Yacht Builder opens office in New York

Renowned British Yacht Builder - Sunseeker Yachts, partners with Atlantic Yacht & Ship at New Westchester Office

Mamaroneck, NY - June, 30, 2009 - With most of the boating industry on life support, and many boat builders downsizing or going bankrupt, the thriving Sunseeker Yachts has never been busier at their Poole, England factory. In fact, they're expanding - Teaming up with the 50 year-old yacht brokerage, Atlantic Yacht & Ship, at their new Mamaroneck, NY location. Atlantic Yacht & Ship will be a Sunseeker dealer covering from Maine to the Carolina's for new builds, and will have a worldwide presence for pre-owned sales.

Being largely popular in Europe, Sunseekers have grown in popularity over the past decade in North America. "We've noticed a big increase of younger buyers, who are attracted to the forward-thinking style of Sunseekers," said Ryan Wood, yacht broker at Atlantic Yacht & Ship. "One model, the 'Predator', is all black and silver; It looks like a Lamborghini. People freak when they see it," he added.

Sunseeker, with yachts ranging in size from 47 foot sport cruisers, to 46-Meter semi-custom tri-deck yachts, offer dynamic styling, high-end detailing, and cutting-edge technology. In Sunseeker's four decade history, there has been a certain cult following by owners who keep coming back to the quality and performance of the european-styled yachts.

PREMIER FLORIDA BROKER & EXCLUSIVE BOAT DEALER FORM NEW MARKETING ALLIANCE

Sarasota, Fla. – Sarasota Yacht & Ship Services (SYSS), a Certified Professional Yacht Broker-endorsed brokerage established in 1986, and CrossCurrent Marine, a global purveyor of luxury products and services, and the exclusive distributor for J/Boats Southeast, announced today a new marketing alliance.

Focused on bringing unique added value to Florida yacht owners, the new alliance provides CrossCurrent Marine with a brokerage channel to help prospective new boat owners find homes for their previously owned yachts while allowing SYSS to offer premium new yachts to its extensive client base.

Operating from two convenient locations in Sarasota, a waterfront location at Marina Jack and 1306 Main Street, SYSS and CrossCurrent Marine’s new partnership brings much needed broad market reach, a breadth of high-quality products and skilled, professional yacht brokers to Florida boating enthusiasts.

“With over 23 years of service, Sarasota Yacht & Ship Services maintains the longest established brokerage team in the exclusive Gulf Coast region,” said Craig Crossley, president, CrossCurrent Marine. “Their expert knowledge, professional care and quality advice for a discerning audience has earned them an enviable reputation of being considered first when selling or acquiring that next special yacht.”

“CrossCurrent Marine has developed relationships with leaders in the design of high quality, performance yachts,” said Gary Smith, president, Sarasota Yacht and Ship Services, Inc. “We are thrilled to offer our valued clients exclusive access to the latest in luxury sailing designs.”

CrossCurrent Marine’s first class list of builders includes J/Boats, Maxi Dolphin and Dufour Yachts, to name a few. Of particular interest to Florida sailors is J/Boat's new 31-foot J/95 one-design daysailer. Offering spirited racing performance, spacious daysailing comfort, and the great value associated with J/Boats, the J/95 also features the unique ability to sail in just over 3-feet of water. SYSS is a proud member of, and adheres to the strict code of ethics endorsed by, the Florida Yacht Brokers Association (FYBA) and the Certified Professional Yacht Broker (CPYB) program.

For more information on SYSS and a list of current inventory, please contact Gary Smith or Jason Mashke at 941-365-9095 or visit www.sarasotayacht.com. For more information on CrossCurrent Marine or its complete line of luxury offerings, or to arrange a sea trial on the Sarasota-based J/Boats J/95 Hull #1, please contact Craig Crossley at 401-330-6135, Tom McFadden at 941-228-6048, or visit www.crosscurrentmarine.com.

Spain. Alcaidesa Marina to launch 800 berths in La Linea

UK-based Genus Marine & Leisure has just been appointed to help commercialise berths at Spain´s newest marina, located in La Línea de la Concepción (Cadiz) neighbouring Gibraltar, which opens for business in March 2010.

The marina is the largest new waterside development in Andalucía and bolsters Genus Marine & Leisure’s 25-year reputation as Europe’s leading berth broker. “This is a great deal to land in the Med,” says John Brewster, Director of Genus Marine & Leisure. “A lack of development in the region’s existing marinas has led to a shortage of berths, but the offering at Alcaidesa Marina means that we are already over-subscribed with potential owners.”

So far, the Alcaidesa corporate group has primarily made its name in the real estate and the tourist sector, with the development of the Alcaidesa Residential Estate as a leading golf tourist resort, equipped with two golf courses (a Links and a Heath-Land course) and its new facilities, including both a driving range and a Clubhouse. Today Alcaidesa is building a new Marina. Works are being done and delivery date of berths will be in March 2010.

The new marina boasts the finest modern facilities in the Mediterranean combined with the convenience of the neighbouring tax-free port of Gibraltar, which will help to curb the cost of boat ownership in Spain. This ‘best of both worlds’ scenario is highlighted by the marina’s specifications; it has around 618 berths, the majority of which are floating pontoons, instead of the usual European ‘pantalan’ arrangements. This UK-style design gives separate fingers and services for each berth with very generous width allowances.

Berth sizes are also more incremental than alternative marinas in the region like Sotogrande, with 8, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50 metre berths available, reducing costs for boats in the popular 16-19 metre range. Uncommon for Spain, the marina also has 200 dry-stacking slots that will be ready in 2011.

With an existing Iberostar Hotel (with 265 rooms), a Congress Centre, and the construction of leisure and recreational spaces, the marina will provide a wide variety of restaurants and high-end retail outlets for all its clients and visitors. The marina’s drydock and dual lifting facilities make it the region’s only option for repairs, antifouling and anode replacement within a 20 nautical mile radius. In total, the marina covers 139,760m2 of water, 134,255m2 of landscaped grounds, 17,000m2 of refit and repair facilities, 8,000m2 of chandlery space and over 1,000 secure car-parking spaces.

UK. Newport Wales to host 2010 IWA National Trailboat Festival

The Inland Waterways Association is pleased to announce that the venue for the 2010 IWA National Trailboat Festival will be at Newport, Wales on the Monmouthshire, Brecon & Abergavenny Canal. It will run over the Spring Bank Holiday between Saturday 29 May and Monday 31 May.

The Festival is to be Hosted by the Monmouthshire, Brecon & Abergavenny Canals Trust, and is being marketed as the Welsh Waterways Festival 2010.

The organisers have the full support of Newport City Council who have financially supported the volunteers who have rebuilt the slipway at Bettws Lane and spent the last 3 months scrub bashing and clearing sections of the canal above Bettws lane Lock.

The Festival will be sited at Kimberley Park at Malpas offering over 2 miles of open water canal. On the main line there will be the Gwastad (No 34), Bettws (No 35) and Ty Ffynnon (No36) locks available to use, together with Lock no 2 (The first on the lower Crumlin Arm).

An interesting aside to this Festival is the availability of a second smaller site at Fourteen Locks (Rogerstone) offering a further ¼ mile cruise and restored lock. Boat owners who are interested will be welcome to visit this site after the main Festival is finished. Arrangements can be made for any boaters wanting to extend their week to visit other areas of the Mon & Brec.

The Trust has garnered success at generating public support for restoration in Wales. Having previously played host to the festival in 2000 and 2004, this resulted in the formation of The All Party Waterway Group at the Welsh Assembly Government and the British Waterways document for Welsh Canals “Waterways for Wales”.

The 2010 Festival marks an important milestone for the City of Newport and falls in the year that they will be playing host to the Ryder Cup. The Festival is also seen as an important vehicle with which to promote the Canal, its potential to local politicians and the Welsh Assembly Government.

The Trust plans to use two trip boats over three days for public trips.

Monaco. Monegasque club confirms support of World Yacht Racing Forum

The World Yacht Racing Forum is pleased to announce that its partnership with Yacht Club de Monaco is renewed for the second consecutive year. The Monegasque club will once again be the event’s official host, under the Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II, President of the YCM since 1984.

“The first edition of the Forum assembled the whole yachting fraternity in the Principality”, says Bernard d’Alessandri, General Secretary of the Yacht Club de Monaco. “The event was very successful and we were very pleased that it helped promote essential values such as solidarity, respect for others, naval etiquette and respect for the environment, values that our Club defends within La Belle Classe. The Principality of Monaco has always been very active within the world of Yachting, with the organisation of the first regattas held in the bay of Monaco in 1862. The first international events for motorboats were held in 1904, and since then Monaco has become world famous as the centre of innovation and fashionable water sports, attracting some of the biggest names in finance, industry, entertainment and Yachting. The Forum enables the yachting world to meet every year to reinforce the links between all the different aspects of the sport and the leading players, thus contributing to the development of sailing. It is about the future of our sport.”

The second edition of the World Yacht Racing Forum will take place on December 9 – 10, 2009 in Monaco. The purpose of the event is to create a global platform for the most important sailing events, racing teams, pro sailors, race managers and finest sailing venues from all over the world. It allows delegates to debate the latest issues critical to the future of yacht racing.

The detailed event schedule, as well as a first draft list of speakers, will be published shortly.

The Yacht Club de Monaco is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious yacht clubs, located in the heart of Monte Carlo. The Club is known for its commitment to tradition and in particular classic yachts, with the organisation every two years of Monaco Classic Week. This event, from the 16th to 20th September 2009, which will celebrate the centenary anniversary of Tuiga, flagship of the YCM, brings together early motorised day boats, vintage motor yachts, and classic sailboats in the Bay of Monaco. The Club also organises some of the most important regattas in the Mediterranean, such as the annual Primo Cup, and hosting in 2010 the Surprise European Championship.