at Triton website. Best Regards Capt Johnson Smith Still suspicious, because of the IP address, I requested information on the vessel, manufacturer, size, name, doc number, etc., and a photo of the yacht included with the next e-mail, provided it was in tropical waters, not UK waters. Here’s the reply: Thank you once more for your mail and your interest in working with us .I have attached photo of the yacht we are operating on. The home port is at London and the destination is always from Essex London to Ireland Belgium and Norway. And lastly accommodation will be provided to you both on board and when you are not on board. If you are not in United Kingdom you will require a valid UK visa including a working permit to enable you work with us. You can contact the traveling agency to help you with the process of the UK visa and working permit. Here is the link to the traveling agent
‘We wish to thank you for your mail, you information are acknowledge and recorded.’ (agencypassportconsultant@ consultant.com). Contact them and let them know that you’ve been offer a job with Kay’s Yacht located at Essex London United to come and work. Should in case you need any other thing please do not hesitate to ask Hope to hear from you again Best Regards Capt Johnson Smith Wanting to further my investigation, I forwarded Capt. Johnson’s e-mail to the “passport agency” and received the following: Dear Sir, We wish to thank you for your mail, you information are acknowledge and recorded. To have your complete document including your work permit and tax clearance and all other requirement to travel to United Kingdom. Its indicated in your email that you have been offer a job with kays yacht club who ask you to contact us. We shall have its processed and send it to you via Courier Delivery Service to the UK embassy in your country. They will contact you immediately for a brief interview. We need some more details from you for us to process your visa,work permit and tax clearance. The details needed are as follows: 1. Full Name: 2. Full Address: 3. Valid Passport with at least sex (6) months validity 4. Two (2) recent passport photo , size 2x2 5. Country of Birth: 6. Telephone number: Thanks for your anticipated patronage and co-operation.\ P.R. O PASSPORT AGENCY & CO OFFICE Plumstead England Se18 1ad E-mail: agencypassportconsultant@ consultant.com The IP address for the passport agency is 41.219.192.58, which is registered to a “dial-pool” in Lagos, Nigeria. I also ran the e-mail address
See SCAM, page A28
December 2008
A27
A28 December 2008 WRITE TO BE HEARD
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How can you determine if a job offer is legitimate? SCAM, from page A27 thru the www.fraudwatchers.org Web site, which further confirmed my suspicions. I asked the passport agency for a physical address to send the requested information. Their reply was: Dear Sir, We are in receipt of your mail dated Friday, 14 Nov 2008. We want to inform you that sending of your passport and other information by courier service involve risk, and please note that the company is not
responsible for any lost documents. We advise you scan your passport data page, passport photo and send it by e-mail attachment. Once we recieved your document and the total amount of £ 850.00 for the process of your Uk visa and working permit. This money involve the processing of your document including the flight ticket and all other related document as well. You will have to apply for a single entry UK visa, since this is your first time of traveling to
United Kingdom. All Documents will be processed and arranged here in our Office after which will be forwarded to the British Embassy along with your Flight Ticket. Also, some Copies of this Document(s) will be sent to you... You can make payment to us by western union money transfer or international money gram so as to speed up the process of delivery . Contact the nearest western union location and make payment to the information below:
Name of Receiver: Harrison David Adress of Receiver: 68 Lombard Street London, EC3V 9LJ United Kingdom, Total Payment........................ .................... £ 850.00 Pounds Upon receipt of the above,modalities to process your traveling document will commence immediately.We want you to note that processing of your traveling document will only take three(3) working days and the delivery of it will take just one day(Express Delivery). Once again,congratulations and please do comply in due time to enable us expedite action. Thanking you for your anticipated co-operation as we hope to hear from you soonest. Yours Faithfully How can you determine if a job offer is legitimate? First, look for misspellings and bad grammar in the body of their e-mail. If a passport agency or recruitment agency has a Yahoo, Google, consult. com (in this instance) and not a dedicated mail server, it is most likely a scam. In the header of the e-mail, look for Replied From for the IP address. Go to www.ip2location.com/demo.aspx, cut and paste the IP address into the search window and the location of the IP address will be exposed. Note: this is the free service. Do not scan and e-mail your passport, personal data or passport photos. Demand a physical address with an offer to FedEx the requested information. Most likely, they will request you to scan and e-mail your data. And if a physical address is proffered, match it to the IP location to insure it is a match. Never, ever send money to an agency. If a company asks for “processing fees” or “document fees,” it is a scam. These scam artists like to use Western Union, which is a tip-off. When on a public forum, never publish your e-mail address. If there is a request to click on a link, first run your cursor over the link. A small window will show the actual link. In a scam, the address in the link does not match the link in the body of the e-mail; another sign of scam. Opening such a link may infect your computer with a virus, spybot or Trojan horse. The proliferation of identity and monetary theft is very real on the Internet. And our community is not immune. Be cautious when replying to job offers. Capt. John Wampler is a delivery captain in Ft. Lauderdale. Comments on this column are welcome at editorial@ the-triton.com.
A30 December 2008 WRITE TO BE HEARD
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Managing your money across borders and seas By Antonia Sanchez When your profession entails spending summers in the Mediterranean and winters in the Caribbean, money management while at sea can be a challenge. For crew members looking to maximize savings over the lifetime of their yachting career, it’s important they not only understand how to balance their salaries and onboard tips but also the financial vehicles available. Here are a few tips to help smoothly manage finances once you leave port.
Managing onboard tips, salaries
It’s a good idea to arrange for your employer to have your salary directly deposited into your bank account. For many crew, the cash tips they receive onboard can help fund the majority of daily living expenses while at sea. Set a weekly or monthly budget that allows for enough cash for day-to-day expenses and ensures that some money will be saved. It’s also important that surplus cash be held securely onboard, in a lock box or captain’s safe, and be wire transferred at the first opportunity to prevent overspending or theft.
Debit or credit?
For purchases over and above your normal living expenses that can be paid using cash tips, debit cards are normally best and help stick to weekly or monthly budgets. Credit cards are best for large expenses where you wish to defer the cost until a later date, thus taking advantage of the interest free period between purchase and statement date. However, be aware that many credit cards carry high interest rates on
balances not settled in full by the due date. Whether you decide to use a credit or debit card, make sure it is flexible enough to meet your needs. Factors you should consider include credit limit, annual fees, currencies, and whether the cards are widely accepted where you will be traveling. It is most effective to have multiple debit cards in order to purchase goods and services in local currency.
Borderless banking
By keeping your money in an offshore bank account, you can live, work and travel across the seas and take your bank account with you. Offshore banking allows you to keep your money in multiple currencies, have access to your funds wherever your travels take you, and avoid conversion fees. Not all offshore accounts are the same. When choosing one, be sure that the account provides multiple currencies with debit cards for easy access to cash wherever you may be docking, is easy to access either via the Internet or telephone, and has worldwide offices in case you wish to meet with an account representative. Ultimately, the money you earn is yours to enjoy, and with some simple money management habits and choosing a bank and account that is right for you, you can save and use that money more effectively. Antonia Sanchez is the manager of business development for Lloyds TSB in Miami. Contact her at +1-305-3477141 or asanchez@lloydstsb-usa.com. Comments on this column are welcome at editorial@the-triton.com.
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WRITE TO BE HEARD
December 2008
A31
It’s time to capitalize on Amendment 6 Yes. Voters in Florida got it and passed the “save our waterfronts” amendment. Now comes the hard part: getting government to get it. To be honest, I was surprised Amendment 6 passed. Opposition forces campaigned with fear and charged Publisher’s Turn that schools would get less David Reed tax money if this amendment passed. But the people of Florida saw through that and voted the only way a logical, thinking person can vote: that a piece of property should be taxed at its current use, not some imaginary use at some point in the future. So the marine industry no longer has to say good-bye to waterfront businesses who have to sell because their tax burden was so high. Our economy needs manufacturing and repair facilities for all yachts, from Bayliner to Feadship. It still bugs me that it took a change to the state constitution to arrive at this common sense decision. But hey, we’re here. Now South Florida needs to rally behind a bold and exciting project, one that can haul the largest yachts. Let’s use the power of this recent win to leverage a private/public haul-out facility in Port Everglades, on land controlled by Broward County. Regional shipyards and other businesses can rent space there, haul and repair the largest of yachts over 200 feet, and protect South Florida’s economic engine. Gold Coast, Australia, has done something similar. Let’s learn from our sister city. Florida has a lot going for it in the marine refit and repair market. Let’s keep the forward momentum of this recent win, hope the amendments to the Longshore Act pass, get the dredging started and complete in our waterways, and help our working waterfronts succeed in the global market place.
Image on the docks not pretty for job seekers I thought I’d share some things I’ve heard and seen lately. Friends (a couple) did a delivery to the Med this summer on a big boat. They had planned to spend a little time vacationing, then pick up a job for the summer. When they got there they said that crew were literally lining up each day at the agents in Antibes and that few were finding jobs. Over the course of the [Ft. Lauderdale] boat show, I had three women and one guy approach me for crew work. All were new to the business but were U.S. citizens, young 20s, very presentable with the proper “crew look.” They all told me that they were already discouraged by the feedback they were getting from captains about the prospects of getting hired. Only 2-3 years ago, U.S. stews and deckhands wouldn’t have made it to the end of the dock without getting a job. I ran into a young couple last week that we’d met in New England last summer. They were on their way back to Australia to get married. They had just been laid off from a well-known motoryacht based in Ft. Lauderdale
because the boat would not be active this winter in order to cut expenses. Unsolicited by me, they said that several of their friends were having trouble find positions during the boat show and some were returning to their home countries. And if you ask around at the shipyards in town, they’ll tell you that they’re slow on work and have been for a few months. The normal fall rush has failed to materialize this year. A trend? I don’t know. It’s just what I see. Name withheld upon request
Advertising Sales Peg Soffen, peg@the-triton.com Production Manager Patty Weinert, patty@the-triton.com
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Billing Donna Myers, donna@the-triton.com
Editor Lucy Chabot Reed, lucy@the-triton.com
Graphic Designer Christine Abbott, sales@the-triton.com Abbott Designs
Bush, not Reagan, cost jobs
I wanted to clear up an error from a survey respondent on page C15 of the November 2008 issue. The comment was: “I was around when President Reagan decided to tax the rich. It just about killed the large yacht industry and a lot of [U.S.] jobs have never recovered.” Actually, President Reagan lowered taxes a short time after becoming the 40th president of the United States from Jimmy Carter’s high fuel costs
Contributors Carol M. Bareuther, Capt. John Campbell, Mark A. Cline, Donya Currie, Alan Dale, Jake DesVergers, Eng. Chip Furr, Chef/Mate Julianne L. Hammond, Capt. David Hare, Jack Horkheimer, Chef Mary Beth Lawton Johnson, Alene Keenan, Jim Kelleher, Donna Mergenhagen, Keith Murray, Steve Pica, Rossmare Intl., James Schot, Capt. Tom Serio, Rachel Shapiro
and inflation. The respondent would have been correct in saying that President George H. W. Bush cost the entire industry jobs with the imposed “Luxury Tax” on vessels worth more than $100,000 and on private planes over $250,000. Capt. Brian Conner
A social boon at the Saloon
I wanted to personally thank you for giving such a nice party at the Downtowner Saloon [The Triton’s 5th annual boat show kick-off party on Oct. 15]. It was a perfect evening and I liked the venue. As always, I ran into several people who I’d not seen in ages, which always warms my heart. It’s such a wonderful community of friends spanning the oceans. If it were not for your generosity, I might not have run into them as I’m not around the docks so much. Let’s hope for a great season, blessings to you, and again, thanks heaps. Capt. Brucie Cummings Vol. 5, No. 9.
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Look back, move forward
Traveling to Turkey
Background checks are a security key.
Get to know Gocek Bay.
B2
Section B
FLIBS All the action, in photos.
B15
B18-19
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Clean-up & Play Day.
B21
December 2008
Piracy threat is sadly real
THE SOUND AND THE FURY
Doug Morrison stands with the LRAD 500, which generates an “ear-splitting, high-pitched warble sound” that PHOTO/CAPT. DAVID HARE is louder than the sound of a military jet taking off.
LRAD’s decibels deter attackers “Damn, that hurt,” I blurted out after experiencing an LRAD 500 demonstrated by Doug Morrison of Drum Cussac. Morrison held a demonstration of the LRAD (Long Range Acoustic Device) at Derecktor Shipyard’s parking lot in South Florida for Capt. Greg Captain’s Call Drewes of M/Y David Hare Predator and Klaus Jackson of M/Y Fortunate Sun. When I heard about the demo, I secured an invitation to experience the LRAD system firsthand.
Cleaning crew
My first knowledge of acoustical deterrence came from a CNN newscast in 2005 when the cruise ship Seaborne Spirit used it to deter pirates off the coast of Somalia. It worked marvelously well. My mentor and friend Capt. Charles Hacker of M/Y Avia always has the system on deck and in standby mode when he transits the Red Sea. (To date, he has not had to direct the system at any incoming targets.) The LRAD is a highly directional, long distance (500 meters) acoustical array for clear, intelligible hailing, notification and unmistakable warning. The audio program is on an MP3 platform and can be programmed with virtually any language spoken on the planet. So, if one is transiting the Red Sea, you
can use the local dialect then change the program for transiting the South China Sea to that region’s spoken language. The verbal message warns an incoming vessel to stand down, turn around and stay away or harm will come to them. After the verbal message, a deeply piercing, bone-chilling, ear-splitting, highpitched warble sound emits from the speakers in a highly directional pattern. The person assigned to the LRAD uses a site, much like on a rifle, to point the acoustic signal directly at the incoming vessel. No human can withstand the sound without ear protection. The LRAD fills a critical capability
See LRAD, page B10
The age-old profession of piracy on the high seas continues to rear its ugly head. The mention of the word pirate conjures multiple images from the classic movie days of Errol Flynn to the more recent Capt. Jack Sparrow and the crew of the Black Pearl. While these descriptions Rules of the Road produce a sense of adventure Jake DesVergers and journey, the reality of the acts are causing severe disruptions for both commercial merchant ships and transiting megayachts. There are several regions in the world seeing an increase in piracy. The main problem area stretches from Somalia and the busy Gulf of Aden and its narrow gateway to the Red Sea and Suez Canal, right along Southern Yemen as far as Oman. Any vessel sailing from the Mediterranean to the Seychelles or into the Persian Gulf will risk the gauntlet through this area commonly referred to as “Pirate Alley.” In the most recent action, which
See RULES, page B11 The U.S. Maritime Administration issued advisory 2008-08 last month that offered anti-piracy distress calling procedures in the Gulf of Aden. A review of incident reports between July 15 and Sept. 15 indicated that all but one hijacking occureed during daylight hours. Vessels operating under 16 knots and with a low freeboard (less than 6 meters) should consider themselves at extremely high risk of being attacked. “Operators of vessels with these chartacteristics should consider the lack of pirate activity at night when planning a transit,” the advisory noted.
B December 2008 SECURITY: Background checks
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Looking into crew’s past can help make ship’s future safer Those of us who have been in the marine work force for any period of time can usually recall a work mate whose past mistakes or present poor judgment catches up with them in a rather dramatic way. Often, these incidents – even minor ones – take on a life of their own, impacting fellow All Secure crew for weeks Jim Kelleher or months afterward. We all operate under the general assumption that our fellow mates are good people who follow the rules on and off shore. The reality, of course, is that this is not always the case. As with other checks or tests we experience in life, a background check is really only as good as the check itself, and then it is only good for the moment in time that the check was conducted. An example would be the recent TSA requirement for licensed USCG crew members to have a Transport Workers Identification Credential (TWIC). The background investigation conducted only covers what has occurred in the past and is good for five years. Until
the credential is renewed the potential exists for someone to be arrested and go un-detected for the next five years. The first responsibility of any captain is the safety and well being of his/her crew and passengers. Routine pre-employment and periodic background checks are an essential first step in the performance of this responsibility, thus demonstrating due diligence in providing a safe work environment. The need for background checks becomes even more important for non-licensed crew or those who have not undergone the minimum of TWIC credentialing. In today’s security-conscious environment (not to mention the litigious mindset of our culture), not conducting periodic background checks is fool hearty. Criminal arrest records and most civil actions are public records and therefore available to anyone. Local, city, state, and federal agencies charge an administrative fee to search their records and respond to inquiries. The best and most practical means of acquiring these records for the purpose of a background check is to use an online service or a professional firm specializing in conducting background checks.
As the responsible party for accomplishing this task, I strongly recommend captains not conducting the background inquiry themselves. By outsourcing the task to a professional agency, a captain demonstrates a degree of due care and diligence in the event litigation ensues as a result of an event or termination. In addition, the ability to accomplish a thorough and comprehensive check when dealing with foreign countries, especially Third World countries, is not a job for the do-it-yourselfer. How often a background check should be conducted is really a matter of personal preference. One must remember that a background check is only good for the period of time up until the check is conducted. For this reason, I prefer to conduct periodic background checks on a yearly basis, normally prior to the time of yearly performance evaluations. Pre-employment screenings should always include a comprehensive check as well. Once a background system has been initiated, yearly update checks would only cover the previous year, thus keeping the cost to a minimum. A comprehensive multi-country background check normally costs about $250 and yearly updates are
about $100. Two companies with experience in working with the marine industry are Carco Group (+1-631-862-9300) and Scott-Roberts and Associates (+1-561253-6380). When confronted with the responsibility of maintaining a safe workplace environment for crew, passengers and guests (which often may include minor children), it is difficult to imagine or justify not having a program in place to conduct periodic background checks. Any resistance to a policy of conducting background checks is quickly quelled when the reasons are rationally explained and possible consequences understood. Given the potential impact to the overall yacht’s operation as a result of experiencing an incident that could have been avoided by conducting a simple background check, I weigh in on the side of routine and periodic checks. Jim Kelleher is president of Securaccess, a global security consultancy based in South Florida. Previously, he managed security for the industry’s largest fleet of private Feadships. Contact him through www.securaccessinc.com or at +1-954294-8530. Comments on this column are welcome at editorial@the-triton.com.
ONBOARD EMERGENCIES: Drunken guests B December 2008
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Care, safety of drunken guests part of crew responsibilities With the holidays approaching, yacht owners and guests will use their vessels to enjoy themselves and celebrate the traditions of the seasons. Usually, that means with drink. And often, that means someone has too much to drink, leaving yacht crew members with the unpleasant Sea Sick task of caring for Keith Murray a drunken guest’s safety while onboard. What is alcohol intoxication? WebMD offers this: “A person is said to suffer from alcohol intoxication when the quantity of alcohol the person consumes exceeds the individual’s tolerance for alcohol and produces behavioral or physical abnormalities. In other words, the person’s mental and physical abilities are impaired.” So you have a guest who is intoxicated and you are asked to handle the situation. In addition to your normal duties you are now security, guest relations, risk manager and possibly the first responder who will render first aid assistance. Dealing with drunken guests while at sea is more difficult than bouncing someone out of the local pub. It requires finesse, civility and diplomacy and presents problems if not handled correctly. Calling the authorities is probably not an option, or at least not the best option in most cases. Another obstacle: you can’t call your drunken guest a cab. You are stuck with them. Most often this means you must safely get the guest to their cabin and encourage them sleep it off. Here are several tips for dealing with drunk and unruly passengers: Be proactive. Long before the situation gets out of hand, you will see who is drinking too much and how it is affecting them. If you see a potential problem, alert the crew and make a plan to limit or stop the flow of alcohol. Be polite, and try to avoid touching or embarrassing a drunk, disorderly guest as this may cause them to strike out. It is best to call them aside, either alone or with a (more) sober friend, and suggest that they call it a night. You may wish to assist the guest to his or her quarters. Allowing them
See SICK, page B5
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www.the-triton.com ONBOARD EMERGENCIES: Drunken guests
‘Hair of the dog’ and caffeine are not good ways to fix a hangover SICK, from page B4 outside without supervision is never a good idea. Falling overboard or just falling in general is a very real possibility. Stop the flow of alcohol. Do not let them drink any more. And beware of other substances they may have access to, including certain prescription medications that can be dangerous when mixed with alcohol. When in doubt, call or radio for medical advice before mixing drugs with alcohol. Watch them. Do not let them near anything that could hurt them, including stairs or ladders, the railing or swim platform, machinery, etc. If the person falls asleep, check to make sure they are breathing normally. If they are, let them sleep it off. If possible, have them sleep on their side. This will prevent drowning in their own vomit, should their body expectorate the alcohol while they are unconscious. You should continue to monitor their airway and breathing and watch for seizures. If the victim is unresponsive, is having difficulty breathing or is having a seizure get medical help immediately. Vomiting is common with excessive drinking. If someone vomits a few
times, this is normal. However, if they vomit many times, it may be a sign of head injury or other serious injury and they may need more extensive medical attention. The best cure for alcohol intoxication is sleep. That pain in the morning is from dehydration, so encourage guests to drink water, fruit juice or Gatorade when possible. Avoid serving them caffeine as this will dehydrate them further. The theory of “hair of the dog that bit you” doesn’t work and only serves to start the intoxication-dehydration trend again. When in doubt, always get help. It is possible that the person may be suffering from another condition other than alcohol intoxication such as kidney problems, diabetes or a number of other medical problems. Keith Murray, a former Florida firefighter EMT, is the owner of The CPR School, a mobile training company that provides CPR, AED and first aid training. He also sells and services automated external defibrillators. Contact him at +1-561-762-0500 or keith@theCPRschool.com. Comments on this column are welcome at editorial@ the-triton.com.
December 2008
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Today’s fuel prices
One year ago
Prices for low-sulfur gasoil expressed in US$ per cubic meter (1,000 liters) as of Nov. 15.
Prices for low-sulfur gasoil expressed in US$ per cubic meter (1,000 liters) as of Nov. 15, 2007
Region Duty-free*/duty paid U.S. East Coast Ft. Lauderdale 627/669 Savannah, Ga. 602/NA Newport, R.I. 667/NA Caribbean St. Thomas, USVI 1,034/NA St. Maarten 938/NA Antigua 1,018/NA Valparaiso 1,059/NA North Atlantic Bermuda (Ireland Island) 922/NA Cape Verde 1,120/NA Azores 606/NA Canary Islands 598/753 Mediterranean Gibraltar 636/NA Barcelona, Spain 600/1,275 Palma de Mallorca, Spain NA/1,264 Antibes, France 654/1,467 San Remo, Italy 725/1,596 Naples, Italy 712/1,547 Venice, Italy 738/1,515 Corfu, Greece 650/1,331 Piraeus, Greece 625/1,309 Istanbul, Turkey 674/NA Malta 582/683 Bizerte, Tunisia 681/NA Tunis, Tunisia 674/NA Oceania Auckland, New Zealand 632/NA Sydney, Australia 665/NA Fiji 721/NA
Region Duty-free*/duty paid U.S. East Coast Ft. Lauderdale 794/807 Savannah, Ga. 778/NA Newport, R.I. 876/NA Caribbean St. Thomas, USVI 799/NA St. Maarten 739/NA Antigua 802/NA North Atlantic Bermuda (St. George’s) 914/NA Cape Verde 725/NA Azores 719/NA Canary Islands 795/947 Mediterranean Gibraltar 784/NA Barcelona, Spain 879/1,548 Palma de Mallorca, Spain NA/1,554 Antibes, France 840/1,752 San Remo, Italy 925/1,879 Naples, Italy 871/1,784 Venice, Italy 892/1,803 Corfu, Greece 837/1,658 Piraeus, Greece 812/1,632 Istanbul, Turkey 809/NA Malta 774/NA Bizerte, Tunisia 768/NA Tunis, Tunisia 765/NA Oceania Auckland, New Zealand 789/NA Sydney, Australia 799/NA Fiji 899/NA
*When available according to customs.
*When available according to customs.
B December 2008 SUPERYACHT OPERATIONS: Up and Running
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Prepare for your next yard visit 6-12 months in advance This part of the course targets non-technical yacht crew, including captains, and is not intended to supplant engineer-level training. Periodic down time comprises those times between charters or between visits from the owner when there is sufficient time to carry out some interim work. Periodic down time Up and Running may encompass but is not limited Alan Dale to: engine maintenance in accordance with a manufacturer’s schedule, essential repairs to equipment, deep cleaning and repainting on a piecemeal basis,
varnishing and installation of smaller items of new equipment. Most vessels will require some extensive maintenance after being in service for a year and in many instances this is more easily carried out in a repair/refit facility. Due to the seasonal nature of the charter business and the global weather patterns that tend to dictate the owner’s use, most yachts tend to carry out their annual repairs in October and/or February through April. The facility required depends upon the size of the vessel and the type of work to be carried out. The larger the vessel, the more limited are the available facilities. As a general rule, you need to start thinking about making a provisional reservation for a place in the yard about six months prior to a planned
visit. With more popular facilities this may need to be as much as 12 months in advance. As soon as you leave the previous refit it is advisable to start planning for the next one. Start a list of jobs that will need to be done. This can be started using your Classification Society records listing any surveys that will be due by that time. Once you are confident your list is representative, start getting quotes from all available companies in the area in which you are considering being based. Do not necessarily limit yourself to just one area. Obtaining quotes from alternative yards strengthens your negotiating position with your preferred yard. Writing the specification can be difficult. The first question to ask
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is: Do I need to write a specification at all? If you are planning routine maintenance tasks, it is easier to write a specification. However, the need for it is reduced because the tasks are more common and well known to the shipyards. If the shipyard you are considering using is nearby and it is convenient for their estimators to come down to the yacht then your specification could comprise of nothing more than a job list of one line comments. Let the yard do all the research and write the detailed specification in the form of a proposal. You will have to read their proposal carefully, as it will be written to the yard’s advantage. If there is an area that they are not sure about, where they consider there may be hidden costs, then you may find the wording of the proposal is suitably vague so as to allow them to pass those costs on to you. If you are considering a shipyard that is further away, or if it is not convenient to have the yard’s representative on board at the time you are soliciting quotes, then a more detailed specification may be required. Whilst it should not be too detailed, this specification does need to tell the yard the type of equipment you need to do the maintenance on. It should also contain all relevant information pertaining to that equipment, including make, model, serial number, running hours if applicable, voltage, cycles, etc. For paint work you should indicate the paint manufacturer preferred, the approximate square area of the surfaces to be painted and inform them if there are any rust or fairing deficiencies to be dealt with. This can be done by adding all the areas of rust or fairing and including wording such as “allow for 10 percent repair of fairing and blister damage.” This will give the yard an idea of the severity of the situation. For pipe work you can ask for a shipyard’s standard tariff. This will normally be in the form of a table. It should indicate the cost of linear sections of pipe by the meter. Galvanising should be quoted by the kilogram and this can be a bit more difficult to assess. Steel plate work can also be given as a standard tariff (often by weight) although care should be taken as the welding required may vary from job to job and this can affect the end price dramatically. Whilst you will not be able to price the job to within a dollar, if you request these tariffs before commencing the negotiations you can make sure you have a reasonable price for what you are doing. When writing any specification it
See RUNNING, page B7
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TECHNOLOGY BRIEFS
PHOTO COURTESY OF FLIR
FLIR introduces thermal imager that improves nighttime vision “We cannot see it, but it sees the heat of our bodies and the heat of our fear…,” says the tagline for the film Predator. Movie viewers experienced thermal imaging technology through the eyes of the monster in the 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. This technology is built at FLIR Systems. FLIR hosted a demonstration during the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show to introduce its newest maritime thermal imager, the Voyager II. Displayed onboard the 135-foot Sun Dream were three sensors of their
diverse product line. The focus for the show was maritime applications, but the product line includes airborne and land uses in government and commercial and thermography for industry and science. “It’s like cheating,” said Ariel Pared, of the ability to see clearly at night on the water. The Miami boater says he won’t build a boat without the thermal technology. For frequent trips on Intracoastal waters with his family,
See TECH BRIEFS, page B8
Avoid adding jobs late in process RUNNING, from page B6 is important that you put yourself in the shoes of the person who will have to do the work. Sometimes access is a problem. When considering painting there may be a number of chrome fittings that need to be removed or protected. It is always a good idea to take as many photographs as possible to send with your specification. If you are planning on embarking on a major refurbishment or remodelling it is probably worth considering employing a suitable consultant to write your specification for you. If you are repainting the entire yacht, get a paint consultant. If you are remodelling the interior, get an interior consultant. If you are going to cut the boat in half and lengthen it, get a technical consultant (naval architect) and make it his responsibility to take advice on the paint and interior outfitting. The most important thing about writing a specification is to make sure that, no matter what the format, you include all the jobs you want done as early as possible in the pricing process. If you wait until you are in the yard before submitting your work list, or you add to it, you are almost guaranteed to be punished financially. You want to avoid as much as possible those famous words, “We didn’t quote for that.” With the best will in the world this is not always possible. When this happens there has to be additional work agreed upon, which is then a change to the working
MPI Group of Surrey, England, offers a distance-learning course designed to bridge the gap between master certification and the reality of running a large yacht. The course is sponsored by the Professional Yachtsmen’s Association and Middlesex University. Course material was created by Ian Biles, with contributions from other industry professionals, including Alan Dale. For more information, call +44(0)1252-732-220 or e-mail et@ mpigroup.co.uk. To read previous columns, visit www.the-triton.com and click on “news search.”
agreement. Most yards call these Change Orders. Where possible, try to foresee problems. If you are exposing an area where you know there are numerous pipes, insert a proviso such as “Quote for the replacement 6m of 15mm copper pipe.” If the pipe turns out to be damaged then you have your price built in. You do not have to do the work if there is no damage and hence there will be no charge. Alan Dale is technical manager at Nigel Burgess in London. He spent 20 years as an engineer with the Cunard Line before working on refit and new build yacht projects. He has also worked with the MCA Steering Committee on the development of qualifications for yacht engineers. Comments on this column are welcome at editorial@the-triton.com.
December 2008
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B December 2008 TECHNOLOGY BRIEFS
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Global Satellite USA launches new position-reporting device TECH BRIEFS, from page B7 offshore fishing and crossings to the Bahamas, Pared said the ability to see debris in the water has been a lifesaver. FLIR’s imagers create pictures from heat. Not truly cameras, these sensors present images differently than night vision devices. The more commonly seen greenappearing images of night vision technology use light. For more detail on the technology, see “Hot technology lets you see in the dark” by Capt. David Hare in the February 2006 issue of The Triton, or online at www.the-triton.com. – Dorie Cox
New position-reporting device
Global Satellite USA, launches a new position-reporting device for megayachts, tenders, jet skies and racers. The Polaris is produced by Trident Sensors Ltd. in the UK and can solve reporting and tracking requirements. Applications for the self-contained, battery-powered, lightweight, tracking device include keeping track of charter guests on small craft and making sure the dinghy stays with the boat. Polaris is capable of sending more than 4,000 position reports on one battery charge, for example every halfhour for 80 days at sea or almost 14 days at 5 minute intervals. Contact www.globalsatellite.us or call toll free 1-800-263-5450 for details.
Eco-friendly moorings
For a mooring system that leaves virtually no impact on the marine environment, EzyRider Mooring Systems from Australian manufacturer Global Moorings Pty. Ltd. are now available. This environmentally friendly, lowimpact, high strength system for swing moorings has no moving parts to come in contact with the seabed. The EzyRider Mooring can be installed to various anchoring systems in most marine locations and substrates. The self-centering action reduces swing and offers space saving advantages for marinas and boat owners. For more information visit www. ezyridermooring.com or call +61 8 9467 2962.
Marlink buys WaveCall
Maritime satellite communications provider Marlink has agreed to purchase the WaveCall brand from Sea Tel. WaveCall is a VSAT solution providing e-mail, Internet, voice and IP packages for the leisure yachting sector. The 4006 Ku-band antenna is Sea Tel’s most advanced technology for providing satellite communications specifically in the maritime environment. It is comprised of above and below deck equipment designed to withstand marine conditions and maintain a stable connection.
Wireless-Iridium project Raritan adds Smartswitch TM-4000 Globe Globe Wireless is in final testing
Raritan Engineering’s new Smartswitch TM-4000 enables monitoring and control for up to four tanks from one location. The system provides visual indication of tank level, seacock position and pump status. The sophisticated controller has features including the ability to turn on a water maker or fuel transfer pump when a tank is empty and off when tank is full. For more details, contact New Jersey-based Raritan at +1-856-8254900 or through www.raritaneng.com.
with Iridium on the Iridium OpenPort platform. This includes all aspects of the service and associated hardware and software. The hardware is undergoing extensive field testing. The service and the various service speeds are being rated under load, using the Globe range of e-mail services and applications. This includes the mail services of the Globe i4, GCC, and Rydex. The Globe ShipShape applications are also being fully tested including the award-winning SSAS product.
New division for OceanTeam
OceanTeam Superyacht Solutions has launched a new division called Ocean Supply. Led by Stephan Mourot, this new division will serve as dedicated shoresupport for yacht spares and services. Delivery service is direct to yachts in any location for a variety of engine room, technical and operation supplies including emergency provisioning. For details, visit www. youroceanteam.com.
B10 December 2008 MARINAS / YARDS
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Roscioli expansion officially open By Dorie Cox “There’s gonna be a day…” plotted a young Bob Roscioli after being fired for requesting a nickel raise at his $1.10 an hour job more than 40 years ago. That day has finally come. Roscioli’s dream began in the late 1950s and has grown to become what is now Roscioli Yachting Center in Ft. Lauderdale. The nearly complete, multimillion-dollar, full-service marine facility on the New River held a ribboncutting ceremony in November to commemorate an expansion more than a decade in the making. Since 1981, Roscioli and his family (wife Sharon, daughter Heather and son Robert), have worked together to build Roscioli Yachting Center. The new corporate headquarters replete with Italian marble inlay, state-ofthe-art conference room with a yacht shaped table and original paintings by Rafael Serur of Venezuela also includes executive work spaces, a captain’s lounge, commissary, fitness room, laundry and conference center. About 100,000 square feet of facilities have been added to house fabrication, refit and painting facilities for yachts up to 155 feet in length. A total of 100,000 feet of dry dock space is available and more than 100 luxury
Bob Roscioli holds ceremonial scissors with his wife, Sharon. Daughter Heather and son Robert PHOTO/DORIE COX are at right. yachts can be housed on the property. A 165-ton travel lift has been added to the existing 220-ton lift. Expansion plans began 12 years ago with Roscioli’s efforts to purchase five acres adjacent to the eight he owned at the time. With the land declared protected wetlands by Broward County, the purchase was delayed for years, eventually being resolved when Roscioli donated more than an acre to environmental conservation. Dorie Cox is a staff reporter with The Triton. Comments on this story are welcome at dorie@the-triton.com.
More than 400 LRADs in use LRAD, from page B1 gap that was exposed after the attack on the USS Cole in 2000. The system is used to communicate, at safe ranges, and to determine the intent of the incoming vessel. It provides a highly effective and immediate non-lethal defense enhancement. Human hearing occurs in two dimensions, frequency and intensity. The LRAD is optimized for a frequency of 2,000 hz, the frequency humans are most sensitive to. At 145 db the sound is substantially louder than a military jet at take off. This enables the operator to initially control a hostile environment without weapons or can provide the extra minutes to broadcast an alert and implement lock-down procedures. Additionally, if trained marksmen are on board, it provides the clear understanding that if the oncoming vessel does not do a 180-degree turn, lethal force may be the only deterrent. Once the operator establishes that intent, deterministic rules of engagement can be employed. The LRAD is not a total solution, but it does allow the crew more time in which to react if a hostile vessel continues to approach the yacht. For example, in June 2004, the LRAD was used in Bahrain 410 times, according to U.S. Navy data. Of those,
For more information Doug Morrison Drum Cussac 954-536-0099 ddm@drum-cussac.com
338 times or 82 percent of the time, approaching vessels immediately diverted. With more than 400 LRAD units deployed worldwide, the LRAD 500 is a sleek, compact choice for providing an unmistakable warning to an unknown incoming vessel. At 26 pounds with a 20-inch diameter, anyone onboard can operate the system. The LRAD 500 can be powered from 90 to 240 vac, 50 to 60 hz, drawing a continuous 2 amps. And the LRAD housing can be ordered in white, tan or gray. I certainly desire “The Sound of Force Protection” in the form of an LRAD 500 on board my next transit of the Red Sea, South China Sea or the coast of Northern South America. Capt. David Hare is a megayacht captain actively seeking his next command. Comments on this story are welcome at editorial@the-triton.com. If you have discovered a product or service that could help other yacht crew, drop us a line.
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www.the-triton.com FROM THE TECH FRONT: Rules of the Road
To some, piracy equals terrorism RULES, from page B1 occurred in early November, heavily armed pirates seized a Philippinesflagged cargo ship off the coast of Somalia and took 23 crew hostage. “Pirates armed with semi-automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) successfully managed to attack and hijack the ship,” stated Noel Choong, head of the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) piracy reporting center in Kuala Lumpur. This incident brought the number of attacks in Somali waters to 83 this year, including 33 hijackings. Twelve vessels and more than 200 crew members are still in the hands of pirates. Meanwhile, a second ship chartered by the chemical tanker shipping group Stolt-Nielsen was also seized by gunmen, the M/V Stolt Valor, a chemical tanker on a voyage to India. Protection of the vessel and crew is one of the tenets of the ISPS Code. Various parties, including ship owners, flag administrations and insurance companies, have asked a very simple question: Where is the protection? Many of these entities have made the argument that these acts of piracy constitute terrorism and should be addressed accordingly. The similarities are justified. Imagine if commercial airlines were regularly attacked, captured and then ransomed. There would be public outcry. The initial response by Western nations, including the United States, United Kingdom and European Union, was that vessel protection in this area was the responsibility of the owner. After heavy lobbying by the maritime industry to the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization, some semblance of an armed force has been positioned to the area. Coalition Maritime Forces (CMF) consisting of naval forces from about 20 nations is now patrolling the Middle East area by sea and air. It contains four Combined Task Force (CTF) groups under the command of a U.S. Navy vice admiral centered in Bahrain where a Battle Watch is manned 24 hours a day. One of the involved groups, CTF 150, is expanding its efforts by protecting sea lanes of communication, visiting vessels, protecting maritime infrastructure, working to deter and disrupt piracy, assisting mariners in distress, interacting with commercial operators, and improving security while the International Maritime Organization develops long-term initiatives in the fight against piracy. However, the primary mission of CTF 150 is focused on the war theaters of Iraq and Afghanistan. Piracy prevention and response is a secondary mission, based upon availability of resources in the specific area. To supplement the absence of dedicated forces, European Union
foreign ministers approved in midNovember anti-piracy patrols off Somalia’s coast. The patrols will be conducted by four to six ships backed by three or four maritime patrol aircraft and will be led by a British Royal Navy vice admiral. The mission will replace NATO ships currently policing the dangerous waters. The EU patrols will start this month. One of the bigger problems in this issue is jurisdiction and prosecution. As was recently noted when French naval forces captured several of the suspected pirates, the question of where to deposit offenders was unknown. The French government did not want responsibility for their prosecution. Turning them over to one of the feuding local warlords in Somalia was not an option. The country has not had a central government since 1991. The nine pirates were eventually released to authorities in the autonomous northern region of Somalia, but were released by that government for lack of evidence to prosecute. Several yacht registries, including the Marshall Islands and the United Kingdom, have issued Marine Notices on the subject. Contents outline area operations and provide points of contact for vessels needing assistance. Capt. Jake DesVergers is chief surveyor for the International Yacht Bureau, an organization that inspections private and commercial yachts on behalf of several flag administrations. A deck officer graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, he previously 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 954-596-2728 or www.yachtbureau.org.
December 2008
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B12 December 2008 PHOTOGRAPHY: Photo Exposé
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Lag time on digital cameras can be a maddening issue Welcome aboard photo enthusiasts. One of the most annoying aspects of owning a pocket or point-and-shoot digital camera for me is the lag time, that is, the time it takes from when you press the shutter button to when the picture is actually taken. My first pocket digital was the Canon S50. It was a 5 Photo Exposé megapixel camera, James Schot 2600X1950 pixel resolution, which when divided by the optimum print resolution of 300 pixels, will output a quality 8.5-inch by 6.5-inch print without software enhancement. In discussing megapixels and pixel resolutions, I always have to restate to not overlook the size of the imaging sensor in relation to a quality output. In case of the Canon S50 the CCD sensor is 1/1.8, about 23 percent the size of my Canon 5D that has a full 35mm size sensor. Nevertheless, it was a betterthan-average size for a pocket digital. The thing to keep in mind is that both the number of pixels and the size of the pixels impact quality. My purchasing decision for the S50 was also based on its ability to take RAW as well as JPG files. To understand the former it helps to explain the latter first. When you take a shot in the JPG file format, the camera uses built-in software to throw out information to make the file smaller and the processing faster. In an oversimplified explanation it works something like this: all tones and colors are made up of numerical 0s and 1s to represent them. If your shot has a great deal of blue sky the internal software can represent this large area with a small numerical interpolation to represent the vast blue sky. With RAW, no such interpolation is made. All the information in the photograph taken remains and nothing is discarded. This is useful in post production handling and enhancement of the image. Since there is more information in the RAW as opposed to the JPG you can do more to the former without degrading it. Doing more means adjusting colors, sharpening, restoring highlights or shadows, and many other adjustments. This RAW vs. JPG is a mute point for most sailors who just want simplicity and have fun getting some snaps of parties, friends and travel scenes. For them, a JPGs-only camera works great. There’s no fuss and there is a large selection of cameras to choose from. On the other hand, the serious photo hobbyist may want to consider a
camera with RAW capabilities, but then there are few cameras to select from. That the S50 had a 28mm lens was another sales point for me, as I find it useful to have a true wide-angle lens. I can say with near certainty that all the photographs you see in yachting are taken with wide-angle lenses. A wide angle is great, a must for tight spaces common on a yacht or sailboat. Another advantage of a wide angle lens is its great depth of focus, meaning most everything taken stays in focus. Of course, as mentioned in other articles, the aperture setting also has an effect on the focus range. A disadvantage of wide angle lenses is that they distort space. This is most noticeable nearer the right and left edges of the frame. You will notice walls leaning in and skewed. With a 28mm it is not overly severe in this regard, but with anything wider like a 24mm or 17mm it becomes troublesome and challenging. Not to worry; very few compact cameras even offer a 28mm. They are usually 35mm or 39mm or the like. Not for me, I always need a lens capable to be a 28mm wide angle and if it zooms X4 to a 112mm, I’m satisfied. The problem for boaters is dealing with either tight spaces or scenes and subjects that are far away and that you can’t easily get closer to. You may desire a X10 zoom from 28mm to 280mm, but unfortunately you can’t have everything in one pocket camera, and they do not allow for interchangeable lenses. [We can explore options in the next article, and I will get into how to read a camera specifications chart. I actually started this article with that latter plan.] So I had the camera with a suitable (at that time) resolution, able to take images with different file options, with a wide angle lens, but was I happy with this camera? No, not completely. It had one big problem … shutter lag. To discuss this topic I did some digging and found the S50 lag was over 1 second. That’s horrible. Other cameras weren’t much better: the Panasonic DMC LS80 had a lag time for a single shot of 0.49 seconds and for 5 consecutive shots or 16.17 seconds; the Panasonic LS75 had lag times of 0.4 seconds and 18.67 seconds; the Samsung Digimax S760 was 0.30 and 8.37 seconds; and the Canon Powershot A470 was 0.28 and 7.60 seconds. I’ll continue on this topic next time. Right now I need permission to go ashore and, based on these stats, get me a Powershot A470. James Schot has been a professional photographer for 30 years and owns James Schot Gallery and Photo Studio. Comments on this column are welcome at james@bestschot.com.
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IN THE STARS
Search the sky Dec. 12 for largest, closest full moon By Jack Horkheimer
holiday season and is the brightest object we can see in the nighttime sky, second only to the Moon. But this year Have we ever got something nifty it has returned with a companion. for you to end 2008. On Friday, Dec. 12, Any night during Christmas we will see the largest and closest full week, about 45 minutes after sunset, Moon of the entire year. And believe face southwest where the brightest me, this moon will look significantly object you’ll see will be the so-called bigger than usual. Christmas Star. Down to its right will On Monday, Dec. 1, an hour after be a not quite as bright companion. sunset, face southwest where you Even though both of them look like would have seen an exquisite trio of incredibly brilliant stars nothing could the brightest objects we ever see in be farther from the truth. The so-called the nighttime sky: a super exquisite Christmas Star is Venus, the most crescent Moon, below it super bright reflective planet of them all because it planet No. 2 Venus, and next to it is constantly enshrouded by a dense planet No. 5 Jupiter. cloud cover. It is our nearest neighbor But as you know, the Moon moves in space other than the Moon. For rapidly across the sky from night to centuries whenever Venus has made its night and changes appearance during its appearance the Christmas dramatically. From On May 19, the full season, people Dec. 1 to Dec. 12, Moon was at its farthest have mistaken Jupiter and Venus it for the star for the year, 252,472 will be pulling mentioned in the apart from each miles from Earth. On Christmas story. other night after Friday, Dec. 12, it will Jupiter is the night. The Moon in be 30,885 miles closer, one closest to the the meantime will horizon. You’ll have grown to an only 221, 587 miles be absolutely enormous size. away. And believe me, it fascinated at the So on Friday, will look more than 12 detail you can see Dec. 12, if you turn with even a small around and look percent larger. telescope. You’ll toward the east be able to make just after sunset you will see a super huge full Moon just out horizontal lines, which are bands rising, the largest and closest full Moon of gigantic storms, which continually encircle Jupiter. And you’ll also see tiny of 2008. And like all full Moons, this full Moon has several special names. Its pinpoints of light lined up on either two most popular names are “the Moon side, which are its four largest moons. before Yule” because this is the closest A clear shot at Mercury full Moon to Christmas and “The Long On Christmas Eve and Christmas Night Moon” because this is the full night, the two brightest planets will be Moon closest to the solstice this year. joined by the pink planet right after But just how close will it be? Well, the Moon is constantly moving sunset, painting a beautiful picture. On Wednesday, Dec. 24, just after sunset, either toward Earth or away from it. And it has a 31,000-mile range between face southwest where you will see Venus. Down to its right is Jupiter. its closest and most distant points. If you have a clear, flat horizon, look On May 19, the full Moon was at its just below Jupiter to see Mercury, often farthest for the year, 252,472 miles from called the pink planet because it always Earth. On Friday, Dec. 12, it will be looks pink when it’s seen close to the 30,885 miles closer, only 221, 587 miles horizon. away. And believe me, it will look more At 3,000 miles wide, Mercury is the than 12 percent larger. Plus, it will also be the highest riding tiniest planet in our solar system. Our full Moon of the year, which means that Messenger space craft is still visiting Mercury and sending back spectacular if you go outside around midnight it photographs of parts of this planet will be close to overhead and act like we’ve never before seen. What a way to a gigantic cosmic floodlight making start Christmas Eve. the landscape absolutely brilliant, especially if there’s snow. Jack Horkheimer is executive director of the Miami Museum of Science. This is Stellar Christmas companions the script for his weekly television show Every few years during the co-produced by the museum and WPBT Christmas season an extremely bright Channel 2 in Miami. It is seen on public star-like object appears in early television stations around the world. evening, which prompts many people For more information about stars, visit to ask, “is it the Christmas Star?” www.jackstargazer.com. Once again it has returned for the
December 2008
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B14 December 2008 MARINAS / YARDS
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IGY adds division, lays off workers Ft. Lauderdale-based Island Global Yachting (IGY), a developer and manager of marinas, has launched a new marina management division and pursuing third-party contracts to manage marinas. The company offers a complete portfolio of management services, from operations and service to marketing, accounting, insurance, design and engineering. According to a story in Soundings Trade Only, IGY laid off about 40 employees in November, citing a shift away from buying properties because of difficulties in the credit markets. IGY owns and operates marinas in St. Maarten, St. Lucia, the British Virgin Islands, and St. Thomas, as well as some in the Americas and the Mediterranean. The company is designing, developing and managing up to 40,000 berths for Nakheel & Istithmar World in Dubai, UAE. The first project, Anchor Marina is expected to be completed this year on Palm Jumeirah. For more information on IGY’s marina management services, contact Tom DeLotto at +1-646-465-2150 or visit www.igymarinamanagement.com.
County. The ban on permits was lifted after adoption of the Broward County Boating Facility Siting Plan by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. “Because of the moratorium, there is a significant pent-up demand for dock slips in Broward County,” said Stephen Tilbrook, an environmental and landuse planner at the Ft. Lauderdale law firm of Shutts & Bowen. A member of the Harbour Towne project team, Tilbrook is also a member of the City of Ft. Lauderdale Marine Advisory Board. With easy access to Port Everglades Inlet and no bridges, Harbour Towne Marina can also accommodate vessels up to 200 feet. On the property are 80,000 square feet of office and retail space that include boat maintenance and services as well as brokers. The facility is full service, with ship’s store, fuel, pump-out and full service yard. The marina was the first in Florida to simultaneously earn Clean Marina and Clean Boatyard designations. Named “Marina of the Year” by Marina Dock Age Magazine several years ago, it is also the recipient of the Green Boatyard Award. – Dorie Cox
Dry stack breaks ground
Brad St. Coeur is the new manager at Sunrise Harbor Marina in Ft. Lauderdale. Sunrise Harbor is managed by California-based Westrec Marinas. St. Coeur was formerly manager of Harbor Towne Marina, also a Westrec narina. “We are very pleased Brad has rejoined Westrec,” said Gary Groenewold, vice president of the southern area for Westrec. “Brad has worked a number of years in the South Florida market and is very familiar with the needs of professional megayacht captains.” A former captain, St. Coeur has more than 25 years experience in the boating industry. He is a Certified Marina Manager and was instrumental in acquiring both Clean Marina/ Boatyard designations for multiple marina facilities.
A blueprint display, showing outlines of 156 waiting boats, will soon transform into Harbour Towne Marina’s new dry storage facility in Dania Beach, Fla. The Westrec marina on the Dania Cut-off Canal held an official ground breaking ceremony in October for the expansion project. Scheduled to open this spring, the new facility will accommodate boats 20 to 43 feet. This will bring the marina’s total dry storage capacity to more than 450 spaces. Due to a moratorium on new boat slips, it has been four years since a commercial marina facility was permitted in Broward
New manager at Sunrise Harbor
Platypus goes mobile
PHOTO/DORIE COX
Platypus Marine has begun accommodating captains and owners dockside in the Puget Sound marinas from Anacortes to Olympia, Washington. “There’s a lot of repairs and custom work we can do without bringing the boat to our yard and hauling it out,” said Capt. Charlie Crane, director of sales and marketing. Working out of its new satellite facility in Seattle, skilled employees have “ready-to-go tools and supplies for effective and speedy mobilization of projects.” Platypus has been providing mobile services to the commercial fishing fleets in Alaska for more than eight years. For more information, visit www. platypusmarine.com.
The Triton
www.the-triton.com CRUISING GROUNDS: Southwest Turkey
The anchorage between Gocek and Boynuz Buku.
PHOTO/CAPT. JOHN CAMPBELL
Find peace, tranquility in Turkey’s Gocek Bay By Capt. John Campbell When we arrive in Turkey, we usually clear into Fethiye and the deal that the agent is able to make is that we deliver the papers and passports to him in Fethiye, then we get permission to go to the comparative tranquility of Gocek. He does all the running round to the various offices and eventually delivers the Transit Log and various papers to us on board in Gocek. Completely painless and is recommended. Whole books have been written just about the anchorages in Gocek Bay. As I mentioned in the story last month [“Avoid crowds, Gulets to enjoy Turkey fully,” page B18], the zillions of Gulets are a pain in the busy season, but the rest of the year you can find peace and tranquillity in many anchorages. The bay is a national park, and the Turks are to be praised for their efforts in trying to keep it nice. However, there are a couple of things to be aware of. In many anchorages in Turkey the water is very deep quite close in. Often you will have to drop an anchor, or better yet two anchors and take lines ashore, to stop from swinging into deeper water and dragging. You will need a couple of good long ropes for this. For many years, boats in Gocek Bay traditionally tied the stern lines onto the trees, but the increase in traffic began to cause damage to the trees. Now it is illegal to tie onto trees in Gocek Bay, and there is a guy whose job it is to go round to be grumpy with anybody who disobeys this law. In theory you can be fined for tying to the trees, but in practice, so long
as the offending ropes are removed at once, no more is said. It is a shame that the government, in its infinite wisdom, employed somebody to enforce this who does not speak a word of English, which has caused confusion on more than one occasion. The government has fixed some mooring points, most of which are suitable only for smaller boats. If you cannot find a suitable fixed mooring point for the stern-lines, then you will have to try and secure them to rocks. Do not be tempted to use the trees. The other situation is the toilet. In Turkish waters in general, marinas and Gocek Bay in particular, it is illegal to pump toilets over the side; the Turks call it “making bubbles.” Again, whilst this is admirable, there is not the infrastructure to cope with it. The grumpy tree-man has a tank of about a thousand litres and will, for a small charge, empty your poo-tank. Our tank holds about 5 tons and would not only fill his tank but sink his boat. We try to pump offshore, but otherwise run it through the treatment system and pump with discretion. The shame and stupidity of the whole thing is that the zillions of Gulets on charter, for the most part, do not appear to have tanks, and even if they do, they pump when and where they please. However, if they see a foreign boat do the same, they call the police who come in a heartbeat and can actually test the water around the offending boat. If they find traces of poo, then huge fines are levied, and
See TURKEY, page B16
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B16 December 2008 CRUISING GROUNDS: Southwest Turkey
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Looking toward the marinas of Gocek.
The Triton
PHOTO/CAPT. JOHN CAMPBELL
Skopio marina stands out TURKEY, from page B15 rumor has it, perhaps as much as half goes as a reward to the Gulet that alerted them. So take great care in this department. When we first came to Gocek 25 years or so ago, we had to anchor off the village and pull the dinghy up on the beach. There was not even a dock for dinghies. There are now four marinas in Gocek with at least one more being planned. Our favorite is Skopio marina, probably the smallest but it is the closest to town and the people are friendly and helpful. Everybody and his dog offer free WiFi connections, and Gocek is perhaps the most connected place I have ever visited. There are the usual carpet shops and souvenir places and a plethora of restaurants, but somehow Gocek has
retained most of the charm it had when it was a small village all those years ago. My favorite restaurant, just because of its bizarre name, is The Kebab Hospital, although I have to admit, there are several with better food. There are many entrepreneurs with their small boats who ply their trade in Gocek Bay. There are several selling ice cream, a few selling souvenirs of various sorts, but best of all are the mother and daughter in traditional dress who have a fire burning in the bottom of their boat. They raft alongside and make pancakes to order. Yummy. Gocek Bay has too many anchorages to list here, so get a pilot book and take your pick. Incidentally, there is some great biking out from Gocek, either north into the mountains or southwest
See TURKEY, page B17
The Triton
www.the-triton.com CRUISING GROUNDS: Southwest Turkey
A typical anchorage in Gocek Bay.
PHOTO/CAPT. JOHN CAMPBELL
Bay of Ucagiz Limani a calm one TURKEY, from page B16 along the coast. It does not take long to get into areas your average tourist never sees, and it suddenly all looks “very Turkish.” As you continue east, there are more than enough anchorages to explore. Most boats do not venture further east than Kekova Roads, which is perhaps my favorite anchorage in Turkey. The calmest spot is in the bay of Ucagiz Limani, and the best holding seems to be to the east of the town. When you arrive you will be met by a flotilla of ladies selling assorted needlework and embroidery. Some of it is remarkably good and after a bit of haggling, not that expensive. The town of Ucagiz has a few restaurants and some basic supplies, but the reason for coming here is the castle at Kale Koy. You can leave your dinghy on the dock of one of the restaurants and wander through the village that time has forgotten. Make your way more or less eastward and upward and you will find the trail up to the castle. You will probably be escorted by a swarm of kids or maybe an old lady. Accept their guidance gracefully and reward them with a few euros. This has to be one of the harder places in the world to make a living. You will pass several shops selling needlework. Again, some of it is stunning and not unreasonably priced. They expect a bit of good-natured barter, but not stupidly insulting offers. From the castle you have fantastic views down onto Kekova Roads. It is a must-visit place. Looking across to the island of Kekova Adasi, you may be able to spot the underwater remains of a sunken city. When we first went there, you were allowed to snorkel over the ruins. Unfortunately, a few spoiled it for the many by stealing artefacts. Now it is strictly controlled, but you can see the
ruins on organized trips. As you come down from the castle, drop down the eastern side and you will pass through a cemetery of Lycean sarcophagi, gigantic blocks of stone carved to form enormous coffins. Alas, all have been broken and plundered, but it’s still worth seeing. If the wind is light, you can go stern-to the rocks at Kekova Adasi, but make sure you are well to the east of the sunken ruins. There are ruins running along the ridge of the island. It is now controlled and there is a small admission price. It is worth the visit for the views alone, but the ruins are quite interesting, too. This is where Father Christmas spent his formative years, presumably before he got into toy-making. St. Nicholas spent several years at the church, which is in remarkably good shape. To digress for a moment, Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors and pawn-brokers. Is there a relationship there? When he was the bishop of the town of Demre, on the mainland near Kale, he was fond of doing good deeds. There was one poor but proud family that he wanted to help, but they were reluctant to accept gifts. The story goes that he climbed onto the roof of their house one dark and stormy night. The daughters of the household were drying their stockings in front of the fire. The good bishop dropped some gold pieces down the chimney and they fell by chance into one of the stockings. This is how our tradition of Father Christmas began, right here in Kekova Roads. Capt. John Campbell has been yacht captain for more than 20 years and a sailor all life. He is currently in command of the 35m Codecasa M/Y Laymar II. Comments on this story are welcome at editorial@the-triton.com.
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B18 December 2008 FORT LAUDERDALE INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW
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The Triton
A few of the faces and places of FLIBS T
he 49th annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show saw flat attendance of about 140,000 visitors. But that was a success, according to show organizers and many vendors. The downturn in the economy over the past two months prepped many exhibitors to expect a smaller-than-normal crowd. Word
on the dock was that buyers were thin and cautious. Some deals “made” in Monaco have since fallen through, leaving the Ft. Lauderdale crowd more spectator than buyer. Still, crews were at their typical best, doing their part to keep these floating cities in tip-top shape. PHOTOS/CAPT. TOM SERIO
Bosun Jesulito Samaco stopped long enough for a photo, as he seemed a bit busy onboard M/Y Paramour, a 138-foot CMN.
Deckhands J.D. Barrier and Ryan Mills head up the gangway on the Oceanco M/Y Lady Christina. This private yacht has cruised the S/Y MITseaAH was displaying at FLIBS, along with her team of Stew Bree U.S. East Coast this summer and will Iskov, Chef Troy Harrison, Purser Flash Macewan, Stew Claire stay in Florida this winter. Hawkins and Deckhand Dane Gadney.
Capt. Todd Likins, Eng. Nickolaus Peterson and Mate Bob Soper of the Hargrave M/Y Cocktails.
Here’s Gerry Turnball, deckhand onboard M/Y Sea Bowld, a 174-foot Oceanfast. Turnball and crew can usually be found at Sunrise Harbor Marina.
Second Stew Katie DeSouza peers out of an access hatch on M/Y Blue Moon to get her latest issue of The Triton.
The Triton
www.the-triton.com FORT LAUDERDALE INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW
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All ready for the evening’s events, the crew on the new 163-foot Christensen M/Y Casino Royale looked snappy and ready to go. She is managed by Capt. Zach (fifth from left) and Chief Stew Vanessa (second from left).
The crew of M/Y Magic were eager to get the show going as they pulled together for a quick photo opp.
The crew of M/Y Starship were in their dress uniforms for the show, including Capt. Jesse Badger, helicopter pilot Judy Smith, Mate Gerry LeRoux, Chief Stew Jules Kay, Stew Marysol Comeau, and Deckhand Dan St. Denis. Eng. Kevin Richert, Stew Kristy Sanderson and Deckhand Justin Hall kept watch over M/Y Domani, a 145-foot Benetti, at the show. Domani is expected to visit the Bahamas before heading to Savannah and shipping to the Med for next summer.
The outgoing crew of M/Y Big City was buzzing around when we found them on their Palmer Johnson 123. Here is Mate Rodrigo Callejon, Second Stew Marica Albingco and Chief Stew Shalimar Walser.
The crew on M/Y Vita was looking sharp for the show. Stew Jemma Stapleton, Chief Stew Jenny Lee, Bosun Lloyd Cane and Chief Engineer Travis Liberatori man this 150-foot Trinity and will head to the Derecktor shipyard for its 5-year ABS inspection.
A custom 130-foot Gambol yacht, M/Y Sojourn’s crew – Chef Chris Daly, Capt. Steve Quentel, Eng. Sam Savage and Chief Stew Lisa Karlein – were all smiles as they plan to head to the Bahamas and Caribbean this winter.
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Gulf of Mexico events on tap: New Orleans, St. Petersburg
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
December 2008
EVENT OF MONTH Dec. 7 just after sunrise; Clean Up & Play Day; Ft. Lauderdale beach, across from Bahia Mar This is The Triton’s second event to get yachties out to network without the alcohol. Meet us on Ft. Lauderdale beach for a half-hour trash clean up and then stay to play in the water, paddle kayaks and canoes, enjoy coffee and, yes, network. It’s what we do. No RSVP. Watch your e-mail for details or call us for more information as the date draws near. 954-525-0029.
Dec. 3 Networking Triton style (the
first Wednesday of every month), 6-8 p.m., with YES at All Stars Sports Bar and Grill in Ft. Lauderdale at 2440 State Road 84, also know as Marina Mile Road, 1 block west of I-95 on the south side, 954-734-2424 (www. allstarssportsbarandgrill.com). No RSVP necessary. For more information about Darren Coleman and Joey Ricciardelli and their business YES, see page C3.
Dec. 3-5 International WorkBoat Show,
New Orleans. 1,000 exhibitors targeting the people and businesses who work on the coastal, inland and offshore waters. www.workboatshow.com
Dec. 4 The Triton Bridge luncheon, Ft.
Lauderdale, noon. This is our monthly captains’ roundtable where we discuss the issues and trends of the industry. For people who earn their livings as
See CALENDAR, page B22
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The first event was a garbage-hauling success, and a fun one, too. PHOTOS/LUCY REED
B22 December 2008 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft. Lauderdale, Dec. 13 CALENDAR, from page B21 yacht captains. RSVP to Editor Lucy Reed at lucy@the-triton.com or 954525-0029. Space is limited.
Dec. 4-6 Cayman Jazz Fest, Pageant Beach, Grand Cayman. www. caymanislands.ky/jazzfest
Dec. 4-7 31st annual St. Petersburg
Boat Show and Strictly Sail, Bayfront Center Yacht Basin, St. Petersburg, Fla. www.showmanagement.com
Dec. 4-9 47th annual Antigua Charter
Yacht Show, Antigua, in Falmouth and English Harbors. More than 85 yachts registered. www.antiguayachtshow.com. 2009 dates: Dec. 7-12
Dec. 5-7 Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing! in
Islamorada, Fla. Rescheduled from September because of approaching hurricanes. Registration of $160 includes welcome party, classes at beginner/advanced levels, lunch, hands-on skill stations, T-shirt and more. Fishing adventure fees range from $55 - $330. 954-475-9068, www. ladiesletsgofishing.com
Dec. 6-9 5th annual St. Maarten
Charter Show in Simpson Bay. This is the second show since being taken over
by the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association. Still produced by the St. Maarten Marine Trades Association. More than 40 yachts registered. www. mybacaribbeanshow.com. 2009 dates: Dec. 6-9
Jan. 3-4 21st annual Las Olas Art
Dec. 7 Sunday Jazz Brunch, Ft.
Jan. 7 Networking Triton style (the first
Lauderdale, along the New River Riverwalk downtown, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., free. Four stages with a variety of local jazz. www.fortlauderdale.gov
Dec. 8-13 Advanced Marina
Management School by the International Marina Institute, West Palm Beach. Profit-management training course for senior marina professionals. www.MarinaAssociation. org, click on Training & Certification, +1-401-247-0314.
Dec. 13 37th annual Winterfest Boat
Parade on the Intracoastal Waterway from the New River in Ft. Lauderdale to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach. This year’s theme is “Rocking the Night Aweigh.” Entry fees start at $35. 954767-0686, www.winterfestparade.com
Dec. 13-21 New York National Boat Show, Javits Convention Center, New York City. 212-984-7000, www. nyboatshow.com
Festival-Part I, Ft. Lauderdale. More than 300 regional and national artists exhibit on Las Olas Boulevard between 6th and 11th avenues. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. Free. www.ArtFestival.com Wednesday of every month), 6-8 p.m., details to come.
Jan. 8 The Triton Bridge luncheon,
noon, Ft. Lauderdale. A roundtable discussion of the issues of the day. Active captains only. RSVP to Editor Lucy Reed at lucy@the-triton.com or 954-525-0029. Space is limited.
Jan. 9-11 35th annual Stuart Boat
Show, Stuart, Fla. In three marinas: Waterway Marina, Allied Richard Bertram Marine Group Marina, and Stuart Harbor Marina, northwest of the Roosevelt Bridge. www.miatc.com
MAKING PLANS Feb. 12-16 21st annual Yacht and Brokerage Show Miami Beach The in-water show held in tandem with the Miami International Boat Show in the Intracoastal Waterway. Hundreds of megayachts showcased along Collins Avenue between 41st and 51st streets. Free. www.showmanagement.com Miami International Boat Show in the Intracoastal Waterway. Free. www. showmanagement.com
March 12-14 The 1st Abu Dhabi Yacht
Classic Yacht Regatta. Fourth invitational is the first classic regatta of the Caribbean season. www. classicregatta.com
Show, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre organized by Informa Yacht Group (owners of Monaco Yacht Show). Show to target elite power and sail buyers in the market for megayachts 30m-100m. 80 percent of show space sold out. www.abudhabiyachtshow.com
Feb. 12-16 21st annual Yacht and
March 26-29 24th annual Palm
Jan. 22-25 St.Maarten-St.Martin
Brokerage Show, Miami. The inwater show held in tandem with the
Beach Boat Show, Palm Beach. www. showmanagement.com
The Triton
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SPOTTED
Triton Spotter
Capt. Phil Frost took this photo of his wife, Gaynor, as they whizzed by the Statue of Liberty in the super-fast Lazzara M/Y Lady H. Lady H is hull No. 1 in the 75-foot series. And after two years aboard, “despite the usual problems for such a different propulsion system,” Frost said Volvo and Lazzara have been “fantastic in their warranty and service.” The Frosts were at the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show to unveil Lazzara’s new 92-foot LSX. “I used to work as chef on boats like Maridome, Iroquois, Savarona, and now just love the smaller boats, especially as it’s just my wife and I running it,” he said. “We are now two years on this boat but we still get the ‘wow” factor at every marina.” Watch for the Frosts and Lady H in the Caribbean this winter. Dare you not to say “wow.”
Where have you and your Triton been lately? Send photos to lucy@the-triton.com. If we print yours, you get a T-shirt.
December 2008
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November networking
December networking
Tired of boat talk?
Networking in Ga., Jax
Photos from BWA Yachting.
With the YES boys on Dec. 3.
Take control of the chatter.
Photos from USSA events.
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Section C
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December 2008
TRITON SURVEY: MOCK YACHTIE ELECTION
By land or by sea, it’s Obama By Lucy Chabot Reed Statistics by Lawrence Hollyfield After nearly two years of campaigning, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama won the U.S. presidential election in November. The popular vote by Americans was tight (53 to 46 percent) but the electoral college votes that
actually elect the president were strongly in Obama’s favor (364 to 163). But the 2008 presidential election stretched beyond U.S. borders to attract the attention and interest of citizens of other regions of the world, particularly Africa and Europe. So we asked the international yachting community to cast its ballot
for U.S. president. The result was firmly for Sen. Obama, in every way we crunched the numbers. Of the more than 1,200 yacht captains, crew and business people who voted in The Triton’s mock yachtie election, Sen. Obama received 62
See ELECTION, page C12
Ink can stink Tattoos send a message - whether that message is ‘thug’ or ‘sailor’ depends on the person judging. By Donya Currie Long-time captain Martyn Walker has an easy explanation for the tattoos he wears. “That’s what sailors did 25 years ago when I went off to sea,” he said of his tattoos: Popeye, an anchor, a dolphin and a sailing ship. But he also knows that he needs to offset the first image a guest might have of his body art. So he tells stories of the seafarer tradition of getting tattooed to scare away sea devils. “I think that changes a guest’s perception of tats from ‘thug’ to ‘sailor,’” he said, noting that he’s careful to wear long pants to cover the tattoos on his calves. As body art becomes more mainstream, those looking for careers on luxury yachts often find that their earlier decision to be tattooed might come with hiring consequences. “It’s a personal preference rooted in what I believe are the owners’ unspoken wishes,” said Capt. Michael Sentoff of M/Y Silver Shalis, a 131-foot Abeking & Rasmussen. “Let’s get serious here. If we were looking for crew that wanted to
See TATTOOS, page C16
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ILLUSTRATION/PHILL FLANDERS
Provisioning is a science and an art Rule No. 1 in yachting: Provisioning is rarely easy. Unless you are in a big city, you can’t count on being able to get what you want in the ports megayachts visit. Finding what you need in a strange port can be confusing with foreign Culinary Waves groceries, foreign Mary Beth languages, and Lawton Johnson foreign items. So provisioning before you leave the dock is critical to a smooth voyage. Here’s how I do it, but feel free to follow your own system. Make no mistake, though; you should have a system. Provisioning boils down to stocking just what you need for a known number of people, a known number of meals, a known number of days and a known diet. All of that, of course, has to mesh with the amount of space you have available for storage and the likelihood that all those “numbers” will change. The beauty about being a yacht chef is that you become adaptable to change, lots of it. It happens in every port. Those navy beans you shop for turn into black beans in a hurry, so have a recipe for that. Substitution is the name of the game. I tend to stock heavily because an additional guest almost always arrives for a meal, an additional meal almost always gets added to the itinerary and an additional recipe almost always gets added to the menu. I know I won’t be able to find that stuffed chicken with crayfish in the Caribbean when I need it.
See WAVES, page C11
C December 2008 NETWORKING LAST MONTH: BWA Yachting
M
ore than 450 people attended our monthly networking event in November at Briny Irish Pub in Ft. Lauderdale. Sponsored by Donna Bradbury and BWA Yachting, the event attracted a larger-than-normal number of captains and crew in town for the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show. Plus, Briny is just such a cool place and Bradbury is such a nice woman. Anyhow, we host industry-wide networking events on the first Wednesday of every month from 6-8 p.m. Make plans to join us in Ft. Lauderdale on Dec. 3. (See more details on the next page.) Photos by Capt. Tom Serio
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NETWORKING THIS MONTH: Yacht Entertainment Systems
December 2008
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Networking this month? YES. Sponsor? YES. Will you come? Darren Coleman and Joey Ricciardelli are known as the YES Boys. Partners in the Ft. Lauderdale-based Yacht Entertainment Systems, the “boys” have built a business installing and maintaining audio-visual systems on motor yachts. If they look familiar, that’s because they attend most Triton events and usually do the music. This month, they will sponsor our monthly networking event from 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 3 at AllStars Sports Bar & Grill on State Road 84 just west of I-95 on the south side of the road. (Fair warning, there will be karaoke. And while Joey tries to get Triton guests to partake nearly every month, this time he’s determined.) It’s impossible to interview just one of the boys. They come as a team to most jobs and work as a team in all facets of their business. So learn a little about YES here and make plans to join us Dec. 3. Q: So tell us about YES. Joey: We were working together about 10 years ago for an A/V company and three years later we split off. Darren: We went to work on our own under the name Coleman Electronics. And after a case and a half of beer, decided to start YES. Q: Yeah, but what do you do? Darren: Anything from a new build to a refit to service calls. We can design
The Dec. 3 networking event will be sponsored by YES Boys Darren Coleman, left, and Joey Ricciardelli. PHOTO/LUCY REED
and do the engineering or just consult on audio, video, satellite … Joey: Control systems, and wi-fi. That pretty much covers it all. Q: Tell us about your biggest job. Joey: Well, we played a major tole in helping Westport bring all of its entertainment stuff in house. That happened about a year ago. Darren: We have done a lot of work on several new Westports. And each one has a different system, even though they are production boats. Q: I understand you have a new
service. Tell us about it. Darren: It’s an A/V survey, basically We come onboard and scurry around like rats, go room by room, checking out all the equipment on board. When we’re done, we tell you what you have. We take photos of everything and put it all down on one-page cheat sheets. Joey: And after that, we’re just a phone call away. Hey, a new captain or crew on a boat have so much going on to make sure the major things are intact. But the owner is not concerned that they are working on the engines. Entertainment is a show stopper. Q: What do you mean by that? Darren: Captains have told us that the TV is one of the top three show stoppers when the owner comes on. Joey: If there’s no A/C or plumbing when the owner steps on board, he’s leaving. If there’s no food, he’s leaving. Next in line is his entertainment. Q: So how did your idea of doing these A/V surveys come about? Joey: We realized just by talking to crew that they are worried about how to make it all work. Darren: The owner will ask them to put the music on the aft deck and they don’t know how to do it. Crew panic about that. Joey: I’ll bet they sweat over this more than anything else. They’re all so afraid of it, afraid that if they hit
the wrong button it’s going to sink the boat. Darren: A lot of it [crew concern] comes in as service calls, and we ask, ‘do you know what you have?’ And they say, ‘No, we’re new on the boat.’ From that came the survey idea. Q: How long does it take to do that? These are boats you’ve never seen before, right? Joey: Right. We don’t know, usually, what’s on the boat. It can take a day, or it can take a week. Q: What do you charge for it? Darren: It’s still pretty new for us. We both go out and we don’t charge our full rate for both of us. It’s a portion of that. It really depends on the boat and the complexity of the job. A 100-footer could be more complicated than a 200foot boat. Joey: In any case, it’s not going to be thousands of dollars. It’s just our time. Darren: And the initial consultation is free. Q: We have to note the coolest part about YES: You’ve taken over The Triton’s old office on South Andrews Avenue. Joey: We’ve been around almost five years, just like you guys, and we were working out of Darren’s little apartment. When you guys moved out of there, we moved in and spruced it up a bit.
C December 2008 LIFE AFTER YACHTING
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Charter marketing consultant position excites ex-stewardess New mother Alicia Carstens takes post with Crew Unlimited Yacht Charters By Julianne L. Hammond
Alicia Carstens had been working with Custom Yachts International. PHOTO/Julianne L. Hammond
Alicia Carstens, 28, spoke exuberantly of her new position at Crew Unlimited Yacht Charters in Ft. Lauderdale as a charter marketing consultant. “I start on the 16th of November. I can’t wait.” We were on neighboring Westport yachts at the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show doing the “please take off your shoes” and “you
need a broker to board” thing. Carstens is most excited about the idea of coming in at the beginning of a new division. For the past 18 months, she was a charter marketing consultant with Custom Yachts International in Ft. Lauderdale. She started at Custom Yachts as an assistant to sales and charters, and ad hoc office manager. She described herself as someone who actively sought advancement, attended to on-the-job training opportunities,
and as someone who learned quickly. She soon became a full consultant. Carstens’ current work is to develop and increase the number of yachts managed and available for charter through CU Yacht Charters. She works with owners and captains to set calendars, improve curb appeal, and to be price competitive in the marketplace. She is the direct liaison between the charter company and the yacht. The flip side of her work is the position that sells the charters to clients seeking travel and adventure. She knows that her crew experience positively impacts her ability to relate to the owners and crew on a yacht looking to charter. She offers the expertise and confidence of one who has been there. Because yes, before that, she was a freelance stewardess/cook. For four years Carstens plied the waters off New Zealand, Holland and Florida. Carstens worked as a bartender and server in the Ft. Lauderdale area and made friends with several yachties. It did not take her long to cash in on her hostess and service experience and join in the fun as a second stewardess. I asked Carstens to describe the connection between her old career and her new one. “It keeps me in the social network of yachting,” she said. “And it’s lots of fun.” She enjoys the charter shows, chatting up crew, and the self-reliance aspect. So I asked her for advice for others who may want to try this. She stressed the importance of organizational and communication skills, and the necessity to establish procedural routine. She found her new job advertised at a charter seminar given by the Florida Yacht Brokers Association. She approached Ami G. Ira at CUYC and found a welcoming boss. Ira described Carstens as “experienced and grounded, with the potential to become a real team member.” “Living on board is a dynamic that cannot be described or imagined,” Ira said, “so crew experience is an absolute prerequisite for working in this office.” During a break at FLIBS, Carstens brought me to meet her special someone, declaring that her party days were over. She said this with a big smile and no regret. She introduced me to her 5-month-old son, Michael, dressed in an orange onesie with ears for Halloween. Julianne L. Hammond is a chef/mate on megayachts. Do you know someone who has made a successful transition from yachting to another career? Let us know at editorial@the-triton.com.
C December 2008 ONBOARD COMMUNICATION: SitComm
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On a recent freelancing gig, I had was my fear of what other people would the opportunity to have a drink with think of me and my interests that kept a couple of crew members from me from talking about what I really another boat. Something about the wanted to say. conversation But as long as I was willing to reminded me listen and be party to other people’s of hundreds of complaints, that’s all I would get. conversations I had Being willing to open myself and my had before. life up to other people, I am continually One of the amazed at the responses I receive and people I was with how much insight and information I mentioned that gain from other people’s points of view. he didn’t enjoy Being willing to be different, to not socializing with jump on the bandwagon of gripe and SitComm members of his complain, to talk about what lights me Rachel Shapiro crew because up in life, provides the people I come the conversation into contact with the opportunity to always centered around boats and talk about what lights them up. I realize everyone’s gripes about their jobs and that I can actually affect what comes lives. out of other people’s mouths just by Then he spent 20 minutes informing being conscious of what comes out of the rest of us why he disliked this mine. situation so much. Being yacht crew places us in The demands an interesting that being crew position when makes on our it comes to Looking at it time and schedule socializing. proactively, I saw that means that we Our lives are so what there was for spend a lot of time different from socializing with a the average me to do was: talk diverse group of person’s that it is about something people in yachtie sometimes hard else. It seemed both environments. to find people who Knowing that you really understand a revelation and are not captive what our day has embarrassingly obvious to someone else’s been like and the to me at the same time. complaints about lives that we lead. I have the ability to the industry, that Our schedules and you can direct the travel limit our introduce anything I conversation into exposure to want into a conversation social areas you never people outside of at any time, and by thought possible, is our industry. a wonderful tool to We can doing so can actually have. complain about affect what others talk I, too, have what other people about. complained are doing and that I didn’t like saying – or not socializing in doing and saying yachtie establishments because all they – or we can take the bull by the horns ever talked about was boats. and be willing to open the doors to One day, it hit me that I was in the new conversations and experiences. conversation as well and that meant Being willing to be honest about what that all I ever talked about was boats. we’re interested in, regardless of the I then noticed that I was waiting for reception we fear we may receive, others to talk about something else. provides us with the opportunity to Looking at it proactively, I saw that stay connected to what is important what there was for me to do was: talk to us and to expand our minds and about something else. It seemed both a experiences, as well as those of the revelation and embarrassingly obvious people we come into contact with. to me at the same time. I have the ability to introduce anything I want Rachel Shapiro has worked on yachts into a conversation at any time, and by more than 10 years. She now works doing so can actually affect what others to bring a more holistic approach to talk about. yachting with the Integrous line of allI found it far easier to complain natural cleaning products, and crew about other people’s lack of interest placement and seminars through Hands in outside topics than it was to Om Crew. Contact her at +1-954-465introduce topics that are important 6320. Comments on this column are and interesting to me. Why? I think it welcome at editorial@the-triton.com.
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INTERIOR: Stew Cues
Serving tea is a hot idea I must admit that before I started working on yachts I had never really heard much about afternoon tea service, let alone ever attended “high tea” at an elegant hotel, restaurant or teahouse. Tea is undergoing a sort of renaissance, both as a beverage and for health reasons. The polyphenols Stew Cues in tea have been Alene Keenan shown to have many benefits, ranging from improved blood circulation to weight loss. The number of varieties and combinations of teas on the market is amazing, and a little confusing. It would be helpful for stews to know more about tea and proper techniques for preparation, and to offer new ideas for owners and guests to enhance their enjoyment of the experience. Tea was discovered in China more than 4,000 years ago. All tea comes from the same plant, camellia sinensis, but there are more than 2,000 varieties of tea. Being from the same plant, the varieties refer basically to different levels of processing and oxidation. White tea is the unprocessed, unoxidized, premature tea bud. Green tea is wilted (dried slightly) but unoxidized tea leaves. Oolong tea is wilted, bruised (lightly tumbled in machines) and partially oxidized tea leaves. Black tea is wilted, crushed (completely dried and crushed) and fully oxidized tea leaves. Oxidation is like rusting, and actually turns the tea reddish. The greater the surface area, the greater the amount of oxidation and the stronger the tea. There are also fermented teas that are frequently used for medicinal purposes. Pu erh teas are fermented for 40 days to 60 years. As you can imagine, they are rare and expensive. They have been used to lower cholesterol, remove plaque from arteries, and neutralize toxins in the blood. As you acquire more experience and develop more interest in tea, you will see that the appreciation of premium tea has the same appeal to some people as the appreciation of fine wine. The preparation and techniques are different for specific types of tea service, and there are some unusual accessories for a formal Japanese tea service as compared to English “high tea” service. High tea, by the way, is a misnomer, referring to the height of the table at which tea is served. It was actually served at a high table with seated place settings in the late afternoon or early evening. The foods served are heartier and would compose an early dinner. Whichever form of service you
present, the actual teas themselves will determine the brewing process. I refer here to the use of premium tea leaves, but the technique for prepackaged tea bags will also vary accordingly in the brewing process. Here are some specific tea varieties and brewing instructions. The brewing temperatures are usually below the boiling point of 212 degrees. l White Peony Long Life Tea: This is the most brisk of all white teas. Steep at 140 degrees for one minute. l Silver Needle White Tea: This is composed of all premature tea buds (shaped like needles) and no leaves. Steep at 180 degrees for one minute. l Sencha Green Tea: This is an extremely delicate green tea. Steep at 140 degrees for 45 seconds. l Dragon Well Tea: This tea was once reserved exclusively for the Emperor of China and his Royal Family. Steep at 170 degrees for one minute. l Keemun Red Tea: This is a heartier tea. The name “red” refers to the fact that it is a fully oxidized tea. Steep at 210 degrees for 1-2 minutes. It may be hard for some of us who usually take our Starbucks intravenously to switch to silver-tipped or white long-lasting peony tea needles, but there is something to be said for the meditative focus and tranquil concentration of having tea. The 10minute ritual of brewing a pot of tea can be just enough to slow down our high-speed lifestyles and go within to gather a sense of peace. I had the good fortune to be invited to a Japanese Tea Ceremony while on vacation. I learned a little about the history of tea and its evolution from common peasantry to the upper classes, including the Shoguns and Samurai warriors of Japan. It is said that Samurai warriors would stop fighting on the battlefield and retire for a tea ceremony to gather energy and regroup before returning to combat. I couldn’t help making the comparison between these warriors and the Samurai/Ninja stewardesses of today. How fitting we should take our ceremonial afternoon nap and, upon arising, brew a pot of gunpowder black tea and return to the battlefield rested, restored and ready to serve dinner. Corny but true. The few minutes we take to tune into ourselves can be just the ticket for a renewed sense of self, a shot of courage in the midst of a neverending charter, and enough spiritual infusion to keep us going another day. Alene Keenan has been a megayacht stewardess for 16 years. She is the founder of Stewardess Solutions, which offers training and consulting for stewardesses to improve their jobs and careers. Contact her through www. stewardesssolutions.com. Comments on this column are welcome at editorial@ the-triton.com.
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C December 2008 NUTRITION: Take It In
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Fiber is indigestible – and also irreplaceable Your grandmother called it day. To reach this amount, if you’re roughage; nutritionists call it fiber. not eating it already, it’s important to Dietary fiber is an age-old nutrient start slowly when adding more fiber to in our diets that is getting new play your diet. That means gradually eating today because of its more fiber over a couple of weeks. This myriad health lets the natural bacteria in your gut benefits. adjust to the change. Eating too much Fiber is the fiber when you’re unaccustomed can indigestible portion produce problems such as intestinal of plant foods. It’s gas, abdominal bloating and cramping. found mainly in Increase your water intake as you eat fruits, vegetables, more fiber, too. Fiber works best when whole grains, it absorbs water, making your stool soft nuts, and dried and bulky. Without the added water, Take It In peas and beans. you could become constipated. Carol Bareuther It wouldn’t seem What foods are specifically high in as if something that passed virtually fiber? unchanged through your digestive In the vegetable group, 1 cup of tract, literally from mouth to colon, cooked green beans, peas, sweet potato could be helpful, but fiber definitely is. and winter squash all provide 4 or In its most basic role, dietary fiber more grams of dietary fiber. Other good increases the weight and size of your choices include beets, carrots and corn. stool. A soft stool is easier to pass, Fruits like berries are high in fiber. decreasing your risk of constipation. A one-cup serving of blackberries, for On the other side of the coin, dietary example, provides nearly 8 grams of fiber also firms loose, watery stools dietary fiber. Apples, dates, oranges, owing to its ability to absorb water. peaches and dried fruits such as raisins Beyond this, and prunes are also a fiber-rich diet good fiber sources. may lower your One-cup of plain Green beans, peas, risk of specific canned baked beans sweet potatoes, health problems, provides over a third winter squash, beets, everything from of your fiber quota hemorrhoids and for the day. Cup size carrots and corn are irritable bowel portions of lentils good fiber sources. syndrome to the and split peas serve development of up half of your daily small pouches fiber needs. in your colon known as diverticular On the bread and cereals front, a disease. slice of whole grain bread has three Fiber, especially soluble fiber found times the fiber as white bread. Bran in foods such as oats, peas, beans, cereals are among the highest in fiber; apples, citrus fruits and barley, can a half cup of 100 percent All Bran lower blood cholesterol levels and provides one-quarter of the daily fiber slow the absorption of sugar in your goal. Shredded wheat and oatmeal are diet, which is a boon for people with also high fiber choices. diabetes. Eating a high-fiber diet is Nuts are high in calories, but they also thought to reduce the risk of do serve up 2 to 3 grams of dietary fiber developing type 2 diabetes. There is per 1-ounce serving. some evidence that dietary fiber can More is not necessarily better. Eating help to prevent colorectal cancer. too much fiber, much more than the What many people really like about Dietary Guidelines recommend, can dietary fiber is its use as a weight loss prevent the absorption of nutrients aid. High-fiber foods generally require such as calcium, iron, zinc, copper and more time to chew, which gives your magnesium. body time to register when you’re no To make sure you’re getting the right longer hungry, so you’re less likely to amount of fiber, and reaping fiber’s overeat at mealtime. A high-fiber diet benefits, aim to eat a high-fiber food also tends to make a meal feel larger at each meal and snack. For example, and linger longer in your stomach, so spoon into a bowl of oatmeal with you stay full for a greater amount of raisins for breakfast, lentil soup with a time. And, high-fiber diets tend to be whole-grain roll for lunch, tossed green less “energy dense,” which means they salad with dinner, and an apple or bag have fewer calories for the same volume of peanuts through the day. of food. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines Carol Bareuther is a registered dietitian for Americans, the most recent, and a regular contributor to The Triton. recommend that we should eat between Comments on this column are welcome 20 and 35 grams of dietary fiber each at editorial@the-triton.com.
IN THE GALLEY: Culinary Waves C10 December 2008
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A present for the holidays: Maximum joy, minimum effort With family gathering, the holidays can seem rushed with little time left over for the meal preparation. These two recipes for the holidays take little effort yet yield maximum results. My wish for you this holiday season is to have a safe and happy one. – Chef Mary Beth
Roasted Leg of Lamb 1 5 lb. leg of lamb, boned, split open Salt and pepper Paste for lamb 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 tablespoons whole grain mustard 4 fresh rosemary sprigs, leaves removed 3 garlic gloves 3 tablespoons extra virgin Greek olive oil 1 tablespoon sea salt 1 tablespoon black peppercorns 1 teaspoon paprika 3 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves removed
constantly. Transfer to a mixing bowl and whip until light, fluffy and cool.
Mascarpone Mousse Bombe Mixture
4 oz. heavy cream 3 oz. sugar 1 oz. Bandola coffee 1 oz. gelatin sheets 18 oz. mascarpone 6 oz. whipping cream, whipped to peaks Heat cream, sugar and coffee together. Dissolve gelatin in cold water. Squeeze out gelatin and add to coffee mixture. Stir to dissolve gelatin. Stir coffee mixture with mascarpone cheese then mix with Bandola bombe mixture and fold in whipped cream. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Chocolate Ganache
1 cup heavy cream 1 oz. espresso 10 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Put black peppercorns in a spice grinder and grind until fine. Put all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until a paste is formed. Remove from processor and rub all over the meat. Truss using butcher’s twine and roast for 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on temperature desired.
Heat the cream and espresso until almost boiling. Remove from heat and pour over chopped chocolate. Stir to dissolve. Use as a glaze or whip to soft peaks for a frosting.
Chocolate Roll with Mascarpone Bandola Coffee Mousse
Gently release the edges of the genoise cake from the parchment-lined baking pan. Place the Mascarpone Mousse in the center and spread to edges. Roll up tight. Cover and refrigerate. Pour the ganache over the cake. Let it set up. Decorate with edible gold and chopped nuts, fruit, etc. Slice and serve.
Chocolate Genoise Cake
Cake assembly
10 oz. cake flour 3 oz. cocoa powder 10 eggs 12 oz. sugar 0.125 oz. salt 0.25 oz. vanilla extract or lemon flavor 4 oz. butter, melted Sift flour with cocoa powder. Combine the eggs, sugar and salt. Warm over a bain marie until 110 degrees F. With a wire whip, beat the eggs at high speed until they are light and thick. This may take as long as 10 minutes. Whip in the vanilla extract. Fold in the sifted flour in three stages. Carefully fold in the melted butter. Immediately pan onto parchment paperlined baking pans and bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes.
Bandola Bombe Mixture 10 egg yolks 3 eggs 7 oz. sugar 2 oz. water 2 oz. Bandola coffee
Mix all and heat to 180 degrees F, stirring
See for yourself: The Chocolate Roll with Mascarpone Bandola Coffee Mousse has a real ooh-and-aah appeal. PHOTO/MARY BETH LAWTON JOHNSON
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IN THE GALLEY: Culinary Waves
Simplify with individual portions WAVES, from page C1 I purchase meat in individual portion packs. I just don’t have the room for huge sides of beef in my freezer. Some yachts might be lucky enough to have the storage and cutting space, but for the most part, individual portions are the way to go. Individual portions also allow you to know how much inventory you have, there isn’t much waste to speak of compared to fabrication methods, and you can be prepared in half the time in case an unexpected guest shows up. Figure that most people eat 4-8 ounces of meat and about 5-6 ounces of other proteins such as seafood, chicken, turkey and deli meats. A successful provisioning trip begins in your galley. Find out how many people are coming and confirm your food budget with the captain. Confirm dietary requests or constraints. Once those basic questions are answered, make at least the bones of your menus. Some chefs find the inspiration for individual recipes by walking around the local markets to see what’s in season and what looks best. It’s imperative to make menus in advance so you don’t waste time during a hectic day trying to be creative. Consider everything from breakfast, brunch, lunch, appetizers, dinner and desserts. Mix up recipes so you don’t serve the same thing in a week or two. From your menus, make a list of what you need. You know you will need a certain amount of chicken breasts, for example, to feed the next set of guests. Here comes the hard part: math. You have to work up the provision budget based on your portions and estimate prices for each meal. Be careful here because you may not always find what you had planned for. If you are way off, you’ll have to make some adjustments. You also have to compare your list of items needed with your space allotment to make sure you can carry all that you need. If you can’t, you may have to reconsider a couple of recipes. Some helpful hints: Start with tried-and-true recipes
and create menus based on them. Some chefs prefer a set menu and create recipes based on what the owner has requested and what they have on hand. Don’t forget to include crew into the number of people you have to feed. Buy smaller portion sizes. You can carry more and there is less waste. This is from Chef Philippe Degrois, recently engaged and stepping back into yachting: Big European cities have professional markets for restaurants, caterers and hotel staff. They usually open at 5 a.m. or earlier and you have to buy in bulk, but the quality and price are incredible. Bring a business card or a letter from the vessel. If you are in uniform, they will let you in. Carry just enough par stock (basic groceries such as canned and dry goods, beans, pasta and rice) to get you to where the boat is heading. Par stock can be replenished in about every port, so don’t cram more than six months worth. Rotate when you add new items. Have separate bins in the freezer for beef, pork, chicken, deli meats, specialty items, breads, etc. Ensure adequate air circulation in your freezer. Don’t over pack. Keep an inventory of what you have and note items you run out of. Use what you have, including frozen goods (which don’t last forever). Don’t add new stock until older stuff is gone. Carry specialty items such as gluten-free crackers, wagyu beef, sugar-free drinks, or heart-healthy products. Perhaps one guest wants a foie gras pizza or Russian caviar or is accustomed to eating caper berries. Have a multitude of recipes to use for each item going in your freezer. Always, always buy the freshest meats, dairy and seafood. And buy from a reputable company. It’s worth it. 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 1998. (www. themegayachtchef.com) Comments on this column are welcome at editorial@ the-triton.com.
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C12 December 2008 TRITON SURVEY: Mock Yachtie Election
Crew are ‘ignorant, shortsighted and uneducated’ ELECTION, from page C1 percent of the vote (740 votes) and U.S. Sen. John McCain received 38 percent (461 votes). “I’m so surprised,” wrote in one business owner in Ft. Lauderdale after the results were posted on www.the-triton.com. “I was so positive the marine industry would back McCain. I’m very proud of all of us. We love Obama.” Not everyone was so enthusiastic. “I guess the yachtie election of Obama just goes to show how ignorant, short-sighted and uneducated the average boat crew these days really are,” a U.S. captain said. “Most yachts are purchased and maintained by an individual’s discretionary wealth. … Guess what goes first when this disposable wealth is threatened? That’s right, the yacht, and along with it goes all the crew and yard workers, crew agencies have dramatic downturns in crew hiring, charters go away, along with all the jobs that are created by the services that are provided to the working yacht. “To all those ‘yachties’ and their Pecksniffian attitudes toward McCain, I say this: You were warned about what Obama would do to the wealthy 5 percent of this country, the job creators, the yacht owners, your paycheck provider. So when you’re out of work because your boss had to sell his yacht, be sure to apologize to him for your treachery and take responsibility.” In conducting our mock election, we asked voters to tell
us if they were crew or from the business community, and what their nationality was. Breaking the election results into those categories, we found that nearly every group voted in the majority for Sen. Obama. Among all crew who cast ballots, 67 percent voted for Obama and 33 percent voted for McCain. The margin was closest among U.S. crew (58 percent for Obama, 42 percent for McCain). Non-U.S. crew was the strongest group for Obama at 86 percent, and 82 percent of European crew supported Obama. Among all voters who work in yachting industry-related businesses, 57 percent supported Obama and 43 percent supported McCain. The margin was closest among U.S. business voters (54 percent for Obama, 46 percent for McCain) and widest among nonU.S. business voters (73 percent for Obama, 27 percent for McCain). By nationality, Americans in the yachting industry (crew and business folks alike) supported Obama by 55 percent, a close reflection of the nationwide popular vote on Nov. 4. Among all the Europeans who voted, 79 percent supported Obama. Among all non-U.S. voters (including Europeans), 82 percent were for Obama. Among those nationalities that significantly supported Obama were voters from Germany (100 percent), Australia (95 percent),
See ELECTION, page C13
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All crew:
The Triton
U.S. crew only:
McCain – 33% 175 votes
McCain – 42% 145 votes Obama – 67% 363 votes
Business people employed in a yachting-related company:
McCain – 43% 246 votes Obama – 57% 327 votes
U.S. business people:
McCain – 46% 213 votes
The Triton
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TRITON SURVEY: Mock Yachtie Election
McCain – 14% 26 votes
ELECTION, from page C12
Obama – 86% 155 votes
Non-U.S. business people:
McCain – 27% 26 votes Obama – 54% 247 votes
C13
Only Obama and McCain? ‘Why not ... all candidates?’
Non-U.S. crew only:
Obama – 58% 202 votes
December 2008
Obama – 73% 72 votes
Canada (92 percent) and Australia/ New Zealand (92 percent) The countries that voted in the majority for McCain included Austria, Cuba, India, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Russia and Venezuela (100 percent) and Ireland (67 percent). Instead of noting their nationality, some voters opted for political comment, including a “lifelong Republican” (who cast a ballot for Obama), one “Jew” (a crew member voting for Obama) and several “white” voters (a majority of whom voted for Obama). Several voters were undecided during our polling, which began at our Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show kick-off party on Oct. 15 and continued on the docks throughout the show. And six voters made a point of saying they would not vote for either man. Interestingly, they were all business people, a majority American. Several crew wrote to us objecting to the limited options on our ballot. “I tried to vote but you only have two choices,” one voter objected. “Why are you not giving us all the candidates? Nader, McKinney, Barr, Baldwin and more are running. The aforementioned are on enough ballots to win the required electoral college votes. Please don’t be part of the problem of offering only the corporate duopoly candidates. Shame on you.” “I’m surprised your survey
does not allow for the Libertarian candidate on all 50 states’ ballot,” another said. “That is one reason the Libertarian Party cannot grab a foothold: the press does not give them the time of day.” During the in-person voting at our party and the show, three crew members and one business person wrote in Ralph Nader, one American crew member wrote in Warren Buffet, two U.S. business voters wrote in Ron Paul, and someone wrote in Kaye Pearson, an investor with Chub Cay and former owner of Show Management, the company that produces the Ft. Lauderdale boat show. The election struck a chord with American crew who, like many Americans, are struggling to find work. “I am sick and tired of foreign crew looking for work here in the United States and who do nothing but complain of America, let alone Americans when they are abroad. What really matters is Americans making America a great place to live and no one has a right to make statements of irrelevance.” The Triton wasn’t the only publication to take a global look at this election. The Economist magazine asked “What if the whole world could vote?” and determined that Obama would have won 9,115 Global Electoral College votes compared to McCain’s 208. Lucy Chabot Reed is editor of The Triton. Comments on this story are welcome at editorial@the-triton. com.
C14 December 2008 PERSONAL FINANCE: Yachting Capital
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Check out alternative investments to stocks With the barometric pressures of uncertainty in the air and the sea sick feeling of the large waves of the stock market, our financial lives have not been a fun cruise lately. As an independent planner (and the fact that I like to think outside the box), I wanted to touch on a question that Yachting Capital many captains have been asking Mark A. Cline lately: I don’t want to be in the stock market anymore. What else can I do? Well, you have heard time and time again to diversify. In today’s economic times, there is more than diversification of a stock portfolio. Many financial advisers are limited in the products they are able to provide their clients. Often this limitation keeps some of their clients from being as diversified as they might otherwise chould be. As we all have come to learn, the size of a financial firm is no longer a clear sign of strength and depth of knowledge. With market conditions being what they are today, I want to give you some brief descriptions of different types of investments. My intent is for you to understand and take a broad look at some types of investments that are available and how they can work together to achieve your financial goals. The core investment for most people is stock. A stock is a certificate that gives you part ownership of a public company. Stock is traded on one of the public exchanges such as the Dow, Nasdaq, S&P 500, etc. Another familiar investment is bonds. Bonds are a form of a note or loan also traded on different exchanges. In general, if the value of stocks goes up then the value of bonds go down, and vice versa. A standard format that most people invest in is with a mutual fund. A mutual fund is simply a collection of stocks that a portfolio manager manages for you. The objective is to buy low and sell high while staying diversified based on the outline of the fund. This investment option is an additional layer of protection from a
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Independent adviser has options beyond what’s comfortable CAPITAL, from page C14 single stock becoming worthless. The next level of protection in stock market investing would be variable annuities. Think of a mutual fund with an insurance policy giving your mutual fund a level of protection against loss. There are many forms and contracts with annuities, some of which I have discussed in previous articles. [Editor’s note: To read previous columns by Mark Cline or any Triton columnist, simply visit www.the-triton.com, click on “news search” at the top, and search for the writer’s name.] Another option is variable universal life policies or VULs in which you have the mutual funds inside of the life insurance contract. Again the VUL has many protection features but with taxfree advantages. There is an investment product that lets you participate in the markets’ up side potential but not the down side. This is called an equity indexed annuity and is a form of an insurance policy, although it does not have high return possibilities. This is where many advisers stop on what they can offer a client as far as diversification. If you look closely, you’ll notice all these investments have one thing in common with each other: the stock market. Using these investment options, no matter how well you diversify your portfolio, it is most likely down considerably in today’s market. Now let’s look at some alternatives to the stock market. One of these is the foreign exchange market. As I have written recently, today’s market has not been following traditional stock market cycles. If you have a qualified trader trading on your behalf, they can hedge against any currency, whether it is up or down to the dollar. The world currencies have been volatile this year due to the fluctuations in the oil and gas sectors. The trader I use is still at a slight positive this year. For those of you that will end up with a big tax bill this year, Oil & Gas is a great tax advantage investment. [Read more about that in last month’s column “Don’t whine about oil, gas; consider investing in them,” page C10.] With the last offering, clients are already getting royalty checks, and future drills look promising. Unless you are prepared to be a landlord and are in the position to deal with tenants, repairs, vacancies and all the rest that goes into owning property, you may want to consider 1031 Exchanges or Tenants In Common (TICs). This is a property where all the due diligence has been done. You do not have to deal with all the property issues such as tenants, insurance, repairs, etc. You know what to expect on a monthly
basis, whether or not the building is fully rented. This is a great option for crew who travel but do not want to deal with the hassles of being a landlord and carrying the negative cash flow due to vacancies, etc. If you are into movies, there are investment offerings to get involved with them. Not every movie has a multimillion-dollar budget. Many movies that you see on video or cable never went to the theater, but they still may have your favorite actor on the cover. These are low-budget films that get resold at film festivals. These
generally have a budget from $100,000 to $1 million and typically return much quicker than the high-dollar movies you see coming out at the theater. There are many other options that are not as popular or common. As always, though, make sure to do your homework and ask a lot of questions. Each investment typically has minimums. Alternative investments typically ask for $10,000 minimum. The terms on these vary; with some, you get the initial investment and return back in 18 months, some you never get your initial investment back but you
keep getting royalty checks for years to come. As I tell all my clients: Develop an investment plan, continually review it and stick with it. Don’t give in to that knee-jerk reaction to current events and make emotional mistakes. Capt. Mark A. Cline is a chartered senior financial planner and mortgage broker. He is a partner in Capital Marine Alliance in Ft. Lauderdale. Comments on this story are welcome at +1-954-764-2929 or through www. clinefinancial.net.
C16 December 2008 FROM THE CAREER FRONT
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Said Eng. Chip Furr: “As far as I know I’ve never been terminated from a job PHOTO COURTESY OF CHIP FURR because of it or not gotten a job because of it.”
One captain’s policy is ‘no visible tattoos’ TATTOOS, from page C1 express their individuality, why would we require them to wear uniforms? “We are looking for uniformity, not individuality. If you want to pierce you nose or wear dreadlocks or body art, feel free, just not here.” Other captains agree. “It’s a lifestyle statement is really what it is,” Capt. Taylor Lawson said. “It’s choosing lifestyle over profession, and that’s the way it’s viewed. That’s the way I view it.” Some take it even more seriously. “My policy when hiring is ‘no visible tattoos,’” said Capt. Mac McDonald of M/Y Magic, a 150-foot Trinity. His crew manual spells it out: “Visible piercings and tattoos are not to be added while in the employ of this vessel. We are not here to impress the guests with our fashion savvy.” Aside from client interaction, some captains feel tattoos make them question more important aspects of an applicant. “It may mean nothing,” said Capt. Rob High, who has worked recently with the newly launched 153-foot Burger Ingot. “But in my industry, we can be at sea and judgment can kill people. “Just because someone slipped up and got a tattoo, that doesn’t necessarily mean they have bad judgment. But I don’t have the luxury to be wrong.” These captains aren’t alone. It’s common for owners and captains to specifically request applicants with no visible tattoos, said Chalymar Acevedo, crew placement agent for Camper & Nicholsons in Ft. Lauderdale. Potential crew members register online to be placed by the agency, and
one of the registration questions is about tattoos. When interviewing, Acevedo will ask them if they are willing to cover a visible tattoo, and if not, that information goes into the person’s file. Overall, many in the industry take a “don’t ask, don’t tell” attitude toward tattoos. If it’s hidden, a potential crew member is likely OK applying for work on most vessels. And while tattoos can limit an applicant’s appeal for some positions, they’re not always a problem, said Angela Wilson, senior crew agent for placement agency Elite Crew International. “Not all programs enforce restrictions on tattoos and may be more flexible in hiring crew with visible tattoos,” Wilson said. “There’s the right boat out there for everyone.” The rules can be different for those who have more limited guest contact. Chip Furr, an engineer on the 145foot M/Y Relentless, had a wolf ’s paw tattooed behind his right ear after a friend died in 1998. He said the tattoo has never gotten in the way of being hired. “Usually I’m not seen as much as the rest of the crew,” Furr said. “As far as I know I’ve never been terminated from a job because of it or not gotten a job because of it.” And some captains enjoy tattoos themselves. Capt. Matt Splane of a 75-foot McKinna has been “getting inked” for 20 years and thinks tattoos are “a beautiful way to express yourself while adorning your body with artwork.” Still, he keeps his body art covered
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Tattoos: Pay to get them, pay more to get rid of them About 45 million Americans have tattoos, and more than 7 million of them are wishing for a magic eraser, according to a 2003 Harris poll. Tattoo removal, which is becoming more common but still is no easy feat, tends to be pricey, painful and requires a long-term time commitment. So the general advice to “think before you ink” still stands. “Remember, tattoos are forever – longer than most relationships,” Capt. Matt Splane said. He also suggests getting tattooed “in a location that can be appropriately covered when the time arises,” only from reputable shops certified by a board of health and, maybe most importantly, only while sober. However if a crew member ends up with an inconvenient piece of artwork, there are some options. For small
tattoos, excision can be used. In those cases, the tattooed skin is literally cut off and the remaining skin sutured together. There are also abrasive techniques that rub deep into the skin, but they can be painful and are only partially effective. With the increasingly popular laser tattoo removal technique, a laser pulses into the tattooed area and breaks up the pigment, which is then flushed out by the body’s lymphatic system. However, laser tattoo removal, even of a small area, can cost thousands of dollars. Dr. Tattoff, a California-based company that specializes in laser tattoo removal, charges $39-$49 a square inch for each removal treatment. Removal of a 3-square-inch tattoo would run about $2,000. But because the laser breaks up the
pigment for the body’s own scavenger cells to remove, customers need an average of eight treatments spaced at least six weeks apart to complete the removal. Some tattoos require as many as 15 treatments. Those who’ve had tattoos removed by laser treatment liken it to having a rubber band snapped repeatedly against their skin: Not horrendously painful, but no picnic, either. Tattoos of several colors are harder to remove, and results vary, according to Dr. Tattoff ’s Web site. Tattoo artists also report a trend of altering a tattoo, a la Johnny Depp. The actor, after breaking up with girlfriend Winona Ryder, had his “Winona Forever” tattoo changed to “Wino Forever.” Some have had the word “void” inked over a former lover’s name. – Donya Currie
Don’t be surpised when, if tattoos become a problem TATTOOS, from page C16 when working, even when swimming or diving. That might be the key to the issue. Dawn Kuhns has been working as a freelance chief stewardess for 16 years. She has a small blue dolphin tattooed on her right shoulder, but she
understands the career she’s chosen can limit some of her ability for self expression. “If someone has a tattoo and I don’t know it, I don’t see it and the guests don’t see it, I don’t think it should matter,” Kuhns said. “But if they do have a visible tattoo then, yes, it’s a factor.
“In an industry where we all have to be thin, well groomed, youngish, and even facial hair sometimes isn’t allowed, I don’t know why it surprises people that tattoos can be a problem.” Donya Currie is a freelance journalist in Virginia. Comments on this story are welcome at editorial@the-triton.com.
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C18 December 2008 NETWORKING: USSA
On the road again The U.S. Superyacht Association hosted two networking events along the Atlantic coast in November. About 75 captains, crew and industry folks gathered at Savannah’s Thunderbolt Marine and at Jacksonville’s High Seas Technologies. There was tasty Southern cooking at both events and a great vibe. The events were sponsored by The Triton, Sea Mobile, Thunderbolt, High Seas, and Atlantic Marine. Photos by David Reed
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LITERARY REVIEW: Well Read
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These books make great gifts for holiday hosts, even yourself December, the month of gift giving, is here. Whether you are in need of a hostess gift, a holiday gift or a self-gift, there a number of great new titles and new-to-paperback options to consider. The non-fiction recommendations are thrilling, historical and entertaining. Alex Kershaw, known for his Well Read stories that Donna humanize the Mergenhagen experiences of war, has written about the disaster aboard the American submarine Tang during World War II. “Escape from the Deep: The Epic Story of a Legendary Submarine and Her Courageous Crew” (DeCapo Press, $26) recounts the story of the sub being hit by its own torpedo, the escape and survival efforts of the crew, and the eventual capture and incarceration of the survivors by the Japanese. Submariners are often labeled “their own breed” and the characteristics attached to them may well have been key to survival. The submarine story is thrilling and adventurous but the post-war life stories are a poignant reminder of the debt every nation owes its veterans. “BOOM! Voices of the Sixties” (Random House, $28.95) is the most recent offering by news man Tom Brokaw. Personalities from the decade (famous and ordinary) are sketched and followed into the present. Issues of the period – civil rights, feminism, the Vietnam War – set a platform from which to observe current events. The latest title to broker the “before you die” concept is “1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die” (Workman Publishing, $19.95). The book is arranged alphabetically, which can be a bit disconcerting when 2Pac follows Ernest Tubb. Those two pages give you an indication of the range of selections. Author Tom Moon spent 20 years at the Philadelphia Inquirer as its music critic. No genre is overlooked and the expected indexes by artist and genre are trumped by the “occasion” index. If you need a crutch on your next road trip or in planning a romantic dinner – check the occasion index. New to paperback are two fiction bestsellers. “World Without End” (Penguin Group, $22) is Ken Follett’s medieval sequel to “Pillars of the Earth” (Signet, $7.99). The experiences of four children of a family – a builder, a knight, a nun, and the wife of a peasant – weave the events of the period into a compelling plot. During the more than two years “The Kite Runner” (Penguin Group, $15.95) was on the bestseller list, Khaled Hosseini wrote “A Thousand Splendid Suns” (Penguin Group, $16).
It is another story of Afghan friendship during the past three decades. This friendship is between two women of different generations. Like his first book, the violence of war, sacrifices in poverty, and the inhumanity of cultural politics are central to the story. You can balance that gravity with stocking stuffers from South Florida authors Elaine Viets and Nancy Cohen. In “Killer Knots” (Kensington Publishing Corp., $6.99), Cohen’s series character, Marla Shore, moves her misadventures to a cruise. If you have been aboard, the perspective from
Cohen’s pen will amuse you. If you have not, read it before you depart. Viets celebrates the hysteria of the holidays through her mystery shopper character in “Murder with All the Trimmings” (Penguin Group, $6.99). Her take on year-round Christmas shops, life-size lawn ornaments, and the frenzy of the season will make you laugh at your own packed schedule. Donna Mergenhagen owns Well Read, an independent book store on Southeast 17th Street in Ft. Lauderdale. Contact her at 954-467-8878.
Well-Read has moved to a bigger location. Find the store just across the parking lot from its previous spot, in the back of the Southport Shopping Center a few doors to the left of Luxury Yacht Group. Mergenhagen will host a grand opening celebration from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14, with door prizes, discounts, music and more.
BUSINESS CARD ADVERTISERS C20 December 2008
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C22 December 2008 BUSINESS CARD ADVERTISERS
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The one source for all your yachting needs Here’s what we can do for you: • FIND CREW NO agency commissions or percentages no matter how many or how long you need crew members per year. • CREW Post your CV/Resume for FREE. • Order your APPAREL/UNIFORMS & much more online, phone, fax or in-person. • Custom Monogramming and Screen Printing • Find or sell a boat (or any other item!) on our boat classifieds. • GET MORE EXPOSURE Advertise with us! Post your charter brochure. • Find information on travel destinations, boatyards, flower shops, gourmet stores and more all in one place! www.worldofyachting.com 1126 S. Federal Highway, P. O. Box 230 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 Toll Free: 877-98World (877-989-6753) Ph/Fax: 954-522-8742
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Abeam Marine A22 Advanced Mechanical Enterprises B14 Airworthy Marine Air Conditiong A5 Antibes Yachtwear A21 ARW Maritime B13 Atlantic Marine & Shipyard B21,C22 Bay Ship and Yacht Company B11 Beard Marine A/C & Refrigeration B4 Bellingham Marine A3 Bertling Logistics B7 Best Marine Imports B12 Bluewater Yachting B9 BOW Worldwide Yacht Supply A32 Bradford Marine: The Shipyard Group C11 Briny Riverfront Irish Bar and Restaurant B22 Broward Marine A8 Brownie’s Yacht Diver A29 Business card advertisers C20-23 BWA Yachting A10 The Business Point C14 C-Worthy A5 Cable Marine C9 C&N Yacht Refinishing A2
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Northrop and Johnson OceanMaxx International Ocean Medical International Palladium Technologies Perry Law Firm Peterson Fuel Delivery Praktek Quiksigns Radio Holland Renaissance Marina Resolve Fire & Hazard Response Richman Marine Rio Vista Flowers River Supply River Services Rope, Inc Roscioli Yachting Center Rossmare International Bunkering RPM Diesel Engine Co. Sailorman Seafarer Marine SeaKeepers Sea School Secure Chain & Anchor
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