Notice to OPO Mariners, December 1, 2006
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Hank Schmitt, P.O. Box 2032, Halesite, NY 11743
631-423-4988, 1-800-4PASSAGe, Fax 631-423-9009
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Editorial
December is the slowest month of the year outside Hurricane season for offshore passage opportunities. The only boats that are still being moved are boats that were delayed because they were not ready yet and they are now rushing in colder weather to get south in time for the holidays. I am making one such trip this weekend from Annapolis to BVI with three OPO members and some of the owner's crew. Two other similar opportunities just went out this past week.
Normally this time of year we are working on the boat show schedule and getting the booth and logistics ready for the winter show circuit. However this year will be the first year since 1995 that we will not be exhibiting at any shows. The excuse is that I will be making a long passage from South Africa to Grenada during the month of January (to miss the Philadelphia show) and back in early February too late to make the Chicago show. I am sure we will be back next season for a couple of shows.
One show (conference) that we will not miss will be the YBAA (Yacht Brokers Association of America) annual meeting in mid-February, this year in Nashville Tennessee. We are an affiliate member and exhibit to the over 150 yacht brokers from all over the country that attend. Between membership in YBAA, exhibiting and advertising in their publications we spend about $3500 a year marketing to Yacht Brokers since they are the # 1 source of deliveries (opportunities) for our members. This will be the 5th out of 6th conference, since we became a member, that we are attending and marketing to. New this year will be the start of our marketing a new Power Boat delivery division of our business since we now have a couple of tier 1 delivery skippers wanting to make the transition (and money) for the many power boat deliveries. Power boats are a lot different in that they do not need more than two crew in total and they stop almost every night to plug in and have a nice dinner dockside. The benefit for crew is that these dinners and drinks are normally included in the delivery fee, unlike with sailboat deliveries where only onboard food is included. We hope to start offering some power boat opportunities to members in the future. Some people make enjoy covering the intra-coastal and other routes by any boat since they will still learn the routes.
OPO Discount for Captain's Course - Some members are planning to get a captains license either to get a little part time work or for their own sense of accomplishment. Captain Bob Figular of the "Mariners School" runs many courses all over the East Coast and expanding into the Mid-West. By next year he should be offering courses nationally. Captain Bob is offering a $100 discount to OPO members who sign up for one of his course. You may see him at one of the many boat shows this winter or you may contact him at 1-866-SEA-CAPT or 609-987-0555 or web site www.MarinersSchool.com e-mail bob@MarinersSchool.com Just tell him Hank told you about the course and that you are an active OPO member.
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Winter Caribbean Circuit
The Heineken Regatta is filling up with 9 crew berths already deposited. Many crew from
last year expressed interested in joining us again this year, but we can not hold your berth
unless you send in a $500 deposit soon. The balance is not due until a couple of weeks before
each regatta, but we need to make sure we have everyone onboard early this year since I will be
away all of January. If you are interested in joining us for either the Heineken Regatta or
the BVI Regatta, please let us know this month and send in your deposit.
The information for both regattas is on our web site. The price includes accommodations
and on St. Martin a van to get around town between the villa overlooking Marigot (5 Beroom suite)
and the boat. In the BVI we will have a support boat since we will be practicing the first
couple of days on our own and visiting other islands before the racing starts and we race
around some of the islands.
If you have any questions please let us know soon and I will help you make
plans for the winter. Wives or other better halves may come and join us for
the week if they do not want to race and stay in the villa for $750 rather than $2400.
The Dates:
Heineken - Fly into St. Martin on Monday Feb 26th and fly home on Monday March 5th.
You will have a place to stay between those dates. The price is $2400 or if you
have raced with us before $1900.
The BVI Regatta - Fly into Tortola Monday March 26th and fly home Monday
April 2nd. We will have one or two support boats to stay aboard other than
aboard Avocation and will practice and sail to a couple of other islands before
the Race Week starts with the first party on the night of March 29th. The price
for the BVI Regatta is $2200 new folks and $1700 for veterans.
Send in a deposit of $500 now to secure a berth and make sure you will be joining us this winter.
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For more information please call us today at 1-800-472-7724
1-800-4-PASSAGe
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