All at Sea promotes Caribbean interests at Annapolis Boat Show
All at Sea’s team distributed more than 4,000 copies of the October issue from a booth at the 39th annual Annapolis Sailboat Show, held in early October on the Chesapeake Bay. Publisher Chris Kennan joined Captain Jan Robinson, author of the Ship to Shore Cookbook collection, and other staff in generating interest for the Caribbean to an estimated 51,000 people who attended the three-day show located in one of America’s primary sail and power boating centers.
Antiguan achieves RYA Yachtmaster Instructor certificate
Ondeck’s newly-qualified RYA Yachtmaster Instructor, Logan Knight, will start a new post as Chief instructor in Antigua following a month spent training in the UK. Knight, who has been an RYA Yachtmaster for Sail and Power Boats for five years, will run the training school for yachts and powerboats from Ondeck’s base in Falmouth Harbour.
Family seeking missing loved one
Word has come via Yacht Services Association of Trinidad & Tobago and Jesse James from Members Only in Trinidad that a worried family is seeking word of a relative apparently missing at sea aboard Dyscotia, a 35 ft sailboat with a white hull. Icelandic citizen Jakob Fenger is 56 years old with short, lightbrown to grey hair and was last heard from June 3 by Iridium phone just off Bermuda, heading toward Newfoundland. There is no longer a signal from the phone and the family in Iceland has hopes that eventually Fenger turned the vessel to sail to Trinidad, since he has friends there. If you have seen him or the vessel, please contact Gina, [email protected]
Horizon Yacht Charters announces BVI Racing Masterclass Package
Horizon and Racing in Paradise have teamed up with former World No 1 ranked Match Racer, America’s Cup Alinghi team helmsman, Maxi World Champion and Olympic Silver medalist Peter Holmberg, to offer a Racing Masterclass, May 10 – 17, 2009. Identical IC24’s from Racing in Paradise will be used for sessions with Horizon yachts as motherships. Participant teams of four to five persons will race and cruise to different overnight stops in the British Virgin Islands. Seven night package rates for four people, depending on size of charter vessel, start from US$7995 to include both the cruising yacht and racing vessel (as little as US$1999 per person). [email protected], www.horizonyachtcharters.com
Volcano-hopping, anyone?
Starting December 1, Antiguan-based Ondeck will provide sailing trips for a maximum of 15 guests at a time from Antigua to Montserrat on Farr 65s. The yacht departs Falmouth Harbour in Antigua at 8 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with the trip to Little Bay in Montserrat taking up to four hours. The return journey to Antigua will depart at 1 p.m. on those same days, taking up to five hours. Passengers can choose to return to Antigua the same day or spend more time in Montserrat. Stay-over visitors will be offered numerous sight-seeing options including a visit to the Montserrat Volcano Observatory. The return trip costs US$189. Call (268) 562-6696 or www.ondeckoceanracing.com/antigua/montserrat-adventure.htm
F&S Boatworks splashes largest yet
After 20 months of building, F&S Boatworks launched its largest boat and first enclosed bridge in October. The 70’ Lasik, with a 19’8” beam and 5’ draft, is powered with MTU 16V 2400hp. During her first sea-trial, in loaded conditions, Lasik delivered a top end speed of 45.4 knots and a cruising speed of 37 knots at 2000 RPM. The boat has four staterooms and five heads, and is available through Puerto Rico’s Yacht Center of the Caribbean.
www.yachtcenterpr.com
New Book by Kroon celebrates 300 years
All at Sea writer/photographer Els Kroon’s new book was presented during a celebration of Curacao’s 300-year old Penha building, a famous landmark in the Caribbean passed by all visiting sailors on their way to the Customs and harbour authorities. The 144-page text, in English and Dutch, highlights the 300-year history of the building and even includes a few ghost stories. The book was published by Miami, Florida’s HCP/Aboard.
New Dive Centre and Café serves Dominica’s boaters
Cabrits Dive Centre and Café opened a branch recently in the North End of Prince Rupert Bay right next to Big Papas Sports Bar & Restaurant. They will offer dive reservations, snorkel sales and rentals and a European coffee shop right in front of Dominica’s main mooring area: “…about 27 moorings and they cost $10 per night with discounted prices for longer stays,” said Helen Clarke-Hepp from Cabrits. “We want to emphasize that you should pay only authorized collectors.”
Lagoonies returns to St. Maarten
Lagoonies Bar and Cafe is back in the same location, on the waterfront at Lagoon Marina, with a fresh new look. Owner Paul Stoutenbeek intentionally has kept the same feel as the original watering hole which closed its doors in 2004. The marina is in full swing again with modern telecoms, laundry, security, a new dinghy dock, and half a dozen marine services on location. www.lagoon-marina.com
Camper & Nicholsons removes Cuban wreck from Port Louis Marina
In September, Camper & Nicholsons removed a 50 ft concrete Cuban fishing vessel from Grenada’s lagoon in September and relocated it for scuba buffs to enjoy off Grand Anse Beach at a current dive sight called the Valleys. No one knows the history or proper name of the boat, now affectionately called “Daisy” in honour of the barge operator who removed her.
St.Maarten Heineken Regatta to offer Budget Marine Match Racing Cup
The Heineken will, for the first time in the history of Caribbean regattas according to its organizers, run a match racing event just before the actual 2009 St.Maarten event and will offer $5,000 US in prize money to the winners. “Sponsoring Match Racing is a great opportunity for Budget Marine to promote new and exciting forms of racing to the Caribbean,” said the sponsor’s founder, Robbie Ferron. Racing takes place March 3, 2009 in Jeanneau 20 boats with three man crew in the Simpson Bay lagoon, open to six teams on an invitation basis. Interested persons with match racing experience are asked to request an invitation from the Regatta Organization at [email protected]. Editor’s note: See our report on the rise in Caribbean match racing in this issue.
Buying a hurricane-damaged boat?
The Boat-Owners Association of the United States, BoatUS, recently offered its 650,000 members tips on how to steer clear of a storm-damaged boat (is there any other kind in the Caribbean?) Suggestions include having a pre-purchase survey done by an independent surveyor; being vigilant for documentation on where the boat has been berthed or registered in recent years; adding a statement in the sales contract that says the seller has revealed everything they know about existing or repaired damages if buying “as is.”
Passages
Paul Marshall, Managing Director of Island Water World in St Maarten, has died, and All at Sea joins the company’s staff in expressing their condolences to Lisa, Sarah, and all of his family and friends. “His leadership, determination, and courage has been admired by all,” said Sean Kennelly.
All at Sea received word from Carly Wiersum at Lagoon Marina SXM, following notification by his family in Holland, that that Paul Wahlen died October 4. Wahlen was captain and owner of one of the last sailing freight schooners, Avontuur (Adventure), built in 1920 and the subject of the documentary film, “Into the Wind.”
