world

UK cruise ship is held in Madeira
Efforts are under way to release a UK cruise ship that has been detained by police in Madeira. The Van Gogh, which has about 460 passengers on board, was held on Tuesday shortly after it came into Funchal port in the Portuguese isles. Administrators claim the ships owners owe £2 million, after taking over the cruise at Christmas. Van Gogh Cruise Line Ltd said its lawyers were liaising with authorities. One passenger said she was shocked. Home straight The ship is on the final stage of a round-the-world cruise - stops included Egypt, the Caribbean, Ecuador, Tahiti and Cape Town - and had been due back in Falmouth on Saturday. It set off on 4 January from Falmouth, after its previous operator Travelscope went into administration at Christmas. A spokesman for Van Gogh Cruise Line Ltd, which is based in Cheltenham and a subsidiary of the Dutch-owned Club Cruise, said it was working with lawyers to get the ship released as quickly as possible. Passengers said the cruise director ...

Boatshed office in the Caribbean
Boatshed.com is very pleased to announce the launch of the very first Boatshed office in the Caribbean. And WOW what a start! The British Virgin Islands is a meca for sailboats around the world and BoatshedBVI.com has launched from its headquarters in Rhode Town, Tortola. BoatshedBVI.com is owned by Mr. Arjan Stoof who also owns and operates BVI Yacht Charters from his own 53 slip marina. A native Dutchman, Arjan has spent the last 23 years on Tortola and Boatshed HQ is happy to report he does know every boat, boat owner, bay and bar in the BVI’s. Also as a major Beneteau dealer, BoatshedBVI.com is very well placed to offer clients around the globe the very best brokerage vessels from the most unique location in the world. “With the charter side of our business we can also offer a “Try before you buy” on any of our Beneteau brokerage fleet” quotes Arjan. The short straw to assist in the training and launch of BoatshedBVI.com were Neil Chapman and Roger Bailey from Boatshed HQ who ...

Holmatro Marine Equipment Expands Operations to the Americas
Holmatro Marine Equipment, rigging hydraulic supplier to the NYYC Club Swan 42 and other fine European-built yachts, is pleased to announce their Maryland, USA based operations for the supply and service of their wide range of rigging hydraulics and hydraulic rod and wire cutters. Holmatro is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of hydraulic tools for rescue and industry with sales and service points worldwide. Holmatro introduced their marine equipment for sailing yachts in 2002 with resounding success. Their hydraulic rigging equipment line includes integral backstay adjusters, cylinders, boom vangs, control panels and mast jacks. In the summer of 2004, Holmatro acquired Meissner, a company well known for their line of classic winches. Innovation, quality and service are the key elements of Holmatro’s philosophy. Their experienced team of research and development engineers thoroughly bench test all new products before conducting field trials. In addition to field tests on ...

Mulder 76 Flybridge Dutchess arrives in New Zealand
In the spring of 2007, Shipyard Mulder in the Netherlands delivered a Mulder 76 Flybridge to a client from New Zeeland. After a successful season cruising the Mediterranean, Dutchess set course for her home berth - the Orakei Marina in Auckland. Mulder 76 Flybridge Dutchess The main part of the Mulder 76 Flybridge’s trip was arranged by Dockwise. She was loaded in Toulon after which the carrier headed for Gibraltar. From Gibraltar Dutchess made the crossing to Martinique. Later the yacht was transported through the Panama Canal to the Pacific Ocean. From there she crossed to Brisbane, Australia. Dutchess sailed the final leg of her journey, the 2400-nm trip from Brisbane to Auckland, on her own keel. This March saw the Mulder 76 Flybridge participate in the Auckland International Boat Show, where she was one of the major eye-catchers. One local newspaper, the New Zealand Herald, wrote how: “People are just amazed at her condition.” Shipyard Mulder has great expectations for this ...

New Lifestyle Magazine for Sealine
Sealine International is delighted to announce the appointment of Seascape Media as the official publishers of its biannual customer magazine. Designed to capture the personality of the Sealine brand and to reflect the lifestyle associated with owning a luxury motorboat, the new ‘Sealine Magazine’, which replaces the former ‘Instinct’ publication, will be a glossy lifestyle title. It will include features on a wide range of subjects from inspirational real life adventures, on board living to beautiful cruising destinations. It will be published in March and September and has exclusive distribution rights via the company’s dealer network and at international boat shows. It will also be distributed direct to Sealine owners in the UK. Commenting on their appointment Claire Read Managing Director of Seascape Media said we are thrilled to be handling this exciting new project and look forward to working with Sealine as their exclusive magazine publishers. Our objective is to produce a ...

The new spacious Hatteras 56 Motor Yacht
Hatteras Yachts is pleased to announce the newest member of its fleet, a 56 Motor Yacht that incorporates original design concepts, a spacious interior and intuitive features that make this an ideal boat for the owner-operator. Priced at under $2 million, the 56 Motor Yacht represents a new entry-level product for the thousands of boat owners who aspire to own a Hatteras. Thanks to its impressive interior, innovative features and solid Hatteras-worthy construction, the 56 Motor Yacht stands ready to introduce a whole new group of boaters to the benefits of becoming a member of the Hatteras family. To learn more about the 56 Motor Yacht, contact an authorized Hatteras dealer today, or visit a Hatteras display at an upcoming boat show. Boaters the world over appreciate the advanced design and robust construction that sets Hatteras apart from the fleet. Like all Hatteras models, the 56 features a solid-fiberglass hull bottom that includes beefy support for key areas such as the ...

MAXWELL joins the VETUS Group of Companies
VETUS N.V. takes great pleasure in announcing that MAXWELL Marine Limited, a leading manufacturer of high quality anchor windlasses and related deck equipment announced today that it has joined the VETUS group of companies. MAXWELL will remain independent within the group and will continue to develop, brand and market its own products, and will now have access to the capital resources of the international Dutch boat equipment company. MAXWELL and VETUS will form a strategic marketing alliance and seek opportunities and synergies to jointly expand their world wide businesses. Beschier Kik, CEO of VETUS comments: ‘I am really pleased to welcome MAXWELL to the VETUS group of companies. Their products and people are a fantastic addition to our business’. Marcel Borsboom, COO of VETUS adds: ‘VETUS and MAXWELL have many opportunities for growth and this alliance brings the group a strong team of dedicated people with excellent market relationships and fine production resources’. MAXWELL ...

Peters & May and Sevenstar join forces to create new yacht
Peters & May and Sevenstar Yacht Transport are pleased to announce a new joint venture to provide specialised logistics for the yacht racing community. Over the past several years, both companies have been active in supplying services to the yacht racing industry. Peters & May are recognised as leaders in providing comprehensive global logistics solutions on a door-to-door basis and have worked with many of the world’s top racing programmes and events over the past 20 years. Sevenstar is well known for having today’s largest fleet of yacht transporters in the world and has a close relationship with the racing scene. This new joint initiative will provide racing teams and yachting associations with a total logistics package offering global solutions for yacht transport, spares positioning, refit work and multi-destination racing programmes amongst others. Through this joint initiative, Peters & May and Sevenstar will actively promote this new service with a focus on developing new ...

48 nations registered at the 39th Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia MAPFRE
At less than two weeks from its beginning, the 39th Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia MAPFRE confirms itself as one of the most international editions in the history of this Majorcan Olympic classes regatta. Up to 48 nations will be represented in the bay of Palma from 15 to 21 March with all the attention of the sailing world on the event in this Olympic year. The 39th Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia MAPFRE will welcome the best world teams of each class, a fact that consolidates this event as the most important and international Olympic classes regatta in Spain. Up to 586 boats and 900 competitors will meet in Palma as shown by the pre-entry lists of the Consortium Regatta Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia, formed by the Govern de les Illes Balears, Palma and Llucmajor city councils, the Consell de Mallorca, MAPFRE, Real Federación Española de Vela, Federación Balear de Vela, Real Club Náutico de Palma, Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa, Club Nàutic S’Arenal and Escuela Nacional de Vela ...

New Insurance Facility at TheYachtMarket
Velos Insurance Services Limited is delighted to announce that they are now working in partnership with TheYachtMarket.com. As marine insurance specialists they welcome enquiries from all visitors to TheYachtMarket.com, whether an insurance quote is wanted for a new purchase or an existing boat. Specialist marine insurance brokers, Velos, have access to a panel of first class marine underwriters, both Company and Lloyds, to ensure they are able to find the most suitable policy for each individual’s needs at the most competitive premium. Excellent for all types of yacht, including higher value vessels, policies are tailor-made to suit each individual’s requirements, and include the ability to offer worldwide cruising ranges. Exceptional customer service is the major ethos at Velos, with a quick turn-around time on quotations and policy issuance. Owning a boat is one of life’s great pleasures and can give many years of enjoyment. But they are expensive items and therefore need to ...

Moonen 85 refit requires temporary parking-lot structure
Parking At A Premium At Moonen Shipyards: With the shipyard order book quite full, Moonen had to erect a temporary heated structure adjoining its older hall to complete the work over the winter. With mast top removed, Moonshadow Noa was moved into the heated, protected environment, where painting could be accomplished with outside temperature as low as 0O Celsius. ’s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands: Moonen Shipyards is pleased to announce the completion of a major five-month refit of one of its original “pocket-size superyachts,” the fifth Moonen 85 Moonshadow Noa ex Moon Shadow, launched in 1991. The Moonen 85 was designed by Diana Yachts in the early 1980s, with a graceful flared bow, canoe stern, and classic superstructure. The model is credited with putting Moonen on the world map as a leading quality builder of efficient, comfortable, long-range offshore cruisers. At her launch in 1985, the first Moonen 85, Cassiopeia S, attracted many serious clients; by 1992 the shipyard had ...