PREPARING YOUR BOAT FOR A HURRICANE

This is a very informative video from West Marine, with resources from BoatU.S.  If you are in an area where hurricanes may threaten, please take 12 minutes to watch the Top 10 most important preparation tips explained below.  I think you will be glad you did!

For further assistance, visit the BoatU.S. Hurricane Resource Center at www.boatus/hurricane.

For information specific to the South Florida / Treasure Coast area, please give me a call at 772-201-1800 or contact me by email at tom.jenkins@TomJenkinsYachtSales.com.

TOP 5 UPCOMING MEDITERRANEAN DESTINATION OF 2012: MALTA & GOZO

An article from SuperYachts.com by Tristan Rutherford

St Tropez will never fall out of fashion. Nor will Cannes ever lose its passion. But according to luxury yacht company Y.CO, this summer’s Mediterranean charter season has seen a shift to offbeat, experiential yachting destinations.

Malta’s Grand Harbour is the most majestic in the Mediterranean. Its vast fjord of azure water is ringed by medieval city walls. But the vacuous visitors associated with the island offer a perennial PR problem. The cruel may claim that Malta’s traditional holidaymakers think Jimmy Choo is their local Chinese takeaway. Or that raw fish is the root of salmonella, not of sushi or ceviche.

Tourism has moved on: and so has Malta. Enveloping this cosmopolitan port is the UNESCO-protected capital of Valletta. This sandstone city is adorned with tumbling vines and alfresco bars. Benjamin Disraeli claimed it was: “comparable to Venice and Cádiz, full of palaces worthy of Palladio.”

St John’s Cathedral is a gilt-lined masterpiece replete with haunting paintings by Caravaggio. Across the Grand Harbour, the ancient suburb of Vittoriosa has been remodelled to take superyachts of up to 100m. Hip clubs offer a place to play, while a score of Mediterranean restaurants line the quay.

A 30-minute sail north lies the island of Gozo, Malta’s beach-lined little brother. Its seashores are empty, the pace is slackened: it’s like the 21st century never happened. Jacques Cousteau stated that some of the Mediterranean’s finest scuba spots could be found around Reqqa Point. Marlin, amberjack and scorpion fish ply the shallows, as Gozo rises up from a mid-ocean ridge. Breaking out the scuba gear has never been more fun.

For more information, guides and itineraries, click here for the full insight into Malta through the new Y.CO sponsored Destination Guides.

TOP 5 UPCOMING MEDITERRANEAN DESTINATIONS OF 2012: GREECE

Reprinted from a Superyachts.com article by Tristan Rutherford

St Tropez will never fall out of fashion. Nor will Cannes ever lose its passion. But according to Y.CO chartered luxury yacht, this summer’s Mediterranean charter season has seen a shift to offbeat, experiential yachting destinations.

In this five-part mini series, Y.CO’s destination expert Tristan Rutherford profiles five of this summer’s hottest superyacht destinations. All will be on every charter parties’ radar for 2013. Today’s fifth and final destination in the series, Schoinoussa, Greece.

Schoinoussa is a tiny island in the Cyclades. A lack of airport means that its coastline is pretty much boat-only. Better still, its current population census reads just 206. There’s a manifest sense of discovery when a Y.CO chartered luxury yacht drops anchor off Schinoussa, which can’t be said for many Greek islands in 2012. It’s far removed from the glitz of Santorini and Mykonos, and that’s putting it mildly.

But those in the know return year after year to Schinoussa and its peaceful neighbours – Iraklia, Donoussa and the twin Koufonissia islets. Seafarers can spend days or even weeks exploring this lonely archipelago. Privacy, peace and simplicity are the lures that attract many of Greece’s social elite to moor up each summer too. They’ve been known to host private bouzouki concerts by leading Greek musicians – and invite the entire island to the party.

Kato Koufonissia, the smallest of this group of islands, makes Schinoussa look like a giant. With an area of just two square miles, it is nevertheless home to a fishing flotilla that delivers fresh bream, lobster, squid, red mullet, grouper and whitebait to quayside restaurants. Here, your catch of the day is so fresh that it may still be twitching as it heads for the kitchen. Now that’s what we call experiential travel.

For more information, guides and itineraries, click here for the full insight into Greece through the new Y.CO sponsored Destination Guides.

GREEN-STICKING FOR TUNA: Sportfishing Mag

A top captain offers tips for using green sticks to target yellowfin tuna

By Capt. Vincent Daniello

The V of the idling boat’s wake fades into the oily flat sea. Just beyond, two acres of porpoises break the calm as they blow before heading back down to their feast on opelu — Hawaiian mackerel. Between the boat and the porpoise, 150-pound ahi tuna leap from the water, sometimes twisting in midair with acrobatics more common to sailfish than tuna.

Only one thing could provide a much more exhilarating show: yellowfin leaping from the sea to eat trolled artificial squid.

“The yellowfin are competing against porpoises, not just other tuna, so they’re really aggressive,” says Capt. Russ Nitta, owner of Lepika Sportfishing in Kona, Hawaii. “They’re moving 35 mph when they blow up on our squid. It’s spectacular!”

Nitta is green-sticking — the term given to trolling artificial squid from the top of a fiberglass pole more than 30 feet in the air. The plastic squid spend more time out of the water than in, which he says is as effective as it is exciting.

Nitta shares his 10 years of green-stick experience with Sport Fishing readers.

The Stick & RigNamed for the greenish tint to fiberglass poles made in Japan, green sticks are sold in 11-foot, hollow tapered sections. The outside diameter of the base of one nestles within the inside ­diameter of the top of the section below it, overlapping 12 inches at the joint. Nitta secures joints with strips of rubber and hose clamps.

Some captains fasten only one section high on the tuna tower. Nitta uses three sections, setting the base section (about the size of a softball) into an aluminum socket on his flying bridge. Another bracket clamps around the pole six feet higher, fastened to his half-tower. This puts the tip 36 feet above the water.

Nitta crimps 700-pound monofilament to a ring at the tip of the green stick. He crimps a loop in the other end, making it just long enough to reach the tip of his trolling rod.Nitta fishes four squid from 100 yards of 400-pound Momoi X-HARD monofilament atop 400-pound spectra braid spooled onto a Fin-Nor 130 reel. He divides his main line into sections with simple crimped loop-to-loop connections.

From each connection, he attaches a longline clip with several yards of 530-pound Momoi X-HARD monofilament. At the other end of each of these drop lines, Nitta rigs 9-inch Mold Craft artificial squid with 11/0 Dozer hooks. “I tie a Flemish knot with the mono where it passes through the hook,” Nitta says. “That keeps the squid from traveling up the drop line, away from the hook.” (See this knot below courtesy of YouTube member chainheart3)

Up in the AirFirst in the water goes Nitta’s three-foot-long bird, designed both to attract tuna and tension his whole rig behind the boat.

Forty yards up from the bird, he attaches his first drop line and squid. The next three squid are spaced 18 yards apart. “Tuna think the bird is chasing the squid,” Nitta says. He trolls the closest squid 34 yards from the boat.

These distances vary with each green stick, but Nitta says the length of each squid drop line takes the most tweaking — even changing with a new bird.

With the rig deployed, Nitta attaches the last loop-to-loop connection to the 700-pound monofilament line coming off the tip of his green stick. “I use 200-pound Dacron. That’s what breaks when fish are hooked,” Nitta says. He ties the Dacron to the green-stick line with an improved clinch knot, and attaches the other end of the Dacron to the main fishing line with a longline clip. Letting line off the reel shifts tension to the green stick, raising the rig.

Thin nylon rope attached to the green-stick line at this intersection allows Nitta to retrieve the green-stick line once it breaks away, and also allows him to jig the squid down into the water. “Use anything that’s light and comfortable to hold in your hand,” Nitta says.

Showtime“I like to troll my bird right at the front of a pod of porpoise,” Nitta says. At 5 knots, he angles ahead of the predictably moving pod using his fish finder to ensure that tuna are present. “Porpoises usually stay within 120 feet of the surface,” he says. “I’m looking for marks from 150 feet down to 400 feet.”

“My drop lines hold my squid about four feet in the air while trolling,” Nitta says. He pulls down on the jig line every few seconds to bring the squid down to the water, allowing them to touch the surface only briefly. “You can put the fish off by dragging those squid in the water. Yellowfin are used to tracking things in the air. They hit as soon as their prey hits the water,” Nitta says. “They don’t miss often.”

Once hooked up, the angler reels while Nitta detaches unhooked drop-line clips as they come in, ready to leader hooked tuna to the gaff. “I like to fight them off the side of the boat from a dead boat,” Nitta says.

“It’s not unusual to have multiples,” Nitta says, recounting a memorable triple. “One fish took the squid closest to the boat. It jumped 10 feet in the air. Another took the squid closest to the bird. As those two landed in the water, a third fish blew up in the middle.”

With three ahi hooked, the mainline broke — normally drawing the curtain on any fishing show — but Nitta rigs a couple of two-foot-long bullet-shaped fishing floats about eight feet behind his bird, providing an encore by retrieving the other end of the line.

What tops such aerial acrobatics? Fresh sashimi with the show!

About the expert: Russ Nitta grew up fishing with his father offshore of Oahu. He’s since fished both coasts of North America but prefers Kona’s calm waters and big fish.

Tuna photo by Capt. Josh Temple

10 TIPS FOR TAKING YOUR DOG ON A BOAT

Good information for taking "man's best friend" on the boat!

Reprinted from October 31 Boats.com blog.

If you have a dog and you don't take him on your boat, poor little Fido is missing out.

Most dogs love getting out on the water as much as you and I do—and you wouldn’t leave you best friend stuck on shore every time you left the dock, would you? So the next time you grab your sailing bag or fishing rods, also grab the leash and the water bowl. Just remember to use these dogs-on-board tips, to keep the trip a fun one for everyone.

1. Bring plenty of fresh water. Dogs can’t perspire, and they’ll need to lap up lots of H2O in order to stay cool, especially when the sun is blazing.

2. Let him off the leash—if you trust him not to take a flying leap. Usually dogs won’t jump from a boat that’s moving (except in the case of a poorly trained hunting dog, or an inexperienced puppy), and he’ll be curious, and want to move around a lot. Note, however, that when the boat isn’t moving plenty of dogs will take an unexpected plunge.

3. Bring a piece of indoor-outdoor carpet. Lay it in the cockpit, and your dog will be able to keep a solid footing. Fiberglass nonskid decks may provide a secure footing to you and I, but they can be quite slippery to a dag’s paws.

4. Don’t cut bait, and leave it sitting out. Do so, and there’s a good chance it’ll get gobbled up. Yech—worm breath!

5. Don’t leave lures swinging from fishing rod tips. A dangling temptation with hooks is NOT what you want your pup to go chasing after.

6. Make sure the dog has a chance to relieve himself, before you leave the dock. Nothing ruins a trip on the boat like having to go… and being unable to!

7. Be prepared to turn around on rough days. Yes, dogs can get seasick, too. It’s not as common as it is with people, but it does happen. Don’t plan on a long day in rough waters until you’ve had a chance to expose your dog to rocking and rolling, and you know for a fact that he doesn’t get green when the waves kick up.

8. Take plenty of treats. Positive reinforcement is always the best way to get a pooch to do your bidding. With a handful of treats, you can get him to stay put when you’re occupied with important tasks, like setting the anchor or tying up lines.

9. Consider buying a dog vest. These provide floatation, and neoprene models also provide some warmth if you’re boating in cold waters and chilly air. This is especially important for retrievers, which almost always find a way to get wet sooner or later. In fact, jumping off the dock before you even shove off is a distinct hazard with this breed!

10. Use a ramp or carry your dog onto the boat, if it sits well below dock level. Otherwise there’s a fair chance your dog will try to jump onboard, and possibly injure himself. Boarding and disembarking should always be controlled, planned motions.
-Lenny Rudow

WATCH THOSE WASHERS: A TIP FROM "MOTORBOATING"

Make sure to properly position washers in order to avoid excessive heat build-up.

by Vincent Daniello / Wed, 9 Nov 2011 / Motorboating.Com

High-amperage fuses for main DC power feeds and bow thrusters are held in their holders with nuts and washers. Make sure the washer sits just beneath the nut, and never between the fuse and connecting cable lug. That thin stainless steel washer doesn’t conduct electricity particularly well and might heat significantly under long, high-amperage loads. Boat fires have been attributed to inappropriately placed washers.

FREE NAVIGATIONAL APP FOR IPAD/IPHONE

Video demo of the FREE Jeppesen Plan2Nav app for IPad and Phone.  This looks like a great tool....a free worldwide base map, weather with wave data & wind info, even marina photos & services...all for FREE!  Specific charts can be purchased for as little at $19.99.

CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO VIDEO 

or watch below

RE-COMMISSIONING YOUR BOAT FOR THE SEASON

More good information from Capt. Rich at A RR Marine Service!  Contact him at 772-486-2843 or by email at CaptRich18@aol.com.

*    *    *    *    *    *    * 

Having a boat in storage for the off season can be a great way to avoid some of the worries associated with the storm season here in South Florida. But as we know, there are some headaches that are encountered when the boat needs to be re-commissioned. Whether the boat was in dry storage, out of the water, or just tied up safely at some out-of-the-way dock, there are some things that should be looked at before the boat goes back into service.

Batteries.  Always number one on the list. I can't stress enough how many things are dependent on proper battery condition and voltage.

Fresh water systems and heads.  One advantage to South Florida boating is we don't winterize for storage, but a good fill and drain of the water tanks can never hurt. Run all the faucets and flush all the heads. Sometimes seals dry out and crack and now is the time to find those leaks.

Fuel/Oil.  Check your log and make sure oil and filters are up to date. Also, don't forget that ethanol gas problem that we hear about. Hopefully the fuel was stabilized before storage. Always check bilges, high water alarms and bilge pump float switches. It's always the bilge pump that is the hardest to get at that has problems, so get in there and check it. It could save your life.

Don't forget about that family of wasps that have decided to make their summer home under your gunnels. They are always so friendly!!!....."Hey, Do you think the stinger is still in there?"

Other things such as proper registration stickers, updated insurance cards, life jackets, EPIRBS, and all the other "boring boating administration items" that are required for Coast Guard compliance should be in order.

The good news is that after all this hard work is done, the rest is beautiful sunsets, tight lines, and happy boating.  Enjoy!

                                                                                  Capt. Rich, "A RR" Marine Service

AN IMPORTANT LESSON -- LEARNED THE HARD WAY!

Often, it is the simplest things that can cause big problems, overlooked perhaps because they are so obvious, because we don’t understand their importance, because we become complacent, or because we just forget. Things like wearing sunscreen, changing you car’s oil, or remembering your wife’s birthday.

In yachting, there are lots of little things that must be addressed regularly for maintenance or safety.  After 32 years in the business, I am somewhat keen about them.  But I got complacent about one of the most important and was reminded -- the hard way -- a few months back.

GOOD BOAT SHOES!

I have to say that I absolutely knew better.  But age and sore feet gave way to comfort and style and cushioned insoles and “acceptable” outers trumped made-for-boating brands.  For years, my shoe rack was filled with Sperrys and Docksiders, specifically made to give good grip and traction on wet, slippery decks.  But little-by-little, they were replaced by soft-soled styles, easy to slip on and off, that protected client’s decks and flooring -- but that didn’t protect me!  I had no problem for years until one day, reality struck.

It was early morning and I needed to check something on a client’s boat.  The deck was wet from dew mixed with a light rain.  I knew it was slippery and that I had to be careful boarding but when I stepped from the dock to the deck, those nice, cushy soles had no grip and gave way.  With all my weight on it, my foot went sliding forward and my back leg followed, slamming into the side of the boat as I tumbled (very ungracefully, I’m sure), down into the cockpit.

After a quick check of all my body parts, I thought I had escaped with a few bruises and a slightly wounded pride.  Then I noticed the gash just under my knee and the fountain of blood pumping from it.  Thankfully, the dock master was nearby and he was able to compress the artery to stop the bleeding until I got to the hospital. 

I consider myself very blessed that I came away from that experience with no more than seven stitches.  It could have been so much worse.

Well, those not-for-boating shoes are now long gone and I certainly learned a critical lesson.  In the words of Julius Caesar, “Experience is the teacher of all things”.

How important are good quality, well-maintained boat shoes?  Very, very, very!  In the marine realm, footwear and safety go hand-in-hand and manufacturers have come a long way in offering new, comfortable, contemporary styles.

Please, check your shoes before your next boarding and be sure they will keep you safe and on your feet in all marine conditions.  Its one of those simple little things that will help avoid big, unexpected problems.

Wishes for safe and happy boating!

GLITTER AND GLAM IN MONACO

With the Monaco Yacht Show coming up this week, Sept 21-24, I thought this article might be of interest.  Originally posted on Friday, Sept 9 at thestar.com (http://ow.ly/6x9hn) by Lorianna DeGiorgio, it offers some good information to visitors of the area.

The Monte Carlo Casino is probably
the most famous gambling establishment in Europe.

MONTE CARLO, MONACO—Glamour doesn’t get any bigger than Monaco. Nestled between France and Italy on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, the wealthy principality is the second smallest country in the world next to Vatican City.

If you envision Monaco being all about Ferraris, Chanel handbags and champagne, well, you’re not dreaming. The constitutional principality, which is roughly the size of New York City’s Central Park is home to the world famous Monte Carlo Casino, 13th-century Prince’s Palace, F1 Grand Prix and superb shops and dining.

Monaco’s four main districts — Monaco-Ville, the old town, Monte Carlo, Fontvieille and the port area known as La Condamine — house the wealthy pursuits the country is known for. Throw in breathtaking sea views, a rugged landscape and steep, winding streets and it’s hard not to be caught up in the allure.

Like other French and Italian Riviera destinations, Monaco boasts a warm, dry summer and a mild winter, at roughly 10 C degrees or so.

Monaco is ruled by the House of Grimaldi, which dates to the 13th century when the family seized control of Italy’s House of Genovese.

Over the centuries, France and Italy continued to fight for control of the small country, but the Franco-Monegasque Treaty of 1861 granted full sovereignty to Monaco. French is the country’s official language, followed by the ancient language of Monegasque spoken by its locals.

The Grimaldi family marked 700 years of rule in 1997, and today Prince Albert II acts as its head of state after taking over from his father, Prince Rainier III, who died in 2005.

Once an elusive bachelor, Albert has been in the news lately thanks to his multi-million-euro wedding in July to former South African Olympic swimmer, Charlene Wittstock. Those nuptials, and the sensational gossip surrounding the couple’s relationship, made headlines around the globe and brought more attention to the prince’s homeland.

The city boasts a number of French and Italian cafés and restaurants for lunchtime. There are pizzerias throughout the city catering to the American tourists. But if gastronomy is what you’re after the country offers several renowned restaurants in La Condamine and Monte Carlo. Dining in any area of Monaco will cost you a pretty penny so eat a light lunch so you can splurge on dinner.

If you’re going to stay in Monaco overnight, then the Fairmont Monte Carlo is probably the best hotel in the principality. The hotel’s rooftop pool overlooks the city, and its series of bars and restaurants offer breathtaking views of the Mediterranean. The fact that the hotel’s entrance is at the well-known “hairpin” turn of the Grand Prix race course only ups the ante.

If shopping is your thing, Monte Carlo’s Le Centre Commercial is home to more than 80 boutiques, while the stories around the Cercle d’Op and the Galerie du Park Palace are home to top designer brands.

If you’re looking for souvenirs, then the small shops in Monaco-Ville are the best, as is the open-air market in La Condamine at Place d’Armes.

But it’s not just shopping and people-watching in Monaco. Some of its top attractions are also some of its oldest and most storied, including the Chapel of Mercy in Monaco-Ville, which dates to the 17th century, the Prince’s Palace atop the “Le Rocher” of Monaco-Ville and on the site of the Genovese fortress, and the grandiose Monaco Cathedral, which dates to the late 1800s and houses the tombs of Rainier III and his wife, Princess Grace Kelly, the Hollywood actress who died tragically in 1982. She is the mother of Albert and his two sisters.

Tourism and gambling are Monaco’s biggest economic bases; Monte Carlo Casino is perhaps Europe’s most well-known casino.

The casino, famed for its appearances in James Bond films, and the adjacent Opera House were built in the late 1870s by architect Charles Garnier, who designed the famous Paris Opera House. Daily tours are available of the casino’s Salon Europe with its roulette and Punto Blanco tables and Salle des Amériques with its Black Jack and Craps tables. Access to the casino is prohibited to anyone 18 or younger or anyone without proper attire — so dress up.

The pristinely cultivated gardens surrounding the casino are also worth a visit.

Gardens run aplenty in the tiny country of 32,000 people. The Roseraie or Rose Garden of Princess Grace with its 150 varieties of roses honour the life of the garden’s namesake. The Jardin Japonais near Larvotto Beach is a zen oasis.

For any soccer lover, the Champions Promenade is a must-see. The boulevard running along the Mediterranean has footprints of some of the greatest soccer players in history.

Monaco’s tiny pebble beaches offer inviting dips in the sea. Monte Carlo Beach and Larvotto Beach are the top two with both locales and tourists swimming, sunbathing and participating in water skiing, windsurfing and jet skiing.

For the nautically minded there is also an Olympic-sized pool facing the harbour, and the nearby Monaco Yacht Club where multi-million-dollar yachts rest in Port Hercule.

Monaco is home to a number of museums for such a small country. The Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium on Avenue Saint-Martin offers glimpses into what lurches in the Mediterranean, while the Museum of Napoleonic Souvenirs at the Prince’s Palace and the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology offer peeks into Monaco’s past.

JUST THE FACTS

ARRIVING The closest airport to Monaco is Côte d’Azur International Airport in Nice, France. There is no direct flight from Toronto to Nice, so the best bet is to fly first to Montreal then to Nice.

Monaco is accessible by train with connecting lines to several French and Italian cities. There are daily train rides to Milan and Genoa, overnight trips to Paris and Rome, and several daily trains to the towns on the French and Italian rivieras.

STAYING The Fairmont Monte Carlo (+377 93 50 65 00; www.fairmont.com/montecarlo) offers sea views, a series of cafés and restaurants and an excellent concierge service. The hotel offers over 600 guest rooms and private suites. Prices start at 259 euros a night for a standard room.)

The oldest hotel in Monaco is Hôtel de Paris in Monte Carlo, which dates to the 19th century and is near the designer shops of Chanel, Prada and Hermes. Prices range from 440 euros a night for a standard room and go up to 2,000 euros for a night in one of the opulent suites. (+377 98 06 30 00; www.hoteldeparismontecarlo.com)

SIGHTSEEING Given its small size you can walk from one district in Monaco to another in no time. The only drawback of strolling around the principality? The steep streets. However, the problem is solved with 24/7 escalators and elevators around the downtown.

SHOPPING Monaco has it all in terms of luxury ware. Don’t expect to score a deal here. The main shopping districts are around the casino in Monte Carlo and in La Condamine.

DINING The majority of the restaurants are located in Monte Carlo and along the harbour overlooking Port Hercule.

The Quai des Artistes (+377 97 97 97 77; www.quaidesartistes.com) overlooks the stunning Port Hercule, and is mirrored after a Parisian bistro. Fresh fish, including oysters and lobster are its top sellers. Diners can expect to hobnob with the glitterati as the restaurant is popular among the VIPS who visit Monaco. A three-course meal with a bottle of wine will cost you at least 350 euros for two.

La Salle Empire in the Hôtel de Paris (+377 98 06 89 89) in Monte Carlo offers a Mediterranean cuisine including Monegasque soup, fresh fish and vitello tonnato, a cold veal served with tuna-flavoured mayonnaise and capers. A three-course meal with wine will cost you roughly 200 euros.

Another people-watching favourite is La Brasserie du Café de Paris at Place du Casino (+377 98 06 76 23, www.montecarloresort.com). A meal for two will run you around 150 euros with wine.

TIPPING Like in other parts of Western Europe, service at restaurants and hotels is already included in your bill, so if the service is exceptional — and trust me it will be — you can add more euros on top of the bill.