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Belongs to The Triton. Uploaded on March 8, 2010 - 3:35pm.
March 8, 2010

Dockmaster in La Amada, Cancun

La Amada Resort and Marina has been open in Cancun, Mexico, for nearly a year, and dockmaster Miguel A. Perez has been on board since the beginning. The European-style luxury resort hosts yachts up to 172 feet. Guests can enjoy the residences on property, La Amada Hotel or stay on their yachts with privileges at the spa, restaurants and amenities..

Belongs to The Triton. Uploaded on March 5, 2010 - 11:39am.
March 8, 2010

Dockmaster Rawls on new adventure

Politics aren't Clyde Rawls' cup of tea. Customer service is his passion and the area he hopes to employ his skills in the near future.

Rawls, who in the spring of 2008 was appointed general manager of Camper & Nicholsons' Port Louis in Grenada, left his position at the end of the year.

“I enjoyed working in Grenada; Port Louis is a wonderful project,” Rawls said. “But I was uncomfortable being on the nightly news and in the hot spot on behalf of a foreign company.”

March 3, 2010

Week Eight of Lia Ditton's Oarsome Challenge

Week eight of Lia Ditton’s Atlantic Row has seen the much improved relationship on board Dream Maker help the crew deal with the frustrations surfacing as a result of the ‘stop-go’ nature of this year’s event. Worn out behinds, the need for sleep and longings for real food have taken their turn in the forefront of the the team's thoughts. Currently in 8th position, 2 miles behind and 20 miles ahead of young all male crews, the pressure is on for the final 600 miles!

March 1, 2010

'Cruising permit' does not exist in all United States waters

Here on the West Coast, a “cruising permit” does not exist. The document is titled “United States Customs and Border Protection - Cruising License,” clearly labeled at the top of the document. I believe that the Cruising License issued by CBP on the East Coast and South Florida has the same terminology.

Belongs to The Triton. Uploaded on March 1, 2010 - 6:33pm.
March 1, 2010

Megayachts welcome in Tahiti

If looking at a world map, Tahiti and her islands – officially called French Polynesia – are a long way away from the usual superyacht destinations like the Mediterranean and the Carribean.

Belongs to The Triton. Uploaded on March 1, 2010 - 5:45pm.
March 1, 2010

Triton Survey: Crew Food Allowance

Prompted by an e-mail from a freelance megayacht chef on a bad gig, this month's survey seeks to find some industry standards for crew food. Unlike our unhappy chef, the majority of the 284 respondents in our survey not only enjoyed the food on their vessel, but often eat as well as the owner and/or guests.

February 26, 2010

St. Patty’s Day Small Boat Charity Fishing Tournament now in 20th year set for Saturday, March 13th, 2010

Dania Beach, Florida:  Now in it’s 20th year, what has become the largest small boat fishing tournament in south Florida is set to “Reel them in for Dylan” to benefit a local boy with an inoperable brain tumor.

Belongs to The Triton. Uploaded on February 24, 2010 - 11:54pm.
February 22, 2010

Blue Moon crew fight fire in St. Maarten

Quick thinking and good training kicked into high gear on February 17 in the morning when Lee’s Grill restaurant in Simpson Bay, St. Maarten caught fire.

Belongs to The Triton. Uploaded on February 22, 2010 - 5:48pm.
February 22, 2010

M/Y Major Wager crew helps in Haiti

Sometimes, it's best just to let the captain tell his story. "We were sitting in Panama, coming this way because of the weather, and we're coming right by Haiti so we wanted to see if we could do something. So we loaded up with rice, water, baby food, canned foods and came over. We're sitting now 37m off Port au Prince."

Belongs to The Triton. Uploaded on February 22, 2010 - 2:58pm.
February 22, 2010

Safety ashore is captain's responsibility

In the waning days of January, Eng. Pawel "Pav" Kwiatowske of M/Y Charisma, the 153-foot (47m) Feadship, disappeared. He was last seen leaving Willy T's bar in the yacht's tender. His crew mates reported him missing the next morning.

We don't know what happened to Mr. Kwiatowske, whose body was found a few days later washed ashore at St. Johns. His captain and crew mates could not talk before deadline because of a police investigation. (Click here for the police statements.)

Belongs to The Triton. Uploaded on February 22, 2010 - 12:20pm.
February 22, 2010

Spencer Boat Company at Merrill Stevens shipyard

When news came down in December that Merrill Stevens would cease operations, Superintendent John Spencer knew he had to do something. At the very least, he wanted to give his guys some hope that they wouldn't be out of work for long.

February 22, 2010

USSA Captains Briefing in St. Maarten

U.S. Superyacht Association hosted their annual captains briefing at Isle de Sol Marina in St. Maarten in January. The kick-off cocktail reception included a speech by Billy Smith, vice-president of Trinity Yachts.

Belongs to The Triton. Uploaded on February 17, 2010 - 9:24am.
February 16, 2010

Cyclone Rene, Vava 'u Tonga, February 14-15, 2010

Winds built over 8 hrs to 90K with gusts to 130K from the SE. The eye passed right over us providing a hour and a half break where we could reset chafe gear and check the boats. In the end most of the boats fared well. Everyone who took precautions saved there boats in Vava'u. This has been a very active cyclone season and more cyclones are predicted to form this week.

February 16, 2010

Lia Ditton, week 7 of the Atlantic Rowing Race‏

Lia Ditton continues to battle to overcome the emotional and physical hurdles of one of the world’s toughest ocean rowing challenges. Week seven of the Atlantic Rowing Race 2009 has seen a certain harmony return to life aboard Dream Maker. Now over two thirds race distance, the countdown to the finishing line is being frustrated by uncharacteristically light winds to help them towards Antigua.

February 16, 2010

Megayacht engineer dies in Virgin Islands

Eng. Pawel "Pav" Kwiatowske of M/Y Charisma, the 154-foot (47m) Feadship, died in the British Virgin Islands in late January. He was 32 years old. For six days, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Virgin Islands Search and Rescue conducted aerial searches and police units looked underwater.

Belongs to The Triton. Uploaded on February 15, 2010 - 9:08am.
February 15, 2010

A shout out for the unsung heroes of yachting

Responsible for just about all parts that move, flow, cool, dry, generate, pump and propel, the megayacht engineer might be deemed the unsung hero of yachting. Face it; without the props spinning, you’re going nowhere fast, and that’s not fun for crew or guests. We dropped in on several engineers during the Yacht & Brokerage Show in Miami Beach to find out what they are most proud of in their domain – the engine room. 

February 15, 2010

At Last (nee Artful Dodger) part of Churchill charter fleet

Churchill Yacht Partners added M/Y At Last, the 145-foot Heesen previously known as Artful Dodger, to its charter fleet.

For information, visit www.churchillyachts.com.

Camper & Nicholsons International (CNI)  broker Alex Lees Buckley in Monaco signed a 140m new build.

Known as Hull 6218, it is a seven-deck yacht to be built by Fincantieri and is the first order for a yacht over 100 meters in the past year, according to a news release. It is due for delivery in five years.

Belongs to The Triton. Uploaded on February 15, 2010 - 9:23am.
February 15, 2010

Checking the Tide: Where are you taking the yacht tomorrow?

When the Yacht & Brokerage Show wraps up tonight, megayacht crews will be preparing for stints both short and long in South Florida marinas and shipyards, mostly while they await word of a sale.

February 15, 2010

Companies add services, products, people

Engine company promotes CEO

VETUS, a Dutch manufacturer of marine diesel engines and technical boat equipment, has promoted Jay Stockmann to chief executive officer. Stockmann previously served as executive vice president and before that was executive vice president of U.S. sales and marketing for Lewmar. For more, visit www.vetus.nl/us.

February 15, 2010

Dania Cut, Bradford partnership welcomes yachts 200-plus feet

Dania Cut Super Yacht Repair Facility, Dania Beach, Fla. and Bradford Marine, Ft. Lauderdale, have joined forces to offer repair and refit services for yachts 200 feet and longer. Services are offered by Bradford at Dania Cut's deep-water facility in Dania. 

February 15, 2010

Satellite navigation system to be compatible with U.S. GPS

EU issues Galileo contracts

The European Commission awarded more than €1 billion worth of contracts on Jan. 7 to set up its Galileo satellite navigation system, Europe's effort to compete with the U.S. Global Positioning System, or GPS.

German company OHB-System AG received about half the amount -- €566 million -- to build the first 14 satellites, the commission said in a statement. The system is expected to require no more than 32 satellites.

February 15, 2010

Test Your Mates -- Nautical Quiz #5
  • In earlier times, what did the phrase "all standing" mean? A ship was fully equipped and ready for sea; a ceremony on deck; no liberty while in port.
  • "To dress a ship" means: to hoist her flags; to hoist her sails; to remover her bonnet; to inspect her crew.
  • "To drown the miller" means: lower the anchor; add water to your rum ration, use the head, drink too much?
  • On a nautical chart, the abbreviation "Hr." stands for?
  • Give the term meaning excellent condition, derived from an important English seaport.
Belongs to The Triton. Uploaded on February 15, 2010 - 9:44am.
February 15, 2010

The new normal: fewer looky-loos, more serious buyers at the Yacht & Brokerage Show in Miami

These are anything but normal times, so it should come as no surprise that this year's Yacht & Brokerage Show in Miami Beach this past week has been anything but normal. Perhaps fewer people, decidedly fewer boats, curiously different accents and certainly colder than desired, the show still delivered what captains and brokers called serious buyers.

February 15, 2010

US Customs Cruising Permit for Yachts

As faithful readers of this column know, our organization, International Yacht Bureau (IYB), acts as an inspection agency on behalf of several flag administrations. We are similar to a classification society, but focused solely on yachts.

Belongs to The Triton. Uploaded on February 14, 2010 - 9:14am.
February 14, 2010

Checking the Tide: Do you have a Valentine?

Today is St. Valentine's Day, a day to celebrate love and affection among lovers (or wanna-be lovers). Relationships are just one of the many challenges the yachting industry presents to seafarers. So we asked megayacht crew at the Yacht & Brokerage Show in Miami Beach if they have a Valentine, and if they do, if that person works on yachts.