Michael Bach leaves Rybovich for development job atThunderbolt

Michael Bach, formerly with Rybovich in South Florida, has joined Thunderbolt Marine of Savannah, Ga., as vice president of business development. Bach will remain based in South Florida pursuing refit sales, customer service, and recruiting efforts for Thunderbolt, according to a company statement.

Thunderbolt Marine had a record-breaking first quarter for 2008, serving megayachts such as Blue Moon III, Daybreak, Domani, Huntress, Independence, Kanaloa, Kisses and Neon Rainbow.

The yard is actively engaged in a multi-year expansion plan that involves new buildings, docks and syncrolift expansion.

San Diego yacht group formed

West Coast marine industry leaders have formed the San Diego Superyacht Association (SDSA), a coalition of San Diego’s marine-related companies that serve the local large-yacht industry. The group’s mission is to promote San Diego as a world-class superyacht destination and provide a conduit to marine services and suppliers.

"We all agree that the time has come for all of us to work together to attract even more large yachts to San Diego," said Paul Daubner, a San Diego-based yacht management specialist and the group’s elected president. "We can provide the vast array of products and services these boats require, which in turn stimulates the local marine economy. By joining forces, we can enhance San Diego’s position as one of the world’s leading yacht destinations."

SDSA’s 16 founding members include representatives from yacht brokerages, yacht repair firms, marinas and other leading yacht-industry businesses. The coalition is the first such association on the West Coast of the United States. Founding members of the non-profit corporation are Paul Daubner of Fraser Yachts, Neil Wilson of Driscoll Boat Works, Deborah Pennell of Shelter Island Marina, Terry Ruppert of Knight & Carver YachtCenter, Capt. Mark Drewelow of C2C, Ron Dehne of Hawthorn Power Systems, Dean West of Honor Marine Electronics, Peter Taliercio of Kona Kai Marina, Fred Larsson of Marine Group Boat Works, David Roscow of Northrop and Johnson, Craig Stephens of Rocket Research, Judy Donnelly of San Diego Marine Exchange, Doug Sharp of Sharp Design, Ernie Buck of Valley Power Systems, Cris Wenthur of Wenthur Law Group, and Pacific Superyacht Promotions, producers of YachtFest San Diego.

For more information, contact Paul Daubner at +1-619-225-0588 or paul.daubner@fraseryachts.com .

A1JLT changes name

BWA Yachting, formerly operating under the names of A1JLT and the Blue Water Alliance, announced its new identity, headquarters and management structure during the MYBA Charter Show in Genoa in early May.

BWA managers include CEO Stefano Tositti; Edward Pegan, commercial manager; Kosmas Sakalidis, operations manager; and Paschalis Patsiokas, finance manager.

With headquarters in Lugano, Switzerland, BWA Yachting offers complete yacht agency services throughout the Mediterranean, with offices in the South of France, Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece and Turkey as well as Ft. Lauderdale, which serves the United States and the Caribbean.

For more information, visit www.bwayachting.com .

Rosebud Racing joins team DYT

Dockwise Yacht Transport (DYT), a yacht logistics company with its own fleet of semi-submersible ships, announced that Rosebud Racing has joined forces with the company to become Rosebud Racing/Team DYT.

The Farr-designed Rosebud was launched in June 2007 as the world’s first STP65, a "box-rule" collaboration between the Storm Trysail Club and the TransPacific Yacht Club. Owned by Roger Sturgeon of Ft, Lauderdale, it has recently won the overall IRC handicap title in the famed Rolex Sydney Hobart Race at the end of 2007. In that race, Sturgeon also became the first American in 30 years to take overall regatta honors, joining only two other Americans: Jim Kilroy (Kialoa III in 1977) and Ted Turner (American Eagle in 1972).

"The Rosebud campaign has had an exhilarating journey, and the future will prove even more remarkable," said Sturgeon, adding that Rosebud Racing/Team DYT will use DYT services for shipping the team’s prized race boat to race destinations around the world.

DYT operates four semi-submersible yacht carriers, including the new 687.5-foot (209 meter) Yacht Express, which takes regular runs between Ft. Lauderdale and Genoa, Italy.

Rosebud will sport its new Team DYT sail and hull graphics when it competes in New England this summer at Block Island Race, the New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta presented by Rolex, the Newport to Bermuda Race (which was won by Sturgeon’s previous Rosebud, a TP52, in 2004), the Edgartown Yacht Club Round the Island Race, and the New York Yacht Club Race Week at Newport presented by Rolex.

After it crosses the Atlantic, it will compete in the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup (Sardinia, Italy) in September and the Rolex Middle Sea Races (Malta) in October, before heading back with other sailboats on a DYT ship to Ft. Lauderdale at the end of October.

A designer of computer software and a member of Lauderdale Yacht Club as well as Hyannis Yacht Club in Massachusetts, Sturgeon is joined on the crew of Rosebud Racing/Team DYT by his wife, Isobel, and noteworthy international sailors.

meteorological monitoring system, which samples, measures, records and transmits 140

For more information, visit www.yacht-transport.com .

Sonar company opens testing lab

FarSounder has opened a new 1,250-square-foot test facility in Warwick, R.I., the same town as FarSounder’s main office.

The space enables the company to conduct transducer testing more efficiently, said engineering Vice President Matt Zimmerman.

"We are extremely excited at what this will mean for our operation, not just in terms of streamlining our manufacturing process, but the opportunities it will offer for our various R&D projects," he said

FarSounder specializes in sonar technology in a part of the country renowned for its underwater specialties in this field.

"In this unique field we recognize the importance of having such a facility and are willing to work with other companies who may need the use of such an environment for their own testing," Zimmerman said.

Also in April, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded FarSounder its fourth patent.

Taylors launch charter firm

Sandy and Tom Taylor, formerly of Northrop and Johnson Luxury Yachts, have started their own venture, Taylor’d Yacht Charters.

After almost 10 years in the yachting and marine industry covering experiences in crew placement, yacht support and charter management, the Taylors will open their business in Natchez, Miss., to be near Sandy’s father, and return to Ft. Lauderdale regularly.

Sandy learned about the yachting industry from Bob Saxon, now president of Camper & Nicholsons USA. She also developing the wholesale and retail charter management and crew placement divisions at Northrop and Johnson.

For more information, visit www.taylordyachtcharters.com .

Speakman joins ACR

ACR Electronics, a manufacturer of safety and survival technologies, has appointed Charles Speakman to the position of technical sales representative.

In his new position, Speakman will train outdoor and marine retail associates for ACR dealers throughout North America. Most recently, Speakman served as a general manager for West Marine, the nation’s largest boating supplies retailer. He also worked seven years as a police officer in South Miami.

ACR Electronics, designs and manufactures a complete line of safety and survival products including EPIRBs, PLBs, AIS, SARTs and safety accessories.

Knight & Carver adds partner

Knight & Carver YachtCenter and MarineMax, the nation’s largest boat retailer, have joined forces to provide service to luxury yacht clients.

"We view this as a perfect blend of our two specialties," said Kate Pearson, Knight & Carver’s vice president of business development. "This new relationship gives their clients a direct link to achieving the utmost in service for their elite yachts."

Knight & Carver repair/service crews will be made available to all of MarineMax’s clients within the West Coast yacht cruising region from Mexico to the Pacific Northwest.

The focus will be on such brands as Ferretti, Bertram, Pershing, Mochi Craft and Riva yachts, among others offered by MarineMax.

"We are pleased to join with Knight & Carver to provide our clients with the finest in yacht repair and marine services," said Mark Gibbons, yacht sales manager of MarineMax’s office on San Diego’s Shelter Island.

Knight & Carver recently was named "Boatyard of the Year, 2007" by the American Boat Builders & Repairers Association. MarineMax ranks as the largest U.S. yacht brokerage with nearly 100 retail locations, three in Southern California.

Hartman Yacht expands north

Hartman Yacht Maintenance has expanded its mobile marine repair and scheduled maintenance capacities in South Florida to include Broward County. Hartman Yacht was established in 1990. The new branch office will be managed by marine veteran Dominic Murphy and is located at 2424 N. Dixie Highway. Contact Hartman Yacht at 954-561-5422.

New franchisees at TowBoatU.S.

Capt. Ian Cairns is the new owner of TowBoatU.S. Port Canaveral, an on-the-water towing service that provides assistance to Space Coast boaters. Cairns purchased the port from former owner Capt. Jess Cooley, who moved offshore and now operates two TowBoatU.S. ports in the Bahamas.

Cairns has stationed USCG-licensed captains Jonathan Nagle-Alexander and William Chandler at the port. A former ship’s navigation officer, Cairns is a marine surveyor and also the former owner of an offshore salvage company. He holds an unlimited British Second Mates Certificate, and is a member of the National Association of Marine Surveyors and Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers.

TowBoatU.S. Port Canaveral is equipped with four response vessels from 25 to 32 feet. The most common request for assistance in the area is from recreational boaters who have inadvertently grounded on river shoals.

Contact TowBoatU.S. Port Canaveral at 321-783-5600; by VHF radio on channel 16; or through the BoatU.S. toll-free Dispatch Service at 800-391-4869.

In South Carolina, Capt. Steve Little, and his wife, Marisa, have purchased TowBoatU.S. Charleston. Capt. Little purchased the port from his former employers, Capt. Joe and Cora Beasenburg, who have retired.

Capt. Little previously held various positions in the local marine industry including working for Isle of Palms Marina, Tidal Wave Water Sports and Boat Works. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license. TowBoatU.S. Charleston is equipped with five response vessels from 15 to 28 feet.

Contact TowBoatU.S. Charleston at 843-745-5977; by VHF radio on channel 16; or through the BoatU.S. toll-free Dispatch Service at 800-391-4869.

Boat Bunkers names new sales VP

Bradenton, Fla.-based Boat Bunkers International has named Ken Overman vice president of sales. Boat Bunkers produces an in-water mooring station that keeps boat hulls clean and eliminates the need for anti-fouling paints.

Formerly with Mustang Marine and Luhrs Marine Group, Overman brings more than 14 years of industry experience in dealer development, sales, management and marketing to the Florida-based manufacturer.

"Boat Bunkers offers an environmentally sensitive, economical solution to growing worldwide concern over the environmental impact of boating," said Bruce Nelson, CEO of Boat Bunkers International. "Ken’s background in domestic and international dealer development and experience cultivating strategic business partnerships will assist us greatly as we build our worldwide network of Boat Bunkers dealers."

Boat Bunkers offers a simple and effective solution to control biofouling without the use of any toxic components. Mooring stations are available in a range of sizes for boats up to 50 feet. The mooring stations create an isolation chamber that the boat floats in. The isolation prevents oxygen flow and food sources, which in turn prevents growth of barnacles and other marine life.

For more information, visit www.boatbunkers.com , call 800-576-2511 or +1-239-541-5356 or e-mail sales@boatbunkers.com .

EOS lands UK prize

The Minister of State for International Trade and Investment, Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham (former chief of the CBI) awarded Eos Risk Management, the international security risk management practice, the prestigious UKTI Small Exporter of the Year Award at the annual UKTI Trade Awards Ceremony held at Millennium Point in Birmingham.

In a speech to UK industry, Lord Jones stated how proud he and the government were to have flourishing ambassadors for trade, such as Eos Risk Management, pushing out British Standards and expertise into overseas markets.

As a provider of security services to the marine industries, Eos was nominated for the awards due to its recent security projects. Of note, these included the reduction in frequency and severity of security incidents on a major cruise line through the introduction of trained and vetted hotel security personnel. This was complemented by its range of innovative training programs covering areas such as crime scene and forensic evidence preservation, ship security officer certificate, and conflict resolution.

The company is also engaged in non-lethal technology programs and high-threat-level transit security via the provision of onboard security officers and equipment.

For more information, visit www.eosrisk.com .