May 11, 2010

Project: Rhea 47 Trawler

After the presentation of the Rhea 43 Trawler this French builder continues its proposal of a medium range Explorer Cruisers with the project of a 47 Trawler. Measuring an overall fourteen metres plus of length, the 47 Trawler will offer a lower deck accommodation with two double cabins, both served with personal shower heads. The 47 Trawler will have more classic features versus its four feet smaller sister not only for the trawler’s bow, or frigate stern and a two tone gel coat hull color, but mostly for its Portuguese bridge, its immense wheelhouse fit for a yacht, and its very large flybridge. But serious cruising and safety has been the thinking at Rhea for the 47 Trawler this shown with the protected propellers to prevent damage when running aground or hitting dangerous submersed objects. Designed as the Rhea 43 Trawler by Bertrand Danglade the 47 Trawler has a semi displacement hull rated to a CE A category standard with a one thousand nautical miles plus of range. Power is from twin 350hp engines.

News: Nord West May 2010

FRENETIC DELIVERIES PERIOD
Due to the extreme winter with lots of snow, many postponed their deliveries earlier this spring. Almost everyone wants their boat delivered for the upcoming Ascension Day, which puts a lot of pressure on Nord West delivery team here on Vindön this year. During a number of weeks Nord West has launched and delivered fifteen boats each seven days, educating new owners on their boat and all the equipments on board in the process. Most of the customers spend at least one night on board their boats in Nord West delivery harbour and always have a few questions the next day or wishes a shorter repetition in either some equipments or about maneuvering. In the last week's deliveries Nord West also enjoyed an extra celebration to mark the delivery of the 100th 420. As can be expected it was smiles all around as salesman, Martin Waktel handed over the new boat to Kristofer Reiten and Per Olav Mevold from Molde, Norway. After cruising the five hundred nautical miles to Molde, it is still high spirits from the happy owners despite experiencing rough and tricky seas when crossing.
**********
SATURDAYS OPEN SHOWROOM
As of this coming weekend Nord West will have all the exhibition, show room open for all Saturdays except midsummer opening hours: 10.00 - 14.00. You are welcome to visit and look at new and second hand refurbished Nord West boats in the permanent exhibition, showroom at Vindön. This show room is two thousand square meters in size filled with motorboats of all sizes. Opening hours are Monday to Thursday 8-16:30, Friday 8-15:00 and Saturdays 10-14:00 with the exception for the 26 of June or after booking with our sales staff on other times.
**********
MOSCOW SHOW
The latest boat show attended was in Moscow where dealer Jonacor Marine exhibited a Nord West 370 Sports Top. Due to the volcano eruption the trip home for Public Relations Manager Jessica Stenlund was a little longer then expected, she had to hitch a ride home in a car, and take the ferry across from Finland.
**********
NEW PROFILE JACKET
The new Nord West jackets are from Pelle Pettersson design and are available in white and ashgrey. Available in sizes from XS-XXL. The model is called PP1053 Hood Jacket if you would like to try one out at a any shop that sells the Pelle Pettersson collection. The Nord West logo is printed on the right hand side on the chest and on the one side under the arm. Delivery time from order is between one to two weeks.
**********

Improve-it = Cabo 36 Express

Cabo presents a redesigned improvement to its fall 2008 launched 36 Express. Cabo's designers have improved this model with added interior comfort, design appeal, and luxury. Cabo retained the beautifully finished teak used in the cabinet doors, then expanded its use and coverage to the frames, storage lockers, and bulkheads for a more inviting environment. Cabo also introduced several new decor packages for customers to choose from, added new wall coverings, and padded panel options instead of bare gel coat in the living spaces. The five berths interior of the refreshed 36 Express represent an evolutionary change to this model in terms of luxury, providing a new level of thoughtful attention to it's below decks to equal the attention to detail that has always gone into the cockpit and helm station. While these interiors are definitely more luxurious, the fit and finish is designed to retain the low maintenance approach of the traditional utilitarian interiors they replace. The 36 Express features a Michael Peters 17.5 medium vee aft hull shape with shaft line propulsion Sportfish Cruiser, and its engine options start form twin Cummins 425hp up to the Cats 575hp option.

May 10, 2010

Project: Sabre 46 Salon Express

Never a company to sit and wait for something to happen, the recent success of the South Casco US Sabre with the 40 Sedan demonstrates that the market likes new designs with latest technologies in them. Following this Sabre has been tweaking a new project for a few months on the development of a 46 foot powerboat design, the 46 Salon Express. This model will offer two well sized cabins layout each with it's own private head and shower. The galley will be down and another spacious area is the interior main deck saloon which joins with the aft deck thanks to the fully opening patio door. The 46 Salon Express will be powered by Cummins QSC 8.3 engines coupled to ZF Zeus pods. This should give estimated top speeds of 32 knots and a cruise of 27. Silence is also of importance to Sabre and the 46 Salon Express is quiet a whisper doing only 75 dba of noise.

Powerboat GPS - Yalta Endurance Race Round 2

88 SNAV - KITON, and 38 BAIA ATTOLINI are the winners of Grand Prix of the Sea in Yalta taking the Evolution and Super Sport Classes respectively. Both Italian teams have won the two races held on Saturday and Sunday, with 38 Baia Attolini also taking PowerPole on Friday.
Evolution
Unlike the Saturday Sprint race, the longer Endurance leg delivered only some suspense during the first lap. #33 Furnibo took a light whisker lead from #88 SNAV in the first straight run, which lasted till turning buoy one, when the Italian OSG team got into a perfect route to overtake the Fountain 40 Lighting and take a dominant position. OSG Racing Team #88 SNAV maintained this lead till the end of the race which ended in a fifteen seconds finish advantage, against second placed #60 Metamarine. The Italian built and powered Metamarine Seatek diesel monster is again showing very huge potential this year, reminiscent of the great 2008 season. Ultimately the Belgian Fountain boat #33 Furnibo ended in a good third place, which gives a shared 28 point second place overall with Metamarine for the Yalta Grand Prix of the Sea.
Super Sport
The production 90 mph speed limited class, saw a battle between various boats. #38 Baia Attolini started another leading run from beginning to end. #17 Spirit of Belgium ended in a solid second place, after a tight battle with #43 Seagull which lasted till the third lap when the new Nor-Tech boat overtook the 2009 Championship winning Chaudron 41. Third place for the new 38 foot Fountain of Italians #81 Karelpiu who made a full race fighting with the Seagull boat and where ultimately rewarded with a podium finish, and a make up for the breakage which happened on Saturday's Sprint race. In yesterdays Endurance race Team RG87 #81 Karelpiu just left the bad day of race one behind in the past. Starting in the last sixth position the US Fountain boat of the Italian team kept on battling and in lap four saw them jump to fourth position, and thanks to a good final run ended in a podium rewarded third place finish. The Albatro boat #06 Jolly Drive had a fifth place postion up until the last pen-ultimate bouy, when a photo finish final run gave this Italian team a fourth place ending. The home Ukrainian Spirit #43 Seagull 2009 Super Sport title winning boat had a race to forget which from a good second position in the initial parts ended in fifth, and a boat which was taking water during the return to the pits. #22 Big Sergio and the new Outerlimits had a slow race which ultimately saw them end in the last sixth position. Still this was enough for Team Al & Al who had enough points for a third position overall in the Yalta Grand Prix of the Sea. Race in the pits for the Donzi 38 #26 Team 26 which after the incident of Saturday did not start the Endurance run. Lets hope this team gets back to its usual winning combat ways in the next Grand Prix.
Next date is set for my home Malta Grand Prix the Sea, now in its sixth consecutive run on the 11 and 13 June. The calendar is still in a building basis, but as long as the show is on who are we to argue.
EVOLUTION CLASS
1. 88 SNAV-Kiton = 15 laps 52:46,33
2. 60 Metamarine Foresti Suardi = 53:00,86
3. 33 Furnibo = 56:14,01
4. 55 Ukrainian Spirit = RET 5 laps
5. 47 Silverline = RET 1 lap
6. 66 Cranefields Wine = RET 0 laps
- 77 Lucas Oil Scandinavian Offshore Challenge = DNS
- 01 Carconnex = DNS
SUPER SPORT CLASS
1. 38 Baia Attolini = 14 laps 56:34,05
2. 17 Spirit of Belgium = 56:38,63
3. 81 Karelpiu = 58:16,89
4. 06 Jolly Drive = 59,27,77
5. 43 Seagull Chaudron = 59:33,03
6. 22 Big Sergio = 57:18,06 -3 laps
- 26 Team 26 = DNS
2010 Championship After Round 2
EVOLUTION:
Pos. Boat Name - Team Name ~ Round 1 + Round 2 = TOTAL
1. 88 SNAV-Kiton - OSG Racing Team ~ 20 + 20 = 40
2. 60 Metamarine Foresti&Suardi - Metamarine Corse ~ 12 + 16 = 28
3. 33 Furnibo - 2B1 Racing Team ~ 16 + 12 = 28
4. 66 Cranefields Wine - Searex Racing Team ~ 7 + 0 = 7
5. 55 Ukrainian Spirit - Ukrainian Spirit ~ 0 + 0 = 0
6. 47 Silverline Racing - Silverline ~ 0 + 0 = 0
7. 77 Lucas Oil Scandinavian - Scandinavian Offshore Challenge ~ 0 + 0 = 0
8. 01 Carconnex - Carconnex ~ 0 + 0 = 0
SUPERSPORT:
Pos. Boat Name - Team Name ~ Round 1 + Round 2 = TOTAL
1. 38 Baia Attolini - Baia Attolini ~ 20 + 20 = 40
2. 17 Spirit of Belgium - Spirit of Belgium ~ 12 + 16 = 28
3. 22 Big Sergio - Al & Al Racing Team ~ 16 + 5 = 21
4. 06 Jolly Drive - Jolly Drive Racing Team ~ 6 + 7 = 13
5. 43 Seagull Chaudron - Ukrainian Spirit ~ 7 + 6 = 13
6. 81 Karelpiù - RG 87 Racing Team ~ 0 + 12 = 12
7. 26 Team 26 - Team 26 ~ 0 + 0 = 0

May 9, 2010

Fred Hudson 1929 - 2010

Fred Lennox Hudson Jr., 80, of Miami, Fla., died Saturday, May 8, 2010, from cancer. Born in Hartford, Conn., on May 24, 1929, to Fred Lennox Hudson and Sybil Geer Brewer Hudson, he was a 1947 graduate of the Loomis School in Windsor, Conn., and Cornell University's College of Architecture School of Fine Arts, 1951.  He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Phi Kappa Psi from 1948. An article outlining his life and career was published in a recent issue of Phi Kappa Psi magazine.  Some sketches for the Packard Motor Company began a design career that spanned five decades, and included work at Chris Craft, American Motors, Chrysler, Hatteras Yachts, the Whitcraft Division of North American Rockwell, Bertram, and Uniesse Yachts of Italy.  A member of the Industrial Design Society of America, he was Founder and President of Fred L. Hudson Industrial Design.  He leaves his sister, Janice May Hudson Davies; brother, Howard Geer Hudson; sons, Fred Lennox Hudson III (Angela) of Haverford, Pa., David Durant Hudson (Katherine) of Falmouth, Mass., and Eric Colwell Hudson (Kathleen) of Acton, Mass.; six grandsons and his former wife, Joan Kelley Hudson Kopperl of West Stockbridge.

Web: Van Der Heijden New Web Site

Dutch builder Van Der Heijden presents a new virtual web showroom with a totally redesigned quality online site. Founded in the mid nineties by still owner Ronald Van Der Heijden, this Dutch builder has since then delivered over four hundred units. Coming from a career with the Dutch Navy, Ronald Van Der Heijden sets about building quality semi custom steel yachts, with a huge attention to his clients demands and dreams. The company has also its own Design department in order to accommodate clients wishes during the ordering and building process. Fifteen years after its founding Van Der Heijden has a five range line up: Exclusive, Elegance, Dynamic, Dynamic Deluxe, and Superior which offers a total of fifteen models. Three models for each range. Smallest in the models is the eleven metre 1100 Exclusive which goes up to the still in project 108 feet 3300 Superior. Available in French, English, Dutch, Netherlands, and Sweden language the new Van Der Heijden Steel Yachts website takes you around with the following buttons: About Us, Media, Contact, and a button for each of the unique five ranges.

May 8, 2010

Powerboat GPS - Yalta Sprint Race Round 1


Team OSG and 88 SNAV - Kiton and 38 Baia Attolini continued where they left in 2009 for there respective Evolution and Super Sport Classes taking first position for Yalta Sprint race one of the 2010 season.
Evolution
Starting first, the prototype no limits class saw the Italian #60 Metamarine Foresti Sguardi take the lead and keeping it for the first five laps, where at this time they had a very good 25 seconds lead on #88 SNAV - Kiton. The initial part of the race saw also a fierce battle for third place between Fountain #33 Furnibo, and the new 44 feet Chaudron #55 Ukrainian Spirit boat. Positions seemed settled at the first half of the race but four laps to the end #60 Metmarine had some engine problem which caused a slow down to the Italian diesel powered monster, and an opportunity for the 2009 Champion #88 SNAV. But drama was not over, as repeated spinning by #88 SNAV caused by crossing seas gave space to #55 Ukrainian Spirit who climbed themselves to the top spot. Surely at this time the locals where loving the success of there home team! Ukrainian Spirit kept this lead till the last lap, when a last assault by SNAV OSG Racing Team who where trimming the Outerlimits SV43 to perfection, saw them take the lead again. This made the Maltese and Ukrainian drivers pair try all and the idea came to follow as close possible the wake of #88 SNAV - Kiton, which spun again in this part of the race and #55 Ukrainian Spirit going straight into the US boat Italian team have been for going off route, and causing light damage to the new Chaudron Evolution boat to avoid a very terrible accident. After this #55 Ukrainian Spirit had to abandon race which is sad considering how well the Maltese built new Chaudron 44 ran in its first Evolution run. Ultimately the race finished with #88 SNAV winning, #33 Furnibo second, and #60 Metamarine third. Germany's #66 Cranefields took fourth. The #01 Carconnex, #47 Silverline, and #77 Lucas Oil did not finish the race.
Supersport
The smaller category race was more simple but saw some tension in the initial part of the race when during starting procedure the Donzi of British teams #26 Team 26 blew up a transmission, which also resulted in a broken pulse to English driver Daniel Cramphorn. The 2009 Italian Champions and runners up of the Powerboat P1 Championship #38 Baia Attolini showed there prepartion for the season which gave them a Powerpole yesterday, and a lead from start to finish today. Second place for #22 Big Sergio who presented themselves with a new Outerlimts SV40 boat, showing that the Naples team want to make up for the sad 2009 season which saw them finish the season in a pen-ultimate sixth place. The third place which was ultimately taken by #17 Spirit of Belgium saw a never ending three way battle which included the Italian Albatro boat 06 Jolly Drive, and the Fountain #81 Karelpiu who ended the race on the third lap. Jolly Drive fiinshed in the last place of the concluding boats, which still gives important points. The 2009 Powerboat P1 Supersport champion boat #43 Seagull finished in a below its potential fourth place.
EVOLUTION CLASS
1. 88 SNAV - KITON = 10 laps 39:52,71
2. 33 Furnibo = 43:15,57
3. 60 Metamarine Foresti&Sguardi = 44:13,11
4. 66 Cranefields Wine = 41:37,91 -1 lap
5. 55 Ukrainian Spirit = RET 9 laps
6. 77 Lucas Oil Scaninavian Offshore Challenge = RET 6 laps
7. 47 Silverline = RET 1 lap
8. 01 Carconnex = RET 0 laps
SUPERSPORT CLASS
1. 38 Baia Attolini = 9 laps 40:18,98
2. 22 Big Sergio = 40:24,97
3. 17 Spirit of Belgium = 40:58,91
4. 44 Seagull Chaudron = 42:08,11
5. 06 Jolly Drive = 43:47,80
6. 81 Karelpiu = RET 3 laps
7. 26 Team 26 = RET 0 laps

Project: Ladenstein 85

Austria company but Thailand built Ladenstein Yachts presents its entrance to the Super Yacht category with the project for a new 85 flagship model. Designed by Markus Ladenstein this new 85 will be a two and a half deck flybridge yacht, and its main selling point in this size of craft will be the very unconventional plan having the owners stateroom located on the forward part of the main deck. But don't to worry as also the lower deck offers for three large cabins below. A very large flybridge deck with a spa tub and free chaise lounges area aft gets also a lof of the attention. Crew quarters offer four berths in two cabins, to fore. Powered by MAN, MTU or Cat engines Markus Ladenstein is estimating top speeds of 35 knots for his new biggest in size model.

May 7, 2010

Powerboat GPS - Yalta Powerpole


After much difficulties the 2010 Powerboat P1 season is finally in it's start in Ukraine. It was a first day of testing and later on it was for the usual timed Powerpole. Seas where flat calm in Yalta with what is the fastest time which give the right of line for the winning team.
EVOLUTION
The ever imposing Belgium team of Furnibo took first in the top P1 Class who follow the winning manners they ended the 2009 year. Italian Metamarine who placed second seems to want to continue and do another nice run this year similar to what they did in 2008. Third for the 2009 Champion SNAV - Kiton OSG Outerlimits boat. Only five seconds divided the first three boats which should wish well for high competition tomorrow. Fifth place for very anticipated Lucas Oil Ilmor powered Vector boat. German Cranefields placed sixth and news run that they blew up an engine in the final part of the timed run. Hope they fix this in time for tomorrow's race. Negative first result for the much awaited home team of Ukrainian Spirit who placed last of the boats finishing the pole, although the over 48 seconds from the first shows an engine problem here. Silverline and the new Fountain 43 V8 powered boat did not manage to start its first Powerpole. Let see if they can copy what Cigarette Smash Poker did in Malta for its first race in the past season, when not competing in the pole it did blew up the competition on race one.
SUPERSPORT
Similar theme to Evolution in the 90 mph speed limited open canopy production category with Belgian and Italian teams succeeding and taking the first places. First place for the 2009 Championship runner-up Baia Attolini, second was the Spirit of Belgium with there new very good looking Nor-Tech 423 boat, and third was Big Sergio Al and Al now driving a new Outerlimits SV40 boat which replaces the Italian Naples built Al and Al Marine 38 Blu Shaft.
Evolution Results:
1. 33 Furnibo = 03:30,86
2. 60 Metamarine = 03:33,54
3. 88 SNAV-Kiton = 03:35,05
4. 01 Carconnex = 03:42,26
5. 77 Lucas Oil Scandinavian Offshore Challenge = 03:45,92
6. 66 Cranefields Wine = 03:53,83
7. 55 Ukrainian Spirit = 04:18,77
- 47 Silverline = DNS
Super Sport Results:
1. 38 Baia Attolini = 04:04,29
2. 17 Spirit of Belgium = 04:04,24
3. 22 Big Sergio = 04:04,73
4. 26 Team 26 = 04:05,82
5. 81 Karelpiu = 04:09,96
- 43 Seagull Chaudron = DNS
- 06 Jolly Drive = DNS