FT. LAUDERDALESunday • O c t. 30, 2011

o o o

For more news, visit www.the-triton.com

Docks still busy in downpour

IT’S A COVER UP: Crew on M/Y Miss Michelle held off as long as they could, but by mid afternoon, the rain was staying so covers came out. See more wet photos on pages 4-5. PHOTO/DORIE COX

By Staff Report

What started out as a chamois dance ended up as a cover call when morning showers turned into a torrential downpour yesterday at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

As many as 3 inches of rain fell per hour in some areas of South Florida yesterday, waterlogging exhibit areas and, in some cases, putting carpeted walkways completely under water.

Interestingly, though. the rain didn’t keep serious boat people away from the show.

As the rain fell, the tents got crowded. The second it stopped, the

docks got crowded again. (That’s how it rains in Florida, on and off, with a downpour usually not lasting longer than a few minutes.)

Following Friday night’s rain, yesterday’s storm caused the National Weather Service to issue a flood warning for Fort Lauderdale and other areas until midnight last night.

The good news: this rain is supposed to be in front of a cold front that entered South Florida last night. Still, it is South Florida in October. Don’t pull out a sweater yet.

FreelancerTom Serio and Editor Lucy Chabot Reed contributed to this report, editorial@the-triton.com.

Sun & MoonSunset:6:40pm;Sunrise (Monday):7:29amMoonrise: 11:30am(Monday);21.7%litHigh tides:11:38a.m/11:50pmLow tides:5:42pm/6:06am(Monday)

Weather

Upcoming Events

Test Your MatesFindouthownauticalyouand

yourcrewmatesarewiththisquiz.nWhatisacyclone?Which

directiondoesitflow?nIstheresuchathingasan

anticyclone? ANSWERS on page 2.

Today: 60%chanceofrain,high78;windsNE,19mph;76%humidityTonight: 70percentchanceofrain,low73Tomorrow AM: Thunderstorms,high79

Today, 5-8 p.m.IslandGlobalYachtinghostsacocktailpartyandwillgiveawayaniPadat6p.m.,followedbycocktailswithIGYmanagers.Tomorrow,representativesfromCostaRica,PuertoRicoandColombiawillbeonhand.

Tonight, 7:30 p.m.SightsandSoundsofthePacificCorridor,hostedbyPacificBoundYachts,withascreeningoftheIMAXmovie“TheUltimateWaveTahiti”andnamingofthePerseusawardwinner.Invitationonlyforcaptainsandfirstofficers.RSVP:info@pacificboundyachts.com

TomorrowDeadlinetouploadvideosforthe4thannualFortYachtie-DaInternationalFilmFestival,tobeheldNov.12inFt.Lauderdale.www.fortyachtieda.com

Nov. 10-1224thannualShowboatsInternationalBoysandGirlsClubsRendezvous,atRybovichYachtClubinPalmBeach.www.yachtrendezvous.com

Congressman vows to help industry

Answerstothequizonpage1:nAcycloneisahurricaneinthe

IndianOcean.It’sasystemofwindsthatrotatesaboutacenteroflowatmosphericpressure.Itspinscounter-clockwiseinthenorthernhemisphere,clockwiseinthesouthern.nYes,similartoacyclone,but

itrotatesaboutacenterofhighatmosphericpressure,anditspinsclockwiseinthenorthernhemisphere,counter-clockwiseinthesouthernhemisphere.

Test Your Mates

Triton Today Ft. Lauderdale ispublishedbyTritonPublishingGroup.

Vol. 3, No. 4.

Copyright2010,Allrightsreserved.

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2 | Sunday • O c t. 30, 2011

CorrectionInastoryyesterday,Triton Today

reportederroneouslythatU.S.MarshalsseizedtheassetsofAllOceanYachts,InaceYacht’sU.S.representative,fromitsboothattheboatshowonFriday.

OnlytheassetsofInaceYachtswereseized.

Weregrettheerror.

By Lucy Chabot Reed

Those days of U.S. customs officials sometimes stopping yacht crew for having the “wrong” visa may be coming to an end.

At a marine industry summit at the boat show yesterday, U.S. Congressman Allen West, who represents part of South Florida in Washington D.C., called on groups and leaders to create what they call in the military an After Action Report (AAR) when the show is over that points out the hurdles the yachting industry deals with. Then to sent it him so he can endorse it and send it to the pertinent federal agencies so the issues can be addressed.

“For whatever reason, people respond when they get a letter from me,” West said. “Create a document with your big ticket issues on it and

the lessons learned so I can start getting

them addressed. I don’t want to be sitting here next year talking about these issues again.”

Top of the list

was the inconsistent application of visa requirements for yacht crew.

Another is the amount of export duties – or lack of import duties – that make it harder for U.S. boat builders to compete globally.

Ken Hickling of Awlgrip got the most laughs of the meeting when he said that buying a superyacht may just be the most humanitarian thing a wealthy person can do with his money.

“The best way to extract wealth from wealthy people -- and it appears to me that’s what he [President Obama] wants to do, extract wealth -- is with a superyacht,” Hickling said. “Fifty million dollars can buy a jet, jewelry, art, but a $50 million yacht oozes $5 million a year in maintenance, crew, and all that. That’s money ingested into every local community a yacht visits.”

Another issue that’s coming up that crew will eventually feel is the bureaucratic interpretation and implementation of the Longshore legislation passed in 2009 that may reverse the insurance benefits that companies doing business in shipyards gained. In some cases, “pleasure” vessels may be considered “commercial” vessels when in shipyards in the United States, changing the insurance and labor rules completely.

West is already tackling this issue and expects to make a public statement about union influence tomorrow.

“We cannot allow special interests to change law in the United States of America,” West said. “It’s wrong.”

As for that AAR, industry leaders have their work cut out for them. He expects it on his desk by Jan. 15.

Lucy Chabot Reed is editor of Triton Today, lucy@the-triton.com.

Sunday • O c t. 30, 2011 | 3

Captain makes bid for paralympicsBy Lucy Chabot Reed

Capt. Jody Hill, former skipper of S/Y Flicka, sat at a press conference during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, beaming from ear-to-ear because someone just made it possible for him to go sailing.

Paralyzed in a car accident on Tortola in 2006, Hill had no insurance. The years since have been financially hard, but sailing has kept him going. That, and his friends in the yachting industry.

“I want to thank the yachting community for supporting me financially and looking after me for the past five years,” he said during a press announcement at the show on Friday.

Moore Stephens Isle of Man will be his primary sponsor in his bid to represent the United States in the 2012 Paralympics in London.

“Everything I have is because the yachting community has come out,” he said. “It’s the only way I would have survived.”

Moore Stephens is offering Hill logistical support for his Team Positive, a Web site (www.jodyhill2012.com) and social media support, repairs and equipment for his boat, and personal coaching.

“Moore Stephens is honored to become part of Team Positive,” said

Charlotte Easton marketing supervisor of Moore Stephens, in making the announcement. “You are truly an inspiration.”

Moore Stephens is a wealth management and financial planning company. It has a crew benefits division.

At the time of his accident, Hill had been in the yachting industry 13 years. Just two weeks before, his mother sent him $500 to secure health insurance, but he didn’t.

“I have nothing to show for working 13 years for some of the wealthiest people in the world,” he said, his electric smile fading briefly. “I urge anyone working in the yacht industry today to protect yourself. Think about your future.”

Since his accident, Hill has been given a boat that he’s refurbished and races. He also uses it to take others with physical handicaps out on the water.

“I wanted to share the freedom, independence and serenity you get from sailing,” he said. “I feel lucky. A lot of people are a lot worse off than I was.

“I just love taking people out sailing,” he said, his smile returning. “The wind catches the sail and the boat heels over and their eyes light up and they ask, ‘are we going to tip over?’ I love that question.”

Now he’s going for the gold in London. And Moore Stephens is helping him get there.

Lucy Chabot Reed is editor of Triton Today, lucy@the-triton.com.

Tax cap boosts revenue five times By Lucy Chabot Reed

Initial data collected from boat dealers around the state show that the $18,000 sales tax/use cap has nearly quadrupled the state’s collection of taxes, according to a statement from the Florida Yacht Brokers Association.

Since going into effect in July 2010, the state has collected nearly $5.5 million in sales tax on vessels selling for more than $300,000 and about $2.3 million in use taxes on vessels opting to home port in Florida.

Previous sales tax collections were about $1.4 million, FYBA said.

“Capping the tax has allowed boat owners to operate their vessels in Florida, spending badly needed revenue with Florida businesses, not only in the marine sector, but also at local stores, restaurants and other non-marine businesses,” said Cromwell Littlejohn, president of FYBA, which pushed for the cap, along with the Marine Industries Association of South Florida.

Lucy Chabot Reed is editor of Triton Today, lucy@the-triton.com.

* *

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4 | Sunday • O c t. 30, 2011

ThunderheadsthathadthreatenedfordaysfinallystruckonSaturday,leavingcrewtopackitin.Luckly,die-hardboatloversstuckitout,crowdingthedocksbetweendownpoursallafternoon.Andsomehow,crewcontinuedtosmile. PHOTOS/DORIE COX, TOM SERIO

DOING THE CREW THING, DAY 4: Making the best of a rainy day

Sunday • O c t. 30, 2011 | 5

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6 | Sunday • O c t. 30, 2011

CHECKING THE TIDE: Triton Today’s Question of the Day

What do you spend money on?

Weaskedcrewwheretheyspendthebiggestpartoftheirpaycheck.

Theiranswersrangedfromwell-plannedinvestmentstonotreallyknowing.

Wewereproudtolearnthatafullfifthoftherespondentssaveit.Somearesavingforsomethingspecific,suchasbuyingahouseorstartingabusiness,butotherssaidtheyarejustplainsaving.

Anequalamountsendithome,sometosupporttheirfamilies,otherstofixtheirhouses.

Thenextlargestgroup–about18percent–spenditonhavingfun,goingtonicerestaurantsorbuyingdiveorfishinggear.

Muchoftherestweresplitevenlybetweentraveling,goingtoschool

orotherthings.Onerespondentsaidhewindsupspendingmuchofhispaycheckontraffictickets.

Andthereisstillaportion,albeitsmall,whoinvest.

Wedidn’tasktoomanydetailsaboutthat,somaybesomeofour“saveit”answers–thosesavingforrealestate–reallywouldfitbetterhere.

– Dorie Cox

StewRachel LenardsonM/Y Status Quo150-foot Richmond

“I’msavingupforsomethingimportant,maybethedown-paymentonanapartment.”

Eng. Harry LeeM/Y Cheers 46116-foot Azimut

“Mymoneygoeshometopaythemortgage.ButabigbudgetisforfunandIplantobuyajuicymotorcycleoutofthefunbudget.”

Stew Renee HelmoreM/Y Paradigm115-foot Benetti

“Ihaveaplantomakehandbags.Idesignthemmyselfandwillhavethemmade.Thisisameanstoanend.”

Chief Eng. Robert WeinkleM/Y Incentive142-foot Palmer Johnson

“Ibuiltahouse,soIspendmoneypayingforit.ButIsavemostofit.I’mold;Ican’tstayinthisforever.”

Capt. Joe NolanM/Y Unforgettable100-foot Inace

“Thewife.Whoknowswhatshedoeswithit.Wehavecommercialproperty,butwe’rewaitingtogetbacktoAustraliatobuyahouse.”

Crew Olivia SeagoM/Y Sea Jewel118-foot Trinity

“Themoneyjustgoes.Itfiltersoutineverydirection.Itjustfiltersoutandit’sgone.”

Capt. Keston LymanM/Y Dulcinea106-foot Westport

“WeownahomeinFt.Lauderdaleandwe’refixingitup.Itisgreat,onlyhadoneowner,butthat’swhereitgoes.”

Chief Stew Tracey VanDerWesthuizenM/Y Easy147-foot Trident

“ItgoestoonestoreonLasOlas[inFt.Lauderdale],Shop603.AfterthatIrelyonmypartner,”FirstMateBradShrives.

Mate Travis AhlfM/Y Miss Michelle130-foot Westport

“Recently,itreallygoestocourses.”

Mate Tom GebhardtM/Y Krishelle95-foot Intermarine

“Propertiesinforeigncountries.Ihaveinvestmentsinupandcomingpartsoftheworld.”

Mate David BabatM/Y Muse122-foot Palmer Johnson

“Isavemostofit.I’mthinkingofbuyingahouse,possiblyinRhodeIsland.OrmaybeinFt.Lauderdale.”

Save it – 21.4%

Invest it – 7.1%

Travel – 10.7% Buy stuff

– 17.9%

Send it home – 21.4%

Other – 10.7%

School – 10.7%

Sunday • O c t. 30, 2011 | 7

Find us at 1073 S.E. 17th St. in Ft. Lauderdale,

also home to the new Triton headquarters

upstairs.upstairs.

the worldsea

Train at MPTVisit us at the Captain’s Den,

Captain’s Hideout and Booth 187

www.MPTusa.com

OFF THE DOCKS: Last night’s big party

NationalMarineSuppliers’7thannualBizarre-B-Qlastnightwasdampbutcrewspiritswerenot. PHOTOS/DORIE COX

For way more photos, visit www. the-triton.com.

@ National Marine