News & Events

Well, for one, it is a free service. Whether you’re planning your first charter or a vacation expert, the insider knowledge of a yacht broker will have you smooth sailing. The market is constantly changing with a variety of legalities. Having someone that knows the ins and outs with the experience and unbiased advice, can help you have a stress-free creation of your dream vacation.

Learn about the inspiration of the origin of the theory of evolution.
Darwin visited the Galápagos Islands, which inspired his theory of evolution. The islands are a province of Ecuador. The volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean is about 1,000km off its coast. Its isolated terrain inhabits a wide variety of plants and animals, many of them found nowhere else, making Galápagos Islands the leading destination for wildlife-viewing.

There’s something about the feeling you get when you’re on a boat; the freedom, your connection with the water and the breeze wisping through your hair. Some experiences you cannot compare with anything else. Yes, listening to the waves can be relaxing, and then there are the times where some music is needed. Below are a few songs I gathered for those times when you want to add some music to the ocean.
-RK

Jimmy Buffet : A Pirate Looks at 40
Bob Marley: Jammin
Jimmy Buffet: Margaritaville
Sheryl Crow: Soak Up the Sun
Van Morrison: Brown Eyed Girl
Jimmy Buffet: Son of A Sailor
Zac Brown: Toes
Pontoon: Little Big Town
Van Halen: Where Have All The Good Times Gone
Bruce Springsteen: Seaside Bar Song
Billy Joel: The Downeaster Alexa
Pirates of the Caribbean: Theme Song
Gilligan’s Island: Theme Song
Jimmy Buffett: Changes in Latitudes
Kid Rock: All Summer Long
The Beatles: Let It Be
Don McLean: American Pie
Grateful Dead: Box of Rain
The Beatles: Here Comes the Sun
Led Zeppelin: The Ocean
Foreigner -Waiting For A Girl Like You

Sources: The Boating Magazine, Amazon.com, 102.7 Kord

Even surrounded by all the drama, the Miami International Boat Show is around the corner.
February 11th – February 15
The Miami International Boat Show had a fight in their hands with Key Biscayne. The boat show is hosted by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). Key Biscayne requested NMMA to provide the detailed arrangement between Miami and the NMMA regarding funds and profit-sharing. The complaint was dismissed because the judge ruled NMMA did not have to provide paperwork requested by Key Biscayne since they could not prove the NMMA was “acting as the city’s agent”.

The show will be celebrated at the Miami Convention Center and the Virgina Key. What’s Miami without a bit of drama?

ADMISSION

Premier Day (February 11th) – $35
5-Day Pass (Good all 5 days of the show)
Thursday, February 11th – Monday, February 15th: $85
Show Days Friday, Feb.12 – Monday, Feb.15
Adult (16+): $20
2-Day Pass: $35
Children 15 and under: FREE (must be accompanied by an adult)
More info on the show: http://www.miamiboatshow.com/on-land#fred

To read more about the lawsuit:

http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2015/12/03/judge-dismisses-key-biscaynes-lawsuit-against.html

Bring the experiences of remote control cars you had as a kid to a whole new level. Especially if you are one of those who love to explore, but may not feel like getting your feet wet just yet. Send in an underwater remote controlled submersible down to film your underwater endeavors.

They even have versions that turn your GoPro into a submarine!

http://www.popsci.com/new-remote-control-submarine-turns-gopro-aquanaut

Superyacht society are drawn to the Mediterranean from May to September. It is party time on the Riviera, beach clubs swarm with the chic and the lovely. Wide blue bays are welcoming you into the water, while ancient towns entice you beyond the harbour wall.
You still have time to book your Mediterranean charter. Dance until dawn in the clubs of St Tropez or Porto Cervo, or slip away to the privacy of a Greek Island.
Your choices to escape include an affordable get-away to many of the most breath-taking and luxurious yachts in the world. Let us help you choose the perfect yacht for your party and plan the ultimate itinerary. Call us for a variety of yachts which still have availability this summer….what are you waiting for?
Come play and plan your escape!

If you haven’t caught the TrawlerFest yet, make sure you get there before this Sunday, January 31st!
TrawlerFest is PassageMaker’s stand-alone series of boat shows at Riviera Beach Municipal Marina, featuring boats for long-term cruisers and liveaboards.
Located at 200 East 13th Street in Riviera Beach, Florida, the newly renovated venue rests along the Intracoastal Waterway, just two miles south of Lake Park Marina, site of last year’s event. Set at the mouth of the Lake Worth Inlet, the freshly refitted marina is a perfect answer to accommodate cruisers that are not local to the Palm Beach area.
The Riviera Beach facility recently underwent a $375-million renovation from Viking Development, and offers a unique TrawlerFest location. Attendees will get a premiere showing of this facility as it will be under construction during the show. However, none of the work will hinder the enjoyment of the boat show.
Just north of the Port of Palm Beach, the Riviera Beach Marina offers 89 floating-dock slips to both permanent and transient boaters as well as a few other amenities including a full-service restaurant, laundry and a convenience store.
Show Times:

TrawlerFest Dates: January 26 – 31, 2016
Seminars: 8:00 am – 5:30 pm

In-Water Show Dates: January 28 – 31, 2016
Boat Show: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Marina:
Riviera Beach Marina
200 East 13th Street
Riviera Beach, Florida, 33404
Visit PassageMaker.com for more information.

The rules in question about traveling to Cuba that impact U.S. Crew and U.S. flagged vessels were discussed during a YachtInfo seminar.

“Cuba is full of contradictions. It’s a place in transition,” said Michael Moore, a Miami-based maritime attorney who spoke on a panel.  While the trade embargo the U.S. has with Cuba is still in effect, rule changes last year enabled American citizens to visit the island nation without applying for a special license, provided they fall under one of 12 categories of travelers including educational and family.

For Americans leaving a U.S. port to visit Cuba, the U.S. Coast Guard requires a permit to proceed. A few hurdles are in the way for yachts attempting this move. First is that the USCG won’t consider the permit application until the departure is about two weeks away, Moore said.

Second, the permit gives the vessel 14 days to visit Cuba and return to the U.S.,  which raises several more issues for yachts. While the two-week window might work for charter yachts heading to Havana, it is impractical for private yachts that will want to venture far beyond. Also, private yachts will likely want to continue traveling and not return to the United States.

“It’s something we’re working on,” Moore said.

You have finally finished a 12-hour shift. It might be the first of the season or the fifth in a row. You flop into bed, start scrolling on your phone, and then after a while turn out the lights and expect to fall asleep. Sometimes this works, but sometimes, even when you’re exhausted, the adrenaline and momentum of working all day won’t let your body and mind slow down.

What’s worse is that sometimes during those nights, the quality of sleep is just average. The next day feels like you haven’t slept at all.

Luckily, there are many tricks for getting good, quality sleep that will greatly improve your health and performance on board.

Unwind

Here’s a 30-minute routine to unwind physically and mentally at the end of a hard day.

1. Have a shower and use a calming body wash such as Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Body Wash.
2. Dim the lights and listen to soft, soothing music.
3. Do some light yoga stretching for about 10 minutes. Focus on breathing, and do poses that calm, not invigorate.
4. Soak your feet in a bucket of warm water, epsom salt and lavender oil. Sip on a cup of herbal tea.
5. Use a foot roller for a few minutes to work out any tension, and then massage your feet with a nice lotion. If you have stressed or sore parts on your body, focus on acupressure points on your feet.
6.  Put on moisturizing socks, lie on the floor and put your feet up the wall for five minutes. Wrap yourself in a soothing lavender body wrap.
7.  Make sure the room is cool, dark and quiet. Try noise canceling ear phones, earplugs, and an eye mask, if necessary. Quality eye masks will soothe eyes, relieve headaches, reduce puffiness, and leave your face feeling refreshed for the next day.

If you have to get to bed straight away, here’s a 10-minute routine.

1. Have a hot shower and use a calming body wash such as Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Body Wash.
2. Dim the lights and put on some soft, soothing music.
3. Do two or three standing or sitting stretches such as forward bends. Breathe deep for a few minutes.
4. Massage your feet, and then put them up the wall.
5. Turn off the lights and close your eyes in a cool, dark, and quiet room.

Quiet the mind

In addition to physical relaxation, take a minute to quiet the mind. If you have trouble stopping thinking about what you have to do tomorrow, write in a journal for 1 minute.

The key is to set a timer and write everything that comes to mind for one minute without stopping and analyzing what you’ve written. This type of free flow releases anything in your mind and lets you drift off to sleep without worries.

In addition to that, make sure you have a more formal list ready before going to sleep so that you won’t be thinking about it while trying to sleep.

Tips and secrets

Studies have shown that the shortwave blue light from a computer and smartphones keeps our brain active and prohibits it from producing the melatonin needed for sleep. If you have trouble winding down, stay off digital devices before bed. Even e-readers can have the same effect, so turn down the backlight and just use a lamp to read and to help with melatonin release.

Additional supplements that help with sleep include teas such as camomile, valerian root and rooibos teas; essential oils such as lavender and sandalwood; and supplements such as valerian root, melatonin and magnesium. (Use caution with supplements as some people can be sensitive or allergic to them.)

Angela Orecchio is a chief stew and certified health coach. This column was edited from her blog, Savvy Stewardess, The Smart Girl’s Guide to Yachting.