Beneteau boat sales grew by 21.1 per cent to €694.4m. With its sustained rate of product development (23 new models), the Group has continued to refresh and extend its ranges. In the four key areas from its development strategy (large power yachts, the Asia region, powerboats in North America and South America), it achieved sales growth of over 70 per cent, up to €67.5m.

Over the last 12 months, Beneteau has continued to develop its business in the powerboat market and now claims to be one of the leading players in Europe. At a press conference in Cannes, the company announced that the Jeanneau, Prestige, Beneteau and Monte Carlo Yachts (MCY) brands are all expanding their motor ranges with an emphasis on targeting growth in new markets.

Beneteau offers more than 100 sail and powerboat models from 6m-18m (20ft-60ft) under the Beneteau, Jeanneau, Lagoon and Prestige brands. The company also builds custom luxury yachts under the CNB marque.

from Yachting monthly

Poole in Dorset isn't your average location for Tinsel Town movie makers but the Sunseeker tale certainly fits the bill when it comes to story lines.
The luxury yacht company was founded in the 1960s by brothers Robert and John Braithwaite and its products soon became the boys-toys of choice for the mega rich from Antibes to the Bahamas. Sunseeker motor boats turned up in James Bond films - the ultimate product endorsement - and Robert Braithwaite even made a cameo appearance in Quantum of Solace, 007's latest spectacular. But then things got difficult. Sunseeker's finances sprung a leak. The SOS call went out.
Sitting in the company's sales berth at the Southampton Boat Show, Peter Crowley looks pleased as punch. The private equity boss manned the lifeboat that came to Braithwaite's rescue and it already appears to be paying dividends.
"We couldn't be happier with how it's gone," says the gregarious Irishman, chairman of Dublin-based FL Partners. "We bought into the business in June last year and we're already profitable and in a strong cash position."
The company's recent results suggest things are at least returning to an even keel. In the year to the end of July, profits were up fourfold to £25.5m. Sales have yet to return to full throttle, down 10pc at £275m, but Crowley claims they'll be up again next year.

With stock markets heading over a cliff and the global economy running out of gas, it's quite a boast. Surely customers are cutting their cloth in the face of all the chaos?
Stewart McIntyre, Sunseeker's managing director, says that misses the point.
The opening price for one of the company's yachts is about half a million pounds, with the latest offering - a 155 foot beast - set to float with a £20m price tag. Pre-tax. For owners, think oligarchs and business barons. Bankers and Premiership footballers need not apply.
The 155-footer will cost about £15,000 to run each week. If you want to fill it with fuel, that'll be £40,000. Kitting out some of the boats with a full entertainment system? About £200,000. One owner even requested a pole dancing pole.
"Most of our customers are high net worth as opposed to mass affluent," says McIntyre, the dour Scots salesman to the upbeat Crowley. "You say they must be feeling some pain but they're robust in their capabilities."
The short and tall of it is that for many Sunseeker customers, a 20pc fall in the FTSE is neither here nor there. They're too wealthy to worry about it. Another Lehman Brothers might have a more significant impact but we're not there yet. In fact McIntyre claims the number of signed up, deposit paid orders the company has taken at this year's Boat Show significantly outnumbers last year's tally.
Demand mirrors the rise of the new economic powerhouses. Sunseeker's traditional heartlands in northern Europe, the Mediterranean and the US are tough, albeit still providing repeat orders, but growth is all about the BRIC countries. Brazil, Russia and China are all up, while business from Greece and Egypt is through the floor. Asia now accounts for a fifth of the company's sales, against just 5pc three years ago.
The key to Sunseeker's recovery, Crowley says, is that its past troubles were only skin-deep.
"What attracted us was that right through the recession, Robert kept on investing, almost to his detriment in the end, and revenues never took a real hit as a consequence," says Crowley. "The company wasn't immune but the problems weren't about the core business. He just ran into liquidity issues. The only thing that was missing was financial stability."
It was quite a miss but it's a typical entrepreneur's story. Expansion and passion in spades, without the backing of adequate systems and controls.
"Robert's only mistake was charging ahead without backfilling stronger and stronger management," he says. "The whole thing was built up on trust, which is fine until things break down.
"The main issue was the collapse of one of the two UK dealers, F&M Sales Group. It went into liquidation and to protect the brand Robert stepped in and sorted that out. And then on top of that a number of boats were sent to a foreign dealer, all on the basis of trust, and that dealer went under. The boats disappeared."
Crowley is matter of fact about the company's recent history. After all he admits the events were simply an opportunity for FL, which also owns the Racing Post. "Robert needed to strengthen the balance sheet and we came in as part of a classic refinancing," he says. "We paid off the bank in full and brought in new debt and equity."
FL's model, unlike traditional private equity, is to raise funds from a small group of investors based on particular projects. Sunseeker's "seven or eight" equity backers - who collectively put in £25m of funds -include Stagecoach founder Brian Souter and Dreams beds founder Mike Clare.
"They are guys who would prefer to say I've got this much of Sunseeker rather than I gave X amount to Blackstone or Permira," says Crowley. "We got people in who knew and loved British manufacturing and knew what a UK brand could do. When you see what's happened with Burberry, the new markets are crazy for British manufactured brands. There'd be no interest in some of them if they were manufactured elsewhere."
The company employs 2,340 staff in manufacturing in the UK, McIntyre says proudly, and has few plans to change that. The group is considering an assembly plant in Brazil - to get around the country's 100pc import duties - but Crowley insists it would "just be final stage stuff".
The group's plans include moving back into 'smaller' yachts, with a 40 footer set for release next year. Under Braithwaite's control, the company focused on larger vessels and the super-rich to try to steer a way through the downturn, but the company is now changing tack. "We want to bring in a wave of new buyers. We've let the competition get too easy at that end of the market," says McIntyre.
Despite all of the changes, Braithwaite remains a major shareholder - with about a quarter of the company - and Crowley insists there are no plans to change the status quo. "He's president of the company and is fantastic. We want to hold on to him for as long as we can," he says. "We're only at base camp in terms of the plans we have for the business. It's going to be one of those where everyone wins."
That remains to be seen. Crowley and co will just be hoping there isn't another twist of this particular Hollywood epic.

By Jonathan Sibun

from the Telegraph

"Interestingly, with her topmasts are down, Victory will look much as she did after the Battle of Trafalgar when she had to be towed to Gibraltar for repairs," said Professor Dominic Tweddle, director general of the National Museum of the Royal Navy.

"We are delighted that the MoD has given the go ahead for the work on Victory," said Professor Tweddle. "Preserving a wooden warship is a battle, a battle against nature and just as epic in its way as the Battle of Trafalgar. To be able to witness how that battle is fought will be a big draw to visitors."

Visitors to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard will get the chance to see how sailing warships were built and maintained thanks to new interactive exhibition called Bones of Oak & Iron - Beneath Victory's Skin.

This free exhibition explores how she was preserved and cared for in war and peace, and explains the current restoration process that will span the next decade.

From www.yachtingmonthly.com

Apart from IRC Racing, participants would be judged accordingly to respective competing categories comprise Cruising A, Cruising B, Cruising C and Multi-hull along the passage race.

Last year, participating yacht from the Philippines was the champion for the IRC Racing of Miri-Labuan passage race after defeating two participating yachts from Sarawak, UluMulu and Sarawak Seahorse into second and third places respectively.

Remington from United Kingdom was the champion for the Cruising A category followed by First Light from Australia (second) and the third-placed winner was Tewai Pounamu.

For Cruising B category, Far Niente took the champion's title while Arnak (second) and Keturah (third) in the same cate- gory.

In the Cruising C category, Petima was the champion followed by Pateke (second) and Amber Nectar (third).

Zosha was the champion for Multi-hull Category, Forza (second) and Deja Vu II (third).

Boats from Australia have contributed the most number with 22, while others are from British Virgin Islands, Canada, France, Germany, Holland, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of America and Vanuatu.

Four participating boats namely Sarawak Seahorse, Miri Magic I, UluMulu and Eloise are representing Malaysia for the race.

They are expected to arrive at Sutera Harbour Marina on the morning of July 29 followed by Kota Kinabalu Harbour Race the next day.

Prize presentation will be held in the evening at Sutera Harbour Resort.

Meanwhile, BIYC is a joint effort between Sarawak, Sabah and Federal Territory of Labuan, organised under the auspices of Malaysian Yachting Association.

It aims to promote Borneo Island and make the route between Miri, Labuan and Kota Kinabalu as one of the premier world yachting destinations.

The overall winner of the challenge this year will be those with the least scoring point on the corrected times of the Miri Bay Race, Miri to Labuan Passage Race, Labuan to Kota Kinabalu Passage Race and Kota Kinabalu Harbour Race.

From the Borneo Post

Brunei could make its mark in the economy not just in the oil and gas industry, but also with yachts.

Chief executive John Mallory Bromage said he found the Sultanate had the finest boat-building material in the world, after consulting various overseas experts.

Atoll Yachts intends to design and produce the first local brand of yachts of international standards, utilising local hardwood species the selangan batu and meranti.

the company is currently constructing a 111-foot wooden yacht dubbed Atoll III.

Located on the bank of Belait River. Atoll Yachts has been providing maintenance services for vessels around Southeast Asia since it formed on March 8, this year.

According to Bromage, the market for yachts in Southeast Asia is expanding, with 53 marinas being built in the region.

Addressing environment concerns, the CEO said the company was prepared to make a commitment to Brunei's rainforests, for every tree they take to build a yacht, they would "put two back".

Atoll Yachts would also be looking into starting apprenticeship programmes, drawing skills from local vocational and technical schools.

According to the company, Brunei has significant advantages in the industry, including no acid rain, no typhoons, a long dry season (March to October), a stable business, political and social environment as well as good security.

Duty-free imports of boat equipment, engines, electronics and low taxation and government charges augurs well for the company.

From Borneo Post

Fourteen sailors from Koh Samui have entered and will bringing their own boats giving a fleet of 25 boats with more to come! The event is open to anyone else who has experience with racing.

Racing starts at 10:00 and can be watched from Ao Yon Bay or Cape Panwa, but the best way is to join the Andaman Cabriolet Spectator Yacht, out on the sparkling waters. 'It's great to have the opportunity to support local sailing for young people,' said Grenville Fordham of Image Asia, who are supplying the refreshments on the spectator yacht.

There are four races per day with a post-race barbecue and get-together mid afternoon, come and join us and support our young sailors.

'It's a great pleasure to be a sponsor for this event'; says Helene Fallon Wood, from Tamarind Villa Phuket 'It is also important for the underprivileged Thai children of Phuket to enjoy their own ocean and become not only proficient but champions in the regular national sailing programme'.

The Squadron is still looking for other local companies to join in and support this event and help promote youth sailing on Phuket.

Individuals interested in supporting the Squadron are invited to join our supporters club - Friends of the PYSS for 500 baht subscription fee per year.

by Kathleen Gooch-Firmin

(Source: Sail-world, Sunday 20 Mar 2011)

First practice race, 1330 hrs start. Time for the live broadcast crews to practice their swing-and-pan shots, time for the pretty tv anchors to put on the foul weather gear, time for action on the water. The first start became a General Recall as almost the entire fleet of 22 J/80s was pushed gently over the line by the tide. Second start, same story. Third start and the fleet was away 'clean' for what is usually known at RHKYC as a 'Sunset' race (triangle-sausage-finish), right in front of the clubhouse.

The starting gun must have woken up the wind gods, as all of a sudden the breeze piped up, and crews suddenly found themselves sailing in 12-15 kts. A short beat to the windward mark - maybe 300 m - and then up went the colourful Phoenix TV and iFeng.com spinnakers. It was enough to make a photographer's heart glad in spite of the clagging grey (and the incessant rain) as the harbour broke out all over in a rash of red and yellow.

Leeward mark roundings with a little pressure in the sails proved troublesome for some, and a few 'interesting' moments were witnessed - and in some cases recorded. Tiffany Koo and a well-drilled crew on Jelik 6 led all the way round the track and finished with a healthy lead, but you know what they say about winning practice races...

An interlude on shore allowed time for lunch before the 'main event' at 1600 hrs - timing dependant upon the arrival Guest of Honour, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, former Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR. He's a busy man on a Saturday afternoon, is Mr Tung, so we just had to wait. The rain came and went, and came again, and the breeze wasn't quite so sure. But Mr Tung was on time and so was the start, and this time there were no recalls. Right on cue, in came the breeze, and the rain stopped. We never got the sunshine, but the fleet did get some good racing.

Fast-starting boats at the pin end set the pace for the first part of the race, with the fleet heading up towards the Hung Hom buoy before the pressing down towards the Shau Kei Wan mark. Almost all the boats held the North Point shore to stay out of the incoming tide, and were lifted along the line beneath the Island Eastern Corridor. 'We were tacking along the shore'' said Jim Johnstone later, 'but only changing 10-15° on the compass heading between tacks. It felt really good.' But there are two sides to any race course, and Jelik 7 with Louise Perfectua at the helm 'went the other way'. Standing on past Hung Hom and then all the way into Kowloon Bay and towards the old airport runway - a longer course, and crossing the tide completely, but at Shau Kei Wan they had a commanding lead on maybe 20 lengths. The scrap was for second place between Alchemist (Nigel Reeves), Jelignite (Jim Johnstone), and Hakawati (Dan Tullberg).

The race was Perfectua's for the taking, but the run back down back to Hung Hom was less kind than the beat up. 'Low, slow, and straight down the middle' was Jelignite's programme, while Jelik 5 tried to run the angles - but although there was wind, there wasn't enough to get a J/80 planing, and the extra distance took a toll. Perfectua later acknowledged that the v2.0 J/80 asymmetrics being used by most of the fleet (but not Jelik 5) allowed for deeper running, and a distinct advantage. By Hung Hom, Jelignite was in the lead, and Alchemist (complete with Phoenix TV anchor smiling prettily under her Phoenix TV hat) had pushed into the second slot.

The race had to last 90 minutes, according to the tv people, so the next leg went back up to Dock buoy and then returned to Hung Hom. A bit like running a pursuit race, and trying to hit a specified time for the first finisher. No matter: an 'S' flag on the Cheoy Lee at Hung Hom was a finish line, with Jelignite cruising home to a comfortable victory. And the camera boat got back to Kellett Island and under cover, beating the nasty-looking rain squall coming in from Central.

It was a brisk reach from the Hung Hom finish back to the RHKYC - the lucky ones got there before the rain re-started. And then at 1900 hrs, to coincide once again with live broadcast, prizegiving time with Mr Liu Chang Le, Chairman and CEO of Phoenix TV, and Mr KK Yeung, Executive Vice President and CFO. On this, the company's 15th birthday, Mr Yeung declared the Phoenix Cup to be a resounding success, and looked forward to another edition next year.

by Guy Nowell,

(Source: Sail-World, Sunday 20 Mar 2011)

'Clearly we are very disappointed to return to terra firma under jury rig, instead of making it home to Barcelona under sail,' commented Dominique Wavre. 'But we're glad to have made it in safely and we are really touched by the support we have received from the Argentinian authorities, the army and the Mar del Plata Yacht Club. We have also received numerous messages of support over the last few days and we'd like to sincerely thank all our friends and supporters for their help. Finally, I'd like to thank Mirabaud, who gave us incredible support during both Michèle's health problems and the dismasting.

The co-skippers were warmly welcomed by a small delegation of friends, journalists, members of their shore team and Mirabaud's local South American contacts.

The co-skippers were warmly welcomed by a small delegation of friends, journalists, members of their shore team and Mirabaud's local South American contacts.

At the time of losing their mast, the pair were in a close sixth place and battling for a podium position. Michele's health problems had rapidly improved after they rounded Cape Horn and the boat was in good shape and ready for the final push to the finish.

'Dominique Wavre and Michèle Paret handled this crisis with incredible reactivity' commented Antonio Palma, Associate and CEO of Mirabaud. 'It's often at the most difficult moments that real strength of character and clear-thinking truly come to the fore and Dominique and Michèle are proof of this.'

Dominique Wavre and Michèle Paret will now take a well-earned rest while Mirabaud will return to Europe via cargo ship.

Dominique Wavre's home page : www.dominiquewavre.com

by MaxComm Communications

(Source: Sail-World, Sunday 20 Mar 2011)

The Beneteau Owners Club is running a cruise to France over the weekend of July 1-3.

The fun, family cruise will leave Port Hamble, although other South Coast start points may be added if required, and head for Cherbourg.

Free workshops will be staged before the weekend, enabling sailors of all abilities to participate.

Any Bénéteau owner can register for the event by emailing beneteau@ancasta.com.

by Andrew Brook

(Source: Yachting Monthly, Sunday, 20 March 2011)

Tracy Edwards will be reunited with her all-female crew from the 1989-1990 Whitbread Race at the Volvo Ocean Race Legends Regatta later this year.

The two-day regatta will be before the start of the 2011-2012 Ocean Race in Alicante in November.

More than 12 racing crews that either won the round-the-world race or caused a major change in the sport will participate in the regatta.

And Edwards (pictured above) is adamant that her team aboard Maiden was one such crew. She said: 'Maiden transcended sailing because it wasn't just about getting girls on the water. It was much more than that - it was about breaking moulds and proving that anything was possible.

'It encouraged more girls to get out on the water and there was a flurry of all female crews entering the race after that though it seems to have gone backwards now that the race is no longer a Corinthian event.'

Sir Chay Blyth's Great Britain II, line honours victor in 1973-1974, will also appear at the regatta. Lawrie Smith's Rothmans, one of Maiden's rivals from 1989-1990, is signed up and it is hoped that winner of that race, Sir Peter Blake's Steinlager 2, will also attend.

by Andrew Brook

(Source: Yachting Monthly, Saturday 19 Mar 2011)

Prince William and Kate Middleton have launched the Royal Wedding Charitable Gift Fund for well-wishers who will not be attending their nuptials, but still wish to send a gift.

Many of the charities, including the Ocean Youth Trust, aim to help disadvantaged children reach their potential.

Clarence House said that many of the charities has been chosen because their unsung work resonated with the Royal couple.

The Ocean Youth Trust is four separate, independent charities based in Scotland, Ireland and the north and south of England.

Southern area chief executive Mark Todd said: 'This is a fantastic recognition of our charitable work and will make a hugely positive contribution towards our key aims of taking more young people to sea and raising funds towards a new purpose-built sail training vessel.

'We hope that it will inspire more young people from all backgrounds to want to sail with us. We are a small charity and this could make a really significant difference to our long-term future.'

Scottish area chief executive Nick Fleming said: 'It's always great to hear that someone wants to support Ocean Youth Trust and adventure under sail, but it's not every day that those supporters turn out to be Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

'I'm sure all the young people who sail with us, our members, volunteers and supporters will be as delighted as me and wish the couple all the best.'

by Andrew Brook

(Source: Yachting Monthly, Friday 18 Mar 2011)

Led by America's Cup Race Management (ACRM), the first test session will include race course configurations that enable tight, tactical racing as well as umpiring and race management that allows for instant calls during fast-paced competition.

'We are launching a new racing product in July,' said Iain Murray, ACRM CEO and Regatta Director for the 34th America's Cup and the AC World Series. 'We have developed new rules and now we need to test those rules on the water.'

'We learned a lot of things about the performance of the AC45 during sea trials in New Zealand, but now we need to see them in simulated race mode. We will also test new race course configurations to make the racing more engaging for competitors and fans alike.'

During this period, ACRM will test:

* New Racing Rules for the America's Cup
* New umpiring system based on the use of GPS data from raceboats and marks
* New race management using telemetry to and from mark boats
* Course configurations for both match racing and fleet racing
* Start line procedures
* On-water communications systems
* Emergency and safety systems
* Shoreside launching, mooring and docking procedures

The second test session, led by the America's Cup Event Authority (ACEA), will provide the first test of the next-generation broadcast images and graphics that change the way people will watch sailing on television.

'At each event, we want the viewer to not just see the action, but to really be part of it,' said Richard Worth, Chairman, ACEA. 'Through our new on-board cameras and microphones, you will get to see the quick decisions being made, the athleticism of the sailors, the raw power of these boats - you will be right there with the teams as they fly over the water.'

During this period, ACEA will test:

* On-board cameras
* On-board microphones
* New broadcast graphics package including use of video and overlay graphics from GPS data

'Our new graphics overlay goes beyond being a viewing aid,' said Worth. 'This system will connect viewers to the racing in a way that has not been possible before.'

The AC World Series is a regular circuit of eight regattas that will bring America's Cup-level racing and the America's Cup experience to top international venues.

Televised to expose millions more fans to the sport of high-performance sailing, the AC World Series will feature both fleet and match racing at each event.

At the end of each AC World Series season, a champion will be crowned. These regattas provide the fans the only opportunity to see all of the America's Cup competitors racing together.

by America's Cup Media

(Source: Sail-world, Friday 18 Mar 2011)

Exhausted but still determined, Wouter Verbraak admitted from the sunny, still sanctuary of Stanley in the Falkland Islands today that he and co-skipper Andy Meiklejohn went through some dark hours when they battled through two long non-stop days of painstaking work trying to repair damaged sails while aboard their Imoca Open 60 Hugo Boss while at anchor in Adventure Sound, trying to keep alive their shared dream of making their circumnavigation an unaided one.

'We unfolded more and more sails and discovered more and more damage, which was devastating. For us this race is all about first the competition, but secondly also making this a non stop race, so that is why we made such an effort to not make a technical stop, so to be faced with the facts that we had to, is devastating. We were absolutely devastated. We are absolutely gutted after working for 48 hours straight without sleeping. We were exhausted. It was not a fun place to be.'

Dutch co-skipper Verbraak admitted today by phone, just five minutes after tying up in the Falklands harbour, and minutes before he and Kiwi Meiklejohn were expecting their first 'real cup of coffee' in 75 days.

'We have pretty much all the sails to repair, it is a manufacturing flaw, we have holes and parts of the film which need repairing. We are not sure how long it is going to take but at least 3-4 days working away here repairing sails.'

'It is a number of sails, we have to make sure that we can actually get to Barcelona without making another stop, at least just a one stop race, not a multiple stop race, and as everybody knows the Atlantic is not your Mediterranean light winds sailing.'

The duo were anticipating the arrival this Thursday afternoon from England of their technical shore manager Ross Daniel, armed with specialist glues and sailmaking films. They expect to take advantage of the light winds weather window to make the mainsail mast track repair first priority before getting wired into the sail repair marathon.

The duo paid a great tribute to the support of the local community who have already been pulling out the stops to help the Dutch-Kiwi duo.

'We will probably end up using the church as a sail loft. So they have kindly asked us to move out of the sail loft on Sunday, but we will continue either side of their worship.'

Mirabaud retires
Official confirmation came this morning of the retirement from the Barcelona World Race of Dominique Wavre and Michèle Paret, the Swiss-French duo on Mirabaud following their dismasting.

Yesterday evening, following the constant monitoring of their progress under jury rig by the MRCC authorities, the vastly experienced couple had a welcome visit from an Argentinian Navy's Drummond class combat ship A.R.A. 'Granville' and an army plane which were on exercise in the area. The ship was some 14 miles away and set course to rendezvous with Mirabaud which was spotted for them by the plane. A RIB was then sent across to Wavre and Paret with 150 litres of diesel fuel for them which should allow them to make safe passage towards Mar Del Plata.

The couple and the organizers of the Barcelona World Race extend their thanks to the MRCC and the Argentine military personnel for their help and professionalism.

In the Doldrums with the goalposts moving
In the lead, progress has been mixed for both Virbac-Paprec 3 and Mapfre. The French duo who top the standings, Jean-Pierre Dick and Loïck Peyron, have not yet really hit the stop-start progress and the really typical Doldrums conditions, indeed Peyron confirmed that not only have they not had the worst of the conditions, but the axis of the convergence zone is moving north with them. And second placed Mapfre have still been making decent progress in light SE'ly tradewinds, still making 27 miles again back on the French leaders this afternoon.

Standings at Thursday 17th March at 1400hrs UTC:
1 Virbac-Paprec 3 at 3203,3 miles to finish
2 Mapfre at 253,3 miles to leader
3 Renault Z.E at 1051,7 miles
4 Neutrogena at 1278,8 miles
5 Estrella Damm Sailing Team at 1341,1 miles
6 Gaes Centros Auditivos at 2209,9 miles
7 Hugo Boss at 3264,2 miles
8 Forum Maritim Catala at 4422 miles
9 We Are Water at 6293,1 miles
10 Central Lechera Asturiana at 8347 miles
RTD Foncia
RTD President
RTD Groupe Bel
RTD Mirabaud

by Barcelona World Race

(Source: Sail-world, Friday 18 Mar 2011)

This is probably the most successful yachting event in Eastern Mediterranean, and is one of the top charter events in the world. Over 80 luxury yachts are being presented to international professionals represented by some of the most acclaimed charter brokers in this industry.

The aim of the Charter Yacht Show - Poros 2011 is to showcase a large array of well maintained yachts and highly trained crews. During the five days of the Charter Yacht Show, professional visitors will have the opportunity to view the yachts, speak with crews and gather information from the yacht managers and exhibitors' booths. In the evening, visitors can meet the local industry in a relaxed ambience, enjoying theme parties, casual gatherings and formal dining.

One of the highlights of the event is the Chef Competition, which will be judged by the most demanding international brokers and awarded at the Chef Competition Awards Ceremony on May 10th.

(Source: SuperYachtTimes.com, Thursday, 17 March 2011)

Designer Ed Dubois said "We are delighted that the estimated carbon emissions of the Dubois Cup have been offset! Yacht carbon offset is such a good idea and we believe it is the duty of our industry and indeed our sport to support this concept. We are most grateful and truly delighted that we have Yacht Carbon Offset as a sponsor and partner in the Dubois Cup 2011."

Yacht Carbon Offset's Managing Director Mark Robinson commented: "It is an honour to partner with Dubois for what promises to be a spectacular event. The Owners of several large sailing yachts have committed to carbon offset policies, and it is great to welcome Dubois alongside them. We believe that the Dubois Cup is the first superyacht regatta to offset its carbon footprint. We thank Dubois for taking this practical step that fits perfectly with the beautiful setting of the Costa Smeralda, and the natural grace of the competing sailing yachts."

(Source: SuperYachtTimes.com, Wednesday, 16 March 2011)