For those who are interested, check out how the City of Fort Lauderdale's Community Services Advisory Board (pp 5-7 of that linked doc) keeps its citizens' best interests in mind.

First know this: We've recently learned that the guy who owns the Elite Bicycles pedicab company, some Kevin Green character, had a bogus insurance policy. The insurance agency has no record of it on file, and apparently, the agent who wrote it up had his/her license revoked by the state of Florida back in October and it's now a wild goose chase to try and find him/her.

People need to know that the Elite Bicycles pedicab business down on the beach is shady!! Mr. Kevin Green's business shouldn't even be operating without insurance (there's also talk that some of his permits were bogus; not confirmed, but suspected)…

And here is one that really gets me: The city of Fort Lauderdale says it's not their fault that no one checked on the validity of Mr. Green's insurance policy.

Oh yeah? ... Not their fault?

Well, take a look at THIS:

COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING, OCTOBER 10, 2005 – 7:00 P.M., CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS
– Clean Air Taxi/Elite Bicycles –
[Note: The full notes from this committee meeting can be found on Pages 5-7 of the document found at this link. Below are just some of the real gems.
My comments below are in bold.]

"Kevin Green stated that he was requesting permits to conduct his business for pedicabs and rickshaws along Las Olas Boulevard and A1A. Alfred Imgrund stated that he reviewed the police memorandum dated June 25, 2005, which recommended a denial of the business permits and reasons for such denial."

That's right. DESPITE a recommendation by the police department, which they based on Mr. Green's past arrests, citations, and run-ins with police, the city commission STILL voted to grant Mr. Green permits to operate his business.

But wait!...It gets even more shocking:

"Sanforf Rosenthal suggested that possibly one permit be granted to Mr. Green so as to help him establish a 'track record.' Chair John Hurley stated that in reviewing the police memorandum, he would like Mr. Green to clarify each issue listed. In a letter dated June 25, 2005, it stated: 'Mr. Green has been warned, cited, and arrested in the past for violations related to his illegal, unauthorized operation of a pedicab in the beach area.'"

"Chair John Hurley asked if Mr. Green had ever been arrested. Mr. Green confirmed and stated that he was 40 years old and had been arrested about three times. He continued stating that he had first been arrested when he was 17 years old for grand theft auto. He explained that he was charged as an adult. He explained that the second time he was arrested was in regard to trespassing, loitering, and other minor incidents. He stated that the third time he was arrested was in regard to domestic violence in 1998 or 1999, and he had been convicted and had served about two years in prison. 'Mr. Green has been involved in several disturbances in the beach area. He has also been cited for other complaints, including animal complaints, trespassing, and assault on the beach area. He has also been arrested for battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence in the City of Fort Lauderdale.'"

"He asked if Mr. Green had been arrested regarding battery on a law enforcement officer, and resisting arrest with violence in the City of Fort Lauderdale. Mr. Green explained that while he was in jail for the domestic charge, he received the other violation. He stated that he had to defend himself. Chair John Hurley clarified that Mr. Green had not been arrested the fourth time because he had already been under arrest, and therefore, was served a Summons. Mr. Green confirmed. Chair John Hurley asked what was the result of such charges. Mr. Green stated that he served time for the charges and had been in prison for three years."

Sounds like a real winner, huh? Even better, he goes on to lie about his citations having been dismissed:

"Chair John Hurley asked about citations and notices to appear in Court that had been issued."

"Mr. Green confirmed that he had received such citations and notices and that was reflected in his driving record. He explained that 8-9 of them had been dismissed, but still appeared on his driving record. Chair John Hurley explained that a dismissed ticket would not appear on a driving record. He further stated that a memorandum had been provided regarding violations issued to Mr. Green regarding his operation of the rickshaw."

At least a few of the members of the board were operating with sound logic and reasoning:

"Diane Schuster stated that Mr. Green's past infractions show that he has some character flaws, and therefore, the citizens of the City should not be subject to his services. She suggested that he attempt to earn a living in a different manner."

Unfortunately, there were less sound-minded individuals on the board, like Ms. Jennie Brooks:

"Jennie Brooks stated that this was a difficult situation, and Mr. Green was prone to violations. She reiterated that everyone deserves a chance, and possibly one permit could be granted and Mr. Green would be put on probation to see how things worked out. She stated that a 'track record' could then be established for him."

A second chance????? 

Seems to me that with three arrests and well over eight or nine citations in his background, that Mr. Green was well beyond deserving any more chances. This man should NOT have ever been authorized to run his business.

And the verdict?

"The Board approved with the exception of Diane Schuster and Sanford Rosenthal who voted against the motion."

Sure enough, here we are two years later and finding out that Mr. Green had a bogus insurance policy. Shouldn't the city have looked into that? Granted, they can't check on the validity of every insurance policy that get issued; however, I think that in this case, Mr. Green was obviously one who should have been flagged and kept an eye on—as a matter of fact, what happened to this deal where he was approved but put on "probation"?

Didn't anyone come back around to check on Mr. Green and his so-called business???

Therefore, here is my public alert:

Please help me get the word out to the public of Fort Lauderdale that those pedicabs owned by Kevin Green and his Elite Bicycle company should NOT be ridden. As a matter of fact, they should be removed from the streets and Mr. Green's shotty permits REVOKED. They should not ever have been issued in the first place.

Nice of the lenient City of Fort Lauderdale's Community Services Advisory Board to ignore a police department recommendation from Day 1, but now that he's been caught with a bogus insurace policy, I'm hoping they'll do the right thing and get him OFF OUR STREETS (which includes opening a debate as to whether or not that A1A and Las Olas area are well-lit and spacious enough to even accommodate such a mode of tranportation in the first place!).

Again, for the full meeting notes and to see all this insanity for yourself, please visit: http://ci.ftlaud.fl.us/documents/csb/2005/101005csb_minutes.pdf.

Thanks for your time,

~Julie Perry

To all of you who have written, I apologize for not responding just yet. The fracture on my right clavicle has made it painful to type. And to be honest, I haven't really felt up to doing much for the last month and a half. I suffered pretty wacky brain trauma from the skull fracture (and yes, wacky is the word), leaving me a bit fuzzy on the cognitive level: dizzy spells are the norm these days, and I feel like I could sleep for eternity.

For those of you reading this post who aren't aware of what happened, my good friend Suki Finnerty and I were hit by a hit-and-run driver on New Year's Eve—just after 1AM—while taking a pedicab (sometimes referred to as a rickshaw, only it's operated by a bicycle) ride over the Las Olas Boulevard Bridge in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Unfortunately, we never made it all the way over the bridge before an unidentified driver struck our pedicab from behind and then fled the scene. Suki and I were sent flying, and we were both knocked unconscious. (Yes, thank goodness we did not fly into the water; we are incredibly fortunate to be alive.)

I'm not really writing this to rehash what happened though. For that, you can visit this link to Channel 7 news (though the video has been taken down, the story is still there) or this article that ran in the Sun Sentinel.

The pedicab driver received minor injuries, while Suki and I ended up in the hospital for a week. Suki suffered severe cuts on her forehead and a blown-out knee that required surgery and having plates put in. She'll be in a wheelchair for another 2-3 weeks. (The poor thing had tons of video and photography work lined up for the Miami Boat Show this weekend that she had to turn away; this is already costing her big time.)

As for me, I received clavicle, pelvis, and skull fractures; along with lots of cuts and bruises. Here I am a couple days post-accident--not exactly a glamour shot (that's blood coming out of my ear; draining from the skull fracture):

The good news is that the fracture to my pelvis seems to have healed, though because of those dizzy spells, I still use my cane to get around—for balance more than anything else. The clavicle is finally healing, but when the doctor warned me that the pain would get worse before it got better (because new bone must form around the break), he wasn't lying. Some days, I'm in agony.

Now for the fun part (note: that's sarcasm): my face is paralyzed on the right side from nerve damage. That came complete with hearing loss in my right ear. They're telling me it could be 3-6 months before I get movement back on that side of my face. The same goes for the hearing. Apparently, nerve damage takes ages to heal.

I'm taking it in stride, often amusing my roommates and friends with my effortless "Mary Jo Buttafucco" impersonation (if anyone remembers that from the Saturday Night Live skit mocking the Amy Fisher story back in the 90's…saying with a half-frozen face: "I'm Mary Jo Buttafucco ova heeyah!" – though to be honest, now that I'm a victim of it myself, I have a lot more of compassion for ol' Mary Jo.)

About all I can do is try to see the humor side of it, because otherwise, it's a bit depressing. I have trouble talking clearly (any word beginning with a "b," "p," or "f" is nearly impossible), I drink through straws, and half the time I eat, I end up with portions of the meal on my chin and cheek. But, having to wait a few months for my hearing, full cognition, and facial muscles to work again is no big deal when I think about the "what could've beens."

The most common question that people keep asking me is if I'm mad. There again, for the last month and a half, I've felt nothing at all, really. It has only been in the last week that I've been able to even get my head around what happened. Until now, I've just been kind of moping around in a foggy daze. That's brain trauma for you, I guess.

But now that I'm waking to the reality of my situation, yes, I'm finally feeling what some might compare to anger—only for me, it's more frustration. Bills are starting to mount (health insurance isn't going to cover everything), and if I can't work full-time for another two to three months, that's a problem for me.

Here's some of the fun news I've recently learned about the "status" of our accident (and I'll be honest with you, while I've been in my what seems like a brain-dead haze, NOTHING has come of anything, leaving both Suki and me pretty screwed in the months to come):

1)  Not one lead came into Crimestoppers regarding who might have hit us. Our story received coverage by all three major local news channels, and also appeared in the newspaper, but there was not ONE call!

The investigator told me she was shocked; she said that even with accidents occurring in the middle of night in an isolated area, there is usually at least one call to the tips line. Here, Suki and I are hit on New Year's Eve in one of the busiest, prime beach locations in Fort Lauderdale, and NOT ONE person can claim to have seen a thing!?

I just don't believe that. There is up to a $1,000 reward for anyone with a tip that leads to an arrest—and we get not one clue…not one lead!? C'mon people…even if there's no one who can recall seeing the car, there's bound to be another person who knows something!

Either someone else was in the car as a passenger (remember, tips are anonymous!!), or there's someone who did work on a car in the days just following New Years and is suspicious…or there's maybe even someone who overheard others discussing the event. And what on earth were all those other cars and people on the bridge doing that night!? Were they just too drunk? How could they not have seen a thing!?

CrimeStoppers is offering up to $1,000 reward for any tips that lead to an arrest.

Someone out there knows something, and while 99% of the people I talk to tell me I'm wasting my time, I'm optimistic. Even if no one saw the car or caught a glimpse of the driver or his passenger: nothing stays a secret. Again, tips are anonymous, so even if you were a passenger, you can call. Please, I don't know how Suki and I are going to be able to afford this—especially with all the time out of work. Granted, the coward may not even have insurance, but at this stage, it's worth trying to find out.

If you have any information, please contact Broward County Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS or Fort Lauderdale's Traffic Homicide Investigator at 1-866-828-5755.

You can also visit www.browardcrimestoppers.org/webtips.html

PLEASE help me pass this word around. I'm working on getting flyers distributed around Fort Lauderdale, and meanwhile, I'll be taking my story back to the local media: both to find the individual responsible, and even more so, to make an issue out of these next two items…

The public deserves to know the following:

2)  The investigators have found that not one of the cameras going over that Las Olas bridge was working the night of our accident (new ones were installed in the last year, but they told us they're "only used for special events," and, apparently New Year's Eve doesn't classify as one of those).

So you're telling me that we can go online at anytime and view the live webcams at the Elbo Room there on the corner, but here in these post-9/11 times, in such a high-trafficked and "party party" area, with hundreds of millions of dollars worth of yachts passing through it on a regular basis, and on a night known for having the highest rates of hit-and-run accidents than any other night of the year, there's NOTHING keeping tabs on that Las Olas Bridge??? That's insane!

So do I have problems with the City of Fort Lauderdale????

You betchya! ...And it's not so much because of the camera issue either.

Get this:

3)   We've learned that the guy who owns the pedicab company, some Kevin Green character, had a bogus insurance policy. The insurance agency has no record of it on file, and apparently, the agent who wrote it up had his/her license revoked by the state of Florida back in October and it's now a wild goose chase to try and find him/her.

People need to know that the Elite Bicycles Pedicab business down on the beach is shady!! Mr. Kevin Green's business shouldn't even be operating without insurance (there's also talk that his permits were bogus; not confirmed, but suspected)...

And here is one that really gets me: the city of Fort Lauderdale says it's not their fault that no one checked on the validity of Mr. Green's insurance policy.

Oh yeah? Not their fault?

Well, take a look at THIS:

COMMUNITY STRONG CHAMBERS COMMISSION CITY P.M., 7:00 – 2005 10, OCTOBER MEETING, BOARD ADVISORY SERVICES
– Clean Air Taxi/Elite Bicycles –

Kevin Green stated that he was requesting permits to conduct his business for pedicabs and rickshaws along Las Olas Boulevard and A1A. Alfred Imgrund stated that he reviewed the police memorandum dated June 25, 2005, which recommended a denial of the business permits and reasons for such denial.

That's right. DESPITE a recommendation by the police department, which they based on Mr. Green's past arrests (three, including two years in jail), citations (well over nine), and run-ins with police (including battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence), the city commission STILL voted to grant Mr. Green permits to operate his business.

But wait! It gets even more shocking...To see more, please see my previous blog entry (I don't want to take up too much space here). If you want to see the report for yourself, please see this link and check out Pages 5-7 (it's disturbing). In short though, shame on the city of Fort Lauderdale. Sure enough, here we are two years later and finding out that Mr. Green had a bogus insurance policy.

Shouldn't the city have looked into that? Granted, they can't check on the validity of every insurance policy that get issued; however, I think that in this case, Mr. Green was obviously one who should have been flagged and kept an eye on—as a matter of fact, what happened to this deal where he was approved but put on "probation"?

Didn't anyone come back around to check on him and his so-called business???

So yes: I am frustrated...and finally feeling half with-it enough to do something about it.

On a more positive note, and really, most importantly (I should have opened with this), I want to offer a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has sent emails, comments, and even in some cases cards, flowers, candy, and balloons as a get-well gesture.

The response was overwhelming--probably a bit too overwhelming for my bruised brain to take in initially--but now that I'm feeling better, I'm going back through all the generous and thoughtful messages (and feeling a tremendous sense of guilt for not having been able to reply just yet; that I'm working on), and I don't think the words "thank you" even do the trick. I am truly blown away and so grateful to everyone who took time out their days to brighten mine. It's the best medicine I've received.

A few friends I want to send a special thanks to are my two Internet Marketing friends (and in this case, heroes), Michel Fortin and Simon Leung, who were kind enough to write about our accident in their blogs. I've always known that the Internet Marketing community is a special one, made up of so many kind and good-natured people, and sure enough, so many wonderful messages, comments, and even friend invites on both MySpace and Facebook came about because of these blogs. I owe a huge thanks goes to Michel (and his wife Sylvie Fortin, who ROCKS) and Simon for getting the word out.

The response from the marine industry has also been incredible. So many friends and fans of my former podcast, TheBoaters TV, have written in to offer their support. I especially need to thank Power & Motoryacht magazine Editor Diane Byrne for the blog post she wrote just after the accident.

Also, to Alan Spicer of Marine Telecom blog.

I so appreciate that Diane and Alan took note of the fact that there was a $1,000 CrimeStopper reward being offered. That was something I did not even know about until two weeks ago (my warped brain didn't register it when I first saw their blogs).

And with that, I'm off to publicize this Crimestoppers reward to the best of my ability.

I'll be posting blogs and bulletins (please repost if you see one), calling all the news reporters back, getting my flyers made and distributed, and keeping my fingers crossed that the private investigator hired by Suki's attorney finds at least ONE camera down on that beach that caught a glimpse of the car that hit us (doesn't necessarily have to be viewing the bridge, now does it? What about the 7-11 parking lot down the way??? Anyone?).

While I might not be able to work or leave my house much, I can't just sit here any longer. As I run the above issues over and over in my mind, the frustration does begin to lead to a bit of anger. Not necessarily anger that has me seeking revenge; rather, I want simple justice. I'm a firm believer that it never pays to be angry; however, I figure if I can channel that energy into action and allow the frustration I am feeling to motivate me to right the wrongs in this situation--not just for Suki and me, but for future victims--then perhaps getting a little worked up isn't such a bad thing.

Please help me get the word out about our search for this hit-and-run driver. Someone needs to pay for this accident.

And please help me get the word out to the public of Fort Lauderdale that those pedicabs owned by Elite Bicycle company should NOT be ridden. As a matter of fact, they should be removed from the streets and Mr. Green's shoddy permits REVOKED. They should not ever have been issued in the first place.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Sorry it's so long. I"ll post a separate blog on Friday regarding the Crimestoppers reward. Please keep an eye out for bulletins.

~Julie Perry (a.k.a. Mary Jo Buttafucco ;-))

P.S. And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Suki (her b-day was Valentine's Day).

Welcome to Episode 70 of TheBoaters.TV!

Please Rate It (Even If You Hate It) at the Link Below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8EupxTFQ3g

First up: The MV Explorer (a.k.a. "Little Red Ship") Sinks in Antarctic Waters

Passengers enjoying a 19-day Antarctic Cruise aboard the MV Explorer had the vacation of a lifetime cut short last Friday when the well-known ship struck a submerged iceberg in the Bransfield Strait.

The ice punched a hole in the 246-foot, 2400-tonne liner, which began taking on water, forcing the 100 passengers and 54 Explorer crewmembers to flee aboard life rafts.

All onboard managed to escape completely safe and uninjured, while the 38-year-old Explorer sank about 15 hours later.

First launched in 1969 at the Nystad yard in Finland, MV Explorer was the world's first purpose built expeditionary passenger vessel.

Reports say that a calm in Antarctic seas and the swift response of the passing Norwegian ship were instrumental in saving all aboard the famous liner.

Next up - The Kitano Kite Sailing Yacht Has Caught a Hearty Breeze of Interest...

UK-based Kitano Kite Sailing Company has recently designed a prototype for a yacht able to be brought to planing speed by a kite.

By putting a kite at the helm, they discovered that it is somewhat easy–and rather technilogically straightforward–to bring a vessel to planing speed quickly in even the lightest of wind conditions and in the shallowest of waters.

Initially designed to fulfill a 20-meter length overall specification and an admirable 5.5-meter beam, the unarguably modern Kite Sailing Yacht prototype is designed to take advantage of the constant and stronger wind speeds found at higher altitudes.

Another appealing aspect of the the prototype, originally designed by Stefani Krucke, is its environmentally friendly application.

Welcome to Episode 75 of TheBoaters.TV!

Please Rate It (Even If You Hate It) at the Link Below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-f46O3rDM0

First up: Barcelona World Race Near Collision and Update

Last week in the Barcelona World Race, team Hugo Boss had a scary near collision with a merchant cargo ship.

Skipper Alex Thomson had spotted the oncoming ship when she was still a good five miles away, but the cargo ship failed to see the black Hugo Boss monohull -- and consequently, was at fault in the incident.

According to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, published by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) also states that "Except in narrow channels, traffic schemes, and when overtaking, a power-driven vessel must give way to a sailing vessel." Again, fault goes to the cargo ship, whose responsibility it was to steer away from the sailing Open 60.

The duo aboard Hugo Boss tried to avoid the collision by altering their course a few degrees, which caused the vessel to end up on its side. Not only did Hugo Boss recover, but from December 6th--7th, the team set a new 24-hour record for monohulls up to 60 foot -- 492.7 miles.

As of this morning (December 10th), they are in 3rd place.

Here are the current standings:
1. Paprec Virbac 2, DTF: 16,809
2. Veolia Environnement, DTF: + 110
3. Hugo Boss, DTF: +197
4. Delta Dore, DTF: + 409
5. Temenos 2, DTF: + 819
6. Mutua Madrileña, DTF: + 1194
7. PRB, DTF: + 1203 (NOTE: PRB has been in the lead last week, but there mast was broken over the weekend! See the story in our News section on the homepage of TheBoaters.com)
8. Estrella Damm, DTF: + 1430
9. Educación Sin Fronteras, DTF: + 1934

Next up - Miami Mermaids Making a Major Splash at Parties and Events

Made up of three Mur-people: Mermaid Medina, Mermaid Misty and even a MerMALE, MerTini, this trio can be hired to swim in your pool or simply hang around "shipwrecked" (as they call it) when there is no pool or water.

Find our more on their website at www.MiamiMermaids.net or visit the Miami Mermaids' MySpace page (www.MySpace.com/miamimermaids) where, in their Top Friends section, you'll find signs of an entire mermaid culture: You'll not only find the Florida Keys Marine Mammal Rescue Team, but even some of their other mermaid pals.

Finally Today - BoatUS Tips for Preventing Sailboat Sinkings

When studying their insurance case files, BoatUS (the Boat Owners Association of the United States) found that 40 percent of the sinkings on file were caused by vessels striking a submerged object. Another 16 percent of reported sinking cases held that it was a broken prop shaft or strut that was responsible.

In today's episode, we give you five BoatUS tips on how to prevent your sailboat from becoming another statistic. For more tips, please visit www.BoatUS.com.

Welcome to Episode 74 of TheBoaters.TV!

Please Rate It (Even If You Hate It) at the Link Below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITnkWYW-5fU

First up: The Focus 21 France — A Flying Yacht!!

Appearing recently at the Cannes International Yacht Show, it's the Focus 21 France — a "flying" yacht!

Carrying up to 15 passengers, the Focus 21 France is designed to be flown a few meters above the sea surface for approximately 65 miles!

It "flies" like a helicopter hovering close to the ground, relying on what aviators refer to as "Wing-in-Ground" effect.

According to Wikipedia, wing-in-ground effect is "the reduction in drag experienced by an aircraft as it approaches a height approximately twice a wingspan's length off the ground or other level surface."

For more information on the Focus 21 France, please visit www.Focus21-France.com.

Another example of such craft is the Russian-created Ekranoplan (or Sea Skimmer), which had the advantage of being able to carry tremendous amounts of cargo at a top speed of nearly 500 mph.

There is also the Sea Phantom, built by Fort Myers-based boat designer David Borman and his company Maritime Flight Dynamics, Inc.

Learn more about this part speedboat, part aircraft (which has already been built and is in testing phases) at www.SeaPhantom.com.

Next up - BoatTEST Reports Feature of the Week: Doral Boca Grande with Volvo Penta IPS

To see more of the Boca Grande from Doral, please visit BoatTEST's website: www.BoatTEST.com.

Finally Today - Holiday Gifts for the Special (and REALLY Special) Angler in Your Life !

MacDaddy Fishing Lures' line of fishing equipment is currently offering a fishing lure that will cost you 1 Million Dollars.

This "Million Dollar Fishing Lure" (as they call it), is comprised of three pounds of gold and platinum, with 100 carats of diamonds and rubies encrusting it. (Some SERIOUS BLING!)

To find out more about the million dollar fishing lure, visit: www.MacDaddysFishingLures.com.

If that's too far out of your price tag (or too absurd), how about Bill Dance's Porcupine Fish Attractor, which, at $25 dollars, will put a much smaller dent in your pocketbook!

The Porcupine Fish Attractor will not only help you catch fish, but will also improve the habitats of small lakes and ponds, as well.

Fish become attracted to the spindly pcv pipes and get caught inside the orb that's created by water, algae and plankton growing around it.

For more about the Porcupine Fish Attractor, visit: www.PorcupineFishAttractor.com.

Welcome to Episode 71 of TheBoaters.TV!

Please Rate It (Even If You Hate It) at the Link Below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqvAz6DgjdY

First up: Francis Joyon and the Around the World Solo Sailing Record

French sail racing soloist Francis Joyon is making major headway in his bid to reclaim the record for the fastest non-stop, single-handed circumnavigation of the globe.

Joyon's 2004 record aboard his old trimaran IDEC beat the previous time set by Olivier de Kersauson in 1988 by a full 20 DAYS.

In February 2005, Dame Ellen MacArthur stole the record from Joyon, bettering it by 1 day, 8 hours, 35 minutes, 49 seconds aboard her boat, B&Q.

Now Joyon has a new trimaran: the 97-ft trimaran IDEC II -- purpose built by the Anglo/French team of Nigel Irens and Benoit Cabaret for ocean record breaking.

Joyon departed from Brest France on November 25, and only four days after he left, he had extended his lead to 280 miles over MacArthur's record.

Visit www.Trimaran-IDEC.com to learn more.

Next up - BoatTEST Reports Feature of the Week - The 20 X-Plode Cruise SHP from Manitou

To see more of the Manitou 20 X-Plode Cruise SHP, please visit BoatTEST's website: www.BoatTEST.com.

Finally Today - Young Naval Designers Made Big Waves in the MDRA Scholarship Competition

The 2007 Marine Design Resource Alliance's Boating Leaders Scholarship winners were recently announced.

$16,000 in scholarships were awarded to design and art students who submitted original boat designs across five award categories.

The GE Scholarship for best Marine Products Design that Enhances the Boating Experience, was presented to Adam Voorhees of the Art Center College of Design for his "Vantage Display."

The OMNOVA Scholarship for Excellence in Interior Design was granted to a group of four student designers from Kendall College of Art Design

Eight students from the Savannah College of Art & Design were awarded the Sovran Scholarship from Tiara and Pursuit Boats for Excellence in Powerboat Design for heir winnig project, "Quarzo."

The Master Craft Marine Design Breakthrough Award for Emerging Innovative Boating Concepts went to Graham Tuttle and Matthew Malone of Syracuse University for their "Portage Pak."

The Premier Scholarship for Outstanding Achievement in Pontoon Design, as well as the Anchor Scholarship for Overall Winning Entry, were both received by Vyasateja Jyothigowdanapura of North Carolina State University for his "Grand Towa."

To see more of the winning designs, please visit Marine Design Resource Alliance's website at www.MDRA.biz.

Welcome to Episode 69 of TheBoaters.TV!

Please Rate It (Even If You Hate It) at the Link Below:
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First up: The Phoenix 1000 Private, Luxury Submarine

The Phoenix 1000 is a 213-foot private, luxury submarine developed by U.S. Submarines, Incorporated.

The bigger sister to a fleet that includes the Triton 1000, the Discovery 1000, the 65' Nomad 1000, and the 118' Seattle 1000, the Phoenix 1000 boasts bragging rights to being the largest private undersea vessel built to date.

This undersea vessel features a generous 26' beam and an extremely roomy 5,000 square feet encompassing four expansive levels.

Unlike her above-water relatives, the Phoenix 1000 can dive to an impressive 1000' without any repercussions of pressure related effects.

For more information, you can visit U.S. Submarine's website at www.USSubs.com.

Next up - BoatTest Reports Feature of the Week: Yahama's Popular Stand-up Waverunner, The SuperJet

To see more of the Yamaha SuperJet Waverunner, please cruise on over to BoatTEST's website: www.BoatTEST.com.

Finally Today - Nautical Chic Fashion Exhibit

The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England is currently featuring the exhibit "Nautical Chic...Fashion's Love Affair With The Sea" that began July 25th and will continue through December 2nd.

The popular museum has filled three of their rooms with all sorts of fashion trivia, memorabilia, and historic facts on the sailor clothing phenomena, exploring how naval costume became a source of inspiration in pop culture through music, advertising, and on the big screen.

To learn more about the Nautical Chic exhibit, please visit the National Maritime Museum's website at www.nmm.ac.uk.

Welcome to Episode 68 of TheBoaters.TV!

Please Rate It (Even If You Hate It) at the Link Below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdXD3BlbrYI

First up: The New Malibu Corvette Limited Edition Sport-V Is Unveiled

As The new Malibu Corvette Limited Edition Sport-V was unveiled last Thursday, November 15th, at the 2008 Malibu Boats Dealer Meeting in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

Based on the 2008 C6 Corvette, the hand-built Corvette Limited Edition Sport-V is said to be the fastest inboard water sports boat ever produced.

According to the Malibu Boats Official Blog, this Malibu will be available in Coupe and Z06 editions. The Z06 package includes the 512 horse power, 7.0L, LS7 engine, which pumps out 637 Nm of torque and is joined by Z06 emblems and trailer wheels in the Z06 package.

For more information, please visit http://blog.malibuboats.com, where you'll also find more links to photos in the official MalibuBoats Flickr album. Also visit their YouTube Channel.

Next up: World-renowned, Billionaire Fashion Mogul, Luciano Benetton, Got Himself a "Green" Yacht

The Luciano Benetton recently received the first ever Green Star Award at the Monaco Boat Show for his new environmentally friendly yacht Tribù.

What makes Tribù environmentally sound is the special equipment on board for treatment of waste water and rubbish, a separate collection for different types of waste aboard, and the elimination of omissions that damage the ozone.

Luciano believes that although a boat created to be eco-friendly can be costly to build, the result of a healthier environment is far more valuable in the long run.

He refers to his new 164-foot yacht, which was designed by Italian naval architecture firm, Mondomarine & SYDAC, and reputable interior designer, Piero Lissoni, as a "Land Rover ... of the deep."

Because of her health conscious design, Tribù is allowed access to all waters, even those traditionally off-limits to conventional, more-pollutant vessels.

For more information, please visit Mondomarine's website at www.Mondomarine.it and also see more fabulous photos of the vessel on MonacoEye.com.

Finally Today - In Honor of American Thanksgiving Day Celebrations, We Take a Look at One of the Most Famous Boats in History: The Mayflower

P.S. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Welcome to Episode 67 of TheBoaters.TV!

Please Rate It (Even If You Hate It) at the Link Below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80xD5Cf2hks

First up: The 114-Foot Luxury Sailing Yacht Ring Andersen Goes Up for Bids -- On eBay!

As reported by Gregory Richards of The Virginian-Pilot: Last Tuesday in Norfolk Virginia, when the Virginia Heritage Foundation put the historical 114-foot vessel Ring Andersen up for auction, while it drew a crowd of potential buyers, not one bid was made!

The Ring Andersen is a boat with history, advanced technology, and luxury. This 114-foot beautiful sailing vessel began life in 1948 as a cargo ship out of Denmark, and in 1962, the Baltic trader ketch became one of the first Caribbean charter yachts. In 1980, she returned to the boatyard for a complete rebuild from hull to mast tip and turned into a world-class luxury charter yacht.

So WHY doesn't anyone want her?

The ship was recently appraised at 3.2 million dollars and, according to auctioneer William J. Summs, chief executive of Atlantic Asset Management Group Inc., building a new vessel to match the 59-year-old Ring Andersen might cost as much as $10 million.

Yet, when he opened the bidding at $350,000, no one in the crowd bid. Less than two minutes later, the auction was over.

BUT, as of last Friday, there were are at least two potential bidders on eBay: The top bidder, from Annapolis, Md., bid $300,800 (note: there was a $650,000 reserve). The second highest bidder, from Oslo, Norway, bid $100 less than the top bid.

The proceeds, which The Virginia Heritage Foundation hopes to receive, will support the foundation's other ship, the Schooner Virginia, which offers youth sail training and acts as a floating ambassador for the state.

For more information about the auction, please visit Atlantic Asset Management's site at www.AtlanticRemarketing.com.

Next up: The U.S. Navy Redefining What It Means by "Stealth" Ships

The U.S. Navy is banking on the release and testing of the 80-foot M80 Stiletto to transform how the Navy operates a stealth fleet.

With two twin hulls, shaped like an "M", and a breadth of 40 feet, the experimentally-designed ship resembles more of a tank than anything that floats in water. And unlike metal ships, the prototype Stiletto is made of carbon fiber and has no radar-evading capabilities.

In an age where military vessels are getting narrower to avoid detection, the M80 performs a unique function with its width; the hull can capture and redirect waves, creating a smooth ride even in the most tempestuous conditions.

Currently, the Stiletto is stationed on the East Coast, and while acknowledged that it might be the only one of its kind ever built, it's encouraging to see the developers looking outside the box for design solutions to current Naval development.

For more information on the M80 Stiletto, please visit M Ship Co., the private design firm responsible for the Stiletto's conceptualization, at www.MShipCo.com.

Finally Today - Meet Twiggy the Water-Skiing Squirrel!

This world-famous animal novelty act began back in 1979 when Twiggy and her caretakers, Chuck and Lou Ann Best, appeared on the TV show Real People to show off this one-of-a-kind pet trick

Based in Deltona, Florida, The Bests found the orphaned squirrel after Hurricane David in 1978, and while raising it as a family pet, learned that she really took to the water--often riding on their shoulders when they took dips in the pool. Chuck and Lou Ann proceeded to teach their squirrel to ski while on river outings.

Twiggy is actually several gray squirrels who have been trained in succession to ride on buoyant foam blocks, which are then towed behind a remote-controlled boat in heated pools.

The act has been touring for 27 years all across the US, Canada, Bermuda, France, and Germany and has appeared in numerous books, magazines, newspapers, and on television shows all over the world.

Visit Twiggy's official website at www.SkiingSquirrel.com where you can go to see a schedule of upcoming appearances.