Editor’s Log for March 2011

Top prize—the St. Maarten Cup—for the regatta’s Most Worthy Performance Overall went to Mark Plaxton’s Melges 32, Team INTAC, with an all-star island crew including Peter Holmberg, Maurice Kurg, Ben Beer, among many other fine

Size definitely matters. However, in this era of conservation it’s points, or the number of fish released, that adds up to winning a tournament.

Unique among the various Dutch traditions is the New Year’s Dive, which takes place on the first day of the year. At noon thousands of people in Holland dive into the freezing cold North Sea…

Caribbean Nautical, Mercury Marine’s dealer in the island of Curacao will now be the main sponsor of one of the largest and most important events in the island. The annual Curacao Yacht Club Blue Marlin Release Tournament.

On Saturday, March 5 over 1,180 volunteers came by land and in 60 boats to 24 sites to participate in the 34th Annual Waterway Cleanup presented by the Florida Inland Navigation District, successfully removing 18.6 tons of trash

Caribbean News March 2011

Endura Braid outperformed other comparable products in the following areas:  Rope Elasticity, Durability, and Ease of Handling.  Testers also considered ease of application, coating adhesion to substrate, resistance to abrasion, and overall

We’ve all seen them at anchor. Their designs are not easy to identify. They are boats we don’t recognize. They are probably steel.

Odile van Aanholt from Curaçao took the Gold Medal for youngsters under 12, and Bronze Medal for girls, at the Optimist Worlds in Malaysia.

RSVP to Participate in the one-on-one Marine Electronics Usability Research and earn $50 for your time!

On a strange, squally day where it rained early and often—and in many divisions, both skill and luck, sometimes in heavy doses, played a major role in the final results

Yacht Club News from around the region for March 2011

Sailors and boating enthusiasts meet for a poker game during which they sail to several locations in the BVI in search of 5 cards, seeking the winning hand at the end of the day.

I admit when I saw a line of hermit crabs holding onto each other stretching across the sandy path at Two Foot Bay, I thought it was about sex. I was wrong; it was about real estate.

Tres Hombres is more than just a cargo boat on a voyage. Netherlands-based Fairtransport believes it can be competitive in an oil-driven maritime world by delivering cargo the old fashioned way, by wind and sail.

The St. Lucia Yacht Club’s Youth Sailing Programme saw a team of 8 young Optimist and Laser sailors and coaches off to Schoelcher, Martinique to compete in the 21st annual Semaine Internationale de Schoelcher.

All eight races scheduled for the 2011 Melges 32 Miami Championship, hosted by Coconut Grove Sailing Club, sponsored by Melges Performance Sailboats have completed leaving John Kilroy on his famous Samba Pa Ti as champion.

I’m currently in Amsterdam and attempting to teach our ten week old granddaughter Soku how to sail. This isn’t going too well …

At 198′,Trinity’s newest superyacht, the tri-deck motoryacht Areti, launched last week as the longest aluminum yacht to date from the renowned American boatbuilder.

The assurance of a safe climate for yachting in the Caribbean was the focus of the Sound Security Measures for the Yachting Community conference held at Yacht Haven Grande, in St. Thomas.

As if by magic, the tradewinds blew into the starting area launching the RORC Caribbean 600 fleet into action for the start of what is probably the world’s most exciting 600- mile offshore race.

With a footprint only half that of a “pillow-bladder”, the new collapsible “FueLocker”â„¢ becomes even more ideal for ships, yachts, trucks, defense vehicles , first-responders and refuel-depots

In less than two months, Antigua Sailing Week, the Caribbean’s longest running and best-known regatta, will be in full flow and there is still time to experience one of the top sailing regattas worldwide.

“Cap’n Charlie, we’re here in the Virgin Islands for the girls. As an experienced captain you must know the best places to pick up some hot babes. We’re leaving it up to you.”

More than 200 Mercury dealers and guests from all over Latin America & the Caribbean, who enjoyed great dining and entertainment aboard the Biscayne Lady, a luxury yacht surrounded by the emerald waters of Miami.

The purchase of a new boat, damage assessment and condition valuation are all reasons to have a vessel surveyed. What do you need to know to get the most out of the process and information provided?

By mid-morning on day two, the RORC Caribbean 600 was very much living up to its billing as a high-speed thrilling race around the stunning Caribbean.

Dale Westin shares his Newsletter from the Famous Errol Flynn Marina and Shipyard in Port Antonio, Jamaica.

STYC will play host to the best Optimist dinghy training, team and fleet racing in the Caribbean. Register now for the Sea Star Clinic, June 20-22, the Sea Star Team Race, June 23, and Scotiabank International Optimist Regatta, June 24-26.

Ghost, a first-timer in the annual St. Barth’s New Year’s Eve Regatta, clocked the fastest time around the island at 1 hour, 51 minutes, and 12 seconds …

Colonna’s Shipyard, Inc. of Norfolk, Virginia is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Charlie Sutton as Director of Operations for its Colonna Down River Division, a rapid response ship repair service

Puerto Rico will host the 2011 International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Annual Conference in San Juan at the Caribe Hilton Hotel from November 3-13.

FREE DRINKS and FOOD for Participants during the Events and special pricing all night long on St Maarten’s coolest Crew Beach Party – February 26th!

With the transatlantic fleet now over 30 entries and many new inquiries following the success of the RORC Caribbean 600 – the organizers encourage those interested to enter the TR 2011 as soon as possible to secure a spot

Antiguan based sailing charter and training company, ondeck has announced that they are now able to offer STCW ’95 Basic Safety Training in Antigua.

The world’s best sailors plus winds gusting to 20-plus knots created stiff competition for the U.S. Virgin Islands Sailing Team at the International 420 World Championships.

Sailors from throughout Puerto Rico and the northern Caribbean have converged in Palmas del Mar Yacht Club & Marina for the Puerto Rico Heineken International Regatta and Puerto Rico International Dinghy Regatta.

In the USVI, octogenarian Augie Hollen is a legendary boat builder. So it was with great interest and anticipation that I learned of the launching of his latest creation, Skedaddle.

Already 17 boats have confirmed their presence and expectations are to surpass 20 at registration on Friday evening at La Bamba on Kim Sha Beach.