The Columbus Day Regatta is next weekend ya’ll! On October 11th & 12th one of the oldest Miami/ Biscayne Bay traditions will happen for the 54th year in a row. While some marine enthusiasts set sail intent on watching racing events that honor Christopher Columbus’ voyage to America, the majority find Regatta just another way to party. Each year the yachts get bigger, the crowds more brilliant and the parties bolder. Picture Mardi Gras on clear bay water and epic boats. Topless women, drinking and drugs galore, and sorts of wicked debauchery, oh my. Regatta is slightly more refined, if you consider the fact that we are partying on million dollar luxury yachts and not Bourbon Street. For the latter majority of party seekers, Regatta weekend is all about a race to outdo thy neighbor. Last year we played on a Sunseeker Predator 82- foot motoryacht but even with a $5 million dollar boat we were lost amongst the crowd. If you’ve done Regatta weekend you fully understand the gist, if you haven’t we suggest you get on it. Many people fly in just for the weekend and the insane 48 hour party marathon that is Columbus Day Regatta.
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Ya’ll were probably too busy in the action packed James Bond flick, Casino Royale, to notice the Real Bond girl who only got her 5 minute debut. No need to worry, we are about to tell you all about the bodacious Bond girl named Predator. Her size is 108, that is 108 feet and she was birthed by Sunseeker. What kind of girl name is Predator you may ask? it’s a fierce model name for the fiercest of motoryachts.  If you can afford the $10 million Megayacht pricetag then give her any girly name you want, she’ll always be a Predator.
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Her 84 tons half-load weight is hefty but she is no laggerd, the Predator skillfully advances to 40 knots ahead. That may not seem fast to you land lovers, so let us put it into terms you can understand. The Predator 108-foot’s weight is on par with the combined weight of 42 Rolls-Royce Silver Clouds. Now, imagine what it’s like firing up 42 Rolls at once, while casually sitting in a Besenzoni helm chair. One hand on a carbon-fiber wheel, the other on a set of MTU electronic engine controls Then accelerating from 0 to 50 miles per hour in just under one minute, incredible. The Sunseeker Predator 108 has big, Arneson drive-powered, performance engines and was built to Italian classification society RINA’s 100 A-1 specifications. She’s available in twin straight-inboard and triple-Arneson versions, and there are two basic layouts. Strict R& R is the 108’s only raison d’etre, not cheap practicality. The saloon/helm area is gorgeous, the ceiling height is of palatial proportions. Niceties include a dumbwaiter from the galley below; a lofty helm area with four inviting Besenzoni helm chairs; a top-shelf Linn home-theater system with hard-disc music library and 42-inch retractable LCD TV; a dining table for eight; and easy sliding-door access to a BBQ in the cockpit. The Sunseeker Predator 108 is to play and party under the open stars, people buy 108’s for a whale of a time, no pun intended. She is luxurious, highly evolved, elegant and we assure you, in a class all her own.
Grass lounge is a must see and be destination for Miami socialites and celebrities. Since opening their whimsical wooden doors in 2003, Grass lounge has remained memorable and ultimately chic in our hearts. The little lounge that could helped put the unknown Design District on the international map. Grass continues to transition the downtown area into an upscale haven, attracting more and more Miami Beach-ers away from the beach. Seemingly of another world with cushy white banquettes, bamboo trees, warm starry skies, and a bar illuminated with a wall of apothecary, flower filled jars.
Like always we had a fabulous dinner at Grass last Friday night before we went out to party ourselves away. The lounge is an elegant hideaway and well worth the 10 minute drive off Miami Beach, were nothing comparable exists. Grass has quickly become a favorite haunt, perfect for a romantic date, business dinner or to make your tourist friend jealous. The contemporary American and Asian infused menu is light, the drinks are fresh and just sitting in the garden-esque restaurant is preparation enough for a phenomenal night out. Located at 28 NE 40th St, downtown, Grass Lounge is proof enough that life exists pretty perfectly outside the realm that is Miami Beach.
Bigger is better and a 405-foot motor yacht by FMYP is the best. Scheduled to launch in 2009, the P967 yacht has 14 cabins and sleeps 32 comfortably. The Frank Muldur-design features a steel hull and an aluminum deck. Powered by a 9,780-horsepower 3618 Caterpillar engine, she cruises at 16 knots and peaks at 21 knots or 24.2 mph. The bodacious beauty is painted blue and has a beam of nearly 60 feet, plenty of space for you movers and shakers. The triple-deck gigayacht is classed as a fly bridge with a cockpit and the interior is on par with any luxury cruise ship. Boasting an atrium, indoor swimming pool and beach floor, dining areas, decks, cabin interiors, and common areas. The lower deck leads out to a second swimming pool off the rear. Perfect for large business events, parties, meetings or the ultimate business vacation.
This immense luxury-latent gigayacht is being brokered in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and is priced at approximately $233,045,000 million (159,500,000 euros).
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Luxury Travel Expo is the most prominent and authoritative luxury event in North America. This year it will be the Expo’s tenth anniversary. Luxury Travel Expo remains to be the only travel event soley loyal to luxury. The Expo provides suppliers and agents with a vast luxury forum with meaningful knowledge and networking opportunities.
The Expo will be in Las Vegas from December 2nd through the 5th. The whole thing is put tgether by Luxury Travel Advisor, Travel Agent magazine and Premier Hotels & Resorts. The Luxury Travel Expo has been so successful because of careful attention to an education program, knowledgeable speakers and ample exhibitors. Below is what the first days schedule looks like and we will keep you posted as more updates surface.
Schedule for Decemeber 2, 2008
8:00AM -Â 6:00PM Â Â Â
Registration Open
8:30AM -Â 12:00PM Â Â Â
Test for your CTA, CTC and CTIE designations
12:00PM -Â 3:00PM Â Â Â
CLIA’s Customer Relations Management
Speaker: Â Â Â Bernie Blomquist, MCC, CTC, Manager of Training Development, CLIA
Want to create the ultimate, top-notch customer service model for your agency?
12:15PM -Â 1:30PM Â Â Â
Creating Buzz for Your Business: Hot Viral Marketing
Speaker: Â Â Â Bruce Tepper, CITE, CTC, Vice President, Joselyn, Tepper & Associates, Inc.
Buzz Marketing, a.k.a. Viral Marketing, is today’s hottest marketing technique. Have a creative flair but a limited budget?
12:30PM -Â 7:00PM Â Â Â
The Travel Institute Conference: Additional Conference Registration required
1:45PM -Â 3:15PM Â Â Â
Aloha! Discover the Islands of Pampering Luxury, by Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau
Speaker: Â Â Â Stacey Alford, CTC, Director of Travel Industry Sales, Oahu Visitors Bureau
Robyn Basso, Regional Director of Travel Trade Marketing, Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau
Maile Horner, Director of Marketing, Kauai Visitors Bureau
Deanna Isbister, Director of Sales, Big Island Visitors Bureau
Chris Kai’aokamalie, Director of Sales, Maui Visitors Bureau
Julie Zadeh, CTC, Managing Director of Travel Trade Marketing, Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau
We invite you to explore the islands’ hidden gems, cultural experiences, luxurious hotels, and unique activities and attractions, along with the welcoming Aloha spirit.
2:00PM -Â 3:00PM Â Â Â
25 Top Strategies for Selling Niche Cruises
Speaker: Â Â Â Larry Dessler, CTC, Executive Director, Niche Marketing Cruise Alliance
Charles Robertson, President and CEO, American Cruise Lines
Jamie Sales, Managing Director and Co-owner, Uncommon Cruises
Karen Wiseman, Vice President of Marketing, Orion Expedition Line
How can you pamper your clients with intimate niche cruise products?
3:30PM -Â 4:30PM Â Â Â
ID Card – Going, Going, Gone? By IATA
Speaker: Â Â Â Humberto E. Rivero, Regional Director of the Americas, IATA
3:30PM -Â 4:30PM Â Â Â
Yokoso! Japan Welcomes You to the Land of Hospitality by the Visit Japan Campaign
3:30PM -Â 6:30PM Â Â Â
CLIA’s Self Assessment: Explore Your Abilities, Skills and Strengths
Speaker: Â Â Â Dr. Marc Mancini, President, Marc Mancini Seminars and Consulting
"Know Thyself." Knowing your strengths, overcoming your weaknesses and applying the lessons you’ve learned from self-discovery.
Porsche is classic cars and now they are moving into the business of boat building. Porsche Design Group just announced a new deal that would have them designing and marketing yachts. The deal is going down with Royal Falcon Fleet, a singapore based catamaran and mega-yacht building company.
The yachts look seriously slick and futuristic. We may just be in love, the first project is going to be a motor catamaran. The catamaran is being called the RFF135 and will be 135 ft. Â
Tank test results point to yachting speeds of 35 knots and don’t worry Porsche isn’t messing around for kicks. They are taking the project seriously, enlisting Kockums which is a Swedish marine engineering company and some serious naval architects. We will keep watch to see how Porsche does on the sea, keep you posted.
The Pershing 64 luxury yacht is pushing the yachting world full knots ahead. Designed by Fulvio De Simoni of the Ferrettie Group firm, the Pershing 64 features mega-yacht luxuries with a sports-style performance. Three decadent cabins, furnished by Poltrona Frau the renowned Italian leather furniture manufacturer, sleep 8 and entertain up to 16 passengers. The indoor/outdoor lounging area can be opened up to take in the sky or closed with air conditioning on, to escape the aquatic elements.
This luxury yacht has the galley on the intermediate deck allowing for more recreational space, enough to make every other 64 footer jealous. The Pershing’ s revolutionary layout makes the hardtop sports yacht appear much larger than its actual dimensions. The master cabin has two large windows that overwhelm the suite with sunlight. Plus, the master comes standard with lounger, vanity unit, a flat-screen television, and ample storage space. The central sundeck has a hidden hangar big enough to store a jet ski, and the walkways are wide for uninhibited movement aboard ship.
This sports yacht has twin 1550hp MAN engines and Arneson ASD 14 liter drives hustle the Pershing to an awesome 46 Knots, in terrestrial terms that’s about 52 miles per hour. The Pershing 64 will convince even the water weary to climb aboard and find their sea legs. Thanks are in order to the Ferrettie firm for giving us the 2008 Pershing 64. We love the new kind of luxurious sports yacht, keep up the good work!
When it comes down to the nitty gritty in the boat world, we usually keep our mouths shut. The fact of the matter is that there is too much technical jargon surrounding yachts, speedboats, even jetskis, for most sea-vessel owners to even know what’s up. We are here to tell you don’t worry! Whether you are an owner looking to increase your fleet or a newby just learning about nautical miles, it’s ok because starting on October 30th you can get a full-on education. The World’s largest boat show will be in South Florida.
Presented by Ginn sur Mer and hosted by 10 Cane Rum again this year, the 49th edition of the International Boat Show will be set over six locations in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Here through Monday, November 3rd, 2008 the show will feature more than $$3 billion worth of boats, yachts, superyachts, electronics, engines and thousands of accessories from every major marine manufacturer and builder worldwide. The Boat Show comprises more than 3 million square feet of space by land and water, at six sites, all connected by the Show’s Transportation Network of water taxis, riverboats and bus shuttles. Last year we went VIP thanks to 10 Cane Rum a Louie Vuitton Moet Hennessy brand, and in our opinion the essential ingredient for the world’s greatest Mojito. The 2007 Internation Boat Show was first class all the way, we thoroughly appreciated the grandiose, contemporary mega-yachts and were entertained by the gorgous models prancing around in little bity bikinis with free drinks. We will be back again this year and expect nothing less for 2008. If you can’t make the show then stayed tuned here with us, as we will be documenting all the sea vessel knowledge we learn, adventures we have and sillyness we find for you!  Â
Calling all World Class Jet-setters to Miami Beach. Socialites already know that Miami Beach is the scene to be seen in every winter, Miami is the only island-city in the country with warm winters, a pulse of change, poise, enlightenment and elite lifestyles. With white sand beaches, the upscale Bal Harbour Shops, and a vibrant nightlife it is no surprise that the glamorous Miami Beach locale has been chosen to debut Haute Miami. Haute Miami is the first ever uber-luxe exhibit of its kind in the United States and will debut from January 8th – 11th, 2009. Â
Haute Miami has an expansive, high class roster of 160 renowned, international exhibitors featuring contemporary and classic fashion, jewelry, art, design, exotic yachts, airplanes, personal helicopters, new technology in many forms, and an emphasis on "going green" including solar powered vehicles, Haute Miami is certain to awe even the luxury spoiled, savvy Miami Beach locals. Haute Miami will be in the Miami Beach Convention Center and will run concurrently with SeaFair. SeaFair is a private megayacht that will be part of the Haute Miami expo, it will host a selection of invitation-only events.  At 228 feet, SeaFair, is the 4th largest private American Luxury Yacht in the Country and that deserves some good old fashioned American patriotism ya’ll.
The venue will host 28 auxiliary exhibitors in private galleries and features a gourmet restaurant, champagne/caviar lounge and a spacious sky deck. SeaFair will be docked on Millionaire’s Row and can be accessed by shuttles from the Convention Center. The custom built $40M exposition vessel will serve as a networking hub and private venue for many of Haute Miami’s most exclusive events. Haute Miami imitates successful luxury fairs from Europe and Asia and will bring new buzz and glamour to the famed winter season in Miami Beach. To align with Miami’s chilled out atmosphere, Haute Miami at the Convention Center will offer extended hours operating Wednesday – Saturday evenings until 11PM and will feature nighttime events.
“Haute Miami and SeaFair both represent entirely new paradigms in American fairs. Both will be fabulous new luxury lifestyle events for even the most sophisticated visitors,†said David Lester founder of this exposition. “We look forward to welcoming discerning, local and international attendees to our extraordinary, new event in January." We can barely wait! Stay with us for up to the minute updates about Haute Miami.
We spent this past weekend racing along the Miami Beach coast on a fishing boat. Don’t get the wrong idea this definitely wasn’t grandpa’s rinky dinky fishing thing, that is, unless grandpa dropped upwards of $400k. We played on a brand new Midnight Express, custom built 37 Foot Open Fish. If you don’t fish then just disregard that word because this boat is all about the lounge. Midnight Express is a small family owned company that came to market in 1999 with fierce mariner passion and a cutting edge 39 Foot Center Console. Midnight Express has been revolutionizing the marine industry ever since. Their 39 Foot won Powerboat of the year by 2005, which put them in good company with reputable brands like Formula, Ebbtide, Cigarette and Douglas Marine/Skater. Midnight Express boats are characteristically long and open, with center deck, positioned steering as the name suggests. We aren’t talking about anything run-of-the-mill, on the contrary, every boat is individually designed and then handcrafted to meet the client’s expectations. While all along being overseen by an immediate founding family member.
The Columbus Day Regatta is next weekend ya’ll! On October 11th & 12th one of the oldest Miami/ Biscayne Bay traditions will happen for the 54th year in a row. While some marine enthusiasts set sail intent on watching racing events that honor Christopher Columbus’ voyage to America, the majority find Regatta just another way to party. Each year the yachts get bigger, the crowds more brilliant and the parties bolder. Picture Mardi Gras on clear bay water and epic boats. Topless women, drinking and drugs galore, and sorts of wicked debauchery, oh my. Regatta is slightly more refined, if you consider the fact that we are partying on million dollar luxury yachts and not Bourbon Street. For the latter majority of party seekers, Regatta weekend is all about a race to outdo thy neighbor. Last year we played on a Sunseeker Predator 82- foot motoryacht but even with a $5 million dollar boat we were lost amongst the crowd. If you’ve done Regatta weekend you fully understand the gist, if you haven’t we suggest you get on it. Many people fly in just for the weekend and the insane 48 hour party marathon that is Columbus Day Regatta.
