ACB/CRAB Bash Kentucky Derby Day at Port Annapolis Marina

     Annapolis, MD -- May 7th is just around the corner, less than two weeks away. For many this means Kentucky Derby Day. Annapolis Community Boating understands that Maryland is still a big horse racing state. However there is something else happening that day that's even more fun and a lot closer. The Annapolis Spring Sails Event is May 7th & 8th.
     This year on May 7th the event will feature, among other things, the Grand Opening of the Back Creek Nature Park. Later that same day, beginning at 5:30 pm, the Pavilion at Port Annapolis Marina (7074 Bembe Beach Road, Annapolis) will host the annual Spring Sails Event to benefit Annapolis Community Boating and CRAB (Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating), a full hour before post time. So even if you placed a bet on your favorite thoroughbred, the organizations invite you to join them for good food, great drinks and lots of dancing. Bring a smartphone so can watch the derby online.
      This year entertainment is being provided by DJ-JD and the local band Dirty Names. Betka of the Portside Cafe will be there grilling up some sausages, burgers and hotdogs for party-goers. Admission is $10 and benefits both clubs.

Volunteers are Needed     Volunteers are needed to help with the CRAB/Annapolis Community Boating Bash. There are shifts to fill from set-up to tear down and everything in-between. So if you are a good bartender or great with selling drink tickets, your help will be appreciated.
     Find out more at crabsailing.org and annapolisboating.org.
     Annapolis Community Boating is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to making boating accessible to the community. In collaboration with many local youth and boating-based organizations, Annapolis Community Boating is working to create a vibrant boating center that can be used by public and private organizations to introduce, teach, and inspire the community to get involved.
     CRAB (Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to making the thrill of sailing a reality for physically and/or developmentally-challenged individuals and for those individuals whose financial circumstances preclude their participation in recreation on the waters of Chesapeake Bay.

Bay Bridge Boat Show to Offer Boatload of New Attractions

     Stevensville, MD -- Spring weather means it’s time to start gearing up for a summer season on the Chesapeake, and what better place to start the process than the Bay Bridge Boat Show, located at the Bay Bridge Marina on Kent Island and running from April 28 through May 1.
     With four days to wander through more than 150 land-based exhibits and check out over 200 new and brokerage boats in the water and displayed on the marina grounds, the Bay Bridge Boat Show offers a one-stop shopping opportunity for all your boating needs. It's a great place to comparison shop and figure out what boat best suits your needs and interests.
     Two huge tents offer the latest in gear, gadgets and services, plus experts ready to answer your questions about their products. Docks lined with dramatic state-of-the-art vessels as well as time-tested used boats make comparison shopping easy. Add a host of land-based and shoreside activities that will engage the whole family and you’ve got a good idea of what the show has to offer.
     Boat dealers are reporting an uptick in boat sales, but boat pricing is still competitive. The dealers are ready to deal and financial services are eager to make loans to qualified buyers. Climb aboard the vessels on display and see for yourself what all the hype is about.
     For tickets and more information about all the show's new attractions, visit usboat.com.

Local Notice to Mariners Advises About Severn River Races

     Chesapeake Bay, MD -- Mariners are advised that the Annapolis Yacht Club’s 2011 Wednesday night sail racing series is scheduled to occur on the Severn River and Spa Creek from April 27 through September 7 (excluding July 6), between 6 p.m. and approx. 9 p.m. Each race consists of up to 25 participants, with 10 fleets starting at various times, and a maximum of 140 participating sailboats and auxiliary sailboats (12.5 to 71 feet in length).
     The races will occur in the Chesapeake Bay south of Hackett Point Shoal Buoy 1 (LLNR 7820) and north of Annapolis Harbor Channel Lighted Bell Buoy 2 (LLNR 19695), in the Severn River east of Spa Creek, and in Spa Creek with a finish line off the Annapolis Yacht Club.
     Interested mariners may contact the Special Events Race Committee boat on marine band radio channel 65A VHF-FM, if necessary. Chart 12282.
     For the complete Local Notice to Mariners visit http://navcen.uscg.gov/pdf/lnms/lnm05162011.pdf

Bavaria Yachts Names U.S. Distributor in Annapolis

Bavaria Cruiser 32

     Annapolis, MD -- Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH in Germany has appointed Bavaria Yachts USA as the sole US importer, distributor and dealer for Bavaria yachts on the East Coast of the USA and across to the Great Lakes and Texas. In May 2011, this new company will launch the Bavaria Yachts brand in the US with the all-new Cruiser models designed by Farr Yacht Design and BMW DesignworksUSA as well as the spacious Vision series.
     Founded by a new management team with a completely new business model, Bavaria Yachts USA will focus solely on the direct sales and after-sales support of Bavaria yachts. The company’s flagship office and a range of the newly designed Cruiser models are based in Annapolis, Maryland.
     The business model of Bavaria Yachts USA is new to the industry and eliminates the three-tier structure currently in place for other manufacturers. The innovative format effectively provides "factory direct" purchasing from Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH in Germany. For the customer, this new approach translates to better pricing, a better selection of yachts available for test sails and charter, yachts built to personalized specifications, expert product knowledge and a dedicated after-sales support and service program. The Cruiser 32, Cruiser 36, Cruiser 40 and Cruiser 45 will be available for charter and test sails from Bavaria Yachts USA in Annapolis from June 2011.
     Dr. Jens Ludmann, chief executive officer of Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH, said: "With many new developments at Bavaria in Germany, we are very pleased that a new era for Bavaria yachts has begun in the US market too. We strongly support the new management team and their new business model that will connect customers directly with the shipyard here in Germany. This, combined with the superbly designed and engineered Cruiser range, means that we are very proudly re-entering the US market."
     Kenny Feld, managing director of Bavaria Yachts USA, echoed Dr. Ludmann's comments: "This is a very exciting time for Bavaria Yachts in the USA. The new Farr Yacht/BMW DesignworksUSA designed range differentiates itself from the competition by redefining quality, design, and value in cruising yachts. Bavaria Yachts USA distinguishes itself through its specialized integrated sales, charter, and service operation that is concentrated exclusively on Bavaria yachts."
     Andrew Thompson, a director of the new company, who has been importing Bavaria yachts into the Caribbean for a decade, added: "We feel very fortunate that as we re-launch the Bavaria brand in the US, we are able to do so with a complete range of Farr Yacht designed Bavaria Cruisers. Across the entire range of Bavaria Cruisers, from 32ft through 55ft, the Farr signature is boldly written: very strong and stiff construction certified by the exacting Germanischer Lloyd certification, class leading interior space, a wide range of joinery and upholstery finishes and styles, fine entry and beam carried well aft giving excellent performance and extravagant cockpit space, a large mainsail and easily handled jib has the husband and wife team smiling, and the lowerable transom gives a bathing/boarding platform that is just superb."
     Yachts from the new 2011 Cruiser range will be available for charter on the Chesapeake Bay from June 2011 when Horizon Yacht Charters, Annapolis, the charter arm of Bavaria Yachts USA, opens for business. The charter operation will also offer a full complement of services including learn-to-sail programs and comprehensive yacht management services. Horizon Yacht Charters, operating since 1998, has been the Caribbean importer of Bavaria yachts since 2000 and currently manages more than 50 Bavaria yachts in a fleet of 100 charter yachts at its bases in the British Virgin Islands, Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada and St Maarten.
     Bavaria Yachts USA is co-owned by managing director, Kenny Feld and directors, Andrew Thompson and Sylvia Driver. Field was a consultant at McKinsey & Company and vice president of Electronic Data Systems. Thompson and Driver are the founding directors of Horizon Yacht Charters in the Caribbean and have a combined experience of 40 years in the sailing industry.
     Geoff McCord is the general manager for Bavaria Yachts USA and Horizon Yacht Charters, Annapolis. McCord was previously the regional sales manager for Beneteau USA for 25 years.

Annapolis Man Keeping In Touch With Students During Around the World Race

Students videoconferencing  with Ryan Breymaier (Annapolis, Md.) while he is at sea. Photo courtesy of Awty International School.

     Barcelona, Spain -- Down the hall, in Room 310, the ninth-grade students taking Mr. Jurcic’s Computer Science course have been introduced to a new subject for exploration; open ocean sailing. Their classroom is in the Awty International School in Houston, Texas; their textbook is Ryan Breymaier (Annapolis, Md.), the lone American sailor in the Barcelona World Race.
     Breymaier, who is circumnavigating the globe for the first time, is currently on day 91 of the 25,000 nautical mile (46,300 km) journey, which includes 2,000 hours of non-stop competition across three vast oceans, two hemispheres, and around three famous Capes. Breymaier, with German co-skipper Boris Herrmann, is fighting his way back up to fourth place aboard Team Neutrogena as they race through the Atlantic Ocean to the finish in Barcelona, Spain.
     Awty School is the second largest international school in the United States, representing students from more than 50 countries. As a world-class international school, Awty aims to educate its students for success in global pursuits. This ninth-grade class has been following the race and communicating over email with Breymaier for the past two months. Just recently they engaged in a videoconference with him while he was at sea.
     “Other projects in class are mainly academic and about historical events,” said ninth-grader Milagro Rivera. “This was more current information, which was interesting and we could relate to it. Other kids at school think it’s pretty cool.”
     Most of the students studying Breymaier have never stepped foot on a boat before and find his story to be fascinating, not only because he is sailing around the world for the first time, but also because he didn’t start sailing until the age of 18, when he traded in his lacrosse stick at St. Mary’s College in Maryland for a dry suit and booties.
     “The first time I went sailing I was hooked and I have eaten, breathed, dreamed about and talked sailing ever since,” said Breymaier. “I think I was just lucky enough to find my ‘thing’ even if it was pretty late in life compared to lots of other professional sailors.”
     Teacher Marijan Jurcic found Breymaier’s story to be the perfect vehicle for getting students excited about global affairs. “The uniqueness of this project is how it makes the world seem so much smaller than it really is,” said Jurcic. “I’m amazed at how today’s technology enabled a group of ninth-grade students in a small classroom in Houston to communicate with this skipper on a small boat in the middle of an ocean on the other side of the world.”
     The students will continue following the Barcelona World Race until Breymaier crosses the finish line, which is expected on the tenth of April.
     “The main reason I am involved in the media aspect of the race I am doing now is to inspire people to try sailing,” said Breymaier. “I would like some young people to see what I am doing, put down the mouse, turn off the computer games and go give sailing a try.”

To View Breymaier’s life onboard
http://www.youtube.com/user/mediapronewport

How to Follow Team Neutrogena in the Barcelona World Race
http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org/en/