Cookery demonstrations and special menus created by top German chef Martina Kömpel will be offered on board the tall ship Star Clipper in Thailand this winter as part of the company's series of occasional themed cruises. Kömpel, a consultant chef who has worked in top European restaurants including the Hotel Ritz in Paris, will perform cookery demonstrations several times during the voyage departing Phuket on January 30, 2010. She will also serve a 'chef's special' during dinner each night alongside the regular menu items. Kömpel is already well-known to German passengers as she's a popular face on two of the country's top cookery reality TV shows, as both a judge and actual TV chef. She speaks English and French as well as German and her demonstrations are designed to appeal to all guests. Setting sail from Phuket, the seven-night voyage visits some of the most beautiful and remote areas of southeast Asia, including Ko Adang island, a rainforest paradise of white beaches and tumbling waterfalls; the Malaysian resort of Penang; the remote Butang Group of islands, famed for their magnificent underwater life; and Ko Khai Nok, a tiny island surrounded by exquisite beaches and clear, aquamarine waters. Star Clipper then sails to Phang Nga Bay, peppered with dramatic limestone towers; and the Similan Islands, another superb dive site, before returning to Phuket.
For more details visit www.starclippers.co.uk
January 2010 Archives
Cork, Ireland, one of ten 68ft ocean racing yachts competing in the Clipper 2009-10 Round the World Yacht Race, has struck a rock in the Java Sea, some 200 nautical miles north east of Jakarta. All 16 crew were safely evacuated to the island and subsequently to two sister yachts, Team Finland and California. All are safe and next of kin have been informed.
Falmouth Coastguard is working with local agencies to ensure that the situation is being constantly monitored.
The yacht was sailing in 20-knot winds when she struck a rock off the small island of Gosong Mampango at 2018 GMT, 13 January (0418 local time, 14 January) having left Geraldton, Western Australia for Singapore on 3 January.
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