Blue Ocean Yachting

28 January 2012

* Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister welcomes fleet to Marina at Keppel Bay
* Colourful ceremony includes dancers and pyrotechnics
* Crews overwhelmed by spectacular welcome

A light beacon rising up from the ground, dancers, pyrotechnics and senior dignitaries, including Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister, welcomed the Clipper 11-12 Race fleet to Marina at Keppel Bay, Singapore, this morning.

The ten-strong fleet taking part in the world's longest ocean race made their entrance to the exclusive marina following Race 7 of the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race.

Dr Lee Boon Yang, Chairman of Keppel Corporation, and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the founder and Chairman of the Clipper Race, ignited the 'Torch of Passion', setting in motion the welcome celebrations for the fleet, and guest of honour, Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, presented the Singapore Cup to the winning crew from Gold Coast Australia. The team is led by Tasmanian yachtsman, Richard Hewson.

Deborah Miller, from Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, who joined the yacht in her home port to race to California, said, "It was awesome to be welcomed in Singapore with such grand festivities.

"As we entered Marina at Keppel Bay people were lined up everywhere along the marina shouting and waving their Singaporean flags. I got to shake the Deputy Prime Minister's hand, which was very exciting and now I'm really looking forward to catch up with family and friends who are waiting for me."

The victorious Gold Coast Australia crew was presented with the Keppel-sponsored Singapore Cup after beating Derry-Londonderry by just 79 minutes. The other Australian team, Geraldton Western Australia, also secured their first podium position of the competition and were handed their first pennant of the campaign to fly proudly from the forestay of their boat.

Derry-Londonderry's John Harkin was amazed at the welcome given upon the team's arrival.

"This has been one of the most formal and biggest receptions that we've had. It was very exciting to sail into Keppel Bay, especially knowing it will be our first podium place, which we've been waiting for a long time.

"It was a great honour to be on stage with all those dignitaries - a very special feeling. I am really looking forward to be taking in the atmosphere over the next few days, before we set off on Saturday for the next part of the race," continued John.

The fantastic welcome and the fact his team were celebrating their first podium position made today a day to remember for Geraldton Western Australia crew member, Russell Sandbach.

"It was fantastic. We had great fun coming in with everyone lined up and waiving to welcome us to Singapore.

"Today wasn't our last time on the podium. This time we met Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister, but next time we will be there collecting our pennant, as we are moving steadily up the fleet.

"It is amazing to see all these new buildings around Keppel Bay - a great setting and I can't wait to come back here when we leave to race towards Qingdao in China next Saturday," explained Russell.

"It's definitely one of the most breathtaking cities that we've been to so far and the architecture looks amazing," revealed Edinburgh Inspiring Capital's Nick Barclay.

"I was quite overwhelmed. As we came in we saw scatterings of people outside the marina, but as we got the actual marina, it got more congested and the size of the welcome just became more and more evident."

This is the fourth visit of the fleet to Keppel Bay, whose skyline is now dominated by the curving towers of the stunning new Reflections at Keppel Bay development, designed by master architect Daniel Libeskind, who is also the master planner for the World Trade Center site in New York City. Residents, who have this month begun moving in to the new buildings, also took part in the celebrations, cheering as the yachts sailed past into the marina, while others on boats sounded horns.

Race 8 will see the fleet head to Qingdao's home port, something crew member Zhiguo Qu, known as Brett to his fellow crew, is looking forward to after arriving in Singapore.

"What a fantastic marina it is here in Singapore - just as spectacular as the Sailing Centre in Qingdao. I think a beautiful place like this will bring us good luck for the next part of the race home from Singapore to Qingdao.

"We're lucky to be here for some many days to get to enjoy Singapore and its surroundings, which I'm looking forward to," he added.

"I also gave Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister a quick hand-shake and was very pleased to see Sir Robin Knox-Johnston was here to welcome me too," revealed De Lage Landen's Michal Szmidt.

"I'm looking forward to seeing all my friends and colleagues from work from different offices around the world that have gathered here for me."

Speaking at the welcome celebrations, Keppel Chairman, Dr Lee Boon Yang said, "The Clipper Race has been an excellent platform to showcase Singapore and Keppel round the world. And with the world following the Clipper Race fleet to our island in the sun this morning, it will present Singapore as a regional sailing hub and a destination for world sporting events such as the Southeast Asian Games, which Singapore will host also for the fourth time in 2015."

The Clipper Race Chairman, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said, "This is the fourth time that there has been a Singapore entry in the Clipper Race and over the eight years we have witnessed the Caribbean and Reflections at Keppel Bay developments around the marina rise from the ground. But it's not only the growth of Keppel's premium developments that impresses, every race we return to see their award-winning marina fill and grow. Of course, with the race we visit a huge number of impressive marinas around the world, but it is rare to find a marina which manages to combine efficiency and style whilst caring for its environment, so it was great to hear that Keppel was awarded the Green Maritime Company 2011 award.  

"It's not only Marina at Keppel Bay and its residences that have grown over the span of our partnership with Keppel. The Clipper Race has also grown, with more than 40 nationalities represented among the crews and we have a growing number of international partners with a variety of marketing and business aims. Each race sees our sponsors using our platform in new ways to achieve return on their objectives."

New York's Lloyd Cosby was certainly looking forward to exploring after he and his American team arrived at Marina in Keppel Bay.

"The amazing architecture and unique sky line stood out as we sailed in and I'm looking forward to spending some time in this metropolitan city.

"It was an amazing welcome with people lined up on the beautiful quayside with horns and flags. It was a really phenomenal way to get in."

Riikka Puustinen, a round the world crew member on Visit Finland, was equally impressed with the surroundings.

"It was a very friendly welcome and people were waiving from their balconies. The architecture in the marina really stands out and I'm very pleased to be here and to explore some more in Singapore before the race up to Qingdao continues next Saturday.

"There were quite a few Finnish people on the quayside to welcome us into Keppel Bay, which was great. It was really nice to see them and the rest of the crowd from all around the world here in Singapore."

Meanwhile Welcome to Yorkshire's Richard Hilson was hoping to make the most of the time the yachts will spend in the cosmopolitan city.

"I've planned quite a few things to do while I'm in town and it will be nice to be on land and see some different faces before we get ready to sail towards Qingdao on Saturday."

"It was great to see people from Singapore and the rest of the world gather to welcome us as we sailed into Marina at Keppel Bay."

In Singapore a busy programme of sailing and shore-side events will enable the sponsors of the Clipper Race, including Gold Coast Tourism, to leverage their partnership with the event to develop and build on trade, tourism, education and cultural links. The Clipper Race will host a networking event at the British High Commission to introduce trade opportunities with their partners to Singaporean businesses.

The fleet will set sail from Marina at Keppel Bay on Saturday 4 February, bound for Qingdao, China.

Overall standings after Race 7
1. Gold Coast Australia            73 points
2. Visit Finland                53 points
3. De Lage Landen            46 points
4. New York                40 points
5. Singapore                38 points
6. Welcome to Yorkshire        37 points
7. Derry-Londonderry            35 points
8. Qingdao                34 points
9. Geraldton Western Australia        31 points
10. Edinburgh Inspiring Capital        14 points


Become a fan of the Clipper Race on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/clipperroundtheworld

27 January 2012 -  Employment scams are on the rise in the Yachting industry and I've just been contacted by an individual to see if I could tell if the job he'd been offered was real? 

The Captains job in fact was a scam, and I thought I would post his comments via email for everyone to read.  This is just a note for anyone looking to start in the industry or is offered a great job, it's always worth doing a little fact checking yourself if you haven't gone through a reputable crew agency.

Here are the emails received below:  The first is the reply from a Captain Larry Foster.

"Having gone through your CV thoroughly,we are glad to inform you that your application has been approved.You will find in the attached files,your employment questionnaire which we do expect you to fill and resend back to us ASAP.The Management has consider your application for the post of CAPTAIN and we do hope you are able to lift up to our expectations.

For a Start,the Management would be offering you a monthly salary of 5,000 US Dollars which is payable into any of your designated Bank Account within or outside USA.

The Name of the Motor Yacht is BLEU DE NIMES and below is some details of the Motor Yacht:

A Summary of Motor Yacht BLEU DE NIMES

The motor yacht BLEU DE NIMES is a 56 metre 184 (foot) size able steel luxury yacht which was produced at Clelands Shipbuilding and devised by Admiralty. Accommodating 12 passengers and 20 crew, motor yacht BLEU DE NIMES was formerly Lodestone which was her shipyard project name or yacht title.

BLEU DE NIMES features beautiful woodwork craftsmanship with a traditional nautical feel. The exploration yacht BLEU DE NIMES boasts a gymnasium and an indoor / outdoor dining and saloon and aft deck social area. All cabins in motor yacht BLEU DE NIMES are located on the lower deck. The master cabin is 50m2 and the guest’s staterooms are about 25m2.

M/Y BLEU DE NIMES Engineering / Range & Speed:

Installed with two MIRRLEES-BLACKSTONE diesel engines, BLEU DE NIMES is able to reach a maximum speed of 14 knots. Connected to her Mirrlees-Blackstone engine(s) are twin screw propellers. She also has an efficient range of 3500 nautical miles when motoring at her cruise speed of 12 knots. Her total HP is 1650 HP and her total Kilowatts are 1214.

You will find in the attached files,the picture of the Motor Yacht.

We will like to know if you have a valid USA C1-D Visa,Work Permit and Flight Ticket.

If yes get back to us so we can talk of your coming over ASAP.

But if you don't have a valid USA C1-D Visa,Work Permit and Flight Ticket.

We will recommend you go through the Immigration Service Company that will help you with the processing of your traveling documents.
This is the Email address of the Immigration Service Company  ( <mailto: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it > This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it <mailto: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it > <mailto: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it > )


Inform them that you have being offered a job by the Brown Recruitment Yacht Club.We hope to get updates from you soon after you must have contacted the Immigration Service Company regarding your traveling documents.


Please Note: All crews are to pay Half of the total expenses needed for their traveling documents to show that you are really committed to work on our Yacht.The Management will pay the remaining half of your traveling expenses.Your Half payment of your traveling documents is refundable once you get On-Board.

Best Regards,

Capt. Larry Foster
PO Box 1030
New York,
NY, 10274
USA.

NEXT EMAIL READS -

Attention xxxxx,
Immigration Service Company Management wishes to thank you for contacting us regarding the Arrangement of your Traveling Documents to the United State. We promise to Offer you the best which you will be Glad you did. It was Indicated in your E-mail that you have been ask by your Company(Brown Recruitment Yacht Club) Capt. Larry Foster who ask you to contact us and we promise never to Disappoint you as we have never disappoint her either, also we would assure you that all documents would received and issued in a secure manner and sent to you. We would inform you to provide to us with the following information below, so that the documentation will commence without delay. We will like to inform you that your Visa form has been attached to this mail, fill it, sign it and do get back to us with a copy of the already filled Visa form. We would get your Visa within a week as soon as we received the information below from you.

- Full Name:

-Contact Address:

-Phone Number:

-Nationality:

-Scanned Copy of Your Passport Photo page(If available).

In accordance to your e-mail to us concerning your Working Visa and Work Permit to United State in order to work with the Brown Recruitment Yacht Club.

-A Total of $750 to enable us process the necessary Documents for the Working Visa for you to Travel down here to United State, alongside Working permit and all other backing documents as well.

Visa Charges: $450.00 US Dollars
Work Permit Charges: $300.00 US Dollars

The Total estimation for charges : $850 US Dollars

All Documents will be processed and arranged here in our Office after which will be shipped to your destination along with your Flight Ticket via DHL courier service. As soon as all necessary information are received from you, your visa form will be filled on your behalf in our office to avoid unnecessary mistakes.


Also all documents will be sent to you 3-5 working day after all information as been received.

We need you to provide to us with the appropriate answer to the question below.
1. Have you ever had any criminal record?.
2. Have you been deported back to your country before?.

Get back to us with the answer in order to acknowledge the processing of your traveling documents.


We will begin in earnest once we receive all necessary Requirement and Payment, so as to commence immediately on your traveling documents without any further delay.

Anticipating your respond

Yours Faithfully,

NEXT EMAIL READS:

Attention xxxxxx,
Immigration Service Company Management wishes to thank you for contacting us regarding the Arrangement of your Traveling Documents to the United State.We not  received your personal details . For clients from your region, payment is made through WESTERN UNION TRANSFER to our financial representative whose details are as follows...

NAME.........Angela Brown
ZIP CODE .......57049
CITY.......NORTH SIOUX CITY
STATE.....South Dakota

Get back to us immediately with the following details...

NAME OF SENDER......

ADDRESS OF SENDER.....

MTCN(MONEY TRANSFER CONTROL NUMBER)........

AMOUNT SENT...........


Thank you for entrusting your travels in our competent hands.

Anticipating to your respond

Yours Faithfully,

23 Jan 2012 - Entry to the Zhik International Etchells 2012 Australian Championship, to be held by Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in Sydney, closes in just under one week on 2nd February.

Regatta Director David Ritchard is looking forward to welcoming entries from around Australia even if the skippers haven’t qualified for the World Championship in Sydney, to be held later in the month. Registration for the event will be held on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th February. Included in the program is pre-measurement of the boats that are competing in the Worlds.

“From Monday 6th to Thursday 9th we plan is to do as many boats as possible. This will help take the load off when the boats go down to Sydney,” Ritchard said.

World Champion in 2010 and defending national champion, John Bertrand, will be back at another tilt at the national title. The national champion in 2010 and 2011, Bertrand will be facing a very tough fleet with up to 70 boats expected on the start line on Saturday 11th February for the four day, eight race, offshore series.

Initial entries include previous World Champions Cameron Miles and John Savage, gold medal 2000 Olympian Tom King and Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race multiple winning skipper Mark Richards. International entries have come from New Zealand, Hong Kong and America.

A serious contender for the national title will be the Magpie Team lead by Graeme Taylor. They recently won the Zhik Etchells NSW State Championship title sailed on the same offshore course as programmed for the nationals.

Taylor’s focus for the nationals will be on improving his team’s performance in the offshore conditions. “The more you do the better it is for you. It is more difficult sailing offshore so the more time you can spend sailing out there, the better it is.

“There will be some very good teams (at the nationals) that won’t be affected by the transition and that weren’t at the State championship, but have done a lot offshore sailing before.

“For us the nationals, to a degree, will be a warm-up regatta for the Worlds. If we have anything to try, we will be trying it during the regatta. We will however be taking it seriously and if we get the opportunity to win, we will take it. But, it is more of a warm-up program for us for the main game.”

During the State Championship Taylor’s team were testing out a new light-air jib and still found time to race aggressively and successfully. There’s a good chance they will be again be up the front of the fleet, even with more sailing testing and a change in team members.

Joining Mornington-based Taylor and long-term crew member, Sydney-sider Steve Jarvin, will be highly respected sailor, Grant Simmer. A man of many sailing talents and an old hand at Etchells racing, Simmer has a proven track record as technical manager and consultant to numerous international sailing programs, and as a sail-maker and tactician.

“We are pretty lucky to get him. He is doing the Worlds with us as well’, Taylor said.  

The International Etchells 2012 Australian Championship is sponsored by Zhik, North Sails, Pacesetter Yachts, Protector Yachts and Wetton Signage Group.

The full entry list can be found on the event website http://www.rpayc.com.au/championship/int-etchells-class-australian-championship

23 January 2012 - Riviera’s stunning new 53 Enclosed Flybridge will be on show for the first time at the Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show held from February 16 to 20.  The 53 will be among several of the newest and most popular designs from Australia’s largest and most awarded luxury boat builder which are tipped to impress boating enthusiasts at the show.

Riviera will exhibit four of its latest models at the Collins Avenue display including the new 43 Open Flybridge with IPS, new 53 Enclosed Flybridge with IPS or ZF 4000 pod drives, 5000 Sport Yacht with Zeus and the 5800 Sport Yacht with IPS or Zeus.

As one of the world’s largest and most prestigious boating events, the Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show spans 1.2 million square feet in the heart of Miami Beach.

Director of Riviera Yachts Chris McCafferty said the Miami Yacht and Brokerage show was regarded as one of the world’s leading boat shows.

“Riviera has held a strong presence at the Miami Boat Show for the past 12 years and we look forward to showcasing our impressive range of new models,” Mr McCafferty said.

“The Riviera display, located at the southern most end of Collins Avenue near the road bridge and adjacent to Ramp 34 is a prime spot to showcase our latest models,” Mr McCafferty said.

“The 53 Enclosed Flybridge has already received 17 orders from enthusiasts in Australia and the US in just eight months since it was launched in May last year.”  

This spacious design, dubbed the ‘spaceship’ is the first Riviera Flybridge in the 50 foot range to offer a full-beam master stateroom, with king-size bed and large ensuite. The 53 is also the first Riviera in this size bracket to offer an enclosed flybridge with spacious seating for a party of 10.

Featuring a new generation of luxury, technology and personal customisation, the 53 has been developed in-house after nearly two years of detailed consultation with boat owners across the globe.  The 53 has the option of an open or enclosed flybridge and a choice of either IPS or ZF 4000 pod drive propulsion systems.

The result is a fresh approach, signalling a new generation of Riviera prowess and efficiency. The 53 is a vessel of considerable internal volume, allowing Riviera’s designers to create unprecedented living spaces, elegant amenities and unrivalled performance.

“The new 43 Open Flybridge is one of Riviera’s most successful models with 33 of these new boats sold since its launch in 2010, which is a significant achievement,” Mr McCafferty said.

“The 5800 and 5000 Sport Yachts have been extremely well received with sales of 23 and 44 boats respectively since their recent launches with several models now in the Americas.”

“With such an impressive line up of new models on display, I have no doubt that Riviera will enjoy a very strong show.”
Riviera’s Director of Brand and Communications Stephen Milne said the Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show in partnership with the Miami International Boat Show had always been one of the largest and most successful boat shows for Riviera.

“With 24 boats currently under construction as we start the New Year, we anticipate continued success at the 2012 Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show.  We will have our professional team on hand to discuss our exciting new and innovative models,” Mr Milne said.

Riviera offers 20 different models from 36 to 85 feet across four model series Flybridge, Sport Yacht, Offshore Express and Motor Yachts.