FT. LAUDERDALEM onday • Nov. 1, 2010

o o o

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So you think you’ve been busy?

SIGN HERE: Potential buyers were not only seen around the show, they were talked to and shown boats. Some even signed contracts. See story page 3. PHOTO/TOM SERIO

By Dorie Cox

Chief Stew Tonya Witchel of M/Y One More Toy put in the miles on the shores of the Mediterranean this summer before heading to Ft. Lauderdale to oversee the yacht’s appearance in its prime spot on the face dock at Bahia Mar.

On the third day of the show, though, she was nowhere to be found. While her crew mates chamoised raindrops and greeted potential buyers, Witchel was swimming and running in the Rohto Ironman, a 70.3-mile triathlon in Miami.

It all started when Witchel felt she needed to lose some weight. She tied on her running shoes and hit the pavement. Fifteen pounds later, she’s now passionate about competing, just

as she is about being a top stew.As if getting the yacht into top

condition for show wasn’t enough, Witchel worked with the interior staff to create an elaborate entry into the Perfect Setting Tabletop Challenge on Friday that took top honors in the formal category among 18 yachts.

As soon as judging was over that afternoon, Witchel was out of uniform and driving her bike to Miami for mandatory check-in in preparation for the triathlon on Saturday.

The race included a 1.2-mile (1,950m) swim, a 56-mile (90km) bike ride, and a 13.1-mile (21km) run. The 35-year-old stew easily made it through the swim, with time to spare in qualifying, and completed the bike ride,

Sun & MoonSunset:6:39pm;Sunrise (Tuesday):7:30amMoonrise: 3:37am(Tuesday);24%litHigh tides:5pm/5:38am(Tuesday)Low tides:11:35pm/12:05pm(Tuesday)

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Showings up, contracts signedStaff Report

It’s normal to be optimistic about boat shows. You dress up, encourage visitors, keep a smile on and say positive things. In the words of one builder: “Ya gotta fake it til you make it.”

That was last year. At this year’s Fort Lauderdale

International Boat Show, it seems the “making it” part has finally arrived.

“I have showed every major boat at least twice and one of mine I’ve shown 20 times,” said Noell Vawter, a broker with International Yacht Collection in Ft. Lauderdale, which is a division of Trinity Yachts. “There are real people this year. It’s very uplifting.

“Monaco, I got zero leads; right now, I have as many leads in this show as I had in the last three shows,” Vawter said yesterday. “This is the best show in five years.”

The sense was the same up and down the docks, up and down the range in footage.

“We have two written offers so far from old customers starting new projects,” said Mike Joyce, CEO of Hargrave Yachts. “We’ll know how good things really are, not right away, but 30 days or so after the show.”

After showing a new Richmond Yachts vessel at nearly every boat show over the past three years, Capt. Rick Lenardson of M/Y Status Quo,

a 150-foot Richmond, said things are finally moving.

“We have three people bidding on

this boat, and the one in the mold is sold,” he said. “It took us three years to sell the last one.”

One potential client is talking about buying three boats, Lenardson said.

“He said he needs to buy his wife her own boat.”

Many brokers and builders attribute the change in spending behavior to a change in Washington.

“It’s been non-stop here,” said Oscar Losada, vice president of sales for Ocean Alexander Yachts. “Several boats are contracted and we have several interested parties. ... I think people are comfortable now and they’re comfortable buying. They’re comfortable that the Republicans will take the House.”

Democrats in the United States control the presidency with President Obama as well as the Senate and the House of Representatives. Mid-term elections take place tomorrow and most polls show Republican and/or conservative politicians winning federal seats in Congress and state governor seats as well.

“There’s a positive feeling around the Republicans, and I expect the election to go as expected, which will help calm people’s fears,” Joyce said. “If somehow the election goes to the Democrats, then everything all of us have will probably be wiped out.”

Somehow, the vibe on the dock doesn’t want to believe that.

“The show is absolutely fabulous,” said Marian Walker, a charter broker with The Marin Group of Ft. Lauderdale. “Traffic has been good on all our yachts and we’re seeing lots of repeat clients from previous shows.”

“The best sign is that the brokers are previewing potential buyers and then they are bringing them to the boat,”

See ON THE DOCKS, page 5

4 | M onday • Nov. 1, 2010

Triton’s career expo coming Nov. 10By Lucy Chabot Reed

On Nov. 10, The Triton is once again hosting its popular captains forum and career expo for the people who earn their livings working on yachts.

The Expo is open to yacht crew only – both working and looking – to help them develop the contacts that can make their careers better.

This will be the fifth time The Triton has held this event, which typically draws more than 300 crew.

ForumThe captains forum is from 12-2 p.m.

and is for captains only. The topic this year is about refits and

will include a panel of captains who have recently been involved in refits or new builds.

RSVP is required (to lucy@the-triton.com) and space is limited to 50.

ExpoImmediately following, from 2-7

p.m., is the Triton Expo, a half day of professional development with seminars led by experienced captains and crew, a resume clinic staffed by active captains, and an exhibit hall filled with companies that offer goods and services yacht crew need.

The seminars are designed to be short bursts of knowledge that crew

can take with them as they move up the yachting ladder. They are all led by experienced captains and crew.

The resume clinic is also staffed by active captains to offer crew members a little insight into what the people doing the hiring think of their “first impression.”

The clinic runs concurrently with the seminars all day and crew are encouraged to get feedback from more than one captain.

There will also be about 40 exhibitors in the hall, the majority

providing goods or services to the yachting industry, including placement agents, schools, and provisioners.

The day ends with a networking hour to mingle with like-minded peers.

RSVP is not required. Just show up with a resume to get in.

LocationThe Triton Expo is free and only

open to crew. It will be held at Gallery One, the Doubletree hotel on Sunrise Boulevard at the Intracoastal Waterway.

Transportation is available free throughout the afternoon from Da Yachtie Bus at Duffy’s Sports Bar & Grill just south of 17th Street on Cordova Road.

Lucy Chabot Reed is editor of The Triton. Contact: lucy@the-triton.com.

GETTING CONNECTED: Capt. Paul Stengel, right, discusses a resume with Steven Wright at the Triton Expo in April while crew, below, network. PHOTO/DORIE COX

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News snippets from around the showBroker McConnell dies

J.J. McConnell, a broker in South Florida for more than 25 years, died suddenly yesterday, which was his 60th birthday. The cause of his death was

unknown.He was in

attendance at the show but left Friday afternoon because he wasn’t feeling well, according to several of his acquaintances.

He was hospitalized over the weekend and passed away Sunday afternoon.

Mr. McConnell was a broker and partner with Gilman Yachts in Ft. Lauderdale since it opened in 2001. Prior to that, he worked with Woods and Oviatt, also in Ft. Lauderdale. He was immediate past president of the Marine Industries Association of South Florida.

Information about a memorial service can be found at www.the-triton.com when it comes available.

Bradford raffles bottom jobBradford Marine is raffling off

another bottom job.Started at the Miami boat show this

spring, the Ft. Lauderdale shipyard will haul a yacht, pressure wash and lightly sand the bottom. Paint is provided by Interlux.

Capt. Dale Parker of M/Y Mustang Sally won the drawing in Miami and had the bottom work done in April of this year.

To enter the drawing, visit www.bradford-marine.com or stop by Bradford’s booth, No. 653-654 in the Yacht Builders and Designers tent. The drawing will be held at 3p.m. today.

No inky fingersLesley Philpott of Triple S

Consultancy shared an old butler secret for guests who still read good, old-fashioned newspapers: Stews who want to impress can iron the pages to prevent the ink from rubbing off on their hands.

Compiled by Triton Today staff.

said the captain of a 150-foot yacht who did not want to be identified. “And the buyers are checking the specifics on the Internet, demonstrating real interest and desire.”

Despite the rain and a Miami Dolphins home game yesterday – which translated into an apparent dip in attendance – the caliber of show attendees caught some brokers’ attention.

“Traffic has been medium up here but quality is excellent,” said Tom George of Tom George Yacht Group about his display on the city docks north of the Las Olas Bridge. “I’d rather have less people with better qualifications. There’s been a lot of interest in our Westport yacht offering [the 111-foot M/Y Kelly Sea]. And my market for 30- to 60-footers is doing well overall.”

George and others were cautious to note that a few sales don’t mean the market has changed overnight, but that

perhaps it has rounded the bend.“This is not going to be a spike, but

we are trending in the right direction,” said Steven Donnell with Seacoast Marine Financial, a marine lender. “We are integral, we’re the frontline of the industry, but it all starts with the sale. First the sale, then you have financing, parts, yardwork, all the rest of it.”

And the fact that there were sales at the Fort Lauderdale show is without dispute. A Sunseeker broker said the builder sold one at the show and it has a contract on another.

“People are smiling,” said David Nichols, a broker with IYC. “It’s very much up and it definitely feels a lot better than previous years. I think we’re going to see a rebound with this one.”

Triton Today staff Dorie Cox, Tom Serio, Julianne Hammond and Lucy Chabot Reed contributed to this report. Comments: editorial@the-triton.com.

No spike, but motion in ‘right direction’ON THE DOCKS, from page 3

6 | M onday • Nov. 1, 2010

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

Mate Paulo MacedoM/Y Don’t Worry 116-foot Crescent

“BacktoBalHarbourinNorthMiami.”

Chef Nick WagnerM/Y Penny Mae138-foot Richman

“DirecttoNaples,thensoontotheBahamasandtheCaribbean.”

Relief Eng. Mike BenjaminM/Y SoTaj139-foot Abeking & Rasmussen

“BackuptherivertoLauderdaleMarineCenterwhereshestays.”

Capt. Don AndersonM/Y New Vida161-foot Delta

“BacktoLighthousePoint.”

Chief Eng. Jeff AllenM/Y Iroquois211-foot Feadship

“Goto[alocal]shipyardforlightmaintenancefollowedbyaBahamastrip.”

Eng. Robert WeinkleM/Y Incentive 142-foot Palmer Johnson

“ToRybovichforaquickhaulandtheannualLloyd’ssurvey.”

Eng./Mate Andrew DownsM/Y Sharon Ann 104-foot Destiny

“It’supintheair.Ifitdoesn’tsell,wegobacktotheowner’sslipatAdmiral’sCoveinJupiter.”

Capt. Eli ArvidsonM/Y Billabong80-foot Horizon

“TuesdaynightwewillbeinNorthPalmBeach.”

Where are you taking the yacht tomorrow?Whentheshowbreaksup,thisgatheringofyachtswilllookasthoughtheyareleaving,butreally,mostaresimplyrepositioning.Morethan85percentaremovingtoashipyard,marinaorprivatedockinSouthFloridabeforesettingoffontheirwinterplans.Letusjustsay,nicetohaveyouhere.

South Florida dock – 45.2%

Other – 9.7%

South Florida yard – 41.9%

Unsure – 3.2%

M onday • Nov. 1, 2010 | 7

First Mate/Eng. Jason KingM/Y Sea Six92-foot Riva

“We’regoingtotheFerrettiGroupforwarrantywork.Next,theCaribbeanandthentotheMiamiShow.”

2nd Stew Adam DalyM/Y Sixty Five80-foot Mangusta

“ToHarbourTowneMarinainDania,that’swhereitlives.”

Chief Stew Jolanta PukM/Y Life’s Finest 132-foot Northcoast

“We’restayingontheNewRiver,theCityDocks.It’sreallynice.WehavenoplansthatIknowof.”

Capt. Robert JohnstonS/Y Antara155-foot Perini Navi

“TwodaysatRybovichandthenstraighttoAntigua.”

Chef Chris DaleyM/Y Mr. Terrible 154-foot Delta

“WeareheadedtoRybovichforsomedetailworkandthentotheCaribbeanfortheseason.”

Capt. Will KeiserM/Y Four Aces183-foot Benetti Classic

“We’regoingtoBrowardforamonthforpaintandthentotheCaribbean.”

Capt Janice SheerM/Y Pepper XIII 105-foot Mangusta

“WeareheadeddirectlybacktoourhomeportofBocaRaton,FL”.

First Mate Garett SmithM/Y Temptation 123-foot Palmer Johnson

“We’rejustsittinguntilitsells,we’llbeatLMC.”

First Mate Nick SeniorM/Y Big Zip142-foot Trinity

“WegotoPalmBeachbutI’mnotsurewhichmarina.ThenwestartmovingtotheCaribbean.We’rebrandnew.”

Eng. Andrew BoardmanM/Y Moon Sand135-foot Sovereign

“HeadingbacktoPalmBeachandtheTownDocks.”

8 | M onday • Nov. 1, 2010

DOING THE CREW THING, DAY 5: One more day ...

AfterabusySaturday,crewwereabitrelievedtohaveyesterday’scrowdslowedabitbyafewdownpours.Everyonechippedintolurethembackwithsmiles,chamoismopsandfriendlyhellos. PHOTOS/TOM SERIO, DORIE COX, JULIANNE HAMMOND

M onday • Nov. 1, 2010| 9

10 | M onday • Nov. 1, 2010

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Focused, next race already plannedBUSY STEW, from page 1

but reached her limits of endurance when it came to the run.

“When I got to the transition area, I said to my friend, ‘I just can’t do it,’” she said.

Witchel is proud of her accomplishment and already has her next race scheduled. This time, she’s taking fellow stew Claire Robertson with her.

“Claire and I are doing a half marathon, which is 13.1 miles, that will be in Ft. Lauderdale,” she said. “It’s part of a series I want to do.”

Witchel realized that the personal aspirations of crew might not rank as a priority when the yacht they work on is in an important show. Other captains might not have let her leave, even though she signed up for the race about 10 months ago and has been training ever since.

She credits Capt. Mark Diekmann for supporting her to not only train, but for giving her the time off to compete.

“It was a busy charter season in the Med, but I still trained,” she said. “The guests would say ‘you’re going running, even after working?’ The captain has

been most supportive. I’m lucky to have him as a captain. He’s the reason I could do this.”

Witchel has running routes throughout the Mediterranean, pretty much everywhere the yacht chartered. When the boat visited a port, she ran the area to chart a course, then stuck to it. She has routes in San Remo, Nice, Cannes, Monaco, Barcelona, Valencia and Cinque Terre.

Her best training route is from Porto Fino to Santa Margarita.

She has not always been a serious runner, and said she wasn’t into it when she was younger.

“I mean, I was on the track team for a year in school, but this is an adult sport for me,” Witchel said. “I choose goals that are out of my reach. I’m going to be in an Ironman before I die.”

And she may just do it, as long as she’s working for an understanding captain.

Despite reaching her physical limits in the triathlon, Witchel was back at the boat show Sunday, bearing the remnants of the competition on her legs and arms, if not in her muscles.

Dorie Cox is associate editor of The Triton. Contact: dorie@the-triton.com.

THE PRIVATE LIFE OF STEWS: Chief Stew Tonya Witchel on Saturday, left, and back aboard M/Y One More Toy, on Sunday, the remnant of the race on her calf. PHOTO/DORIE COX

M onday • Nov. 1, 2010 | 11

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OFF THE DOCK: The final party of the show

RybovichhostedaHalloweencostumepartylastnightatBiminiBoatyard.

PHOTOS/DAVID REED

For more photos from this event, visit www.the-triton.com.

@ Rybovich

SPOTTED: Around FLIBS 2010

IT’S A WRAP: Scenes from the docks of the whole show

Scanthislittleboxtotherightintoyoursmartphonetobetakentoa2-minutevideoslideshowofthe2010FortLauderdaleInternationalBoatShow,asseenbythestaffofTriton Today.ThereareloadsmoreimagesonourWebsite(www.the-triton.com),updateddailyduringtheshow.For more photos from the show, visit www.the-triton.com/gallery/v/boatshow/ FLIBS2010/

@ Triton