March 9, 2010

By: B. Roberts
Published: 4th Mar 2010

Marina under development from the Hainan Rendezvous

Hainan Island in China has plans to become a new focal destination for the luxury, tourism and superyacht industry with the 2010 Hainan Rendez-Vouz.

Located at the southernmost end of the country, Hainan Island, also known as Sanya, has become very popular with high-net worth-individuals and with an increasing number of superyachts in their waters.

The event will feature private jet shows, mega yacht displays, major luxury collections and property shows on 2nd - 4th April at the Visun Royal Yacht Club, the areas first international-standard marina.

Mr.Luo Baoming, governor of Hainan Province stated “Hainan is determined to grow its marine and yachting industries as a key component of a wider tourism strategy,” with the director of the Sanya Tourism Board Madam Du Liying adding “Yachting is expected to play an increasingly important role in advancing Hainan’s tourism growth. There is a very natural lifestyle for us as Hainan is blessed with thousands of kilometers of beautiful coastline, a multitude of islands and a rich marine life.”

Key industry names such as Blohm + Voss, Lürssen and The Azimut-Benetti Group will be participating alongside other big names like Ferretti Yachts and Sunseeker and other production and engineering organisations. The organisers are playing their cards close to their chest with naming yachts but they say it will be the first time yachts over 50 metres will be openly displayed in China.

Bart Kimman of Northrop and Johnson Asia Ltd previously stated “More than 90 superyachts arrived in Singapore last year, compared with just 10 in 2007”. Brokerage Northrop and Johnson recently opened a branch in Hong Kong after noticing a vastly increasing interest in superyachts in the region.

Jonathan Beckett, CEO of Burgess, informed us “China is a market which is going to happen … others are still buying but it’s important to keep an eye on core markets as well as keeping an eye on opening ones.”

The Hainan Island holds beautiful coast lines and outstanding waters with a new event promising to bring much more attention to the area.

Source: www.superyachts.com

The Neptune Society, an independent crematory, opened a Miami office servicing the Miami-Dade County area.

The new office is the closest location to the company's Neptune Memorial Reef, which is located a few miles off the Miami coast. The man-made underwater reef, used for placement of cremated remains, was designed to look like a lost city underwater and provides growth of coral and attracts marine life.

The Neptune Memorial Reef is also a popular destination with ocean enthusiasts and environmentalists, as well as scuba divers, boaters, marine biologists, fishermen and others, according to the organization.

Since 1973, The Neptune Society has been dedicated to providing individuals and families with affordable services when they choose cremation. The company has 40 locations in 10 states.

www.tradeonlytoday.com

 Fort Lauderdale, FL – March 3, 2010 – The role of a full-service luxury yacht charter agency goes far beyond merely booking a boat for a client, at least according to The Sacks Group Yachting Professionals. The Fort Lauderdale-based firm strives to match each client with the perfect yacht worldwide to fit their needs – and then to create a unique, custom-tailored charter experience that will fulfill their dreams.

A case in point was the recent week-long charter that The Sacks Group President and Charter Specialist Jennifer M. Saia arranged for client Thomas E. Hoshko, CEO and President of The Experts, Inc.  – a rapidly growing provider of Information Technology, Telecommunications and Engineering professional services and solutions to the Fortune 500, Federal Government and Defense Contractors/DOD. Saia and her team helped to design a fun-filled charter to Miami aboard the 112-foot (34.1M) Westport Motor Yacht MILK MONEY centered around watching the Saints play the Colts in Superbowl XLIV on February 7, 2010. Hoshko’s primary goal for the trip was to provide first-class corporate hospitality for his firm’s top customers and producers in a memorable setting.

“We’ve been chartering for about a dozen years,” said Hoshko, who had worked with Saia and her team at The Sacks Group in the past to arrange both personal and corporate charters. “She had the right boat, the right captain and the right crew, which is all-important,” he said.

“This was the kind of challenge we love—creating a fantastic charter experience for a client that centers around a particular ‘theme’,” Saia said. “Finding the perfect boat was only the beginning. We also worked with Tom Hoshko to fill each day with exciting activities so he and his guests could enjoy their time aboard to the fullest.”

Home port for the start of the Superbowl Charter was the Diplomat Resort on the Intracoastal Waterway, which was very convenient for shopping, restaurants and attending VIP parties on South Beach. The festivities kicked off on Friday, February 5^th with a welcome cocktail reception.  A “Blast Bar” decked out with The Experts logo and the Superbowl XLIV insignia was set up on the dock next to MILK MONEY so overflow guests could join the party in addition to those enjoying the luxurious accommodations on board.  

Saturday was dedicated to water-sports fun using the yacht’s fleet of tenders and toys, which includes a 26-foot Regulator fishing boat and an 18-foot Novurania RIB, plus a six-man towable banana, water skis and wakeboard. MILK MONEY’s crew later put on a barbecue for the guests.

“Sunday we had tickets for the customers and top producers to go to the Game,” Hoshko said. “I’ve been to a lot of Superbowls … so we stayed back on the boat and had a Superbowl party.” The crew set up a large plasma TV on MILK MONEY’s aft deck and opened up the doors to the salon, so guests could watch the action in both places, as well as on the flybridge. “They did a Superbowl cake and all that kind of stuff. It was perfect,” he added.

           The Experts Executive VP Tim McLean at the Blast Bar

For the remainder of the charter, the yacht docked at the exclusive Fisher Island enclave where Hoshko and The Experts principals conducted corporate board meetings, mixed with R&R on the property, including visiting the spa and taking the dinghy over to “Jimbo’s” on Virginia Key. They also dined in style on board MILK MONEY, thanks to the culinary stylings of Chef Raffie.  “He is really good; he is actually a Cordon Blue chef, and prepared everything on our preference sheet to perfection!” Hoshko said.  

         Tom and Louellen Hoshko with MILK MONEY

He and his wife, Louellen, appreciated MILK MONEY’s spacious amidships master suite, which features a comfortable California king bed, walk-in cedar closets and his-and-her heads. “I’ve been on a lot of yachts … and I really enjoyed the Westport,” he said. “But what makes it always is the captain and the chef and the crew. They were impeccable. We had a good time.

Hoshko added, “We are already looking forward to another charter on M/Y MILK MONEY with the family.”

MILK MONEY, is available for charter in Florida and The Bahamas year-round at a rate of U.S. $44,500 per week, including towed tender. While the yacht welcomes occasional corporate clients, it typically hosts private charter parties of eight persons or fewer.

                              MILK MONEY Crew

Photography by Downtown Photo

SACKS GROUP

Louisa Rudeen Beckett
Turnkey Communications & PR, Inc.
1212 Winding Chase Blvd.
Winter Springs, FL 32708
Office: 407-327-0332
Cell: 954-599-9355
E-mail: lrbeckett@cfl.rr.com

Beverly Grant began her career as a yacht chef in 1975. She delighted the palates of owners and guests onboard a wide variety of vessels – as well   as in private homes – for more than two decades. In addition to founding Culinary Fusion, Grant also has owned three restaurants, and served as advisor and director of crew placement and catering for The Grateful Palate, a fixture of the superyacht scene on Fort Lauderdale’s SE 17^th Street.

While running the crew placement operation for Culinary Fusion, Grant perfected her “hands-on cooking interview”, which typically requires prospective yacht chefs to prepare and serve a three-course meal. She has also led crew training seminars around the world.

“I had always specialized in internal yacht crew, but through IMA Yachts Crew Solutions, we will be providing placement for the entire spectrum of crew positions, including captains, mates, engineers and deckhands, as well as chefs, stews, and pursers,” Grant said. “I am excited to join the IMA Yachts team because I know them and admire their passion and professionalism. I am looking forward to working within such a well-integrated, supportive system to provide yacht owners and captains with the best service in the industry.

IMA Yachts
+1 954 583 1377
info@imayachts.com
www.imayachts.com

 March 3, 2010

Tom Cruise & Cameron Diaz recently spent some time in Portland, Jamaica near the Errol Flynn Marina filming their new movie 'Day & Knight'. The marina recently said goodbye to the two stars and film crew who filmed the final scenes for the action thriller at Frenchman's Cove. Errol Flynn's dive boat, "Lady G Diver" served as the main camera boat.

This is Cruise's second film in Port Antonio. The hit "Cocktail" with Elizabeth Shue, was filmed at Dragon Bay, east of Port Antonio.

'Day & Knight' is set to open in the summer of this year, and brought in a whopping $1.5 million U.S. dollars to Jamaica in just one week. This has prompted the Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Karl Samuda, to explore ways in which to bring in more filming to the shores of Jamaica.

'Knight & Day' centers on a lonely woman (Cameron Diaz) who seemingly harmless blind date suddenly turns her life upside-down when a super spy (Tom Cruise) takes her on a violent worldwide journey to protect a powerful battery that holds the key to an infinite power source. 

www.errolflynnmarina.com