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YachtWorld Heroes

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Meet The YachtWorld Heroes…

In The News

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A Man for All Seas: David Rockefeller, Jr. is the YachtWorld Hero for 2013 In the decade since it was founded, Rockefeller’s ocean-stewardship organization, Sailors for the Sea, has taught, cajoled, certified, voyaged, borne witness – and become a powerful ally of the briny. Read more in this YachtWorld article by Senior Editor Doug Logan:

YachtWorld.com Hero Awards Video highlighting this year’s nominees and finalists along with the hero of the year for 2013, David Rockefeller, Jr., was part of the Miami Boat Show Press Breakfast.

David Rockefeller Jr. Wins YachtWorld Hero Award As Senior Editor Doug Logan put it, “It’s hard to imagine how the oceans of the world could have a better friend” than David Rockefeller Jr., who today was recognized as the 2013 YachtWorld Hero. Read more in this boats.com blog:

David Rockefeller, Jr. receives award for 2013 YachtWorld Hero from Ian Atkins, Sr. Vice President and General Manager of Dominion Marine Media

DOMINION MARINE MEDIA NAMES DAVID ROCKEFELLER, JR. ITS 2013 YACHTWORLD HERO

Norfolk, VA – (February 13, 2014) –Dominion Marine Media, the division of Dominion Enterprises that operates YachtWorld, Boat Trader and boats.com, today announced its selection of David Rockefeller, Jr. as 2013 YachtWorld Hero.

Now in its third year, the YachtWorld Heroes initiative from Dominion Marine Media recognizes individuals and their organizations that have leveraged their love and respect for our oceans, rivers, lakes and streams into a higher consciousness among boaters and the general public.

David Rockefeller, Jr. was voted 2013 YachtWorld Hero from among five finalists by an independent group of boating journalists and marine industry members. He received his award at the opening of the Miami International Boat Show in Miami Beach.

Rockefeller was cited particularly for his founding and leadership of the ocean conservation non-profit, Sailors for the Sea. As a passionate sailor and lifelong friend of the environment, he set out in 2004 to create an organization that could speak with one voice for sailors’ interests in protecting the ocean. Since then, Rockefeller has helped Sailors for the Sea find meaningful ways to take on the challenges that increasingly put marine life and coastal environments at risk.

“Ten years ago, Sailors for the Sea was founded with a dream and a deep love for the ocean. It is quite an honor to be named the 2013 YachtWorld Hero, and speaks to the excitement that the boating community feels for this organization, and for protecting the oceans upon which we sail,” said David Rockefeller, Jr., Chairman, Sailors for the Sea.

Under Rockefeller’s leadership, Sailors for the Sea has thrived, steadily raising its profile and growing its programs, including:

• Clean Regattas, a certification program that helps sailing events implement sustainability practices and achieve higher environmental standards. Its adoption by the America’s Cup in San Francisco led to an 81-point plan to minimize any negative environmental impacts of the event.

• Ocean Watch Essays provide monthly articles that discuss current ocean health issues, engage sailors and provide opportunities to take action.

• Clean Boating resources are freely available and provide tips for all boaters to reduce their environmental impacts at sailorsforthesea.org, and Rainy Day Kits are informal lesson plans for young sailors to learn about marine science.

• The “Around the Americas” voyage rounded both Cape Horn and the Northwest Passage, circumnavigating North and South America, delivering the message of ocean conservation to dozens of ports along east and west coasts.

“We encourage boaters and everyone who loves our marine environment to support our Heroes and their organizations, or to set up their own community programs of ocean advocacy and friendship with the sea,” said Jessica Muffett, founder of YachtWorld and YachtWorld Heroes. “Our collective efforts will set an important example of good marine stewardship for others.”

For more information on all of the nominees and their endeavors, please visit 2013 YachtWorld Nominees and Finalists. The five distinguished judges were: Wendy Mitman Clarke, Dieter Loibner, Jessica Muffett, Stanton Murray and John Page Williams. For more information about the judges, go to Our Judges.

The Envelope, Please: 5 YachtWorld Heroes Finalists Announced – The winner will be announced at the Miami Boat Show on February 13, 2014.

It took some effort, but the judges finally narrowed down an impressive list of nominations to five finalists. And in a few weeks, the list will be furthered narrowed down, to just one name, who will become the 2013 YachtWorld Hero. Read more: http://www.yachtworld.com/boat-content/2014/01/the-envelope-please-yachtworld-heroes-finalists-announced/#ixzz2rB2MFsei

DOMINION MARINE MEDIA ANNOUNCES 2013 YACHTWORLD HEROES FINALISTS – Winner to be announced at Miami Boat Show in February

Norfolk, VA – (January 1, 2014) –Dominion Marine Media, the division of Dominion Enterprises that operates YachtWorld, Boat Trader and boats.com, has announced the five finalists for the 2013 YachtWorld Heroes award.

Now in its third year, the YachtWorld Heroes initiative from Dominion Marine Media recognizes individuals and their organizations who have leveraged their love and respect for boating in our oceans, rivers, lakes and streams into a higher consciousness.

The five 2013 YachtWorld Heroes finalists are:

Joel Aberbach, Volunteer, US Coast Guard Auxiliary District Seven Assistant Staff Officer, Sea Partners and America’s Waterway Watch, http://cgaux.org, of Miami, Florida, has volunteered 25,000 hours over 40 years to educate the public about protecting and preserving our marine environment.

Betsy Alison, Paralympic Coach for the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider, http://adaptive.ussailing.org, a 2011 US Sailing Hall of Fame Inductee among other honors, of Newport, RI, has dedicated her life to disabled sailing to build more understanding, inspiration and tolerance of the disabled. Her current focus is the development of national team athletes in 3 Paralympic sailing events in preparation for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Dieter Paulmann, Founder of Okeanos Foundation of the Sea, and Pacific Voyagers, http://pacificvoyagers.com, of Germany, and his Crew with their fleet of seven vaka moanas, or ocean going sailing canoes, sailed across the Pacific 20,000 miles to raise awareness about contemporary threats to the sea.

David Rockefeller, Jr., Founder, http://sailorsforthesea.org, of Newport, RI, educates and engages the boating community in the worldwide protection of the oceans. With offices in Newport, RI, San Francisco, CA, Japan and Portugal, their programs directly engage boaters to fulfill their vision, and list steps boaters can take to reduce their environmental impact.

Jeanne Socrates, Sailor, http://svnereida.com, of the UK, completed a singlehanded, nonstop, circumnavigation mid 2013 at the age of 70, following two other near solo circumnavigations that involved beaching, loss of a boat, knock down off of Cape Horn, and major repairs interrupting her first two attempts.

The winner will be announced at the Miami Boat Show on February 13, 2014.

“It is an honor to recognize these remarkable people for their endeavors and provide exposure of their organizations to boaters everywhere,” said Jessica Muffett, founder of YachtWorld and YachtWorld Heroes. “They are addressing important issues for our blue planet, proving one person can make a difference.”

For more information on all the nominees and their endeavors please visit YachtWorldHeroes.com and click on 2013 Nominees and Finalists

The five judges were:

Wendy Mitman Clarke is an award winning writer and columnist. She has been a columnist for Cruising World, the executive editor of Chesapeake Bay Magazine, Mid-Atlantic bureau chief Soundings, a staff writer for the Associated Press, and a freelance writer for Smithsonian, Preservation and National Parks among others. After cruising with her family on their sailboat for five years, she is now land based in Chestertown, Md.

Dieter Loibner is an award winning bilingual writer (English, German) and columnist. He is the sailing editor for Soundings magazine, a consulting editor for Boats.com and the US correspondent for Yacht, Europe’s largest sailing publication. His work also appeared in numerous other magazines, including Cruising World, Sailing World, Sail, Sailing, Sea Kayaker, Trade Only, Wooden Boat, Classic Boat (UK), Yacht Revue (Austria), and Yacht Classic (Germany). A sailboat racer and multi-book author, he holds a Ph. D. in Journalism from the University of Vienna, Austria, and lives in Portland, Ore.

Jessica Muffett, Princeville (Kauai), HI and Seattle, WA, is the founder and publisher emeritus of YachtWorld, and founder of YachtWorld Heroes. The former owner of a yacht brokerage, dealership and leasing company in Seattle, and current board member of Benaroya Research Institute, she paddles surf ski’s and 6man canoes on Hanalei Bay.

Stanton Murray, a CPYB certified yacht broker, owns Murray Yacht Sales, a yacht brokerage and dealership in New Orleans, La and Florida. He is currently on the board of the Yacht Brokers Association of America where he is a past president, and on the board of Sail America, and is a community leader in New Orleans, where he sails and races.

John Page Williams, of Virginia and Annapolis MD, has worked for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation since 1973, currently supporting the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint as a senior naturalist. He also partners with the Chesapeake Conservancy and the National Park Service to develop the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic (Water) Trail. As a free-lancer, he reviews powerboats and writes on fishing and environmental issues for BOATING and Chesapeake Bay Magazines, & for the online magazine NewEnglandBoating.com. He is an author of several books.

For more information about the judges, go to YachtWorldHeroes.com and click on Judges.

DOMINION MARINE MEDIA ANNOUNCES 2013 YACHTWORLD HEROES NOMINEES PRESS RELEASE

Norfolk, VA – (November 27, 2013) –Dominion Marine Media, the division of Dominion Enterprises that operates YachtWorld, Boat Trader and boats.com, announced the nominees for the 2013 YachtWorld Heroes award.

YachtWorld Heroes are those who inspire with their work in making the oceans, rivers, lakes and streams, healthier or raise our consciousness about the need. They are also individuals and teams who have made a significant contribution to the education and enjoyment of our marine environment by others or are marine industry professionals changing the world.

“It is an honor to recognize these 16 remarkable people and provide visibility to their endeavors,” says Jessica Muffett, founder, YachtWorld and YachtWorld Heroes. “They are addressing important issues for our blue planet, proving one person can make a difference.”

Five judges will convene shortly to select the top five YachtWorld Hero finalists who will be announced January 1, 2014. They will then be featured at the Miami Boat Show Press Conference on February 13, 2014 where the ultimate winner will be announced and presented.

About 2013 YachtWorld Heroes Nominees

Matt Rutherford, Founder, Ocean Research Project,http://oceanresearchproject.org, of Annapolis, MD, supports making ocean research more affordable. In 2013 he became the first person to solo circumnavigate North and South America, http://solotheamericas.org. http://yachtworldheroes.com/?p=1458

Jill Savery, Head of Sustainability, America’s Cup Authority, http://americascup.com, of San Francisco, CA, made the 2013 America’s Cup a zero waste, carbon neutral and environmentally sustainable event, setting the standard for all future America’s Cup events and other marine-related events worldwide. She is a Gold Medal Olympian. http://yachtworldheroes.com/?p=1358

Joel Aberbach, Volunteer, US Coast Guard Auxiliary District Seven Assistant Staff Officer, Sea Partners and America’s Waterway Watch, http://cgaux.org, of Miami, Florida, has volunteered 25,000 hours over 40 years to educate the public about protecting and preserving our marine environment. http://yachtworldheroes.com/?p=1335

Jeanne Socrates, Sailor, SV Nereida, http://svnereida.com, of the UK, completed a singlehanded, nonstop, circumnavigation mid 2013 at the age of 70, following two other near solo circumnavigations that involved beaching, loss of a boat, knock down off of Cape Horn, and major repairs interrupted her first two attempts. http://yachtworldheroes.com/?p=1322

Stan Honey, Director of Technology, America’s Cup Authority, http://americascup.com, of San Francisco, CA, revolutionized TV technology and the way sailboat racing can be understood by non-sailors, by conveying complex marine information simply and graphically. http://yachtworldheroes.com/?p=1308

Betsy Davis, Executive Director, Center for Wooden Boats, http://cwb.org, of Seattle, WA, helps foster much needed community awareness for improved health of our waters by engaging people to participate responsibly on and around the waters of the Pacific Northwest. http://yachtworldheroes.com/?p=1294

Bill Bahen, Executive Director, Sail Nauticus, http://sailnauticus.org, of Norfolk, VA, oversees the development of a summer sailing academy and after school programs to improve academic performance of underserved youth, through sailing and maritime sciences at the Nauticus campus on the Norfolk waterfront. http://yachtworldheroes.com/?p=1252

Cynthia Carvajal, Founder, Ocean Lifeline, http://oceanlifeline.org, of Brooklyn, NY, funded by the New York Women in Film and Television, raises awareness of the urgent need for protection of our oceans by the use of stunning visual photography and events. http://yachtworldheroes.com/?p=1213

Bajan and Jamie Gifford, Family Cruisers, http://sv-totem.blogspot.com/p/crew.html, of Bainbridge Island, WA, have been sailing with their with their three children on Totem, a Stevens 47, since 2008. They are cruising ambassadors, chronicling their adventures and inspiring would-be cruisers to take the leap, buy a boat and see the world. http://yachtworldheroes.com/?p=1190

David Rockefeller, Jr., Founder, Sailors for the Sea, http://sailorsforthesea.org, of Newport, RI, educates and engages the boating community in the worldwide protection of the oceans. With offices in Newport, RI, San Francisco, CA, Japan and Portugal, their programs directly engage boaters to fulfill their vision, and list steps boaters can take to reduce their environmental impact. http://yachtworldheroes.com/?p=1174

Captain Winston Joyce-Clark, Founder, Project Big Fish,http://projectbigfish.org, of South Africa, and working with http://yachtaidglobal.org, to orchestrate the delivery of humanitarian, development and conservation aid to coastal communities worldwide. http://yachtworldheroes.com/?p=1149

Betsy Alison, Paralympic Coach for the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider, http://adaptive.ussailing.org, a 2011 US Sailing Hall of Fame Inductee among other honors, of Newport, RI, has dedicated her life to disabled sailing to build more understanding, inspiration and tolerance of the disabled. Her current focus is the development of national team athletes in 3 Paralympic sailing events in preparation for the 2016 Olympic Games. http://yachtworldheroes.com/?p=1115

Dieter Paulmann, Founder of Pacific Voyagers, http://pacificvoyagers.com, of Germany, and his Crew with their fleet of seven vaka moanas, or ocean going sailing canoes, sailed across the Pacific 20,000 miles to raise awareness about contemporary threats to the sea. The story of this spectacular voyage can best be seen by viewing the trailer of their soon-to-be-released movie, http://ourbluecanoethefilm.com. http://yachtworldheroes.com/?p=983

Patrick Rynne, Founder of Waterlust, http://waterlust.org, of Miami, FL, is bringing scientists, explorers, athletes, watersport lovers, and art together in the pursuit of raising awareness how one person can positively impact our ocean environmental crisis by inspiring and educating others with films and photos. They teach people to be filmmakers and have created an online community of water lovers/protectors by providing an online venue to share films and images. http://yachtworldheroes.com/?p=956

Chris Jordan, Internationally acclaimed artist, cultural activist and filmmaker, http://midwayfilm.com, of Seattle, WA, brings light to an area of severe abuse to the Laysan albatross, seabirds and marine life who ingest plastics discarded by humans and die by the millions. He asks us to consider our roles in becoming more conscious stewards of the world. http://yachtworldheroes.com/?p=926

Michael T. Moore, Chair, The International SeaKeepers Society http://seakeepers.org, of Coral Gables, FL, dramatically expanded the reach of SeaKeepers, whose mission is to raise awareness of global ocean issues, during his tenure as chair. SeaKeepers’ innovative Discovery Yachts Program unites science and the yachting community by providing scientists with the necessary platform on which to conduct cutting-edge research by placing them on member vessels. http://yachtworldheroes.com/?p=893

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Dusty McCoy Interview: Talking YachtWorld Heroes – YachtWorld Editorial Director John Burnham interviewed Dusty McCoy at the opening of the Miami Boat Show.

Early in the morning, our video team met Dusty McCoy at the Miami Convention Center aboard the new Sea Ray 370 Venture. In this interview, I asked him about how he started out in boats, about his safety training, and about the safety values of the partnership he has promoted between the U.S. Power Squadron and Brunswick Corp. boat dealers. I also wrote a blog for YachtWorld’s sister site, later that day (“Dusty McCoy of Brunswick is Recognized as a YachtWorld Hero“). - John Burnham READ MORE AND WATCH VIDEO ON YACHTWORLD.COM

YACHTWORLD ANNOUNCES 2012 YACHTWORLD HEROES – Press Release

Seattle, WA – February 14, 2013 –YachtWorld, the world’s largest Internet yacht brokerage portal and part of Dominion Marine Media, today announced the 2012 YachtWorld Heroes Awards, an international program honoring individuals who inspire with their work in ocean advocacy. Nominated by marine industry colleagues, personal friends or acquaintances whose lives have been impacted by their work, the 2012 YachtWorld Heroes honorees are:

Capt. Alexia Barrier, founder of the ocean research program “4myplanet.” She commissioned and sailed a 60-foot yacht around the world single-handedly, while gathering ocean status data and educating school children worldwide via satellite podcasts and in person along the way. Alexia was supported in this endeavor by many Monaco-based ocean groups and was named to the Honorary Host Committee of SeaKeepers Bal de la Mer in 2012.

Celine Cousteau, founder of CauseCentric Productions and Ocean Inspirations which support the global sharing of information regarding endangered ecosystems. Her work supports everyday heroes in the fight to protect our fragile planet by creating a visual communication tool in the form of micro and short documentaries. She is the granddaughter of Jacques-Yves Cousteau and was on the Honorary Host Committee of Women in Yachting and Ocean Advocacy at the International SeaKeepers Society Event in Monaco in 2012.

Jean-Michel Cousteau, the son of ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, has investigated the world’s oceans aboard Calypso and Alcyone for much of his life. Honoring his heritage, Jean-Michel founded Ocean Futures Society in 1999 to carry on this pioneering work. Ocean Futures Society, a non-profit marine conservation and education organization, serves as a “Voice for the Ocean” by using all media to communicate the critical bond between people and the sea and the importance of wise environmental policy.

Capt. Mark Drewelow, founder of YachtAid Global (YAG), a former mega yacht captain and now a port agent, saw many places where people needed essentials like medicine and school supplies. With much planning, he created YAG in 2006 to connect people associated with mega yachts to the people in need. When he learns of a community that has a special need, he reaches out to his network of captains, crews and owners, figuring out which yacht will be in that area and asking if any of them would be willing to take the supplies to the shore side connection. YAG also coordinates with yachts such as Big Fish to deliver aid to remote areas after natural disasters, most recently in Fiji after Cyclone Evan.

Dr. Sylvia Earle, sometimes known as “Her Deepness,” is a celebrated Hero of the Planet and Living Legend. She is an oceanographer, explorer, author, and lecturer with experience as a field research scientist. Her work with The Aspen Institute, the Conservation Fund, American Rivers, Mote Marine Laboratory, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Rutgers Institute for Marine Science, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, and Ocean Conservancy is unparalleled. Dr. Early is a former chief scientist of NOAA and founder of the Mission Blue Alliance. She is an explorer in residence for National Geographic and serves on the SeaKeepers Scientific Advisory Council.

Deborah Kinder, an award-winning documentary filmmaker, is founder and CEO of the BLUE Ocean Film Festival and Conservation Event. She is co-founder of BLUE’s parent non-profit organization, Make a Difference Media. A writer and conservationist, Deborah brings together the ocean filmmaking community, scientists devoted to the oceans, and deep sea film buffs.

Dusty McCoy, chairman & CEO of Brunswick Corporation, launched a partnership with the United States Power Squadrons (USPS) to offer boating education and training through Brunswick boat dealerships across the U.S. An effort was aimed at supporting the USPS and its more than 45,000 members in fulfilling its charter of making boating safer and more enjoyable by conducting courses in seamanship, navigation and boat handling, thus saving lives on the water.

Gary Markel formed Operation Cruise to allow our wounded Special Operations Force veterans to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience aboard his luxury yacht, One More Toy. While watching a program about wounded warriors scuba diving with volunteers in St. Thomas, he realized he could make his boat available to wounded soldiers and their families. Great ideas aren’t always easy to implement, especially when it involves the military. Working with a friend of a friend, he contacted the Care Coalition, a group who helps Special Operations Forces personnel recover and rehabilitate with the aid of licensed counselors. Gary offered his 150′ yacht as a counseling platform.

Kathleen Dean Moore is a philosopher, nature writer, public speaker, and defender of all that is wet and wild. Her work brings together the art of the essay, the wisdom of the natural world, and the moral clarity of philosophy to explore our place on the planet and our responsibility to keep it thriving. Her philosophy of protecting our oceans can be the basis for finding how we can all address the problems of environmental pollution.

Michael Stocker of Ocean Conservation Research has committed himself to ocean conservation for the past ten years, traveling to Washington, D.C. to lobby on behalf of marine wildlife. Additionally, he has written numerous articles and presented lectures throughout America and Western Europe on bioacoustics and the effect of man-made noise in the marine acoustic environment.

“Those of us who enjoy our oceans have many reasons to become their protectors and share the joy with others,” said Jessica Muffett, founder of YachtWorld.com. “We are so pleased to recognize these ten YachtWorld Heroes for their good work so they may inspire others.”

YACHTWORLD NAMES 2012 HEROES – Article The non-profit YachtWorld Heroes (formerly the YachtWorld Foundation) has recognized several individuals who use their boating and professional connections to protect our marine environments and share their joy of boating. No matter what kind of boating we enjoy, we all share an essential habitat: the world’s oceans, rivers, lakes and streams. And a few select Heroes do more than share that habitat: they use their skills and connections to preserve and protect it. READ MORE: http://www.yachtworld.com/boat-content/2013/02/yachtworld-names-2012-heroes/#ixzz2KtS5xnoA

Read more: http://blog.boats.com/2013/02/dusty-mccoy-of-brunswick-is-recognized-as-a-yachtworld-hero/#ixzz2KvgECHKR" /> DUSTY MCCOY OF BRUNSWICK IS RECOGNIZED AS A YACHTWORLD HERO – Boats.com Blog Ian Atkins, left, General Manager of Dominion Marine Media, presents a 2012 YachtWorld Heroes Award to Dusty McCoy, CEO of Brunswick Corporation. As Brunswick CEO, McCoy has encouraged a strong relationship between the Brunswick dealer network and the U.S. Power Squadron. This morning, a few hours before the opening of the Miami International Boat Show, I interviewed Dusty McCoy in advance of his acceptance of a YachtWorld Heroes award given by boats.com sister site yachtworld.com. The CEO of Brunswick …. read more: http://blog.boats.com/2013/02/dusty-mccoy-of-brunswick-is-recognized-as-a-yachtworld-hero/#ixzz2KvjPX6OMRead more ….

YACHTWORLD FOUNDER HONORS MARINE ADVOCATES THROUGH NEW FOUNDATION

SEATTLE – Seattle, WA – Feb 16, 2012 – Launched in 1995, YachtWorld.com has become an online hub for brokered boat sales, and today YachtWorld.com Founder Jessica Muffett is leveraging that popularity by creating recognition for organizations devoted to preserving marine environments. Established in 2011 as the nonprofit arm of Dominion Enterprises’ YachtWorld.com, the YachtWorld Foundation will annually select one beneficiary nonprofit organization as well as individual YachtWorld Heroes who promote awareness and protection of marine environments. Read more ……

YACHTWORLD FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2011 YACHTWORLD HEROES AND 2012 BENEFICIARY

SEATTLE, WA – Feb, 16, 2012 – The YachtWorld Foundation, whose mission is to further the knowledge and protection of the world’s oceans, today announced the 2011 YachtWorld Heroes and its 2012 organizational beneficiary. YachtWorld Foundation beneficiaries are non-profit organizations that promote awareness and protection of the world’s oceans.

The 2012 beneficiary is the International SeaKeepers Society, chaired by Michael Moore. Their mission is to gather and distribute the most useful oceanographic and atmospheric data concerning the health of the world’s oceans and climate.

YachtWorld Heroes are individuals and organizations that have made a significant difference in the promotion and protection of the marine habitat, have made a significant contribution to the education and enjoyment of it by others or a marine industry professional who is changing the world. Nominated by marine industry colleagues, personal friends or acquaintances whose lives have been impacted by their work, the 2011 YachtWorld Heroes are….. read more……

YachtWorld Creates Foundation

12.08.2010– SEATTLE – YachtWorld.com, the world’s largest Internet yacht brokerage portal and a division of Dominion Enterprises, is setting up a foundation to further the knowledge and protection of the world’s oceans. More Information Here Foundation Selects 2011 Beneficiary: A favorite chore cruising our sailboat down the Baja coast in 1978 was tying our seven pairs of blue jeans to a line and dragging them behind our boat. Laundry day was as easy-breezy as … More Information Here

Jessica Muffett, Founder, YachtWorld.com and YachtWorld Foundation, along with Ian Atkins, Vice President and General Manager of Dominion Marine Media, pictured at right, announce the launch of YachtWorld Foundation at the YachtWorld University in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, December 9, 2010. Michael Moore, chair of SeaKeepers, the 2011 Foundations Beneficiary, spoke of how the international exposure on YachtWorld.com would benefit SeaKeepers mission to protect the worlds oceans. YachtWorld Foundation Sponsors “A Scientific Journey” to Benefit SeaKeeper’s Environmental Mission: The aptly named International SeaKeepers Society is arming the global scientific community with much-needed data about the ocean, the weather, and … More Information Here

For all article related questions please contact Jessica Muffett

Mark Schrader of Around the Americas

admin — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 03:30:13 +0000

Who is Your Hero?

Mark Schrader of Around the Americas lives his message that our oceans need help. Humans are creating enormous and potentially disastrous problems for fragile marine ecosystems upon which we, as humans, are utterly dependent. The relationships are simple – if we don’t take care of the ocean, the ocean won’t take care of us. Those who use and enjoy the ocean should be the leaders in marine conservation and education. After two single-handed circumnavigations of the world, Mark has seen widespread, destructive changes to the ocean environment – and he decided to do something to focus more attention on the problems.

How has your nominee made a difference for the better?

As Project Director and Captain, Mark developed the Around the Americas project. He brought together a committed team of sailors, scientists, teachers and conservationists – outfitted the 64’ S/V Ocean Watch and launched the 28,000 nautical mile circumnavigation of the Americas. With multiple agendas of creating wider awareness about the state of our ocean; collecting scientific data; recording images and stories and sharing this information for educational purposes, Mark and his AtA crew focused international attention on important and urgent ocean-health issues.

How will being recognized as a YachtWorld Hero further your nominees cause?

Going forward, the true challenge for Mark and the Around the Americas team will be finding meaningful ways to inspire and engage the public in a call to action. The job is straightforward: to help citizens and communities understand the threats to our oceans and to prove through our research and example that individuals can truly make a difference. Spreading the lessons of the AtA expedition is a very important part of the mission, and being recognized as a YachtWorld Hero will help further the education agenda.

Please share any website or online articles about your nominee’s activities. The website for the ATA project, www.AroundtheAmericas.org has stories, articles, images and research information from the voyage. Cruising World Magazine wrote published five feature articles about the voyage the recently released book, One Island, One Ocean, written by Herb McCormick and published by Weldon-Owen, tells the Around the Americas story with beautiful images and words.

Mark was nominated by Bonnie Robertson, Executive Director of the Northwest Yacht Brokers Association

Alex Braden of ENCOMPASS, The Daniel Braden Reconciliation Trust

admin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 03:28:03 +0000

Who is your Hero?

Alex was the Chairman and CEO of Yachting Partners International, a yacht builder, broker, charter, crew supply and management company based originally in Brighton, UK with offices in Antibes, France and Monaco for over 37 years. In 2002, Alex lost his son, Daniel, in the terrorist attack on a nightclub in Bali, Indonesia. Daniel was a Chinese speaker and working in Taiwan. He was in Bali for an amateur Rugby tournament and five of his team from Taiwan were killed while celebrating after a successful day’s play. Alex and his family decided that the only way to help prevent tragedies like this one from happening again was to create a way to bring youths of different cultures and very much opposed faiths and politics, together to open their minds to understanding and to give value to the ‘other’ and basically give a human face to the ‘other’. A battle against stereotypes.

So in 2003, Encompass – The Daniel Braden Reconciliation Trust was set up. Their first flagship projects were called “Voyages of Understanding” and took place on tall ships. In 2005, the interest in this project by various organizations became too large for the few able to participate so they moved from land to sea by setting up the “Journey of Understanding”. Since its inception, Encompass has now brought together over 1000 young people from different cultures and has developed its expertise in allowing israelis, Palestinians, Indonesians, Americans and and very ethnically eclectic British participants to meet together and to discuss their differences and similar needs. Alex has had enormous influence in the international yachting industry, particularly as an early member and President of the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association whose mission, among others, is to establish and maintain a high standard of professional ethics, professional rules and skills in charter, sales, and yacht management industries.

How has your nominee’s efforts made a difference for the better?

Since its inception, Encompass has brought together over 1000 young people from different cultures confronting stereotypes and changing perspectives.

How will being recognized as a YachtWorld Hero further your nominee’s cause?

YachtWorld.com’s international exposure to their YachtWorld Hero program will bring attention to “Encompass – The Daniel Braden Reconciliation Trust”, whose mission is to bring together young people from different cultures and backgrounds, supporting them to become more understanding and tolerant of each other while giving them the skills and confidence to promote intercultural understanding in their communities. Each one of their alumni is now an ambassador for this understanding – thus affecting a much greater number of people, young and old, beyond the immediate Journeys.

Please share any website or online articles about your nominee’s activities.

http://www.encompasstrust.org
http://www.encompasstrust.org/index.php?q=origins
http://www.encompasstrust.org/index.php?q=history-sea-land

Alex Braden was nominated by Ann Vernon, Executive Director of the Florida Yacht Brokers Association, and former Executive Director of the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association.

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ST. TROPEZ, FRANCE, February 20, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ YACHTWORLD EXCLUSISVE – FOR HIS SERVICES TO CHARITY ALEXANDER K. BRADEN, CO-FOUNDER, FORMER CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF WORLD LEADING YACHT MANAGEMENT AND BROKERAGE HOUSE, YACHTING PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL (YPI), IS NAMED ‘YACHTWORLD HERO’ BY THE YACHTWORLD FOUNDATION — Awarded in recognition of Alex’s outstanding work through his charity, ENCOMPASS, in helping bring together young people from varied and conflicting cultures and faiths through demanding physical programmes and facilitated, sometimes confrontational, discussions. ENCOMPASS was founded in 2003 following the death of Alex’s son, Daniel, in the Bali Bombing in 2002 which killed 202 people.Read more …..

The United States Coast Guard

admin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 03:26:58 +0000

On behalf of the Yacht Brokers Association of America, our Board of Directors and our members, please accept our nomination of the US Coast Guard as our choice for the Yacht World Hero. We believe that the US Coast Guard exemplifies the ultimate Yacht World Hero by meeting the definition of both categories: They defend our Oceans: Innovative ways to preserve and protect the worlds’ oceans, rivers, lakes or other marine environments, and They help preserve the Joy of Boating: teaching boating skills, boating education or boating services to benefit others. Whether it is the maintenance of navigational aids, performance of search and rescue or protecting our waters from environmental harm, the US Coast Guard’s presence and service to the boating public is without exception, represents a true Hero.

One merely needs to look at the US Coast Guards Mission to understand the true positive impact that they have on the boating public and the marine industry to defend and protect our biggest natural resource; our lakes, our rivers and our oceans for the safe enjoyment for all. The Coast Guard’s motto is Semper Paratus, meaning “Always Ready.”

Missions: By law, the Coast Guard has 11 missions:
• Ports, waterways, and coastal security • Drug interdiction • Aids to navigation • Search and rescue • Living marine resources • Marine safety • Defense readiness • Migrant interdiction • Marine environmental protection • Ice operations • Other law enforcement (listed in order of percentage of operating expenses) Thus, we are military, multi-mission, and maritime.

The Coast Guard is in some cases our “forgotten military” because their mission and performance of such is not often recognized on a regular and consistent basis.

How will being recognized as a YachtWorld Hero further your nominee’s cause? By recognizing the US Coast Guard as a Yacht World Hero, we will show public appreciation for the work they quietly do while strengthening the bond between the boating public and the marine industry with those charged with protecting our waterways and the people who use them.

Website http://www.uscg.mil/top/missions/ The United States Coast Guard was nominated by The Yacht Brokers Association of America, www.ybaa.org.

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YBAA HONORS YBAA HONORS USCG AS YACHTWORLD FOUNDATION HERO AT MIAMI BOAT SHOW

MIAMI, FL – Feb.16, 2012 – At this morning’s Annual State of the Recreational Boating Industry Breakfast held at the Miami International Boat Show, the U.S. Coast Guard was honored as one of the 2011 YachtWorld Foundation Heroes. The USCG was nominated by YBAA for this honor. Photo shown here is CAPT Rick Kenin Receiving USCG YW Hero Award from nominator Vincent Petrella, CPYB, YBAA READ MORE …..

Debra Frenkel & John Weller of Freedom Waters Foundation

admin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 03:24:30 +0000

Debra Frenkel and John Weller co-founded Freedom Waters Foundation with the compelling mission to enhancing lives by providing therapeutic boating and marine related activities for people with disabilities, life threatening illnesses, youth at risk and others with special needs. The father of a child who has participated in FWF boating experiences may have said it best. “Special needs basically means the Loss of Freedom: Loss of the senses… smell, taste, hearing, feel/touch, sight. Freedom Waters Foundation gives our blind, deaf, and paralyzed child his senses back,” wrote John Buck, Father of Riley Buck, age 8. “The smell and taste of the salt water air; the vibration (hearing) of the motor or gentle rocking of the waves; the touch of the sun and wind in his hair. As for sight, the organization gives us something to look forward to every time we participate. For a moment in time, our son/family, are “normal” and a part of something very special.” Debra Frenkel, founded Freedom Waters Foundation with the compelling mission to enhancing lives by providing boating opportunities and marine related activities for people with disabilities, life threatening illnesses, youth at risk and others with special needs.

How has your nominee’s efforts made a difference for the better? Yacht outings for children with cancer and their families began in October of 2004 and are now serving numerous children with special needs and their families, in four South Florida counties: Collier, Broward. Palm Beach and Lee Counties. Freedom Waters Foundation is partnered with Collier County Parks and Recreation to provide adaptive sailing; teaching people with disabilities how to sail independently for those who can and providing sailing experiences to others who may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience the therapeutic effects of being on the water and feeling the wondrous sense of Freedom. They have also been instrumental in guiding other adaptive sailing programs around the country. Freedom Waters Foundation provides fishing opportunities and tournaments for those with disabilities, other special needs and youth at risk. Private boat owners and other volunteers donate the use of their vessels and their time to share the enjoyment and sport of fishing with the Freedom Waters Foundation participants. Participants are invited to participate through numerous local social service agencies or self-referred. Freedom Waters Foundation works with nationally established fishing organizations that encourages and educates participants regarding safe and appropriate fishing practices.

How will being recognized as a YachtWorld Hero further your nominee’s cause? YachtWorld’s recognition of Freedom Waters Foundation and our willingness to help other communities set up similar programs to provide boating opportunities to people of special needs, may result in touching more lives than they may ever have thought possible.

Website and online articles

http://freedomwatersfoundation.org
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/mar/15/freedom-waters-celebrates-five-years-service-child/
http://southernboating.com/blog/2011/09/21/freedom-waters-foundation-by-laura-dunn/
http://www.boats.com/blog/2009/02/john-weller-receives-first-broker-of-the-year-award/

Debra Frenkel and John Weller were nominated by Andrew Cilla of Luke Brown Yachts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FWF RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FROM YACHTWORLD FOUNDATION February 18, 2012 – By debby- GREAT NEWS! – FWF Co-Founders, YachtWorld Foundation 2011 YachtWorld Heroes John Weller (5 time cancer survivor and 30+ year Yacht Broker) and Debra Frenkel (Social Worker), Co-Founders of the charity, Freedom Waters Foundation were announced as one of the YachtWorld Foundation’s 2011 YachtWorld Heroes, at the Miami International Boat Show’s opening breakfast, on 2/16/12, lending… READ MORE …..

YachtWorld Foundation: Why We Started it & Chose SeaKeepers as Beneficiary

admin — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:01:13 +0000
Jessica Muffett tells the story of Yachtworld.com’s non-profit arm and its first grant recipient, the International SeaKeepers Society.

A favorite chore cruising our sailboat down the Baja coast in 1978 was tying our seven pairs of blue jeans to a line and dragging them behind our boat. Laundry day was as easy-breezy as running the washing machine, a lazy chore that suited our general reason for cruising in the first place. Salinity was low, the water pristine, and they cleaned and dried beautifully. Is the water clean enough to do this today? I don’t know. Surely not in some parts of the world where, for example, there is a swirl of plastic garbage the size of Texas.
We’ve all heard the alarms from mariners around the world who have observed firsthand the declining conditions of the oceans. It is up to us who love and rely on the seas for our recreation, adventure, and livelihood to focus as a team on this problem. As I explained in the initial press release (YachtWorld Creates Foundation To Further Knowledge and Protection of Oceans), YachtWorld.com started the YachtWorld Foundation in 2010 to help pull this team together. As the non-profit arm of YachtWorld.com, the Foundation will raise awareness to help protect the essential habitat we all love and share.
Over 2.5 million boaters visit our website every month looking at 115,000 boats for sale in 143 countries that are represented by 2400 yacht brokerage houses and their 10,000 individual yacht brokers. Plus, we have 150 employees in 6 countries around the world eager to contribute their time. Together we can help raise awareness of our oceans’ declining health and share concrete ways to contribute to the solution.
As we got started, we asked ourselves if there were already established organizations who shared our goals. Might we partner with them, increasing their reach through our communication and networking skills? A colleague turned me onto the International SeaKeepers Society. SeaKeepers was started in 1998 by a group of superyacht owners in Monaco who were horrified by the deterioration in the condition of the oceans. They asked scientists how they could help. The scientists wanted something only vessels cruising the worlds’ oceans could provide—data collected through continuous sampling, particularly from more remote areas. SeaKeepers responded by installing a revolutionary monitoring system on members’ yachts that collects sample data and transfers it via satellite to the United Nations Global Telecommunication system, where the data is disseminated free to the world scientific community. The monitoring system has since been deployed in some 90 locations around the world, from private yachts to cruise ships, freighters, car ferries, research vessels, government sea buoys, a lighthouse—even a jet ski.. (For more details, read our February story SeaKeepers Society: Climate Custodians.)
When I first spoke with SeaKeepers Chair Michael Moore, I asked him how our foundation could best help. He said they wanted to spread the word to the millions who visited our site, and to our members around the world—the type of exposure only YachtWorld.com could bring to the table. So that’s what we’re doing in our first full year of operation—working to generate broad exposure for a worthy organization and relying on those of you who learn about SeaKeepers to decide how you can help: through finding yachts to carry its equipment, by serving as a volunteer, or by donating funds.
Before we agreed to make them our 2011 grant recipient, we did our due diligence. It was quickly apparent that over the years SeaKeepers had already been vetted by an impressive list of volunteers, members, and award recipients, including such names as Jean-Michael Cousteau, Paul Allen, and Prince Albert of Monaco. They were clearly an organization we would be honored to support, and we pledged $100,000+ of advertising and promotion.
SeaKeepers recently started development of a unit appropriate for smaller vessels. SeaKeepers CEO Dean Klevan said the future candidate vessel could be a 50 foot cruising sailboat. Their goal is to have 500 vessels using this new technology by the end of 2012, helping to collect oceanographic and atmospheric data around the world. Your contribution is urgently needed as the oceans are at a tipping point. Funding is used for critically needed research. For example, SeaKeepers is taking a lead role in the installation of hydrocarbon sensors to study the extent of the Gulf spill.
Their Nine Initiatives for Personal Action has great ideas about personally making a difference. I’m working hard to incorporate them into my life—bringing home less plastic, and buying only sustainable fish for dinner. It’s not easy to save the oceans, but I like to think I’m helping future cruising generations clean their blue jeans the easy-breezy way. For more information, please visit the SeaKeepers website.

Jessica Muffett is the founder of YachtWorld.com.

What We Know About Garbage Patches

admin — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:58:50 +0000
What we know about Garbage Patches
http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/info/patch.html
2011 Japan Tsunami Marine Details
http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/info/japanfaqs.html

Marine Debris Tracker App
http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/projects/seamdi.html

It’s Time To Stop Trashing Our Oceans, Clean Up Our Oceans Today
http://www.oceanconservancy.org/our-work/marine-debris/

Ocean Concervancy – Trash Free Seas
http://na.oceana.org/en/about-us/what-we-do

The threat and impacts of marine debris have long been ignored. Perhaps it is the perceived vastness of ocean and lack of visibility of marine debris to most people that has allowed society to dismiss the problem as a serious threat.
http://plasticdebris.org
Not all garbage ends up at the dump. A river, sewer or beach can’t catch everything the rain washes away, either. In fact, Earth’s largest landfill isn’t on land at all.
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/translating-uncle-sam/stories/what-is-the-great-pacific-ocean-garbage-patch

What can we do?

admin — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:36:36 +0000
Sailors for the Sea – From the smallest sailboat to the largest mega-yacht, there are many steps you can take as a boater can take to reduce your environmental impact; here are six big ones.
Overboard Discharge- Sewage discharge from marine heads can cause significant damage to surrounding waters. Read more to understand these problems and find a list of pump-out stations.
Oils and Fuel Spills – Over half the ocean’s waste oil comes from land-based sources and from unregulated recreational boating. With a little pre-caution, recreational boaters can take small steps to mitigate the inherent risk of spilling oil or fuel while operating their vessel.
Non-Toxic Cleaning Products – Deciding which cleaning product is ideal for your boat can be daunting, but with the proper knowledge you can determine the cleaning product that is best for your boat and the environment.
Invasive Species Prevention – Invasive species are non-native plants or animals that adversely affect the habitats they enter. Boaters can take simple precautions to ensure they do not help these species spread.
Gray Water Reduction – Did you know? Water washing down the sink of your boat should not be discharged overboard? Learn more about the problems gray water can create.
Bottom Paint Copper bottom paints leach toxic chemicals. Learn how environmentally friendly bottom paint will lessen your boats impact.
The International SeaKeepers Society – There are simple things every boater can do to help protect the ocean. Read about Blue Boating Recommendations and Critical Ocean Issues with Action Items for Concerned Citizens. http://seakeepersblueboatingrecommendations.aspx
http://seakeepers.org/educateandadvocate/criticaloceanissues.aspx
Oceanconservancy.org – Sign up for the Ocean Conservancy 26th Annual International Coastal Cleanup
www.signuptocleanup.org

Oceana.org – Help prevent an empty ocean – Tell Congress to fight overfishing for the sake of the animals and communities who rely on a healthy ocean
http://act.oceana.org/letter/l-MSA-fisheries/?source=actionbox

‪‬Surfrider.org – Protecting oceans, waves and beaches since 1984. Here are ten easy things you can do to reduce your ‘plastic footprint’ and help keep plastics out of the marine environment.
http://surfrider.org/programs/entry/rise-above-plastics

A brilliant 90-minute documentary filmed by directors Yann Arthus-Bertrand and Michael Pitiot, along with their team in partnership with OMEGA and with the scientific support of Tara Expeditions, captures the extraordinary images of our remarkable oceans – the source of all life on our planet. http://oceans.taraexpeditions.org/en/galerie.php?id_page=13&gallery_type=video
Please post your favorite website lists of what boaters can do to keep our oceans healthy.