YTM 1 Spring 2010

FLORIDA’S BILINGUAL BOATING MAG

LA REVISTA NÁUTICA BILINGÜE DE FLORIDA

MAGAZINE ®

Snorkel in Florida

K.B.Y.C.

FIRST ISSUE / PRIMER NÚMERO

Moxie 37

US $ 4.00

VPLP

Cruising Brazil

www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

CONTENTS

SPRING 2010

8

Key Biscayne Yacht Club

14 Snorkel in Florida

20

Moxie 37

26

Yacht Designers VPLP

32

Cruising Brazil

40

Dragonfly Boatworks

44

Help Save Sea Turtles

48

Safety Advice

50

Healthy Boating

54

Galley Treasures

58

A Varnish Job

52

Dolphin

from the editor Welcome aboard the only bilingual (English & Spanish) boating magazine in the USA - and one of the very, very few in the world!-.

Based in Florida, YACHTING TIMES is dedicated to everyone that loves the sea and nautical sports, from young people competing in Olympic Classes in different Yacht Clubs, to fishermen, divers, sailors and powerboat fans, and even people that enjoy reading about far-away cruising grounds and exotic landfalls from the comfort of their own couch!.

It’s precisely Florida’s lifestyle and warm weather all year round, that allows us to approach the sea in so many gratifying ways. Our backyard is a paradise for boaters and nature lovers alike.

This is a magazine written for you all and by you all, so help us make it as interesting and thorough as you would like a yachting magazine to be.

We´d love to receive your feedback. Please, share your racing/cruising news with us, and send us your comments and suggestions addressed to “Letters to the Editor”.

I sincerely hope this is the beginning of a long and wonderful voyage together.

My best, Dolores Barciela

MAGAZINE ®

Editor-in-Chief Dolores Barciela

Art & Tech Editor Adolfo Mrongowius

Executive Editor Laura Failoni

Managing Editor María Iriondo

Multihull Editor Bill Ando

Diving / Underwater Editors Tanya G. Burnett & Kevin Palmer info@yachtingtimesmagazine.com (786) 237—7830 www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com P.O.Box 31-0725, Miami. FL 33231-0725 PROUDLY PRINTED IN THE USA 01-SPRING 2010

Cover photo Gilles Martin-Raget / BMW ORACLE RACING

de la editora Bienvenidos a bordo de la única revista náutica bilingüe de EEUU - ¡y una de las muy pocas del mundo!-.

Basada en la Florida, YACHTING TIMES está dedicada a todos los amantes del mar y los deportes náuticos, desde la gente joven que compite en Clases Olímpicas en los diferentes Clubes Náuticos, a los amantes de la pesca, el submarinismo, la vela y los barcos a motor, ¡y hasta los que disfrutan de la lectura de remotos y exóticos destinos de crucero desde el confort de su propio sofá!.

Nos encantaría que compartieran con nosotros sus resultados de regatas y novedades de vela y motor. Y que nos enviaran sus comentarios y sugerencias dirigidos a “Cartas a la Editora”.

Sinceramente espero que ésto sea el comienzo de una larga y espectacular travesía juntos. ¡Les deseo lo mejor!.

YACHTING TIMES MAGAZINE (ISSN 074470 25671) is published quarterly by YACHTING TIMES MAGAZINE LLC., P.O. Box 31-0725, Miami, Fl. 33231-0725, tel. (786) 237-7830. Trademark pending. Copyright 2010 by YACHTING TIMES MAGAZINE. All rights reserved.

YACHTING TIMES MAGAZINE is fully protected by copyright law and nothing that appears in it may be reproduced, wholly OR in part, without written permission. Great care has been taken throughout the magazine to be accurate, but we cannot accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions which might occur. We cannot be responsible, either, for the claims of manufacturers in any of the items, nor for products here advertised. Both editorial and submitted manuscripts and photos will be handled with care but no liability is assumed for them. Signed articles don´t necessarily reflect the publisher´s opinion or view. Their consigned statements are, thus, exclusively up to the author.

YACHTING TIMES MAGAZINE se publica trimestralmente por YACHTING TIMES MAGAZINE LLC., P.O. Box 31-0725, Miami, Fl. 33231-0725, tel. (786) 237-7830. Patente en trámite. Copyright 2010 por YACHTING TIMES MAGAZINE. Todos los derechos reservados.

Prohibida la reproduccion total o parcial de los articulos, fotos y anuncios aparecidos en YACHTING TIMES MAGAZINE sin el consentimiento por escrito del editor. Se ha intentado ser preciso a lo largo de toda la revista, pero no podemos responsabilizarnos por errores u omisiones que puedan ocurrir. Tampoco asumimos responsabilidad alguna por los servicios o productos anunciados en nuestras páginas. Tanto las notas y fotos editoriales como las enviadas serán tratadas con cuidado, pero no nos responsabilizamos por pérdida o daño de las mismas. Las notas firmadas no necesariamente reflejan la opinión o el parecer del editor de la revista. Las afirmaciones en ellas consignadas, por lo tanto, corren por exclusiva cuenta del autor.

IN BRIEF US SAILING's 2010 Rolex Miami OCR will bring together the world’s top sailors for elitelevel competition in the classes selected for the Olympic and Paralympic Games from January 24-30. Held on Biscayne Bay, this prestigious event is the second stop on the International Sailing Federation’s (ISAF) Sailing World Cup 2009-2010 circuit.

RMOCR is open to boats competing in events chosen for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Competitions. The 10 Olympic classes are: Laser Radial (women), Laser (men), Finn (men), Men’s RS:X, Women’s RS:X, 49er (men), Men’s 470, Women’s 470, Star (men) and Elliott 6m (women). The three Paralympic classes are: 2.4mR (open, able and disabled), SKUD18 (mixed, disabled) and Sonar (open, disabled). In addition to being a world-ranking event, it is also a US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics qualifier.

Regatta Headquarters will be located at the US Sailing Center Miami, an official Olympic training center, in the Coconut Grove section of Miami, Fla. Event organizers have partnered with the city of Miami to provide world-class venues for competition. Additional hosts for the event include Coral Reef Yacht Club, Key Biscayne Yacht Club, Coconut Grove Sailing Club, Miami Rowing Club and Shake-a-Leg Miami. www.RMOCR.ussailing.org Part of the Dutch Olympic Women Match Race Team prepping one of their Olympic Class Elliott 6M at the Key Biscayne Yacht Club.

Dutch Racer Marjon Kooistra reports their Olympic squad has two 3-girl teams, one headcoach and a team manager.

33rd AMERICA’S CUP The America’s Cup is sailing’s most prestigious event and the oldest trophy in international sport. Founded in 1851, it predates the modern Olympics by 45 years.

The 33rd AC is scheduled to take place in Valencia, Spain, starting February 8, 2010, between two 90 ft multihulls.

Official website: www.americascup.com Defender’s site: www.alinghi.com Challenger’s site: www.bmworacleracing.com UK-Halsey, just added another feature beyond its animated Racing Rules Quizzes. They just began posting a series of rules questions in their Rules Blog.

You email your answer and reasoning, and the best ones will be posted – to launch a blog discussion where UK-Halsey’s Butch Ulmer (with occasional outside help from rules experts) will lead participants on in a partly-Socratic online discussion. It’s an entertaining yet incredibly instructive method to understand the Rules, making the complexity that underlies simplelooking situations much more intelligible. www.ukhalsey.com

PREMIERE RACING EVENTS KEY WEST & MIAMI GRAND PRIX www.premiere-racing.com

Key West 2010, presented by Nautica is an international regatta already in its 23rd edition. One Design, PHRF and IRC fleets featuring the latest designs from around the world will come together from January 18-22 for an exceptional week of international racing excitement and shoreside fun at the southernmost point in the continental United States.

Among the one design division, the stars will be Farr 40, Melges 32 and 24, J/105, Swan 42 and Farr 30.

2010 Miami Grand Prix, March 4-7, Miami Beach, is an international regatta that will provide both one design and IRC racing. There will be one racing division for TP52, Swan 42, Farr 40, Melges 32. Race Headquarters will be at the Miami Beach Marina.

CARIBBEAN REGATTAS 2010 Tobago Carnival Regatta, February 19-21 www.sailweek.com 30th St Maarten Heineken Regatta, March 4-7 www.heinekenregatta.com 37th INTERNATIONAL ROLEX REGATTA St. Thomas, March 26-28 www.rolexcupregatta.com 2010 BVI Spring Regatta, March 29-April 4 www.bvispringregatta.org 2010 Antigua Classic Regatta, April 15-20 www.antiguaclassics.com 43rd Antigua Sailing Week, April 24-30 www.sailingweek.com POWERBOAT P1 is a premium marine motorsport, with teams from around the globe racing at blistering speeds of 120mph in awesomely powerful twin engine monohull powerboats.

2010 Powerboat P1 Provisional Calendar 16-18 April 7-9 May 4-6 June 9-11 July 6-8 August 17-19 September

Split, Croatia Yalta, Ukraine Istanbul, Turkey Cascais, Portugal Goteborg, Sweden Sicily, Italy

If you happen to be in Europe next summer check www.powerboatp1.com for more info.

6 www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

BACARDI MIAMI SAILING WEEK - March 8-13, 2010 is a fun-filled week of regattas that will bring the national and international sailing community together.

The historic BACARDI Cup, in its 83rd edition, and its Star fleet will be part of the event. Other one-design classes will be added to the program. www.miamisailingweek.com

MELGES 20 – USA Sailing Series 2010 February 19-21 and March 10-13, Miami, FL www.melges20.com FT. LAUDERDALE TO CHARLESTON OCEAN RACE March 31, 2010 - 408 nautical miles www.fortlauderdalecharlestonrace. org

Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) and Torben Grael (Brazil) joined the sailing world´s most prestigious list of winners as they were named the 2009 ISAF Rolex World Sailors of the Year at a spectacular ceremony held in Korea.

In 2009 Beijing Olympic gold medallist Anna Tunnicliffe won the Laser Radial ISAF Sailing World Cup title as well as numerous match racing titles. Our warmest congratulations, Anna!.

VIPER 640 Class Association.

The Viper 640 Circuit is the fastest growing competition circuit for three-person sport boats, with over 60 boats participating in 2009.

March 8-13 Viper North American Championship at Bacardi Miami Sailing week, FL www.viper640.org

Australian adventurer and solo round the world sailor, Don McIntyre announced that Mike Perham, the world's youngest solo circumnavigator, has signed up as Second-in-command for the 2010 Talisker Bounty Boat Expedition. This is a 4,000-mile re-enactment 221 years after Capt William Bligh and his supporting crew were forced into an open-boat by the mutineering crew on HMS Bounty and successfully sailed from Tonga to Timor in the Pacific. Talisker, the famous single malt whisky distilled on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, will be sponsoring the expedition.

The Route: McIntyre and Perham will follow in the footsteps of Capt. William Bligh when cast adrift from HMS Bounty in the Pacific on April 28, 1789. This McIntyre and his 3-man crew will board their 25ft ‘Bounty Boat’ in the same position exactly 221 years to the day of the Bounty Mutiny. They will first sail to Tonga to find extra food and water, before heading westwards across the top of Fiji and the Vanuatu Islands, bound for the Queensland Coast, Australia to landlike Bligh- on Restoration Island. They will then sail north inside the Great Barrier Reef to Thursday Island, and then through the Torres Strait to Kupang and Timor.

If successful, this will be the first time that anyone has sailed the same course in the same way that Bligh did.

For more info visit www.taliskerbountyboat.com 7

8 www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

Located on a barrier island off the shores of Biscayne Bay, Key Biscayne Yacht Club has been serving the sailing community of South Florida for almost 55 years.

Originally it was to open somewhere on Mashta Point or Virginia Key, but 180 Harbor Drive was chosen because of the sheltered conditions the location offered. The club has some 100 dock spaces and a large dry dock area, an Olympic-size swimming pool, tennis courts, gazebo and a Clubhouse with an ample terrace for al fresco dining.

The Club hosted Olympic trials for Ynglings and 49ers in 2004. During the 1990’s the Club ran Miami Olympic Classes regattas for the Solings. After 2000, the Club ran Miami Olympic Classes for Ynglings, 49ers and Sonars at various times. The Club also fundraised many Olympians such as Kevin Burnham who won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Other great KBYC sailors included Morgan Reeser, Linda Wennerstom, Tracy Haley, and Louise VanVoorhis Gleason.

YTM had the opportunity to chat both with KBYC Commodore Mr. John Arnholt, as well as with Past Commodore Mr. Ronald Drucker. With more than 850 members, the Key Biscayne Yacht Club’s main goal is to promote boating, and it has also become a great place for fishing, tennis and socializing. “Thanks to its relaxed and familyfriendly atmosphere, members consider it an extension of their home”, explained Commodore Arnholt. Most of its members come from diverse cultural backgrounds and the Club is a mix of powerboats and sailboats, tilting a bit towards power.

The Yacht Club is presently hosting the ELLIOTT 6m Olympic Class, the boat designated for the women’s match racing event for the 2010 Rolex Miami OCR. Racing will start on Monday January 25th and continue through Saturday 30th.

The KBYC Race Committee will run all of the on-thewater match racing. Among the 24 teams, International competitors are coming from Denmark, Holland, Australia, U.K. Russia, New Zealand and Bermuda and they will be training at the Club. Women’s match racing will make its debut in the 2012 Olympic Games.

The KBYC run MOCR event will consist of an opening series, a knockout series, and a sail-off for boats not advancing to the knock-out series. Medals will be awarded to the top three boats in each Olympic and Paralympic event on Saturday, January 30th.

KBYC is a member of the Florida Council of Yacht Clubs – its members enjoying full reciprocity- and the Yachting Club of America – which extends reciprocity to Clubs across the nation. Members use these privileges, for example, when they head up north in the summer, stopping at reciprocal clubs on their way up.

Many young Key Biscayners have sailed over the years in the very successful summer program that gave way to a great racing program. Throughout the 60’s and 70’s the racing program was one of the top teams in the bay.

“There will be 50 flights, each of which is a series of matches; a total of some 194 races. Altogether, a great undertaking!” explains Mr. Drucker.

“It’s a great opportunity for members to get involved and see races up close, even to meet sailors. Some get to stay in KBYC members’ homes.

Sailing Director Karen Tone

Yngling in terms of boat handling and speed.

Ynglings, and we developed an enthusiasm for In 2004, we ran the Olympic trials for these as well”.

“We think it´s key for Yacht Club members to get to participate in race committees, watch the races and get a glance of what’s happening today in the highest international levels of yachting. Interacting with the sailors, we get to learn what the future of sailing is in Olympic sport”.

Certainly, a great place for sport and family oriented activities, over the years the Key Biscayne Yacht Club has become the home of important children’s sailing programs such as the historic South East Dinghy championship. As a matter of fact, the youth sailing program is one of the longest running programs on Key Biscayne. It started in the 60’s with wooden prams and Sunfish sailing in the protected harbor Biscayne Bay had to offer.

Match racing is better in many ways than fleet racing in that it builds a better sailor. “The difference between the two is that in match racing it’s as much the strategy for you to be ahead, as it is in keeping the other boat from being ahead, and because it’s always only two boats, there is constant interaction”, Mr. Drucker adds.

“Also, you never have the luxury of a long tack, match racing develops a sharper sailor.

There’s constant activity and also this activity is easier to capture, which makes it more attractive to the media. The most famous match race is the America’s Cup”.

The KBYC has developed a very positive reputation for being willing to try new things. Mr. Drucker says it has been the first and only club in the Biscayne Bay to host the former women Olympic keelboat class Yngling. “We ran the first MOCR event in Miami, and in 2004 we ran the US Olympic trials for these boats. The winner, Carol Cronin and her team ended up representing the US at the Olympics in Athens later that year”, he explains. “At the same time we were running the hosting the 49ers regattas.

The 49er is a type of boat that is totally different from an

Coach Alejandro Tano 10 www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

Eventually, twelve new Optimist prams were bought and the youth sailing program was reinstituted under modern US Sailing principles.

In 2000 a new program was developed in the already successful sailing summer camp: London Foggies.

This program introduced sailing and environmental conscience to the youngest of sailors that were five to eight years of age, with a new Marine Science program, where children explore the ecosystem in their own backyard of Biscayne Bay. Today the Key Biscayne Yacht Club youth sailing program is still going strong, after a short period of stalling due to lack of support and coaching staff in 2001.

It was later re-established and in 2007 sailing coach Alejandro Tano, a long-time veteran, took charge of the racing program. In 2008 a new sailing director was hired, Karen Tone, who with the help of Mr. Tano built an incredible sailing program in a matter of only two years.

We were happy to learn that all spaces in the sailing program were covered at press time. There are 16 sailors on the current roster of the racing program, which is the largest in the yacht club’s history and new programs have been introduced in the fall of 2009 such as the London Foggies fun fleet. The Fun fleet, is run by program leader Stephanie Urban, a fouryear veteran of the Key Biscayne Yacht Club.

The goal of the Fun fleet is to introduce sailing the Optimist Pram to children who are learning to race in a fun way for their age.

The youth sailing program is like a big family according to Coach Tano. Its goal is to keep a family friendly program but still be competitive. Many of the kids make new friends around the state and locally through many of the regattas during the season. “Winning the race is something on the side. It is truly all about having fun and enjoying the wonderful sport of sailing” he adds. “Sailing can make the child a strong individual later on in life, simply by using some of the skills they learn in sailing at KBYC”.

“Karen has done a tremendous job creating the program. It´s a very common first step to start with the Optis. Now, where do we go from here?” ponders Mr. Drucker. In order to be successful in choosing the logical next step to offer athletes a good deal of competition, some consensus should be reached by all the clubs in the Biscayne area. He thinks that a twoperson boat to follow up the Opti will develop communication skills between the crew, as later seen in bigger scenarios.

It teaches team work, discipline, sportsmanship and cooperation, and helps them morph into adult sailors.

Among truly remarkable KBYC members that are working hard to promote the sport we´d like to especially mention Hortensia Hacker. Also, Steve Stollman, owner of Primal Scream, who’s been winning many of the races on the East Coast for the last few years, showing an exemplary professionalism and know-how. This sailor really has got what it takes: a thoughtfully optimized boat and deck layout, and an award-winning crew. John Greeven, a very knowledgeable and avid sailor who owns a multihull as well as an Etchell that he races regularly, Ray Sullivan with Second Wind, lifelong sailor Alberto Pagano and Jaime Gutierrez amongst others, are also credits to the Yacht Club.

We would like to thank Commodore J. Arnholt and Past Commodore Ronald Drucker, as well as Sailing Director Karen Tone and Alejandro Tano, for their time and help in the making of this article. Photos of Primal Scream on Biscayne Bay and Going to Weather, kindly provided by Steve Stollman.

For more information, please visit: www.kbyc.org www.primalscreamracing.com

and

Si desea leer esta nota en español, por favor visite nuestro sitio de internet www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com 13

DIVING ADVENTURES

Text and Photos by Tanya G. Burnett & Kevin Palmer

1

Lower Keys, Florida:

Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, offshore of Big Pine Key, does not get much of the lime light that shines on the more famous John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park… but that just might be a good thing for visiting snorkelers.

Less attention means less crowds and a more leisurely experience enjoying beautiful reefs every bit as spectacular as Key Largo’s reefs some 65 miles to the north. Looe Key is not an island like the other Keys, but actually a shallow spur and groove reef system that got its name from the HMS Looe that supposedly ran aground there in 1744. This reef system is considered such an extraordinary example that it was declared a national sanctuary in 1981, providing much of the protections that make it such a haven for marine life today.

There are a number of boats that run out of both Big Pine Key and beautiful Bahia Honda State Park. If you leave

www.islandexposure.us

nook. Eels hide in cracks, shrimp dance in holes, lobsters salute with spiny antennae and hungry grouper look for an easy meal. Keep an eye out on the eastern part of the reef and you might be able to make out the dozens of old ballast stones said to be from the wreck of the Looe.If you choose a longer day trip with some divers on board, there is a good chance to snorkel three different sections of reef – most people find the extra water time well worth it!

This is a place where the water visibility can be amazing and if the conditions are just right, may leave a snorkeler feeling as if they are floating in space.

Tip: Do your homework and find out what style of trip and boat best suits your style of snorkeling, comfort level and schedule.

When to go: Year round, with water temperatures varying from 85 degrees in the summer to about 73 degrees in the winter http://www.fla-keys.com/listing.cfm?id=176

“ This is part of the third longest barrier reef in the world and thanks to over 25 years of protection, the fish life parades in carefree abundance above swaying purple sea fans, complex staghorn coral and boulders of brain coral ” from Bahia Honda, you can also enjoy one of the Florida Keys most beautiful beaches. While it is easy to grab your gear and go finning off the beach, it doesn’t begin to compare to the living barrier reef offshore. It is 6 to 12 miles out by boat to the reef depending on departure point and I strongly recommend you check on the weather conditions the day before if you have the luxury of timing your trip.

Light winds and calm seas will make for easier conditions and clearer water, while lots of sunshine on a shallow reef just seems to make it come more alive.

So what is so special about this place? Well... this is part of the third longest barrier reef in the world and thanks to over 25 years of protection, the fish life parades in carefree abundance above swaying purple sea fans, complex staghorn coral and boulders of brain coral.

In places the coral rises close to the surface and you can actually see the multitude of individual tiny coral polyps that make up the coral reef. But there are plenty of deeper sections, where there is always a chance to spot rays, sea turtles, lazy nurse sharks and even enormous tarpon are not uncommon. The sanctuary’s reefs are a place to play “find the critter” as you drift along above a kaleidoscopic cavalcade of brilliant tropical fish darting from nook to

2 Biscayne National Underwater Park, Florida: There is a hidden gem of a national park near Miami that many visitors and residents alike never take the time to visit. The area was declared a National monument in 1968 and became Biscayne National Underwater Park in 1980.

Located east of Homestead and the Everglades, the park’s 181,000 acres encompass all of the southern portion of Biscayne bay, the accompanying mangrove shoreline on the mainland and all the islands and reefs of the keys north of Key Largo (short of Key Biscayne). As about 95% of the park’s area is underwater – it is pretty obvious what the focus is in this national park! In fact most of the visitors to this beautiful area come by their own boat, but there is also a drive-in park entrance at the Convoy Point Visitor Center.

Visitors without their own boat will find canoe and kayak rentals for mangrove exploration as well as boat operators who run snorkel and dive trips two to three times a day.

Snorkeling is almost always possible in the shallow protected areas of the bay near the northern keys even if the 15

wind is a bit blustery. This is the tidal zone that functions as a nursery for mature fish seen out on the reef and offers many curiosities. But if you’re a reasonably experienced snorkeler and conditions are favorable, it is well worth going out with the dive trip to the northernmost portion of the Keys barrier reef.

The crew on all the boats are extremely helpful with catering to snorkelers and rental gear is readily available.

These reefs are bathed by the warm water of the gulf stream where fans and soft coral gorgonia reach out toward the surface. Schools of yellow striped grunts are stacked fin to fin and French angelfish the size of dinner platters roll a wary eye to the funny looking humans floating above. Freedive down to peer beneath the coral heads and you may be rewarded by the sight of a live conch, cowrie , brilliant flame scallop or just a closer look at the many butterfly and parrot fish.

Especially exciting is catching a glimpse of one of the many resident sea turtles in the area.

On a perfect day, when the bright sunlight adds dizzying patterns of fishnet-like light refraction playing over the reef it is easy to loose all track of time. The 90 minute stay on the reef is over before you know it and it is time

for the easy ride back while comparing your sightings with the others on board.

Tip: If you are an advanced snorkeler, request to go out with the divers and they will take you to the outer reef areas.

When to go: Year round, but temperatures are much cooler between November and May Underwater Unlimited www.biscayneunderwater.com BiscayneNationalPark@gmail.com 305.230.1100

3 Crystal River, Florida: One of the most unique snorkel experiences in Florida is found in this quiet waterfront community on the west coast of Florida about 80 miles north of Tampa. Aside from a picturesque setting on the estuary of Kings Bay, the area provides the best place in the country to experience the gentle West Indian Manatee in its own environment. People come from around the world to savor this rare encounter with an endangered mammal that some think inspired the legend of mermaids.

“ Aside from a picturesque setting on the estuary of Kings Bay, the area provides the best place in the country to experience the gentle West Indian Manatee in its own environment. People come from around the world to savor this rare encounter with an endangered mammal that some think inspired the legend of mermaids” Manatees are present in the area year round, but they are far more prolific in the winter when passing cold fronts drive the warm blooded sirens from the chilly Gulf of Mexico to seek comfort in the warm spring-fed waters of Crystal River.

Several operators provide manatee dedicated trips on comfortable pontoon boats with expert guides. First timers might feel a little crazy gathering before dawn on the marina docks in 40 degree temperatures to go snorkeling, but there is method to the madness. As guides will explain, the cold weather inspires manatees to seek the very source of the warm 72º spring water where it is clear as glass. It is not unusual to have 5 to 20 manatees gathered around these spa-like springs, scattered around the bay. After a thorough explanation of “manatee etiquette” designed to ensure that the sea-cow is always in control, visitors slip into the water in buoyant wet suits to test their

animal magnetism. Though there are no guarantees, it is common for a manatee to swim right up and take a close look at their human counterparts.

Some people are occasionally selected for a flipper squeeze, a mask nibble or a full on manatee hug… even skeptics are won over by their charming personality, if not their whiskery good looks.

This is extremely easy snorkeling with sometimes very little movement required and a good manatee encounter may last from 5 to 30 minutes.

If your boat is in the Three Sisters Spring area (a favorite manatee hangout), I highly recommend making the effort to swim upstream to the main spring basin. After about a five minute swim, you enter into a stunningly beautiful oasis of old Florida, with calm water as clear as air over a white sand bottom with grunts and jacks seeming to float in air.

17

The cypress trees dotting the shoreline only add to the illusion of nature as it was in the old days.

The trip back to the docks is spent warming hands with mugs of cocoa and plenty of excited chatter about the playful slow motion antics of one of Florida’s iconic wildlife symbols. Just maybe there is a reason for chilly weather in Florida after all.

Tip: Move slowly and you may enjoy a manatee friend for 15 minutes or more. After you gain some experience in the area, you can also rent small boats from the marina to explore on your own.

When to go: All year. In winter there are more manatees, but in summer there are fewer crowds. When you see a cold front predicted, book early! Americanprodive.com; 800-291-3483 DESTINOS IDEALES DONDE BUCEAR EN LA FLORIDA Lower Key, Florida El Santuario Marino Nacional de Looe Key, situado en frente de la costa de Big Pine Key, no tiene nada que envidiarle al más conocido John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Este refugio es el destino ideal para disfrutar de los espectaculares arrecifes de Key Largo que quedan a unas 65 millas al norte. Y es que este albergue marino es parte del tercer arrecife de coral más grande del mundo y en sus profundidades se pueden divisar mantas raya, tortugas marinas, tiburones nodriza y enormes sábalos. Además, si se acerca al este del arrecife podrá ver decenas de piedras de lastre de los restos del naufragio de Looe.

Consejo: Cuando ir: Todo el año, la temperatura promedio es de unos 85 grados Fahrenheit en verano y 73 grados farenheit en invierno.

Biscayne National Underwater Park, Florida.

Cerca de Miami se encuentra Biscayne National Underwater Park que fue declarado monumento nacional en 1968 y está situado al este de Homestead y los Everglades. Este enorme parque, que ocupa la parte sur de la Bahía de Biscayne, es casi totalmente subacuático (95%) y aquí se puede llegar tanto en barco como en coche. Gracias a la corriente del golfo sus aguas son templadas. Las especies marinas son variadas e incluyen angelotes franceses y tortugas marinas, así como peces mariposa y peces loro. Se pueden alquilar canoas y kayak para explorar los manglares y también se organizan excursiones de buceo de dos a tres veces al día.

Consejo: Si es usted un experto del buceo, puede pedir salir con buceadores que le lleven a los arrecifes de las afueras. Cuando ir: Todo el año pero las temperaturas bajan entre Noviembre y Mayo.

Crystal River, Florida Una de las experiencias de buceo mas fascinantes de la Florida la podrá encontrar en esta pequeña comunicad de su costa oeste, a 80 millas de Tampa. Crystal River, situado en el estuario de Kings Bay, es el lugar ideal para conocer al manatí en su medio ambiente. Aunque se podrán encontrar aquí todo el año, hay más en invierno, que es cuando vienen huyendo de las aguas heladas del golfo de México buscando el calor de sus manantiales. Existen muchas compañías de excursiones con expertos guías.

Si su barco está en el área de Three sisters Spring (lugar predilecto de los manatíes) le recomiendo que naden hacia arriba al manantial principal. Después de nadar cinco minutos, entrarán a un espectacular oasis de aguas calmas y transparentes, rodeado de cipreses sobre la costa que le recordarán a la Florida de tiempos atrás…

Consejo: Si va despacio, podrá disfrutar de la compañía de un manatí por quince minutos o más.

Una vez que conozca bien el lugar, podrá alquilar pequeños barcos para explorar por su cuenta.

Cuando ir: Todo el año. En invierno hay más manatíes, pero en el verano hay menos gente. Reserve enseguida, sobre todo si se avecina un frente frío.

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BOAT REVIEW

M37 Island Hopper Purpose built to cruise the islands… any islands!

by Bill Ando

Once thought not to be real sailboats by the conservative sailing establishment, multihulls have come to be accepted over the years.

Just look at the Caribbean bareboat fleets.

With two giant multihulls ready to duel it out for the America’s Cup, the nonbelievers are going to get quite a show.

Though not as big as the AC yachts Moxie Yachts’ M37 Island Hopper catamaran is also purpose built. Well considered and perfectly adapted to recreational use, it is what Uwe Jaspersen, the designer and the owner of Jaz Marine in South Africa, the Island Hopper’s builder, intended when he set out to create “the perfect coastal cruising cat.”

Moxie Yachts was inspired by a slow sail in nasty weather from Newfoundland to Cape Breton Island aboard a Swan 53. Upon returning home, the three ex 20 www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

perienced sailors– Milt Charbonneau, John Blin and Alexis de Boucaud – contacted the renowned French firm VPLP Designs whose boats have dominated multihull racing since the mid-1980s. The conversation Blin had with Marc Van Peteghem (the VP of VPLP) recalled the adventure of Phil Weld, a Boston publisher who won the Observer Singlehanded Transatlantic Race in 1980 aboard his trimaran Moxie. Van Peteghem told Blin that after Weld’s success, the French took the hint and turned ocean racing in multihulls into a national pastime. Invoking the determined spirit of Weld’s Moxie, Blin, Charbonneau and de Boucaud formed Moxie Yachts.

In vetting builders, they decided on Jaz Marine, based in Capetown, South Africa. “Technology knowledge is high, and the labor rate is excellent,” says Blin. Jaz Marine already had made a name for itself building 40-foot racing monohulls and as the builder of the Morelli and Melvin-designed 62-foot Gunboats

Although VPLP drew a 61-footer for Moxie Yachts (due to launch this September), Blin says, “We needed an entry-level Moxie.” Therefore, the team commissioned Jaspersen to build a 37foot cat. It was based on a prototype he’d already built, an open-deck design, called the Island Hopper. “We needed a few more things to make it marketable.” Blin explains, a wider beam and hard Bimini top for the U.S. market.

The M37 Island Hopper was born, making its debut at the Annapolis show in October 2008. Jaspersen’s experience in high-tech manufacturing translates into a lightweight boat – a good attribute, especially for a catamaran, where weight is the enemy. Specifically, the M37 Island Hopper is constructed of E-glass cloth and epoxy resin over a CoreCell foam core.

Carbon fiber reinforces areas where additional strength is needed, such as at chain plates. The full structure is built using the resin-infusion method to additionally control weight and strength. near the transom.

Abrasion resistance on the cat’s bottom is dealt with by a layer of Kevlar in the outer skin that runs from about two feet above DWL at the bows to about five inches above DWL The 45-foot-long rotating wing mast is built of carbon fiber, keeping weight aloft to a minimum. That delivers a mast height above the water of 54 feet, 6 inches, leaving room to clear Florida’s fixed ICW bridges.

Cruiseability One measure of a well-considered cruising boat is how much it can stand to be loaded down with essentials as well as souvenirs of the voyage and still perform. “I worked on a payload of 600 pounds per passenger, but that depends on how many people are onboard and how far you will be going,” Jaspersen says. “For a weekend trip, I think most people will struggle to add 600 pounds per person.”

I found the boat ideal for a couple and two children or two couples for extended cruises.

For weekends and day sails, there is plenty of room for more than four. In fact, with a queen-size berth in each hull, and the option of another double in the stern of the port hull, the M37 Island Hopper is capable of sleeping six comfortably. The optional bunk doubles as a chart table with storage beneath it. The two regular bunks are amidships forward of the companionway in each hull. They are situated fore and aft, so they will be comfortable in most conditions underway. In fact, I went below at sea, and the movement was easy and not magnified, even with a swell and a little chop. We tacked while I was below, and I wasn’t aware of it until I went topside.

Headroom is 6 feet, 9 inches immediately adjacent to the bunk. The hulls in that area are 4-feet, 5-inches wide.

A bit of that width is lost to storage, but still, there is plenty of hip room. All accommodations are constructed in lightweight composite with painted finishes, and top-grade wood-grain laminates trim the edges, acting as fiddles.

SPECIFICATIONS Price: $325,000 FOB Capetown, South Africa, without sails and instruments LOA: 39 feet 6 inches LWL: 36 feet 0 inches Beam: 22 feet 0 inches Draft: 2 feet 3 inches (board up); 6 feet 11 inches (board down) Displacement: 7,165 lbs. (lightship) Power: 2 15-hp Lombardini with saildrives Fuel capacity: 32 gallons (2x16 gallons) Fresh water: 57 gallons Mainsail: 462 square feet Solent: 258 square feet

Each bunk stateroom contains an en suite head and shower forward. The heads are essentially wet rooms.

There is ample space to shower, and opening ports on each side of the head, as well as a deck hatch, provide efficient cross ventilation.

Jaspersen decided to cover the outside deck space with a hard bimini, which extends over the centerline of the hulls, providing all-weather protection. Thoughtfully a boltrope slot is molded into three sides on the bottom of the hardtop.

An owner can have either a full mosquito net or an isinglass enclosure made to fit and enclose the lounging cockpit. Two seats that comfortably accommodate four people each face a centerline console with a toploading, 42-gallon-capacity icebox with drop leaves.

Each seatback folds down, converting the seat to a bed for those balmy island nights when it’s nice to sleep outdoors.

It’s the location of the sailing cockpit that makes the M37 Island Hopper a great ride. You stand low on the bottom of the wing deck in the center of motion, and there is no overriding feeling of movement or speed.

The 19-square-foot cockpit is comfortable and roomy enough for three average-size, geared-up sailors; four if you’re friends. There are molded-in steps to access the foredeck. It wouldn’t hurt the comfort factor to have a fold-down seat or two in the cockpit, but that is a personal item better left to an owner’s wishes. The mast is mounted in front of the helm on the forward crossbeam.

All of the sheets and halyards as well as the reefing, mast and dagger board control lines are convenient.

Line stoppers let the winches do double duty when required.

How well a boat moves in light air is telling of the design. Using U.S. Sailing’s sail area displacement formula (http://www.sailingusa.info/cal__sad_ratio.htm), the M37 Island Hopper boasts a 31 SA/D ratio that is based on its published weight of 7165 pounds and the combined sail area of 720 square feet of main and Solent. That’s in the high-performance racer category.

Considering four onboard at the allowed 600 pounds each in payload, the ratio lowers to 25.9, but it remains in the same category.

The Island Hopper is a great Bahamas boat and will live up to its name. It sails well, and it should be a terrific light-air performer. Additionally, it will provide a memorable sail riding a front down island from Nassau and still tack north in a blow. What a comfortable ride it will be in that center cockpit.

MOXIE 37 Moxie Yachts fue inspirado por una lenta navegada en mal tiempo desde Newfoundland hasta Cape Breton a bordo de un Swan 53. Al regresar a casa los 3 experimentados veleristasMilt Charbonneau, John Blin y Alexis de Boucaud- contactaron a la renombrada firma de diseñadores VPLP, cuyos barcos dominan el escenario mundial de regatas de multicascos desde mediados de los años 80.

VPLP diseñó un 61’ para Moxie Yachts, que será botado este verano.

En el interín, les interesó contar con un Moxie de menor tamaño y se decidieron por un catamarán de 37’ que comisionaron a Jaspersen. Así nació el Moxie 37 Island Hopper, presentado con éxito en el Annapolis Show de Octubre del 2008.

Específicamente, el M37 está construido con e-glass y resinas epóxicas sobre Corecell. En las áreas donde se necesitan refuerzos adicionales se utiliza fibra de carbono para mantener la relación esfuerzo-peso a su nivel más bajo. La estructura completa fue concebida y se construye con el método de infusión para controlar peso y calidad del laminado.

Para reducir la abrasión en el fondo de los cascos se utilizan capas de kevlar que abarcan 2 pies sobre la línea de flotación en la proa hasta casi ½ pie por debajo de la línea de flotación en la proximidad de los espejos de popa.

El perfil alar que conforma el mástil es también construido en fibra de carbono para mantener su peso al mínimo. El mástil del M37 se diseñó con la idea de permitirle navegar por debajo de los puentes fijos más bajos de la Intracoastal Waterway por lo que su tope alcanza una altura desde la línea de flotación de 54.5’ Capacidad de crucero: En general una medida a tomar en cuenta en un 24 www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

buen barco de crucero nos refiere a su capacidad de carga máxima por tripulante estipulado. Jaspersen encuentra muy difícil de superar la marca de 600 libras por persona en un crucero de fin de semana. Consideramos al barco ideal para una pareja con dos niños o dos parejas, para cruceros largos.

gracias a dos extensiones se convierte en una mesa muy cómoda.

Para salidas cortas o de fin de semana, hay disponible mucho lugar para más que 4 personas. De hecho, el M37 acomoda 6 personas para dormir cómodamente. La mesa de navegación se transforma en una cucheta extra, las cuchetas regulares se localizan en la parte central del casco, levemente a proa del tambucho de entrada. Su disposición es proa-popa, lo que las hace muy prácticas en cualquier tipo de condición. De hecho, cuando accedí a las cabinas durante la navegación, el movimiento era muy tenue y nada ruidoso, al punto de que sólo advertí al subir a cubierta que habíamos virado.

Es precisamente la ubicación del cockpit con el puesto de control lo que hace al M37 un catamarán muy especial. Usted se para en el fondo de la cubierta, en el centro del movimiento, y es gracias a esta ubicación que no se tiene sensación de movimiento brusco. Los 19 pies cuadrados del cockpit son suficientes para alojar a una tripulación de 3 personas. El mástil está montado enfrente del timón en el bao delantero.

Todas las escotas y drizas así como también las líneas de los rizos, controles de giro del mástil y de las orzas están muy bien ubicados. Stoppers se utilizan para permitir a los winches manejar varias drizas a la vez.

La altura de la cabina es de 6’ 9’’ y los cascos en esa área tienen una manga de 4’ 5’’. Los interiores están terminados con materiales muy ligeros y pintados, y tienen excelentes detalles de terminación en madera.

Cada cabina tiene una ducha y un aseo en-suite, y portillos en los laterales de los baños garantizan excelente ventilación. Fue una buena decisión el cubrir la cubierta con un bimini duro que se extiende siguiendo la línea de crujía del barco y que provee una excelente protección contra todo tipo de meteorología.

Cada propietario puede elegir tener un cerramiento contra mosquitos o ventanas de Isinglass hecho a medida para cerrar el espacio tan generoso que crea la cabina en su unión con el cockpit. Dos asientos que acomodan confortablemente 4 personas cada uno se enfrentan también en sentido de crujía donde los separa una consola con acceso en su cara superior con capacidad de 42 galones, y que

Los respaldos de los asientos se bajan, lo que los convierte en unas cuchetas de un confort difícil de resistir., especialmente en esas noches cálidas y gratas para dormir en cubierta.

Se dice que un barco de buen dibujo es caminador con poco aire. Usando USSailing (www.sailingusa.info) del M37 tiene un ratio de 31 sv/D que está basado en su desplazamiento publicado de 7165 libras y una superficie vélica de 720 pies cuadrados.

Esos números se consideran dentro de la categoría de regata de alta performance. Ahora bien, si consideramos un grupo de 4 personas con las 600 libras cada uno, preestipuladas por el dibujante, dicha relación baja a un 25.9.

El Island Hopper M37 es un gran barco para las Bahamas y que seguramente hará honor a su nombre.

Navega muy bien y su punto fuerte es, obviamente, la brisa ligera. Adicionalmente, los proveerá con un cruce memorable, navegando con un frente frío hasta Nassau, disfrutando de una genial singladura en ese tan cómodo cockpit central.

VPLP

by BILL ANDO

Marc Van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot Prévost are known for designing fast yachts that usually have more than one hull!....

Say the letters V-P-L-P. You’ve just said the name of the most successful designers of multihulls on the planet. Marc Van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot Prévost, the French design team known as VPLP, the acronym from the combination of the initials of their last names.

26 www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

Fast friends since they met during their studies

perhaps the most visible boat they have de-

at Southhampton Institute, they nurtured their

signed, and certainly the most innovative, it is

passion for the sea by frequent sails aboard the

not the largest boat they have drawn.

Val 38-foot trimaran Elle -- a Dick Newick de-

Their boats have set and hold more records than

sign, which they helped to build on the banks of

any other designer or design team.

the Hamble.

Arguably no other multihull designers have

It also turned their eyes toward mutihulls as the

dominated in the various fields of yacht design:

way to go fast under sail.

record setting trimarans: Geronimo the 34-meter

The lifelong sailors were fresh out of college

(112-foot) trimaran for Olivier de Kersauson set

when they founded VPLP in 1983, launching

five records in the pacific and took the Jules

the enterprise with a racing trimaran design

Verne trophy in 2004.

commissioned for the OSTAR, (Observer

Currently the 40-meter

Singlehanded Transatlantic Race) now known

Maxi Banque Pouplaire V, holds the 24-hour

as the English Transat.

sailing record of 907 miles that was set as it

The 50-foot foiler Gerard Lambert was the first

claimed the east to west transatlantic record in

in a long line of racing trimarans that created a

three days and 15 hours.

name for the firm and established the young

There hasn’t been an offshore multihull race in

designers as innovators in the field of naval ar-

the last ten years that has not had a VPLP design

chitecture.

at the starting line.

Although the BMW ORACLE 90-foot trimaran

Douce France, launched in 1999, at 140-feet is

that will soon race for the America’s Cup is

still the worlds largest sailing catamaran.

(131-foot) trimaran,

“ Their boats have set and hold more records than any other designer or design team. Arguably, no other multihull designers have dominated in the various fields of yacht design”

Gilles Martin-Raget / BMW ORACLE RACING

Gilles Martin-Raget / BMW ORACLE RACING 27

Soon though it will be eclipsed by Hemisphere a 145-footer that will launch in about eight months from Penndennis.

Production cruising catamarans: Lagoon maintains the most successful global sales in their market.

They have also gladly drawn monohulls, including two 60-foot racers.

They say there hasn't been a great deal of notoriety as a result of the AC challenger—some in the racing field but it has not been overwhelming. They have enjoyed some brand recognition in the luxury cruising market, “but only by aficionados”. Now, with the concern over climate change and energy usage the team is once again thinking ahead. At the design Symposium in New York City held in October of 2009 Van Peteghem presented a design manifesto on a practical ocean sailing catamaran. It is “a yacht designed to voyage—simple, functional, fast, reliable and easy to maintain”.

They say the boats they remain fondest of are their first ones, Gerard Lambert, Douce France- which Marc says was 10 years ahead of its time- and, of course, BMW Oracle. It’s interesting to note that there is no length mentioned on the manifesto.

That is because the ideas put forth are applicable to any size yacht. A split schooner rig is indicated “to limit the loads during manoeuvres and enable them to be manually operated.” The hulls will of course contain the staterooms. “Laid out according to a plan which avoids the costly procedure of having to shape the furniture to meet the curve of the hull.” Van Peteghem states in the Manifesto.

The main deck, it continues, can be laid out freely according to the needs of the client, but the core of the realization stays the same. “We will use flat panels and angled elements to enable a better utilization of space. It also insists that it be “an ecologically clean and an economically functioning yacht.”

It will safely handle containment and

treatment of used water and lower the energy consumed by reverting to alternative solutions.

A natural ventilation system that will, to a large extent, substitute for air conditioning. Minimize the use of lights and reduce hydraulic functions as much as possible.

Also, ensure simultaneous access to renewable energy: solar, thermal and photovoltaic and wind energy and a large bank of new generation batteries.

As the world changes and people realize the benefits of catamarans and trimarans, the VPLP brand will no doubt grow to enjoy a notoriety beyond that which it has today—deservedly so.

Anyone who has sailed a trimaran or catamaran across an ocean knows the subtle details that it takes to make a multihull work day after day in the elements. Marc Van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot Prévost have that figured out. So the rest of us can go out and enjoy their work.

OTHER STUNNING DESIGNS BY VPLP: L’ HYDROPTERE...

Simply the fastest sailing boat in the world!

On 4th September 2009 L’ Hydroptere beat two world speed records over 500 meters and one nautical mile.

Thanks to this performance, the trimaran has now become the fastest sailing boat on the planet (in all classes) over both distances.

Thus the new absolute sailing speed record is now set at 51.36 knots over 500 meters.

During the same session, L’ Hydroptere smashed the outright nautical mile record with an unbelievable average speed of 48.74 knots.

Photos by Guilain GRENIER

… AND

MOXIE 61

M61 by Moxie Yachts—the multihull cruiser redefined An impeccable pedigree and luxurious appointments in an ultra-light all-carbon construction. Safe, user-friendly, and featuring ocean-tested solutions, the M61 reflects VPLP’s 25-year history of record-setting designs.

With lines that spell speed and elegance, the M61 is a world-class multihull for all sailors—monohull racers, luxury cruisers, and anyone seeking high performance, comfort, and safety at sea. www.moxieyachts.com

M61 will be launched this Summer.

YTM will be featuring it in a coming issue.

DESTINATIONS

CRUISING

BRAZIL

by Dolores Barciela

Photos & sketches by Adolfo Mrongowius

Imagine a huge tropical country with the friendliest people ever, virgin rain-forests, beautiful sceneries, melodious tunes, exotic and tasty food, and over 4,000 miles of spectacular coastline hardly ever threatened by volcanoes, hurricanes, tsunamis nor earthquakes.

Sounds like paradise, doesn’t it?.

Aboard Viking II, our 33-foot 1949 Sparkman & Stephens fractional-rig sloop, my husband Adolfo and I set sail from our home in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Our three-and-a-half year cruise ultimately ended in Maine, but beautiful Brazil, where we spent at least half of that time, will always remain our favorite part of the voyage.

32 www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

The good news is that it isn’t yet a well-known cruising destination. So, aside from a few German and French sailboats, that quickly cruise southbound on their way to round Cape Horn, some Americans and South Africans that briefly visit its northeastern coast on their journey from South Africa to the Caribbean, and some clever fellows that prefer spending an easy Caribbean hurricane season here rather than in Trinidad, the ABC islands or Venezuela, we were generally the only foreign sailboat wherever we visited and we rarely found crowded Marinas.

This country is blessed with some of the loveliest and least-explored beaches in the world as well as hundreds of sheltered harbors and secluded coves along its coast, making it easy to take day trips to nearly two-thirds of its coastline. As we cruised north, we marveled at the diversity in scenery and in inhabitants, as Brazil thrives on its colorful regionalism. The South, below the Tropic of Capricorn, predominantly offers a year-round subtropical climate, but there´s also snowfall in the mountains during winter.

The region is also marked by plain livestock-farming lands, where Brazilian cowboys- the well-known gaúchos - live, and by the beginning of the General Mountain Range, with its rolling hills, picturesque valleys, and a fertile wine region that are populated by European descendants- mainly Italians, Germans and Polish.

The Southeast region comprises the beachside city of Rio de Janeiro and industrial Sâo Paulo as well as the 1,000-mile-long Sea Mountain Range, which is covered by the tropical Mâta Atlántica rain forest. It also includes protected islands in bays that make a perfect cruising ground year-round.

The Northeast, center of the sugar cane industry during colonial times, is mainly populated by Portuguese and Indians mixed with the descendants of African tribes whose religious beliefs, music, dance and cuisine are the main ingredients of Brazilian culture.

Its coastline, blessed with warm weather all year round, offers miles of beaches bordered by coconut palms and protected by reefs that create pleasant natural pools of salt water at low tide.

They help stabilize the coastline by placating waves and reducing erosion. Where the reefs end, the shoreline becomes cliffs and high sand dunes.

The Northern equatorial part of the country is characterized by low swampy lands covered by mangroves and the Amazon River, with its quaint port villages, rich rainforest flora and fauna, and the isolated jungle huts of Indian fishermen. As cruisers, we had the privilege of coming into contact with these fishermen and experienced firsthand their astonishing generosity and hospitality.

It´s our last day in IlhaGrande, after some three months of living in harmony with nature, fishing for food and drinking fresh water from mountain springs. Viking II is

anchored at Enseada das Palmas on the NE coast, not far from a tropical jungle that covers the surrounding hills.

Our dinghy is already lashed on deck, and we are ready to set sail for Río. But, as a farewell to this jewel, we dive into green peaceful waters and swim towards shore, Adolfo holding his surfboard and I, a waterproof camera.

Barefoot, we follow a mile-long dirt track across a hill.

Multicolored butterflies flutter among giant ferns and the air is thick with the rich aroma of fertile soil.

We soon reach the spectacular Lopes Mendes Beach, a half-moon bay with two miles of soft white sand.

Because of the clear sand on the bottom of the water, the sea here has a stunning transparency that creates an Edenlike effect: emerald green water in the shallows and dark turquoise in the deep.

I jog and swim while Adolfo surfs translucent waves, and after some really pleasant hours we´re still alone in this beach, as pirates were centuries ago.

From the 16th to the 18th centuries, Ilha Grande and Ilhabela, some 100 miles south, were well-known slave-trade drop-off points and European pirates’ refuges.

One of the most famous to visit the area on his way to the Horn was British pirate Thomas Cavendish, who burned and sacked Santos city (São Paulo’s Port) in 1592.

Legends about hidden treasures abound in this region.

Viking II

That night, as we approach Río de Janeiro under sail, I remember another story we heard about French pirate René Duguay-Trouin, who managed to get to this city unnoticed one foggy night in 1711 and ransacked it for over two months.

It’s a dark night, but the city lights guide us. From the top of the Corcovado mountain, the huge illuminated Christ the Redeemer statue welcomes us with outstretched arms to the Cidade Maravilhosa ( the Marvelous City), Río de Janeiro. The name conjures up magic and sensuality, Samba rhythms, Carnival parades and Bossa Nova music.

At the entrance of Baía de Guanabara, we sail by the imposing Pão de Açúcar ( Sugar Loaf mountain) and into the big bay that the first Portuguese sailors mistook for a river when they sailed down here on January 1st. 1502, prompting them to call the newly found settlement Río de Janeiro ( January River).

During the 18th century, Río was the colony’s capital, and its port brought in an important flow of wealth from the gold mines in the neighboring state of Minas Geráis.

By the end of the 18th. century, Napoleon Bonaparte occupied Spain, and the Portuguese court of Dom João VI fled to Brazil. Río became the capital of the Portuguese Empire. Bearing witness to this splendorous past are several European palaces as well as the botanical gardens, Jardim Botânico.

After a month stay at Guanabara, we are eager to continue our cruise north. We stop for a week at Búzios- a fishing village in a beautiful peninsula that became world -famous after Brigitte Bardot visited it during the 60sand is now a jet-set summer resort, full of local artists and hippies.

Our next landfall is the Arquipélago dos Abrolhos, some 40 miles off Brazil´s northeastern coast. In 1503 Amerigo Vespucci’s expedition sailed by here, and his logbook reads:” Quando te aproximares a terra, abre bem os olhos”, When you get close to land, open your eyes.

That’s the origin of the name “Abrolhos”, which designates a dangerous area full of coral reefs and five tiny islands of volcanic origin, the Parque Nacional Marinho dos Abrolhos.

This sanctuary is an important shelter for migratory birds and sea mammals as well as being the biggest South American reef complex.

We approach Siriba Island from the southwest and anchor between it and Redonda island, close to the rocky path that joins them.

The water here is more than 30 feet deep, yet I can clearly notice a big manta-ray swimming near the bottom.

Each bird species has thriven on a different island. When we go for a walk to Ilha Siriba, the exclusive habitat of the white boobies, we are thrilled to watch these peaceful birds incubate their eggs. The day we decide to leave, the first humpback whales arrive.

34 www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

Some 500 females migrate here every year between July and November to give birth and nurse their young. They offer us a thrilling show, with their acrobatic jumps and pirouettes.

The mainland coast we sail past, part of the state of Bahia, is known as “ a Terra da Felicidade” ( Land of Happiness) not only because of its hundreds of long, wide beaches bordered by coconut trees but also because, according to Jorge Amado, Brazil´s best-known novelist and a Bahia native, “ Under a sky of admirable clearness, Brazil’s sweetest people live”.

Working our way north from Abrolhos, we visit heaven-like Camamú Bay and stay for a few days anchored in front of a lovely deserted beach.

The only visits we receive are from a group of playful dolphins every afternoon and a toothless fisherman offering us fresh lobster, which we grill on our cockpit barbecue, and enjoy while watching the sunset. Some 30 miles north, Bahía’s most fashionable summer resort, the famous Morro de São Paulo on Ilha de Tinharé, welcomes us with its stunning beauty. There are no cars here, only donkeys. The beaches, for convenience, are referred to as First, Second, Third and Fourth, and it’s difficult to say which one is the prettiest.

We anchor in front of a tropical yacht club set in a jungly hillside and walk to the nearby village. Everyone seems to be partying all day long here and the good humor is contagious.

Tomorrow we’ll sail by Baía de Todos os Santos ( All Saints Bay) towards Salvador, Bahía’s capital.

We’ve heard a lot about this charismatic city, which till 1763 was also Brazil’s capital. Salvador, the city of the 365 churches, conducts one of the country´s most colorful and fervent celebrations of the candomblé ceremonies. These rituals, which slaves brought with them from Africa centuries ago, mingled with Catholicism to create a unique spiritual practice.

And second only to the annual event in Rio, Salvador also hosts an annual Carnival celebration that keeps people partying in the streets for at least three or four days in February or March.

We can´t wait to get there and experience it all through the people’s own picturesque rhythm. We might as well admit it: Brazil’s irresistible charm has truly seduced us.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE 1 ILHA GRANDE Good stopover between Río de Janeiro and Santos or Ilhabela. All coves and inlets are well marked in the local charts; the area doesn’t present many hazards to navigation.

Its windward side is open to the South Atlantic Ocean and most of it belongs to a marine park, where anchoring at do Leste and do Sul beaches is forbidden. The leeward side is full of small coves and is safe for anchoring, swimming and snorkeling. Saco do Céu, the most protected natural harbor, gets crowded during Carnival week. Vila do Abraão is the island’s village; daily ferries to/ from the mainland, grocery stores, a bank and a post office are available here.

Just a couple of miles away on the continent, near Angra dos Reis settlement, Iate Clube do Río de Janeiro’s subsidiary yacht club, welcomes sailors at their cozy clubhouse. Anchor in the bay and politely introduce yourself to the club manager; you’ll probably be allowed to use the showers, water, bar & restaurant.

2 RÍO DE JANEIRO Don’t be frightened by nasty reports. You´ll rarely have any problems if you act with common sense. We safely cruised along Brazil for nearly two years, and know dozens of sailors who managed neither to be robbed nor bothered, as well. So just keep your eyes open, especially while in big cities.

3 NITERÓI On the other side of Río lies Niterói, a more provincial town that´s less crowded and less imposing. In the first bay is Charitas beach and the Iate Clube Naval, which offers a few days courtesy to foreign yachts. The Club is excellent and very complete.

The club took good care of Viking II when we left her here, while visiting our families Morro de São Paulo Iate Clube is hidden by a tropical jungle on the northwestern side of Tinharé.

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Be careful with the extremely strong current when you anchor in front of the Yacht Club, where depth is 15 to 20 feet.

4 ABROLHOS The Archipelago belongs to Abrolhos National Maritime Park and it’s controlled by IBAMA ( Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Natural Resources). For updated info: www.ibama.gov.br You can anchor inside the sound between Siriba and Redonda islands or at the south of Santa Bárbara island, which belongs to the Navy. In this southern bay you’ll find a couple of big buoys for mooring. The huge reef complex east of the islands helps reduce the ocean swell. If the wind shifts to the south, you can anchor at the north side of Santa Bárbara.

NOTE: This is an edited versión of an article first published in Cruising World magazine.

NAVEGANDO POR BRASIL. Resumen.

Abordo del VIKING II, un velero clásico diseño de Sparkman & Stephens de 33 pies de eslora, mi esposo Adolfo y yo partimos de Buenos Aires, Argentina, en un largo viaje de crucero. Brasil fue una de nuestras primeras escalas y caímos rendidos a sus encantos. No hay más que imaginarse un país de selvas tropicales, gente cálida, música melodiosa y comida verdaderamente exquisita, y que además cuenta con más de 4500 millas de una variada costa sin riesgo de huracanes, volcanes, tsunamis o terremotos. Un verdadero paraíso.

Brasil se destaca por la diversidad de sus paisajes y sus habitantes, como en el caso de la zona al sur del Trópico de Capricornio donde el clima es subtropical todo el año, aunque sí nieva en las montañas en invierno. Esta zona es donde habitan los vaqueros brasileños, en su mayoría descendientes de alemanes, italianos y polacos que se dedican más que nada a la ganadería y a la industria vinícola.

En la zona azucarera del noroeste, la población es mayormente de origen portugués, indígena y africano y la mezcla de su religión, música, danza y cocina forman la verdadera esencia de lo que es la cultura brasileña. El paisaje, de clima veraniego durante todo el año, está repleto de palmeras de coco y arrecifes que forman piscinas naturales de agua salada cuando baja la marea.

Donde se terminan los arrecifes se forman acantilados e inmensas dunas de arena.

Más al norte, sobre el ecuador, el terreno es pantanoso y por aquí corre el imponente río Amazonas con pintorescos pueblecitos a lo largo de sus puertos, y por supuesto una flora y fauna típica de bosque tropical.

Aquí conocimos a simpáticos pesca38 www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

dores que hicieron una gran muestra de su generosidad y hospitalidad.

Bahía da Ilha Grande. Después de pasar aquí tres meses disfrutando del paisaje, pescando para comer y bebiendo agua de los manantiales, zarpamos hacia Río. Pero sin olvidar nunca los paseos por los montes de gigantescos helechos, coloridas mariposas y el aroma a tierra fértil camino a la playa de Lopes Mendes, una bahía de 2 millas de blanca arena y aguas cristalinas de tonalidades turquesa y esmeralda.

Llegamos a Río y desde la cima del Corcovado, la estatua iluminada del Cristo Redentor nos da la bienvenida a la “Cidade Maravillosa”: Rio de Janeiro, sinónimo de sensualidad, magia, ritmo, carnaval y bossa nova.

Al entrar a la Bahía de Guanabara, navegamos en frente del Pâo de Açúcar hacia la bahía que los portugueses en su día confundieron con un río al llegar el primer día de Enero de 1502, de ahí su nombre: Río de Janeiro.

Después de pasar aquí un mes, de camino al norte, paramos una semana en un pequeño pueblo pesquero llamado Buzios ubicado en una península que se hizo famosa con la visita de Brigitte Bardot en 1960, lo que lo convirtió en destino de la jet set mundial.

Nuestra próxima parada es Abrolhos, 40 millas al norte. Cuando aquí arribó en 1503 Américo Vespuccio, registró en su bitácora: “Cuando te acerques a la tierra abre bien los ojos”, de ahí su nombre en portugués: Abrolhos. Esta divina tierra se compone de un arrecife y cinco diminutas islas de origen volcánico que forman el Parque Nacional Marino de Abrolhos. Además de contar con el complejo de arrecifes más grande de Suramérica, es albergue invernal de pájaros y

mamíferos marinos. Sus aguas cuentan con más de 30 pies de profundidad y son tan transparentes que hasta se puede ver perfectamente una manta raya nadando en sus profundidades.

El día que nos vamos, nos viene a despedir una ballena jorobada que nos ofrece un show espectacular de acrobacias, y es que alrededor de unas 500 hembras emigran aquí entre Julio y Noviembre para dar a luz y alimentar a sus crías.

Navegamos por el estado de Bahía, conocido como la tierra de la felicidad. No solo por sus hermosas playas sino también porque como el famoso novelista Jorge Amado, nacido aquí, declaró un día: “Bajo un cielo de admirable claridad vive la gente más dulce de Brasil”.

Anclamos en la bahía de Camamú, un lugar idílico, en el que nos quedamos una semana en una playa desierta donde por las tardes nos visitan los delfines y unos amables pescadores, que nos ofrecen langosta para cenar mientras disfrutamos de la puesta de sol.

Camino a Bahía de todos los Santos, pasamos por el famoso Morro de Sao Paulo en la Isla de Tinharé, un lugar de playas espectaculares y donde curiosamente no existen coches sino burros como medio de transporte.

La capital de Bahía se llama Salvador y esta carismática ciudad cuenta con unas 365 iglesias donde en muchas se practica una ceremonia conocida como el Candomblé, un ritual que trajeron los esclavos de Africa siglos atrás y que aquí mezclaron con las tradiciones católicas para crear una práctica espiritual única.

Estamos esperando llegar para disfrutar de la mágica Bahía. Y es quees imposible no rendirse a los encantos de este paradisíaco país.

OUR FEATURED COMPANY

DRAGONFLY BOATWORKS BUILDING THE PERFECT SHALLOW-WATER SKIFF FOR FISHING ENTHUSIASTS Photos by Dragonfly Boatworks In a world of mass-production, this company stands out for its detail to construction and design, craftsmanship and total dedication to each of its beautiful boats. They truly create perfect shallow water craft by “BUILDING ONE OF A KIND, ONE AT A TIME”.

Dragonfly Boatworks was founded in 2007 by Mark Castlow, a Florida native who grew up in Miami and the Keys, “on, in and around water”, as he explains.

As a teen he surfed and started his own surf shop and line of surfboards ( Atlantis). His work and innovations in the fiberglass industry put him in demand to create or improvise all sorts of solutions to all sorts of problems.

And then the boat business… as a previous co-owner of Maverick, Hewes and Pathfinder Boats, Mark had learnt what it takes to successfully manufacture and market shallow water craft.

He became so knowledgeable about both what people wanted and what they didn´t want that his next step was to start a business producing two-day, shallow water fishing expositions throughout the southeastern United States.

And as a logical step after all this impressive background, Dragonfly Boatworks started, and is now proud to present these amazing skiff models:

1- SILVER SHADOW 17 88’’ BEAM – 9’’ DRAFT, FUEL 38 GALLONS, 750 LBS Need fishing space, dry storage and agile boat performance in shallow water? The Silver Shadow 17 skiff is meant for you.

2- DRAGONFLY 17 81’’ BEAM – 8’’ DRAFT, FUEL 24 GALLONS, 700 LBS

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This Dragon flies. It boasts classic lines and a modern, tough construction, making it a perfect blend of tradition and technology.

3- GRAND SLAM 17 81’’ BEAM – 8’’ DRAFT, FUEL 38 GALLONS, 700 LBS Poling can seem effortless in a balanced, custom-built Grand Slam. It offers comfort and versatility, and is specifically built to perform at the level professional guides and passionate anglers demand.

4- EMERGER 16 71’’ BEAM – 5’’ DRAFT, FUEL 18 GALLONS, 500 LBS A light skiff for one or two anglers, that drives and maneuvers easily and easily access the high flats skinny. Hence, the Emerger.

5- KAYAKS MIDGE – 14’x28’’ BEAM – 60 LBS ELEC-TREK – 14’x28’’ BEAM – 100 LBS FLY FISHER – 12’x40’’ BEAM – 90 LBS One angler, one kayak! A totally new approach for kayak fishing giving the angler dry storage, room for a 5 gallon baitwell, removable backrest with 2 rod holders and effortless paddling.

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To describe Dragonfly Boatworks´ innovative approach to boats - and to their website, as well– a word comes to mind: COOL. Totally cool!.

Just visit these guys’ website and I´ll bet you´ll agree with me. Through a groovy Beach Boys-styled site design, you´ll get a close look at construction and detail of these interesting and quite remarkable boats meant for fishing and enjoying the shallow Florida waters.

Dragonfly Boatworks is located in Vero Beach, Florida. www.dragonflyboatworksllc.com Photos by Dragonfly Boatworks

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WILDLIFE CONSERVATION & ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

© Peter Dooling

Sea turtles

are marine reptiles that have existed for some 150 million years. Seven species of sea turtles have managed to survive to the 21st century. Three of these species, the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, the Green Sea Turtle, and the Leatherback Sea Turtle, nest on Florida beaches from March to early September. The Loggerhead is the most common and Florida is responsible for 90% of nesting Loggerheads, making this state their largest nesting area in the Western Hemisphere.

The loggerhead turtle is named for its large head, which can be ten inches wide. It has powerful jaws to crush the heavy-shelled clams, crabs and encrusting animals on which it feeds. In the past few years some 50,000-70,000 loggerhead nests have been recorded in Florida annually.

During the nesting season, female loggerhead turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. If undisturbed, they excavate pits using their flippers and then dig egg chambers where they lay some 100 ping-pong ball-sized eggs per nest.

They cover the eggs with sand and return to the water.

The eggs incubate for about 60 days. Hatchlings then emerge from nests en masse and scurry toward the water.

They spend several days swimming offshore until they reach safety within the protective masses of floating seaweed in areas where ocean currents meet. They eat, sleep and grow there for up to ten years and then return to coastal waters. As adults, female sea turtles return to the same beaches where they hatched to lay their eggs, often navigating across great expanses of water.

Sea turtle populations have been seriously reduced worldwide through a number of human influences. Overdeveloped coastal areas have eroded natural nesting areas. Breeding population of adult turtles have been diminished by capture of eggs, leather, oils and tortoise shell, or mortality from long line fishing, discarded nets, pollution, plastic products and motorboat injuries. For these reasons, all sea turtles nesting on US beaches or found in US waters are designated as threatened or endangered under the US Endangered Species Act (ESA), and the Marine Turtle Protection Program protects them all. If you ever see someone harassing a sea turtle or poaching a nest, call the local police or the Florida Marine Patrol (1-800-DIAL-FMP).

To report a sick, injured or dead sea turtle contact: Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (1-888-404 -FWCC).

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Never dispose of plastic bags or trash in the ocean, nor release helium balloons. They may cause illness or death to turtles and other marine life that eat them.

4 When boating, stay alert and avoid sea turtles. Propeller and collision impacts from boats can result in injury and death of sea turtles. Also, stay in channels and avoid anchoring/running in seagrass beds to protect this important habitat from prop damage.

5 If you are an angler, handle fishing line with care. Do not cast around sea turtles, and properly discard or recycle used or broken fishing lines.

6 If you see a sea turtle that is stranded, injured or dead, do not touch it, but report it to the proper authorities. Some injured turtles can be rescued and rehabilitated.

This was the basis of a lecture YTM attended one warm end-of-summer night at the “Marjory Stoneman Douglas” Nature Center in Crandon Park, Key Biscayne, Florida.

After the lecture we all followed the guide to the beach where some ten hatchlings were manually released at the water´s edge. We watched in awe as under a full moon they clumsily entered the sea and started swimming. Children clapped their hands and we all wished them goodluck in their tough life journey. Scientists estimate that only one out of 1000 hatchlings will make it to adulthood.

But we can do a lot to help them, and attending this lecture is just one of them. Reservations are taken each year from June 1st onwards, till the last week-end in September. For updated info, phone Crandon Park Nature Center at 305-3616767, ext. 120. There are several other county and state parks along the Florida coast that offer programs similar to this one. Please, check with your local park for more news.

HERE ARE A FEW TIPS ON HOW TO HELP: 1 Minimize beachfront lighting during sea turtle nesting season by turning off, shielding or redirecting lights away from the beach, so as to avoid disorienting hatchlings.

2 Remove recreational equipment – like beach chairsfrom the beach at night, as these items can deter nesting attempts and prevent hatchlings from reaching the ocean.

Si desea leer esta nota en español, por favor visite nuestro sitio de internet www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com 45

Our thanks to Miami-Dade Park and Recreation Department photographer Peter Dooling for the three beautiful photos he shared with us!.

Live near the beach and want to help sea turtles?. Join NESTS: Neighbors Ensuring Sea Turtle Survival. Register online at www.turtlenests.org If you´d like to learn about the Sea Turtle Grants Program and Florida´s Sea Turtle License Plate, visit www.helpingseaturtles.org A treat for the whole family: at www.shopPBS.org buy the DVD “VOYAGE OF THE LONELY TURTLE”, which depicts a loggerhead sea turtle´s remarkable journey across an ocean back to its familial nesting site.

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The New Digital Yacht SmarterChart Range. A world ‘first’ – a chart plotter with builtin AIS receiver Digital Yacht has launched a new range of waterproof 5" chart plotters which includes the world’s first Chart Plotter with built-in dual channel high performance AIS receiver. The new SmarterChart 500 range comprises a dedicated 5" chart plotter, a combination chart plotter sounder with built-in high performance dual frequency fishfinder and the unique combination chart plotter and AIS receiver.

This effectively allows the unit to become a multi-function navigation device, overlaying the details of all ships and yachts equipped with AIS transponders, directly onto the chart plotter display. All of the SmarterChart range are compatible with the latest C-Map MAX charting and all incorporate the very latest high sensitivity built in 50 channel GPS with optional external antenna versions also available. AIS functionality just requires the addition of a VHF antenna and there’s a simple plug-in BNC connection on the rear of the unit to facilitate this. .

With the SmarterChart 500 incorporating a true dual channel receiver - simultaneously picking up both AIS frequencies to ensure the best possible target tracking.

The system greatly reduces the risk of collision as well as allowing yachtsmen to identify ships, establish voice contact and see their position overlaid on to a chart plotter, together with a closest point of approach calculation.

Digital Yacht USA 978 277-1234 www.digitalyachtusa.com

THERMOBOAT New Marine Coupling Thermoboat introduces a line of couplings manufactured by Powertrain Europe AS of Norway. The all new Powertrain Coupling is used to connect marine transmissions to propeller shafts and can correct shaft to transmission misalignment by as much as 8 degrees without the need of a mounting bulkhead.

Conventional rubber couplings, by comparison, only allow for .05 degrees of deflection. The Powertrain Coupling is available in three sizes, capable of handling up to loads of 700hp. Powertrain’s unique design, utilizing CV technology found in the automotive industry can save thousands of dollars over similar products that require a load bearing bulkhead for installation.

Installation of the coupling can be achieved in a little as 15 minutes and is virtually maintenance free once installed. The advanced design and ease of installation makes it ideal for use in repowering engines, especially in sailboat applications where shaft alignments are most problematic.

The Powertrain Coupling made its debut at the Toronto and Seattle Boat shows in January.

Thermoboat USA 1-888-769-8495 www.thermoboat.com 47

SAFETY ADVICE

An interview with the

Key Biscayne Marine Patrol Unit

by Maria Iriondo

Key Biscayne is a barrier island located on the Southern Florida coast, in Biscayne Bay. Its waters are a popular haven for boaters and often get quite busy, especially on the weekends. These waters also happen to be an official manatee protected zone and danger lurks when speed boats, jet skis and the heavy propeller blades of any watercraft navigate close to these gentle mammals.

This is why the Key Biscayne Police department has a Marine Patrol Unit to watch out for the safety of boaters and the safety of the manatees, sea turtles and dolphins that abound in the area.

Key Biscayne Police Chief Charles Press has two agents in charge: Officer Hernandez and Officer Alfonso, who are experienced marine certified sworn police officers and certified police divers. The marine patrol unit relies on a 25 foot Contender powered by twin Yamaha 150 hp outboard engines and equipped with GPS, and all other required marine, navigation and safety equipment to keep an eye on Biscayne Bay.

about a bomb threat at the Port of Miami. And that is because the Key Biscayne Marine Patrol also assists the United States Coast Guard with Homeland Security. The call was regarding a Carnival Cruise ship but there were three ships docked close by, and they had to inspect all three of them underwater. Officer Alfonso explains that they take all threats very seriously.

These officers also work in conjunction with the United States Custom Service with illegal narcotics interdiction as well as illegal alien smuggling interdiction.

Fortunately, situations like this don’t happen that often and most of their days are spent more calmly keeping the waters safe for boaters and wildlife.

One of the most dangerous things people often do while out on a boat is to drink alcoholic beverages. “Alcohol dehydrates you and some people pass out which can cause them to fall off the boat. That’s why it’s very important to often drink water while boating, you need to stay hydrated. We want people to have fun in a safe way. Of course boat operators are not allowed to drink alcohol!”.

“We mainly respond to disturbances, rescue people out of the water and control speeding watercraft”, explains Officer Hernandez who’s been on the patrol for 6 years. Most of the problems are related to drinking, especially on the weekends when people gather at Mashta flats.

“We deal with the small stuff to avoid the bigger stuff”, he tells us. “The speeding can really hurt the manatees”.

According to statistics, Florida has the highest number of accidents and fatalities in the country. Over 30% of boaters don’t wear life jackets. “We recommend people to take boating safety courses and to get a boater’s ID”.

Please check www.fwc.com/Boating for more information on boating safety tips and regulations.

Sometimes more complicated situations arise as it happened a year ago when these officers got a priority call

For more information on the KB Marine Patrol you can log onto www.keybiscayne.org/marinepatrol

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SEGURIDAD ABORDO Entrevista con la Unidad de Patrulla Marina de la Policía de Key Biscayne.

La isla de Key Biscayne, localizada en la bahía de Biscayne, en la costa del sur de la Florida, es el lugar ideal para pasear en barco los fines de semana. También se considera una zona de manatíes protegida oficialmente por el Estado de la Florida, la cual se ve en peligro cuando se operan embarcaciones a motor a velocidades fuera de las mínimas establecidas. Por algunas de estas razones el departamento de policía de Key Biscayne cuenta con una patrulla marina que se encarga de vigilar estas aguas, no solo para ofrecerle seguridad a los navegantes, sino también para proteger a los manatíes que emigran aquí en invierno. Son dos los agentes a cargo de esta patrulla: el Oficial Hernández y el Oficial Alfonso. “Más que nada rescatamos a gente del agua o controlamos la velocidad de los barcos”, explica el Oficial Hernández. “Los problemas más serios surgen cuando la gente bebe alcohol, especialmente cuando fondean en grupo en Mashta Flats”. En algunas oportunidades surgen situaciones mucho más complicadas como el aviso de bomba del puerto de Miami el año pasado y es que esta patrulla también asiste a la Guardia Costera de los Estados Unidos con seguridad nacional.

“Se trataba de un crucero de Carnival amarrado junto a otros dos barcos, por lo que hubo que revisar el fondo de todos”, nos cuenta el Oficial Alfonso. “Por suerte fue una falsa alarma pero nos tomamos muy en serio cualquier amenaza”.

Afortunadamente, no son frecuentes este tipo de situaciones y más que nada la patrulla marina se dedica a vigilar las aguas para seguridad de los navegantes y los manatíes. Y es que según las estadísticas, la Florida cuenta con el número más alto de accidentes y fatalidades en el país. Más del 30% de las personas a bordo de embarcaciones no se ponen su chaleco salvavidas y por eso el Oficial Hernández recomienda que la gente obtenga la tarjeta de identificación de navegante y tome un curso de seguridad náutica que se puede hacer fácilmente por Internet. “Como dice el refrán, más vale prevenir que curar”, concluye el Oficial Hernández.

HEALTHY BOATING

the sunas

by Maria C. Lopez

an ally

Sunbathing is like icing on a cake, certainly a great part of the fun of being out in the open ocean. Unfortunately, if caution is not taken, excessive sun exposure can be a great detriment to your health. Not just for the sake of aging, but because of skin cancer and its various forms.

Aside from malignant melanoma, there are two other types of skin cancer that although not as lethal, can be quite dangerous too and are often overlooked: basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are cancers that arise on their own, or from simple lesions called actinic keratosis, both look scaly and pink and have sometimes minimal elevation.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology more than 250,000 new squamos cell carcinomas are diagnosed every year in the United States. Those most affected are middle-aged and elderly people with fair complexions and frequent sun exposure. As far as Basal Cell carcinomas, which develop in the basal layer of the 50 www.yachtingtimesmagazines.com

skin—deeper than the surface layer, it seldom spreads to other parts of the body but can be disfiguring if not treated early.

It all begins with a small lesion that looks and feels like a little pink bump that won’t go away. You scratch it and it bleeds, it heals but it comes back. These lesions usually appear on the head, face and on the nose. But it’s also important to remember some hidden parts of our body that are very exposed and we often seem to forget: the nape, the eyelids and right behind the ears.

“Ninety percent of most cases of basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are found on the head and the neck,” explains dermatologist and Mohs Surgeon Dr. Manuel Iriondo from Miami, Florida “That’s why it’s so important to wear sun block in these areas. Particularly if you’re out on a boat, you must make sure you reapply it as often as you need.

The water reflects 25% of the sunlight, increasing the amount of sun exposure that you get.”

The real danger lies in not treating these types of cancer on time. A basal cell carcinoma can extend into neighboring tissue penetrating the eyes, the ear canal and can even damage major nerves.

As far as the squamous cell carcinoma, although more slow growing, it can spread to the lymph nodes. In both cases, if left untreated, these types of cancer can be lethal if they metastasize to the brain or lung.

The best prevention is having a routine exam with your dermatologist once a year. Should anything be detected, you would then be referred to a Mohs surgeon who specializes in treating these types of cancer.

“Boaters tend to have the highest incidence of skin cancer,” says Dr. Iriondo. “That’s why it’s so important to use sun block”.

There are two types of sun block: chemical ones and physical ones. Chemical sunscreens, made of avobenzone, octocylene o mexoril, absorb the UVA and UVB rays and therefore reduce their penetration into the skin. They are usually invisible, but require 15 to 30 minutes to become effective and need to be reapplied every two hours.

On the other hand, physical sunscreens reflect UVA and UVB rays without absorbing them. Until now, they were thick messy substances made of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. But there are new ones available that are created with a smaller molecular structure in nanometers, thus making them just as invisible as their chemical counterparts. Physical sunscreens are effective right away and don’t cause allergies.

The latest novelty, as far as skin care protection goes, is a small bracelet created by Scottish scientist Andrew Mills from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. The bracelet changes color to alert you when the sun is beginning to hurt your skin, if it turns pink, it means it’s time to seek some shade.

El sol como aliado Tomar el sol en un barco es un verdadero placer pero si no se hace con cuidado, su salud puede verse seriamente afectada. Y es que el sol en exceso no solo envejece, sino que también causa cáncer de piel.

El cáncer de piel más conocido es el melanoma, pero existen otros dos tipos que aunque no sean tan agresivos, si pueden ser muy peligrosos si no se tratan a tiempo: el carcinoma basocelular y el carcinoma espinocelular que a veces se forman de manera espontánea, o se pueden derivar de una keratosis actínica. Cuando aparecen, ambas lesiones lucen rosadas y escamosas con cierta elevación.

De acuerdo a la Academia Americana de Dermatología, en EEUU se diagnostican más de 250, 0000 carcinomas espinocelulares al año. Los más afectados suelen ser las

personas de mediana edad y los ancianos de piel clara que hayan tomado mucho sol. Los carcinomas basocelulares que suelen ser más profundos, raramente se esparcen a otras partes del cuerpo pero si pueden desfigurar la cara si no se quitan a tiempo.

Tanto el espinocelular como el basocelular empiezan con una pequeña lesión que parece un bultito rosado que no desaparece. Si se rasca, sangra y si logra sanar vuelve a salir. Suele aparecer en la cabeza , en la cara y en la nariz. Claro que sin olvidar los lugares más escondidos del cuerpo como la nuca, los párpados y detrás de las orejas.

“En el noventa por ciento de los casos el carcinoma basocelular y el carcinoma espinocelular se encuentran en la cabeza y en el cuello, por esa razón es primordial utilizar bloqueador solar”, explica el Dr. Manuel Iriondo, dermatólogo y cirujano de Mohs en Miami, Florida.

Es muy importante tratar estos tipos de cáncer en cuanto aparezcan. Y es que si el basocelular se extiende a otros tejidos puede llegar a afectar los ojos, los oídos y hasta dañar los nervios. Por su parte, el espinocelular, aunque se reproduce más lentamente, puede hacer metástasis a los nódulos linfáticos. En ambos casos pueden ser mortales si llegan al cerebro o a los pulmones.

Lo mejor es hacerse una revisión anual con su dermatólogo quien en caso de encontrar algo, lo referiría a un cirujano de Mohs que es el especialista encargado de tratar este tipo de lesiones.

“El uso de bloqueador solar es muy importante, sobretodo si se está navegando” explica el Dr. Iriondo. “El agua del mar refleja un 25% de la luz solar lo que aumenta así la cantidad de sol que alcanza la piel”.

Existen dos tipos de bloqueadores solares: los químicos y los físicos Los químicos, compuestos de ingredientes como el avobenzone, el octocrileno y el mexoril, absorven la luz de los rayos UVA y UVB, y por lo consiguiente, reducen su penetración en la piel. Suelen ser transparentes y no afectan la apariencia, pero si requieren de 15 a 30 minutos para actuar y hay que volver a aplicarlos cada dos horas.

Por su parte, los bloqueadores solares físicos reflejan los UVA y UVB sin absorverlos. Hasta hace poco se componían de sustancias opacas, hechas con dióxido de titanio y óxido de zinc, y por lo tanto eran cosméticamente menos aceptables. Pero acaban de salir al mercado productos nuevos, hechos con partículas de estos ingredientes cuyo tamaño molecular es de unos pocos nanómetros, lo que los hace tan transparentes como los bloqueadores químicos. Además, actúan de inmediato y no causan alergias.

Lo más novedoso en lo que a protección solar se refiere, es una pulsera, creada por el científico escocés Andrew Mills de la Universidad de Strathclyde de Glasgow. Esta pulsera cambia de color para avisarnos que el sol que estamos tomando esta empezando a causar daño. En el momento que adquiera un color rosado es hora de ponerse a la sombra.

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FISH NOTES

Family Coryphaenidae Dolphin is a stunning offshore fish with its glowing greenish blue back, yellow sides, and great array of bright colors like purple and gold, scattered all over its body. This highly migratory species is found worldwide in open waters of tropical and warm-temperate

seas. Also known as dolphinfish or dorado, Mahi-Mahi in Hawaii and Llampuga in the Balearic Islands, it feeds on other fish- mainly flying fish-, squid and crustaceans, and usually swims in a school.

One of the fastest growing of its kind, it is reported to live a maximum of 5 years. Its swimming speed is estimated at 50 knots, and its common weigh is around 30 lbs, though the Florida Record is set at 77 lbs, 12 ozs.

It is renowned for its delicious flesh, and for the great fight and show it puts up when hooked, making fast, powerful runs and leaping out of the water. It likes to hide below sargassum weed or other floating objects, which makes it easy to find.

Through the Strait of Gibraltar it wanders into the Mediterranean where fishermen prize it highly. As the Mediterranean offers clean deep waters without much of the kelp, seaweed and debris found everywhere else, the fishermen of the Balearic islands and southern Italy have developed a special technique to attract Dolphin in big numbers. They make small wooden rafts to provide shelter and a mini-habitat to these pelagic fish, and then anchor them in deep water found around the many corners of their islands. This technique has proven to be very successful over hundreds of years of practice.

Dolphinfish is known to chase anything that’s bright and moves quickly. If you ever run out of lures, you can try the old-time spoon bait – drilling one small hole at each end of a metal spoon, one for the hook and the other for the swivel and leader of your line- and you'll be surprised by how well it works!. In fact, the Dolphin in this photo was caught that way while sailing at about 7 knots downwind in the Mona Passage.

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MAGAZINE

SUBSCRIPTION / SUBSCRIPCIÓN One year – 4 issues – of YACHTING TIMES MAGAZINE for $9. (*) Un año – 4 números – de la revista YACHTING TIMES por $9. (*) If you would like to subscribe to YACHTING TIMES MAGAZINE, please enclose your check in an envelope along with the following information: Name, Address, City, State, Zip Code & E-mail, to: Si desea suscribirse a YACHTING TIMES MAGAZINE, por favor, envie su cheque en un sobre junto con la siguiente información: Nombre, Dirección, Ciudad, Estado, C. Postal & E-mail, a: YACHTING TIMES MAGAZINE P.O. Box 31-0725 Miami, Fl. 33231-0725 Please, allow 3 months for first issue to arrive.

Por favor, espere 3 meses para el arrivo del primer número. (*) Outside US, $20. Fuera de EEUU, U$S20. www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

Capt. Trip Vawter

Cell: 772 626 1986

www.allfloridamarinesurvey.com

GALLEY TREASURES

CEVICHE YUCATECO Mexican sailor Juan Campos shares his tasty ceviche, spiced the Yucatan way.

According to experts, ceviche could well be of Peruvian origin yet it is made in different ways all over Latin-America. Some say it comes from Asia and was brought to Peru through its Japanese immigrants. Others say it came with the Arab immigrants, and some people claim it was the Spaniards who brought “escabeche”, a typical Spanish marinade dish. This theory makes sense because “escabeche” can be made with lemon, and lemons arrived in Peru with the Spanish colonization. But there is an older theory that sounds more like the right one: a Lambayeque Indian from Peru that used a sour fruit called tumbo- similar to watermelon- to marinade fish before eating it…….

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Ingredients 2lbs of fresh peeled and deveined jumbo shrimp 2lbs of fresh grouper salt pepper olive oil 6 limes 1 large red onion, diced 2 ripe organic tomatoes, diced 1 Hass avocado, diced 4 small bell pepper, thinly chopped 1 tablespoon of capers A small bunch of cilantro, finely chopped Directions Boil salt water and set a bowl with ice on the side. Poach shrimp for 30 seconds and cool in ice water and drain. Cut into small bites and place in a bowl. Cut fish into small pieces and add to the shrimp. Cover mixture with half of the lime juice, salt and pepper and toss well. Add the bell peppers, red onions and avocado. Incorporate the rest of the lime juice, capers, cilantro and tomatoes. Toss again.

Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Drizzle with olive oil and serve.

Serves four to six people.

If you have a tasty recipe you would like to share, please send it with a few good pics to info@yachtingtimesmagazine.com Ingredientes 1 kg de camarón grande local, fresco y limpio 1 kg de mero local, fresco y limpio sal pimienta aceite de oliva 6 limones verdes 1 cebolla roja grande, picada 2 tomates orgánicos maduros, picados 1 aguacate Hass, troceado 4 pimientos, picados 1 cucharadita de alcaparras 1 ramillete de cilantro, picado Preparación Hervir el camarón 30 segundos y poner inmediatamente en un cuenco con hielo y escurrir. Cortar en pedacitos y colocar en una fuente.

Trocear el mero y añadir al camarón. Cubrir esta mezcla con la mitad del jugo de limón, añadir la sal y la pimienta y revolver bien. Añadir el pimiento, la cebolla y el aguacate. Incorporar el resto del jugo de limón, las alcaparras, el cilantro y el tomate.

Mezclar todo de nuevo y guardar en la nevera durante 30 minutos. Echar un poco de aceite de oliva y servir.

Sirve cuatro a seis personas.

by Adolfo Mrongowius

The harsh effect of the Sun is devastating for our varnish, especially down here in the tropics where its relentless force hits every surface with such fury.

For this 45-year-old mast that belongs to a very dear friend of mine, it´s certainly time for an overhaul! After bringing the stick down and inspecting the coating, we quickly realized that the best step to follow was to strip it back down to bare wood. Once I carefully curated the hairline cracks on the seams that developed due to weather exposure, I started to sand, square and rectify the surface, all of this in good preparation to a proper sealing and coat build-up. We happen to be going through one of the wettest summers ever and even when the hurricane season has seen near to nothing of activity, heavy downpours are nevertheless the order of the day. This situation brings the application window to a short time in the mornings followed usually by a day with a high humidity percentage. This circumstance made our choice of product just plain easy. In a market inundated by so many different brands we agreed with the owner to use only the very best: long-time favorite, Epifanes Clear Gloss Varnish.

We started to disassemble, carefully label and take pics of every piece of hardware that would be removed from mast and boom.

This time I opted for a quick and great water-based paint- stripper. If needed, its chemical effect could be immediately 58

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suspended with water.

I also applied it in three thin stages at minimum workingtime, rather than a heavy, gross coat. It made wonders, and allowed me to scrape the old finish with a very inexpensive 2 inch thick flat scrapper. Right there and before a good surface wash down, I dedicated some time to pull any varnish left over that was either too in love with the wood, or had been missed by my scrapper- with a medium bronze wool. Then, after a good day dryout session, it´s time for the sanding. To make it short, I´m using 80 grit to clean, open the pore and rectify, followed by 180 and then 220-320 grit always with the grain, with a Festool vacuum system and invariably finishing corners and tight ends by hand.

It´s also time to decide how far to go if the base is too deeply scarred by the sun and moisture-abused.

Personally, I like to take as little substrate away as necessary and let those dents of time give your wood a bit of character. When the piece to be varnished looks good overall, give it a good clean with rags soaked in mineral spirit, changing rags repeatedly, let the wood soak it well and do it once more right before you start the next step.

To follow, strain the varnish if you are working from a previously opened can and pour what you feel you´ll use in a clean container and dilute it as per written notice.

The recommended thinning ratios are as follows: 50%/50% (half varnish/ half thinner) for the first sealer coat. Use 75% varnish/25% thinner for the second coat, and 90%/10% for the third one. From then onwards, add just a cap per quart of brushing liquid to ease up the flow and keep an open working edge. (You most probably won´t need this in anything but the warmest climate!)

the next coat with a good griping surface without scratching too much.

At this stage scrubbing pads like the ones offered by 3M are a blessing, but I rather stick to the sand paper to flatten pores and dirt that may have accumulated over my careful brushing.

Then rinse with water, chamois down, let air and clean with denatured alcohol.

Mix the varnish with a cap of brushing liquid and go for it.

I´d rather clean brushes and mats right away and keep ´em dry until next time. So there are no surprises there.

In this very particular case, I´m focusing more in building up the thickest layer of varnish, than in having the slickest of surfaces, a process that will require more grinding with the subsequent thinning of the film. The varnish will run faster and smoother if you dilute it towards the highest number of the mixing ratio, only to leave a dull unprotected coat when the solvent evaporates.

Bear in mind that varnishing can be tedious and timeconsuming. The result, though, will be highly rewarding.

It´s only a matter of perseverance and it really helps to use the right materials. Go ahead and try it out! And always remember: only practice makes perfect!

Please allow the sealer coats to dry completely before sanding in between. The adhesion of those first coats will play a great part in the job´s general appearance and longevity. Another example that good prep work is best for great results!

It´s time now to start building up coats, and is also going to become a little routine at this point.

I like to sand down very lightly by hand with 320, following the grain. This grit will knock down dirt and provides 59

UN TRABAJO DE BARNIZ: Los efectos del sol pueden ser devastadores sobre el barniz, especialmente aquí en los trópicos donde su intensidad se hace sentir sobre todas las superficies. Para este mástil de madera de 45 años de antigüedad ha llegado el momento de una restauración.

Después de bajarlo y analizarlo, nos damos cuenta que precisa mos remover por completo todo el antiguo barniz. Primero reparamos las pequeñas rajaduras que encontramos en las juntas originadas por la exposición a la intemperie. Estamos en el medio de una de las temporadas de verano más húmedas de los últimos años en la Florida. Y a causa de los aguaceros constantes el tiempo de aplicación del barniz se reduce a las mañanas. Éste simple hecho hace fácil la elección del barniz a utilizar. En un mercado con tanta oferta, nos ponemos de acuerdo con la armadora a utilizar sólo los mejores productos. En este caso: EPIFANES CLEAR GLOSS VARNISH. Comenzamos a desarmar los herrajes de la botavara y palo, y procedemos a etiquetarlos meticulosamente, aclarando su posición y uso.

Para ello también es de utilidad tomar fotografías digitales. En esta

ocasión opto por un excelente removedor de resultados muy rápidos, y cuyo efecto químico puede ser interrumpido de inmediato con agua. Lo aplico en capas muy finas y de mínima duración, en vez de una sola mano gruesa. Resulta óptimo y me permite retirar todo el viejo barniz con una raspilla de 2’’. Ahí mismo y antes de proceder a darle una buena lavada, me dedico a quitar los restos del barniz con una lana de bronce gruesa. Después de dejarlo secar por un buen par de días llega el tiempo de lijar. Uso lija de grano 80 para limpiar, abrir el poro y rectificar, seguidas por 180 y 320, siempre acompañando el grano. Me encuentro cómodo utilizando las lijadoras Festool con sistema de aspiración, e invariablemente terminando los rincones y detalles a mano. A esta altura se ve un cambio notable, fruto del esfuerzo. Éste es el momento de decidir cuánto sustrato sacrificar para disminuir las cicatrices producidas por el tiempo, el sol y la humedad. Personalmente, intento siempre retirar tan poca madera como fuera posible, y opino que esas pequeñas cicatrices le aportan carácter a la madera. Cuando la pieza a barnizar se ve de mi agrado, le doy una buena

limpiada con aguarrás, cambiando trapos rápidamente. Permito que la madera lo absorba y repito el proceso justo antes de empezar el siguiente paso. A seguir, revuelvo bien el barniz, lo filtro y vierto lo que voy a utilizar en un recipiente limpio, y lo diluyo siguiendo las indicaciones del fabricante. 2:1 para la primera mano de barniceta, 1:1 para la segunda, y de ahí en más, cada mano será pura con la añadidura de una tapita de líquido reducidor para pincel, para que lo ayude a deslizarse y mantenga una superficie de corte abierto. Hay que dejar secar completamente las manos de barniceta antes de lijarlas.

La adhesión de esas primeras capas es de vital importancia para el trabajo general, su apariencia y longevidad. Es tiempo ahora de comenzar a aplicar mano tras mano de barniz, y de seguro se convertirá en una pequeña rutina. A mí me gusta lijar entre manos con lija 320 siempre siguiendo el grano, luego enjuagar bien con agua, pasarle una gamuza, dejarlo airear y finalmente limpiar con un trapo con alcohol desnaturalizado.

Mezcle un poco de barniz y comience. Pruébelo!. Dicen que la práctica hace al maestro…

Even when it looks like an awful lot of work, if the substrate is in bad shape try to peel it out and start from fresh over a good base. Prevention is your best ally, and it’s a good idea to avoid rough grit sanding scratches rather than having to reduce them later. Also, it pays more in the end to maintain a finish properly with a refreshing coat, than neglect it and having to scrape everything to bare wood later.

Your boat will be very thankful.

163 Mt. Vernon St. New Bedford, Massachusets. 02740 (508) 997-9008

www.kirbypaint.com

Brooklin Boat Yard was founded in 1960 by renowned Yacht Designer Joel M. White and is presently operated by Joel’s son Steve White. The yard is located in Brooklin, Maine on the Eggemoggin Reach. The Reach lies between Blue Hill and Penobscot Bays and is in the heart of the best cruising grounds on the coast of Maine.

They are a full service yard specializing in the design, construction, repair and maintenance of wooden boats. They offer a complete design

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office, new boat construction and classic yacht restoration services, along with routine storage and maintenance services. In addition to the above services, they also have on-site a yacht brokerage office.

Their new 80 Metric Ton Travel Lift allows them to haul-out and service yachts of considerable size.

There is 16,000 square feet of inside storage space and a deep water dock.

Aside from providing regular carpentry, painting, rigging and mechanical services, they offer a complete ma-

chine shop and a modern paint building.

Their new main shop can accommodate boats up to 120 feet. With a highly skilled and versatile 60+ man crew, Brooklin Boat Yard offers yacht owners a “one stop shopping” destination for any project large or small.

BBY has built well over 80 boats since their start in 1960. Maybe yours will be next...

“BEQUIA”, 90’ Yawl, a perfect example of Brooklin Boatyard’s superb craftsmanship, designed by Robert Stephens & Paul Waring (Stephens, Waring & White Yacht Design). “BEQUIA” represents the largest project to date for both the design office and Brooklin Boat yard. This new world-class yacht was launched at the time of high water on Saturday, June 27, 2009.

The owners of “BEQUIA” sought out Brooklin Boat Yard after seeing numerous examples of the yard’s previous work, most notably the 76’ W-Class day-racing sloops.

While this new yawl shares the graceful sheerline, lengthy overhangs and classic esthetic of the W-Class boats, she is a much more substantial vessel, fully capable of taking her crew around the world’s oceans in safety, luxury and elegance.Design work began in early 2005, more than two years prior to beginning construction in the spring of 2007. “With a yacht of this complexity, it’s good to have some time to work out the details before wood starts going together”, says designer Robert Stephens.

Perhaps the most demanding task for the design team was the integration of the ships systems into the traditional deck layout and interior joinery. In addition to the long list of creature comfort systems (air conditioning, refrigeration, gas fireplace, ice maker, etc.) “BEQUIA” also features fully automated sail-handling with a hydraulic system running some 27 different functions such as sail furling, winches and anchor deployment.

The hydraulics can be powered by one or both of two 15kw generators, or if silent operation is desired, can be run through the ship’s DC electrical system. Extensive computer modeling has allowed the designers to minimize the intrusion of the various systems upon the accommodations.

BEQUIA’s most noticeable feature on deck is her varnished teak charthouse. The charthouse features a spacious chart table, electronics displays & autopilot controls so that once underway her crew can stand watch in comfort. When in port, the charthouse offers the owners and guests an elegant & comfortable elevated saloon with large windows providing sweeping views of her surroundings.

Carbon spars (Southern Spars) and state of the art sails (North Sails) deliver sparkling sailing performance, while 64 www.yachtingtimesmagazine.com

a relatively long, shallow keel and spade rudder ensure good maneuverability along with access to the thin water of some of the world’s prime cruising grounds.

Hull construction is of cold-molded wood-epoxy, a building technique proven to be exceptionally strong, lightweight, low-maintenance, and very cost effective for production of custom yachts in this size range. An added benefit is the natural beauty of the varnished interior of the hull structure which on “BEQUIA” has been left exposed in the main saloon and staterooms.

For more info, visit www.brooklinboatyard.com

RESTORING “MISCHIEF” Originally built in 1926, MISCHIEF had been under the same ownership since 1932. She had been a fixture at BBY for as long as anyone can remember, so it seemed only fitting that when her owner passed away, she was left to the care of the yard with the understanding that she would continue to be maintained and sailed. In August 2009, work began on what at first was thought to be an extensive refit, but quickly changed to a full-on restoration project under the direction of Brian Larkin, who had previously headed up the restoration of “Aphrodite”.

All floors and frames have already been replaced. Her planking is in good shape so it will be retained, but there will be a new varnished oak sheer, new deck, new cockpit, new cabin and interior, new chain plates and sailing hardware, new keel bolts, and so on. When completed, Mischief will be essentially a brand new boat and ready for at least another 84 years. Mischief is being offered for sale, so if you have interest in this restoration project, please contact John Maxwell at BBY.