DAME awards at METS 2009

Normally a wonderful source of innovative new products, the selection of winning entries at this years 19^th annual Design Award METS competition seemed somewhat uninspiring. But a lot of this was perhaps due to the poor layout of the DAME showcase area which totally lacked any signage to inspire and impress with the selection.

DAME attracted a total of 125 products from 108 companies each paying €150 for each product entered. 53 products were short listed for final consideration in 2009 and these were the ‘Nominated’ products that were on show. From these the Jury, lead by to yachting designer Bill Dixon, selected:

• The Overall DAME Winner
• 7 outright Category Winners
• 2 special certificated for ‘Most ECO Friendly’
• 1 ‘Most Innovative’ product
• 14 Special Mentions.

The overall winner was FLIR Systems, and its new M-626L Series Thermal Night Vision System. We were told judges were impressed by the unit's sleek design, Ethernet capability, and ease of installation, stating that the unit provides user satisfaction beyond anything currently on the market. Even in total darkness the Captain of a superyacht can see channel markers, other boats, people in the water and the shore line from greater distances and clarity than earlier models.

The M-626L system incorporates a micro-lux, low-light camera for improved visibility during twilight hours and a 26-degree field of view - an improvement of 25% over previous cameras. The unit is operated with a remote joystick, which can be located anywhere on the vessel.

British company Henri Lloyd was honoured for its commitment to environmentally friendly products. The jury also awarded special mentions to Kelvin Hughes, Musto and McMurdo.

Henri Lloyd won the special certificate for ‘Most ECO-Friendly’ products, along with winning the Clothing and Crew accessories category. The prize was awarded for its Blue Eco Jacket which, along with the Hi Fit trousers, is recycled and recyclable and is a showcase product in the company’s mission to become a greener manufacturing company. The launch of this Blue Eco Range saw the Manchester based company become the first international marine clothing company to engage in an infinite recycling programme.

Paul Strzelecki, Joint Chief Executive, said “We are especially pleased to win the Eco Award as we believe the Blue Eco Jacket is the positive first step on a long journey to become a more environmentally friendly company.”

In the marine related software category, Kelvin Hughes received a special mention for its Wiley Nautical Almanac 2009.

McMurdo was recognised in the life saving and safety equipment category for its Fast Find 2010. And in the clothing and crew accessories category Musto Active Base Layer whose garments have been engineered with seamless panelling and three different fabric knots for ventilation, protection and organ support was also honoured.

Staying in Amsterdam

The annual marine trade extravaganza that is METS is underway in its usual location in the Rai on the outskirts of Amsterdam. METS 2009 incorporating SuperYacht Pavilion is taking place in Amsterdam from 7-19 November 2009. www.mets.metstrade.com.

It is one of the essential shows of the year and as you might expect we are here. The hotel we have stayed in over past years has been sold on and the owners have recreated their own quirky brand in what was a former down market supermarket in the central area close by the Pijp a trendy area much loved by the young set seeking good food and fun drinking bars.

The hotel is V and we describe as quirky because it is like no other hotel. To call it no frills would be insulting but do not expect grand bathrooms packed with Jo Malone, ours is so small it is definitely one person at a time! It is however clean, tidy, very up to date and unlike all to many establishments has light airy bedrooms with extremely comfortable beds with good quality linens. Sparse furniture, in early 1970s style, sets the theme with long black and silver painted corridors and glass globe ceiling lights. The hotel has the smallest elevator known to mankind that is far from kind to men of ample girth! But best of all for the visitor seeking to work it has free wifi, unlimited free coffee and tea at the bar and even has work stations equipped with iMacs for those who do not bring their laptops. Oh and the staff are really great, friendly and helpful.

New products we have seen at METS are presented on our alternative blog site at Super Yacht News

Sailing Yachts at East Winds

Top Caribbean Hotel adds Sailing Catamarans to its list of Beach Attractions

One of our all time favourite hotels in the Caribbean is the East Winds Inn on the Island of St Lucia. It is right on the beach and very convenient for yacht owners to use as a land base for extra guests while their yachts are in the waters enjoying harbours such as Rodney Bay, Marigot Bay and of course Castries.

But if East Winds had a single fault it was that it did not have direct access to the water in its own sailing yachts something that General Manager Gareth Leach has now put to rights.

East Winds has acquired two brand new Hobbie Cats and reserves them for the exclusive use of the hotel guests. Use of the boats is, like everything else at the hotel, once you have paid the room rate, included in the price making this hotel not only one of the best on the island but equally one that offers real value for money.

If you fancy a bracing sail along the leeward side of St Lucia, book a room at East Winds and tell Gareth that Frances and Michael sent you.

End of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

© 2009 Frances Howorth

It is amazing how quickly a show is broken down after it shuts on the last day. The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show was no exception this year.

I took the photograph above on Wednesday from the helicopter usually aboard Allure Shadow.

Brent Haywood Photography made a time lapse video of the show breakdown. Brent said "We started filming at 4:30pm just prior to the show closing on Monday night. A few boats left that evening with the majority leaving the next day after 9:00am."

To view the video clink on this link Brent Haywood Photography

A Worrying Email Scam

A rather strange email was received at the offices of the British Guild of Travel Writers today purportedly from a member.

Luckily its phraseology was odd enough to raise suspicion, but of course being a travel writer the member concerned could easily have really been in West Africa.

This scam is both very clever and plausible. Has anyone else received something like this recently?

This is exactly what was sent to the Guild using the member’s email address:

Hi,


How are you? I'm sorry for not informing you earlier about my trip to West Africa for a Seminar,unfortunately, I misplaced my wallet on my way back to the Airport. I had no option but to send you an e-mail because I have no money to call and my phone does not work here.
I need a favor from you because I'm completely stranded and I need you to assist me with a soft loan of £1,500 to sort myself out of this mess and get myself back home.I'll appreciate whatever you can afford to help me with, I'll pay you back as soon as I return. Kindly let me know if you can be of help? so I can send you my personal details to send me the funds.



Your response will be greatly appreciated,.

Thanks




Jxxx Axxxx Travel Writer & Editor

The member was contacted by phone and luckily she answered. She immediately confirmed it was a scam and her email account had been hacked. Her password and been changed by the high jackers and now she was unable to access her account.

The British Guild of Travel Writers answered the email seeking confirmation of her identity and even suggested it sounded like a scam. This is what came back.

Hi xxxxx,


Thanks a lot for your response,I understand your skeptism and really apprecaite that,it so happens that I lost my little bag in the Taxi where most of my valuable stuff was,infact am so confused at the whole situation because I have been unable to retreive it,the visit scotland winter white party is on Monday 9th November, 1800 - 1930 right? and we are to Collect our tickets from the Scotland stand, UKI 1900,Please,I'll really appreciate your help and I promise to refund the money back to you as soon as I get back. Kindly help me send the money through the closest moneygram or western union outlet to you using my personal details below:
 


Name : Jxxx Axxx


Address:10 Bankole oki road


IkoyiLagos.


Country:Nigeria


Zip Code:23401


Test Question:Colour


Test Answer: Green
 


Please As soon as you send the Money,kindly get back to me with the details used in sending it.I promise to pay you back as soon as I get back,hope to read from you soon. Below Details as Follows...


Full Sender Name:


MTCN#:


Sender Country:


Amount Sent:

After I recieve the money I will email you on the arrangements to get back home.Thanks once again and I hope to hear from you soon.



Thanks

Jxxx Axxx Travel Writer & Editor

Fortunately the English used and the spelling style employed clearly alerted the Guild that this was not its own member replying and has not done anything else.

The reason I am posting this on the web is to warn others of how easily fraud can be accomplished.

Perhaps it is time for all of us who use G Mail and Hotmail to update our passwords and make them that bit more difficult to hack into.

Fort Lauderdale Apartment

Early this morning from our Apartment

Whenever we travel, reporting on super yachts around the world there is one thing that frequently blights our enjoyment and that is finding accommodation that we can afford to pay for and more importantly meets our high standards. We are sure that we are not alone in our desire to avoid noisy and sometimes dirty rooms in hotels chains. They are uncomfortable, have expensive and poorly served breakfasts and supplement their already substantial profit by charging huge sums to guests for the use the internet.

When we travel we like to live as local do, in comfort, with the necessities of life that make being and working away from home that little bit more bearable. A good, well equipped kitchen, washing machines, a place to work and other home comforts help ease the stress of being away on the road. What do you think?

For many years we have suffered poor accommodation in Fort Lauderdale at boat show time, made worse by the knowing the price has just gone up because the event is in town. So, it is wonderfully refreshing to be able to report on, and even recommend, a great self-catering apartment in downtown Fort Lauderdale that is fully equipped, and while not cheap is excellent.

Now, before you try to book it for next year’s show, let us make this abundantly clear that it is not available because we have booked it already! But for brokers, yacht managers, captains of super yachts and anyone else visiting Fort Lauderdale this place has our recommendation.

The penthouse suite on the 17th floor is a two bedroom apartment located over looking the New River, with spectacular views of down town and the water in the heart of Fort Lauderdale. The main bedroom has a huge bed, walk in wardrobe and bathroom with tub and separate shower. The second bedroom is laid out as a study with printer, wifi, sofa bed and its own bathroom. The large living room includes a fully equipped kitchen with dishwasher, washing machine and drier and a dinning room table that is perfect for working at.

Walk across the bridge to the Broward Center for Performing Arts and all that Las Olas Boulevard has to offer or catch the water taxi over to the beach or along the water ways so you get to see the houses belonging to millionaires who park their super yachts at the foot of their gardens! The apartment block has its own covered secure parking, a sauna, fitness centre, pool surrounded by BBQs for use by guests and even a 24 hour lobby attendant.

We have not told you how to find this gem and that is quite intentional but ask us and we might just tell you how to find it!

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show - Day 5

The Super Yachts from the Water © Frances Howorth

The final day of the Fort Lauderdale Boat show was as hot as the first with many of the more sensible visitors moving around from exhibit to exhibit inside the luxury of the air conditioned tents.

Exhibitors inside such tents were reporting brisk business as usual but the docks were, at the peak of the day, noticeably quieter than before. Inside we heard from Yachting Pages that the brand new Super Yacht Owners Guide was being well received and that many people, hearing how good it is from others, were seeking out their own copies.

The IPC media stand had a steady flow of customers seeking to sign up for a free subscription to SuperYacht Business magazine and get their hands on the latest copy of SuperYacht World. Both titles seem to have won new friends and admirers for the consistent good reading and we are both very happy to write for the IPC stable.

Just before lunch we were taken on a tour of Fort Lauderdale downtown by the press and communications office for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Visitors and Convention Bureau. It is amazing how year after year we can visit this city and learn so little about it save that it has the worlds largest boat show, so today’s tour was a great eye opener into what is on offer to the tourist and super yacht owner.

We lunched on the famous Las Olas Boulevard and while we would have liked to have taken in some of the splendid shops that line both sides of this up market street work was calling and we had to say an early goodbye to our gracious host.

One thing we did learn is that the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, is usually on at the same time as the Boat Show, running from mid-October to early to mid-November. Cinema Paradiso is where the Film Festival is based and there are also independent films attractions.

Those of us eagerly awaiting the outcome of the public auction on Monday of the super yacht Java were disappointed. The yacht while not sold during the show was withdrawn from auction by Sacks because two offers were said to have been received from buyers during the show.

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show - Day 4

Some of the many guests aboard Allure Shadow for the Halloween Party

Sunday it might be, but as actors say between themselves, the show must go on and so it is with us and the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and as specialist travel journalists who report specifically about super yachts we were working hard this Sunday as well.

With record breaking high temperatures for this time of the year in Fort Lauderdale it is important for showgoers to wear a hat and drink plenty of water and that is exactly what we did.

Our first act was to return to the scene of the crime, so to speak, in that we revisited Allure Shadow the toy carrying super yacht that was the scene of yesterday’s super yacht Buccaneers Bash, a Halloween party super yacht style. This time we were here not to party but to interview our hosts of last evening for a business to business feature which will be published in SuperYacht Business magazine.

Tom Gonzales who with his son founded the company that was to become Commerce One, the first to focus on selling office automation software to banks. He became the owner of a big white super yacht when he sold his company and then bought a Shadow Boat to carry the toys. He fell so in love with his shadow boat that he sold his white boat and created Shadow Marine to build Shadow Boats and Allure Shadow is the most recent incarnation of that process.

We then visited with the owner of Blind Date to get more information and personal input about this great Trinity yacht that we toured yesterday.

The docks are full of strollers and small children very few of who seem to be protected from the ravages of the Florida sunshine. There were so many that we have re named Sunday at the show and for ever more, we will call it Nappy Day.

We also spent time with Pendennis Shipyards, Camper & Nicholson Marinas and set up several interviews and site visits for the days that follow the show.