When you stop chasing the wrong things you give the right things a chance to catch you. As Maria Robinson once said, "Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending."  Nothing could be closer to the truth.  But before you can begin this process of transformation you have to stop doing the things that have been holding you back. Here are some ideas to get you started: Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you.  If someone wants you in their life, they'll make room for you.  You shouldn't have to fight for a spot.  Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your...

REGULATIONS for the use of Personal Watercraft (PW). Maritime authorities throughout the Mediterranean have become more stringent with PW use. There have been a number of reported instances where PW's drivers using PW's belonging to the yacht, have been party to a random check and heavily fined when unable to provide an appropriate licence. It is important that Captains / Officers are aware of local by laws and regulations, and clearly inform the Owners, guests and crew who are using the PW's. The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) offers both the 1-day RYA Personal Watercraft Certificate at various RYA Training Centres, as well as the provision for Yachts to become RYA Training Centre, offering the PW Safety Certificates onboard to guests or crew after appr...

    Its 21:28 on Day 3 of the crossing. You join me while I am aboard a 56m Feadship heading for Falmouth UK. We set off from Fort Lauderdale on the 11th after what can be described as "one of those days". Nothing seemed to be going to plan. ------------------------We woke early on the morning of the 11th to move on to the fuel dock.. oh no.... scrap that, someone has come in during the night and taken our spot. A lot of faffing later and the captain has been woken up and we are now at 8am on our way. During the maneuver a thoughtful chap needing ice.. yes ICE.. decided to pop in front of us. Thanks for that. So. There we are... waiting. Waiting in the channel like the girl who no one wants to dance with, awkwardly, waiting for the man... in his boat.. to pick up ice. What ...

Yotspot is starting to gather pace in the industry people. Last week we had over 300 new members join the site and we are getting more paid jobs. With 300 new members in a week, we need you to help us help you! Simply put.. we need more jobs, more links, and more exposure.    We ask all of you to spread the word. This website has the potential to be an incredible tool for all in our industry.   Captains can now Post a job for free, receive unlimited CVs for free, if s/he likes the quality of the applicants? s/he can pay just £99 to unlock the contact details of every one of the applicants for that job.   There are some exciting changes we want to make to the site this year, and change doesnt come for free ;) We need to spread the word about YOTSPOT!! We w...

  Tuesday, November 6, 2012   By Captain Peter Squicciarini, U.S. Navy (Ret.), Master Merchant Mariner   Yet another tragedy at sea. The October "superstorm" known as Hurricane Sandy claimed another vessel, this time the unique and historic HMS Bounty. She was lost October 29th off the coast of North Carolina in some of the Atlantic's most treacherous waters. She isn't the first or the last ship in the graveyard of the Atlantic. One crewmember has died and the Captain is missing, presumed lost.    How? Why? The investigations (plural) have already begun. The Coast Guard has some of its best investigators looking into it now. All of the answers will never be fully known as it appears the Captain went down with his ship. Bu...

Yachting News: Baha Ha-Ha Time Again!!!! 26 August, 2012 This year's Baha Ha-Ha Cruiser´s Rally will be the 19thand will be held from October 28th to November 10th. The Rally has seen nearly 2,500 boats and about 9,000 participants during it´s nearly two decades and has also covered nearly 16,000 miles of Open Ocean. The rally this year will travel its traditional 750 mile route from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.The Rally will be open to all vessels over 27´and the smallest entry so far is only 28´. The entry fee this year is $375 and single handing is not allowed. The Baha ha-ha is not a race in any sense of the world, nor is it a party trip. While drinking is not prohibited, wild and crazy behavior or drinking heavily while under...

Spithill performed exemplarily to replicate his success on the baseball pitch in the water race. His winning trail began when he beat Dean Barker's team. The winning continued when he exhibited strong racing performance making it to the Sunday's Grand Finale. Spithill commented that the first fleet was the most exciting. Anxiety caused his team to break the start line before signal, a fault he laid upon himself. He however, noted the level of commitment amongst his team members in fighting for their place. He attributed his team's success to vigor that motivated them to fight harder when left behind. The reward is ultimately a win. In the opening fleet, Energy Team, led by Yann Guichard came from behind to steal the win from Barker and Spithill. Spithill&...

Portosole Sanremo was witness to a fire that claimed two yachts, the 23m Pershing, Ibris and 4m Maiora-built Manhattan. Lena Sundell, the yacht manager at Sanremo ASP Yacht Management, reports that the fire began on the Ibis at approximately 4am on August 29th, and was apparently caused by an accident in the kitchen that involved an oil-spill while preparing a meal. The fire is then thought to have spread across the deck compromising the neighboring Manhattan. The fire burned for several hours before it was extinguished. The fire began and spread so quickly that there was little chance to effectively use fire extinguishers. The second yacht was quickly towed out to open water to keep the fire from causing any more damage. Fortunately there were no reported injuries but ...

Photo by Clipper Round the World. 28-05-2012. Over a period of 15 hours, the ten entries in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race all completed Race 11 from Panama to New York, with podium places going to Gold Coast Australia, followed by Visit Finland and De Lage Landen.The full Clipper Race fleet of ten matched 68-foot ocean racing yachts has now mustered at Liberty Landing, New Jersey, opposite the iconic Manhattan skyline before its official arrival into North Cove Marina in New York on Sunday 3 June.Geraldton Western Australia managed to take fourth place in one of the most fiercely contested races to date – finishing just over an hour later than De Lage Landen.Edinburgh Inspiring Capital managed to take their best position of the entire race, crossing the finish line at ...

4 December 2011 – Karpaz Gate Marina (KGM), the eastern Mediterranean's newest superyacht marina - located on the stunning Karpaz peninsula of Northern Cyprus – is fast becoming the region's most desirable over-wintering destination. The marina's brand new facilities, competitive prices and mild winter climate make the marina and resort an attractive destination for those struggling to secure a berth in the over-crowded western Mediterranean.The lack of superyacht berths in the western Mediterranean is widely reported, and a shortage results from the superyacht fleet having grown in the last decade (2001 – 2010) by 95.2 per cent, but the number of berths not having increased to meet the demand. Marinas based in the eastern Mediterranean are incre...