By Eileen Ogintz, Tribune Media Services
Taking the Kids
January 26, 2012

The annual Moorings Interline Regatta is a pre-cursor to the official start of the sailing season in the territory. This year the event has a record entry of fifty yachts filled with the airline industry’s global employees and their friends and families.

This is the first year that Sol has become involved with the regatta although the green marine and environmental partnership with The Moorings has been active since 2006. In that year, Sol conducted the first of its marine clients’ oil spill management training days at the charter company’s marina base in Tortola.

“Sol operates under a Health Safety and Environmental policy that seeks to set industry standards and promote responsibility amongst customers to protect the environment and its biodiversity,” said Deborah Benjamin, country manager for Sol. “We saw an opportunity to introduce an environmental element to our support of the Interline Regatta. We have worked closely with The Moorings and our community partner, Green VI Glass Studio, to integrate the glass recycling competition as part of the regatta so that we can help to keep the glass out of the waste stream and the incinerator where it accumulates and clogs the system."

Sol signed a MOU with Green VI in 2009 to support a glass blowing studio to facilitate the removal of glass from the BVI’s waste stream and from the incineration process. Sol donates the LPG necessary to fire the furnaces 24 hours a day. The mission of Green VI, a not-for-profit organization, is to demonstrate the principles and benefits of sustainable living and to enhance capacity for adaptation to climate change through education and practical projects. For more information visit www.greenvi.org.

Sol is the largest petroleum company in the BVI with service stations in Tortola and Virgin Gorda. It has been supplying The Moorings with fuel and LPG for more than ten years as well as the marine community at Hodges Creek, Nanny Cay Marina, Village Cay, Bitter End, Biras Creek, Oil Nut Bay, Peter Island, Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour and Leverick Bay. Sol is a committed supporter of community initiatives including the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival, the Royal BVI Sailing Club Junior Sailing Programme, Virgin Islands Search and Rescue, the Leverick Bay Poker Run, the Charter Yacht Society Crewed Yacht Show and is also a partner of the BVI Athletics Association.

Ends

About sol
The Sol Group was formed through the acquisition of Shell's petroleum distribution and marketing businesses in the Eastern Caribbean, Guyana, Suriname and Belize in February 2005. Sol acquired The Shell Company (Puerto Rico) Limited in August 2006, which was subsequently renamed Sol Puerto Rico Limited. Sol made a further purchase of Esso's assets in Suriname and Guyana in November 2007 and in Haiti on February 29, 2008.

Sol supplies fuels, lubricants, bitumen and LPG through an extensive service station network, marine and commercial operations, as well as acting as an agent for Shell Aviation and Shell Marine products. Sol uses the Shell brand under license across its service station network, and acts as the sole distributor of Shell's fuels and lubricants. This is fully backed by Shell's world-class technical expertise.

About The Moorings
The Moorings, world's premier yacht charter company, has delivered unmatched quality, service and attention to detail since 1969. Sail-it-yourself bareboat yachts, crewed yachts with captain and chef, and power yacht charters are available in over 27 destinations worldwide. The Moorings is proud to be a member of the TUI Travel® Group. Trust in TUI: Your vacation is in safe hands.

For more information contact:
Deborah Benjamin
Country Manager
Sol St. Lucia Ltd (BVI Office)
Tel: 1-284-494-2107
Email: deborah.benjamin@solpetroleum.com

For information on The Moorings contact:
Carol Hansen,
Marketing Manager
The Moorings
Tel: 1-727-437-5112
Email: chansen@mooringsnet.com

The Bay of Islands looked like a seriously nice mansion - the morning after a wild party. Water was pouring from a hole in the
roof, the normally tranquil blue carpet had been churned up and stained a horrible grey and the 20-knot easterly
which gatecrashed in the wee hours was still haphazardly stumbling around, yet to sleep.

This was not a good day for boating. But we would quickly learn you don’t necessarily need blue skies and rainbows when the Leopard M47 Powercat is your host. Nine of us stepped off the dock, out of the rain, and disappeared into the 14.42m multihull, a charter version of the Leopard 47.

At a glance:

➤ loa x beam 14.42m x 7.57m ➤ engines power twin 225hp Volvo D4 diesels ➤ cruising speed 12 knots ➤ maximum speed 17.5 knots

The first thing you notice is the cat’s volume and its ability to seemingly swallow passengers within its three levels amidst a range of entertaining areas. The boat is a platform made for socialising, and this particular one is heading to Tonga to perform its duty as part of the Moorings
charter fleet.

View from the top
A pair of 225hp Volvo D4 diesels fired up and with a couple of helping hands on the dock, we were away. We exited the boat’s temporary berth at Opua without any sort of song and dance.

From the flybridge’s central helm station you can see the tip of each hull’s bow out one side, the two sterns out the other and – on this trip – the seedylooking black sky above. The dashboard has plenty of space for electronics and this boat
features a Raymarine C80 GPS unit. Both throttles and wheel fall nicely to hand, whether standing up or sitting on the double bench seat.

The flybridge itself is open and spacious with an L-shaped couch forward and plenty of standing room aft. We had eight people in it, with four
separate conversations happily taking place. Zip-off clears took the bite out
of the rainy old day.

We headed out of Opua and chugged north, then hooked a right at Russell to take on the slop. A nice wee rolling swell had been forming for about a day, so we punched our way through that, determined to find a sheltered anchorage for lunch.

But finding one on a stormy day like this was going to be about as easy as finding a cat that likes going to windward. The typical jerky motion a multihull exhibits when faced with a head sea was apparent, but the M47’s ample waterline length did go some way to reducing its erratic pitching movement.

One thing’s for sure, the South African import feels solid. The Morrelli and Melvin-designed Leopard, built at Cape Town’s Robertson and Caine, has been in production since 1996 and there are nearly 1000 boats on the water.

“One of the biggest things about this boat is they’re designed by guys who design ocean-going cats,” says The Mooring’s yacht sales manager, Brendan Brits. “Its first voyage will be a blue water one leaving Cape Town. “

Wellington sailors are slightly unhinged in that, when it blows 30 knots, they start to get excited. This is built in South Africa where that’s the norm.”

The M47 is largely based on the Moorings sailing cats. From the waterline up, about the only difference is the absence of a stick and some sail cloth. Below the waterline, the M47 has done away with long stub keels running amidships like those found on the sailing cats in favour of small skeg keels protecting the props and rudders. The clean runs aft help the powercat get out of the hole and although you can’t beach it, the relatively minimal 0.95m draft means you can still get pretty close to shore.

Time out

Holed up in Otehei Bay on the southwestern side of Urupukapuka Island (just east of Russell), the cat really came into its own. The cockpit has enough room to seat 12 people, six of them comfortably around the table, the ideal place to escape the sun (or rain) and solve the world’s problems under one fixed roof. An elaborate lunch was under construction in the galley and we couldhappily chat with the chefs charged with making it. Having the kitchen incorporated into the saloon means no-one is banished to one of the hulls come meal time and the chef can enjoy a sundowner with the best of them while getting dinner started. Two people can comfortably work in the galley, which features a gas oven and three-burner hob, ample bench space and plenty of stowage. Space in the saloon isn’t affected dramatically by the galley, with a large table and U-shaped seating for eight still dominating the main deck. The navstation sits to starboard.

Play time
Even 30 minutes after the salubrious spread had been demolished no-one was volunteering to drop the aft swim platform – which doubles as a three-person transom seat – and get in the water.

Instead, it was a trip to the bow for a different perspective of the boat. The large louvres spanning the width of the saloon’s windows are near-impossible to miss. From an aesthetics point of view, the grandstand-style seating is debatable, but as another area to soak up the sun, it’s a great use of otherwise unused space. Interior light isn’t compromised terribly and they are probably welcome sunscreens in tropical clime like Tonga’s. A bean bag and a book on the large foredeck wouldn’t go astray on a warm summer’s day either.

Back inside, the conclusion had been drawn that despite the average weather, this was hands down better than a day in the office. We began to entertain the thought of spending a night in one of the four double cabins.

Each hull is home to two cabins, all with ample stowage. The forward cabin on the port side has an extra cavity extending into the bow, useful as extra stowage or even as a berth for a small child.

Go to www.facebook.com /boatingnz for more pictures

Engine access is under the two aft double berths so working on the donk is easy, although sleeping while underway might not be. The same space under the two forward doubles is utilised as stowage, although it can be transformed into extra freezer room. Another layout option sees just three double cabins with an owner’s lounge incorporated in the starboard hull. The floor panels in each hull lift to reveal easy access to all the seacocks and must-reach systems.

A bathroom with shower and electric head is located in each hull.

While a night on board would’ve been nice, it wasn’t to be. Instead we ditched the mooring and headed back into the slop, setting a course for Opua.

Both engines were pulling a nearmaximum 3600rpm to keep us sitting at 17.5 knots with the sea behind us, which was naturally far more comfortable than punching into a head sea. Again, the waterline length came into play aswe sliced through the backs of waves but when the sea came around to the quarter, keeping the M47 on course took a bit more focus.

At a cruise speed of 12 knots, the engines were sitting at 2500rpm burning a measly 20 litres each an hour. With a fuel capacity of 2000 litres, that’s a lot of cruising.

Back at Opua, friendly hands were waiting with dock lines and parking was no harder than when we left. In fact, it summed up the boat: incredibly easy to handle, functional, and the more people involved, the better.

Leopard M47 Powercat
➤ loa 14.42m (47ft 3in) ➤ beam 7.57m (24ft 10in) ➤ draft 0.95m ➤ displacement 15,000kg ➤ construction vacuum-bonded balsa
core with a GRP sandwich construction and 12mm of glass ➤ fuel 1200 litres ➤ water 1210 litres ➤ accommodation eight ➤ engines
twin 225hp Volvo D4 diesels ➤ cruising speed 12 knots ➤ max speed 17.5 knots ➤ price from xxx ➤ designer Morrelli and Melvin
➤ builder Robertson and Caine ➤ enquiries The Moorings New Zealand 09 378 7900 www.southpacifi csailing.com

PROS
❚ Big volume
❚ Social layout
❚ Economical cruiser

OUR VERDICT
If you’ve got the time and the mates, there’s no question that a cat of this size is a great platform for cruising the NZ coast or holidaying further aboard. With oodles of accommodation and socialising space it wouldn’t be hard to whittle away a week or two aboard the M47. The big Leopard’s finish is on par with most mass production fibreglass boats - it’s no superyacht but then you aren’t paying for that. This is a pleasure platform, pure and simple, and it comes with the added ability of being able to cruise bluewater.

CONS
❚ Interior finish
❚ Needs a big marina berth

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Clearwater, FL (June 8, 2011) - The Moorings will be accommodating a special date in the fourth episode of The Bachelorette, which airs on June 13, 2011. The episode will feature an adventurous date on a Moorings yacht on the high seas in Phuket, Thailand, amidst stunning limestone cliffs and sea caves, with the newest Bachelorette, the energetic and vivacious Ashley Hebert, who is ready to start a new life with a soul mate she might soon meet.  Ashley will get a second chance at love, on the seventh edition of “The Bachelorette.”

The Moorings is the world’s premier yacht charter company, managing over 600 yachts in 30 of the world’s best cruising grounds, in pristine and exotic locations such as the Caribbean, South Pacific, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, North America and The Far East. 

The Moorings offers three enviable ways to enjoy cruising in Thailand: bareboat (captain yourself) sailing charters; luxury all-inclusive crewed yachting vacations with a professional captain and gourmet chef; and new-generation power catamaran charters.

The Bachelorette airs Mondays at 8/7 Central on ABC. For more information on The Bachelorette, visit http://abc.go.com/shows/the-bachelorette. To learn more about The Moorings visit www.moorings.com.

###

ABOUT THE BACHELORETTE:
In the hit primetime romance reality series The Bachelorette, one lucky woman gets the opportunity to find the man of her dreams — and hopefully her groom-to-be — in this reality series. This single, very eligible bachelorette — a confident, successful and sensitive woman who is ready to find love — will embark on a romantic journey as she meets 25 handsome and intelligent men. As the Bachelorette gets to know each one, she'll continue to narrow the field. They will travel to exotic locations and spend time getting to know each other; she will introduce them to her family and friends and meet some of theirs. At the end of her romantic voyage, if she has found Mr. Right, will there be a proposal, from whom – and will she say yes? Hosted by Chris Harrison, The Bachelorette is produced by Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television.

ABOUT THE MOORINGS:
As the world's premier yacht charter company, The Moorings has delivered unmatched quality, service and attention to detail since 1969. Sail-it-yourself bareboat yachts, all-inclusive crewed yachts with captain and chef, and power yacht charters are available. The Moorings is owned by TUI Travel, PLC, one of the largest and most successful travel and tourism companies in the world. Trust in TUI: Your vacation is in safe hands.

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Carol Hansen, Marketing Manager
727-530-5424 ext 13512
chansen@mooringsnet.com

The Virgin Islands and Offshore Sailing School Open a New World of Sailing & Sharing

When Owen Herrin books a bareboat yacht charter with The Moorings, chances are it’s going to be in the British Virgin Islands, a place of idyllic beauty he fell in love with 15 years ago. Since then he’s chartered in the BVI at least ten times to enjoy great sailing in protected waters, picturesque anchorages, and funky beachside bars. Sailing in the BVI aboard a Moorings 51.5, Herrin’s usual yacht choice, just doesn’t get old for him. In fact, it gets better every time, so much so that he can’t resist inviting non-sailing friends along with him, knowing the BVI will make a lasting impression and possibly encourage them to take up sailing.

“Over the years, I’ve brought many people who were new to sailing to experience what it’s like to charter in the BVI. It’s perfect for that,” Herrin said. “You’re never out of sight of land, you’re doing short hops to the next destination, and there’s so much to do, the BVI can appeal to almost anyone.” When Herrin, takes a new group of friends to the BVI, he loves to show them the Baths of Virgin Gorda; the formation of craggy rocks features tunnels, caves, and pools to explore. Snorkeling at the Indians, and at the caves of Treasure Point at The Bight is another favored activity, as is relaxing in the cockpit at Cane Garden Bay on Tortola.

Jost Van Dyke’s two classic beachfront bars – the Soggy Dollar and Foxy’s – are also high on Herrin’s list. “If it’s a new group, we take them to Foxy’s,” Herrin said. “It’s world famous. You’ve got to say you’ve been to Foxy’s when you go to the BVI.”

Herrin, a banker from Waycross, Georgia, has also chartered from The Moorings bases at St. Martin in the Leeward Islands and Canouan in the Windward Islands, visiting Caribbean jewels such as St. Barts. “That island has a very beautiful anchorage, and you’ll see all kinds of sailboats from all over the world. There are lots of eateries, bars and designer shops that rival any in the world,” he said.

Herrin chartered out of Canouan to savor the Grenadines. Each island has its own appeal, ranging from the beaches of Mustique to the unparalleled snorkeling in the Tobago Cays Marine Park.

Herrin got into sailing after enjoying an afternoon cruise aboard a catamaran in the U.S. Virgin Islands in the early 1990s. Hoping that the sport would provide a “personal challenge” and enable him to bareboat charter in exotic locales, he took the Learn to Sail course at Steve and Doris Colgate’s Offshore Sailing School, the official sailing school for The Moorings. Completing the Live Aboard Cruising course in 1995 certified him to bareboat charter.

“After that, it’s been one or two weeks per year of bareboat chartering with The Moorings,” he said. “With the Offshore Sailing School being partnered with The Moorings, it makes it very easy to transition from being a student into bareboat chartering.”

Herrin went on to take the Offshore Sailing School’s Ocean Passage Making course to gain more experience. With two instructors aboard, a group of students sailed from Tortola to St. Martin on a six-day adventure involving two night passages. “I loved sailing at night. It was wonderful standing watch under a billion stars and feeling the warm trade winds. My daughter went on the trip with me, and it really opened her eyes to the magic of sailing,” he said.

Herrin has become an ambassador of sailing. His love of the sport and the BVI is infectious, and he finds it immensely satisfying when non-sailing friends take an interest.

“My family all love sailing now, and over the years a number of friends who had never sailed before look forward to going. I’ve had friends from college I hadn’t seen in 40 years, and we got together in 2007 and started sailing. Sailing is relaxing, educational, and exciting. It’s been more than I ever thought it would be,” Herrin said.

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The Moorings Announces New Charter Base in Lavrion, Greece

Clearwater, FL - (December 1, 2010) - The Moorings, the world’s premier yacht charter company, announced today the opening of a new base in Lavrion, Greece near Athens for sailing vacations beginning in June 2011. The fleet will consist of 39’ to 50’ custom-built monohulls and catamarans from world-class yacht builders Beneteau and Robertson & Caine. The new Athens-Lavrion base joins The Moorings three existing Greek bases, which are located in Athens-Kalamaki, Kos and Lefkas.

Cruise the Saronic Gulf, Cyclades & Sporades from Lavrion

Lavrion is ideally located on the southern tip of mainland Greece along the eastern coast, giving charter guests diverse itinerary options for sailing through the Saronic Gulf and Aegean Sea to experience the culture and history of the Saronic, Cyclades, and Sporades isles. The base is conveniently located near the Athens international airport and only an hour drive from the center of Athens.

“The combination of a welcoming culture, stunning landscapes, beaches, historical sites, superb cuisine and The Moorings 5-star service guarantees our charter guests a memorable vacation beyond compare,” commented Cheryl Powell, Chief Operating Officer of The Moorings. “Our mission is to provide the best cruising grounds in the world to our customers, and the addition of this new base illustrates this commitment.”

With varied one and two-week itineraries available in the expansive cruising ground of the magical Greek islands, sailors departing from Athens-Lavrion may select an area with conditions that best suit their sailing style. The waters of the Saronic Gulf between the Attica and Peloponnesian peninsulas offer shorter passages, less wind and waters that are well-protected. Generally, the Cyclades and Sporades have more wind for an exhilarating, challenging sail. Each destination has a pleasing host of varied attractions with sightseeing tours of ancient temples and historically significant landmarks; snorkeling, swimming, and sunbathing; ventures through open-air markets, and dining in intimate tavernas.

The Moorings Athens-Lavrion is also proud to be located at the Olympic Marina, which is designated as a Blue Flag facility. This prestigious eco-label is awarded to beaches and marinas for their dedication to environmental education, information and management; safety and service; and water quality.

Custom Monohulls and Catamarans – 39 to 50 ft.

The Moorings Athens-Lavrion fleet will boast monohulls from 43’, up to the all-new 50’ Moorings 50.5. Aboard the 50.5, which recently debuted at the Annapolis Sailboat show, guests will enjoy comfortable sailing with dual helms, a powerful bow thruster, aft-led sail controls and electric winches plus a state-of-the-art navigational system. Comfort is assured for up to 11 passengers in four double staterooms with en-suite electric head and a forepeak cabin with head. Air-conditioning, generator, flat-screen TV/DVD, radio/CD player, MP3 connectivity and fully-equipped galley enhance her modern amenities.

This destination will also offer catamarans ranging from 39’ to our popular 46’ flagship catamaran, the Moorings 4600. This fully air-conditioned yacht features four en-suite stateroom cabins (complete with separate showers and electric toilets) plus two forepeak berths, a flat-screen TV/DVD, CD player, MP3 connectivity, and a blender for the perfect cocktails. On deck she’s a pleasure to sail with a full suite of navigation electronics and unique raised helm station offering 360-degree visibility.

###

The Moorings, as the world's premier yacht charter company, has delivered unmatched quality, service and attention to detail since 1969. Sail-it-yourself bareboat yachts, crewed yachts with captain and chef, and power yacht charters are available. The Moorings is owned by TUI Travel, PLC, one of the largest and most successful travel and tourism companies in the world. Trust in TUI: Your vacation is in safe hands.

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Clearwater, FL (August 12, 2010) – The Moorings is pleased to introduce the newest yacht in their bareboat sailing charter fleet --- the innovative, state-of-the-art and spacious 5-cabin/5-head Moorings 50.5 monohull, which debuts at the Annapolis Sailboat Show, October 7-11, 2010.

Features & Accommodation

“Designed by Berret-Racoupeau and custom-built by Beneteau for The Moorings, the Moorings 50.5 is a superb sailing yacht derived from the functional, ergonomic design of Beneteau’s Oceanis 50 Family line,” said Lex Raas, CEO of The Moorings. “Outfitted with the latest advancements in marine technology, she’s equipped for outstanding performance and cruising comfort with a full suite of Raymarine navigational electronics, electric winches, and flat screen TV/DVD player. Better yet, the robust bow thruster makes docking a breeze. Combined with her generous sail plan and modern amenities, we’re confident the 50.5 establishes a new benchmark in the yacht charter industry.”

Dual helms ensure superior visibility under sail; the spacious cockpit with aft-led sail controls, furling genoa with electric genoa winches, and electric halyard winch for hosting the main, make sailing as easy as a 35-footer and fun. A sleek coachroof, long side windows, full bimini and dodger, and wholly-integrated mainsail arch with traveler not only enhance her aesthetic appeal, but also serve as a safety feature. Raas added, “The well-balanced nature of the sail area and electric systems for control provides a yacht that’s as maneuverable as a 35-footer, and easily be sailed by a crew of two.”

The fully air-conditioned 50.5 presents luxurious accommodation for up to 11 passengers, including 4 staterooms with en-suite electric head and forepeak cabin with head. The main living area offers a roomy U-shaped saloon, linear portside galley and approximately 6.5’ of headroom. Dining conveniences are a premium – upgraded double sinks, 3-burner gas stove, oven, microwave, voluminous front-loading refrigerator/freezer and charcoal BBQ. A generator, inverter, flat screen TV/DVD, radio/CD/MP3 player complement this yacht’s modern amenities. Supporting The Moorings sustainable efforts, the 50.5 is outfitted with LED lights, which consume 5-times less power than standard halogen lighting, increasing their lifespan and reducing battery charges.

Destinations

Globally, over 25 Moorings 50.5 yachts will be delivered to The Moorings Caribbean destinations in the British Virgin Islands, St. Lucia, and St. Martin, plus their newest base in Grenada with charters commencing January 2011. Additionally, the 50.5 will be available June 2011 at The Moorings Greek bases in Athens, Kos and Lefkas.

For information about The Moorings charter vacations and fleet, visit www.moorings.com or call 1-800-535-7289. The Moorings 50.5 may be purchased in these destinations through The Moorings Yacht Ownership Program. Owners enjoy up to 12 weeks of use each year, access to yachts in over 30 destinations worldwide, guaranteed monthly revenue to cover their boat loan, no operating or insurance expenses, and professional maintenance included at no cost. Visit www.mooringsyachtownership.com. For Yacht Sales media inquiries contact slong@tuimarine.com.

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Clearwater, FL (June 11, 2010) –The Moorings, the world’s premier yacht charter company, is proud to have recently sponsored Sailability Greater Tampa Bay in a charitable mission and sailing charter to the British Virgin Islands, where the group donated much-needed mobility equipment to a local special needs school.

During a ceremony on May 19 at the Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre in John’s Hole, three wheelchairs were presented; one was a custom-built, motorized wheelchair by Custom Mobility for Reyah Fonesca, one of the physically challenged students. Local dignitaries attended, including Acting Chief Education Officer, Dr. Marcia Potter, who attended on behalf of Honorable Andrew Fahie, Minister of Education; and Education Officer of Special Needs, Ms. Lorna Dawson.

Reflecting on their trip, Claudia Nable, President of Sailability Greater Tampa Bay, said, "It’s about working together to make something happen. A few months ago, we organized a BVI team-building trip aboard two yachts donated to us by The Moorings and while planning, we learned of the school’s needs. With Custom Mobility’s commitment to donate the wheelchairs, all of the pieces fell into place."

Nine Sailability volunteers journeyed to the BVIs for the occasion. Dennis Denninger, who has been a volunteer for over 8 years and currently serves as Sailability Instructor/Coach and Board Member, noted, "There are times in life when you can have a direct positive impact on someone's life and The Moorings gave me the opportunity to have that impact with Reyah."

Lex Raas, CEO of The Moorings, remarked, "Originating from our relationship with Sailability near our corporate headquarters in Clearwater, Florida, we were delighted to donate the two week-long charters in recognition of their volunteers’ dedication to sharing the joys of sailing with those who otherwise do not have the physical or mental abilities to sail. An enduring cornerstone of The Moorings focuses on community involvement, and this is a continuation of our community support in the BVI, a place we’ve also called home since our founders established The Moorings in Road Town, Tortola in 1969."

This donation was also facilitated by Sailability BVI, specifically Alison Bramble, Centre Principal, and Colin Bramble, Managing Director & Chief Instructor, who helped organize the ceremony and built a growing friendship with Sailability Greater Tampa Bay. Colin and Alison noted, "Our staff and students were delighted to welcome our fellow Sailability volunteers, and look forward to future opportunities with them. We’re also grateful to The Moorings for making this possible, and for bringing more awareness to the plights and successes of all our individuals with special needs."

The Moorings:
The Moorings, the world’s premier yacht charter company, has delivered unmatched quality, service and attention to detail since 1969. Sail-it-yourself bareboat yachts, crewed yachts with captain and chef, and power yacht charters are available. The Moorings is owned by TUI Travel, PLC, one of the world’s largest and most successful travel and tourism companies.

Sailability Greater Tampa Bay:
Not-for-profit providing affordable, accessible sailing activities and education to children and adults of all abilities to improve the quality of life for everyone. In 2009, they hosted 24 events with 15 sailboats giving over 400 people access to sailing. Visit www.sailabilitygreatertampabay.org

Sailability BVI:
The only overseas-recognized RYA site of its kind; it comes under the protective umbrella of the BVI Watersports Centre, headquartered at Manual Reef in Sea Cows Bay, Tortola.

Custom Mobility:
Specializes in custom wheelchairs to address their client’s unique seating needs.

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Van Perry, Head of Marketing, North America
727-437-5127
vperry@mooringsnet.com

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The new base facilities in Tortola are just one example, with an environmentally sound breakwater developed to allow for greater water circulation into the harbor. Reports back from Tortola have been very positive, with recent sightings of marine life in the harbor!

Other developments include facility and fleet innovations such as: solar panels for new Moorings 4600 catamarans, EPA-approved bottom paints, biodegradable detergents, and water treatment and recycling processes in Tortola including a seawater desalination plant that produces as much as 65,000 gallons of fresh water daily.

Watch our new video on The Moorings sustainability efforts world wide.

Whether attendees race, cruise, practice or party, this 7-day event is sure to please all! The festivities begin Monday night with a welcome party; then the 4-day Sailing Festival commences with destination cruising and swift open-water racing from Nanny Cay down Sir Frances Drake Channel to Bitter End Yacht Club. With crews and spectators all warmed up, the BVI Spring Regatta hits full swing on Friday with a weekend of hot Caribbean racing across 17 classes. Plus, a class has been added for the BVI Windsurfing Championship, which will be hosted by and run concurrently with the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival!

Cheryl Powell, Chief Operating Officer of The Moorings, remarked, “The Moorings is pleased to have sponsored the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival for over 10 years, and be involved with this celebrated event. As Gold Sponsors, we’re providing yachts for racers to charter, plus two Moorings catamarans for the BVI Spring Regatta Committee. An exciting time for sailors and spectators, this week always produces great stories and memorable experiences that keep attendees coming back.”

The Moorings will be providing yachts from their top-notch fleet of 32’ to 54’ monohulls and 40’ to 47’ catamarans with special regatta prices ranging from $435* per day plus racing package. If racing a Moorings 51.5, charterers SAVE 10%* when booking by February 12, 2010! Review our Regatta Event details and call 888-952-8420 to reserve your yacht!

* New bookings only of 5+ days. Subject to availability. Applies to charter cost of Moorings 51.5 Club. Price based on a 4-passenger Moorings 32.2 Club, and only includes the yacht charter cost. Rates subject to change without notice.

– END –

Editors Note: As the world’s premier yacht charter company, The Moorings has delivered unmatched quality, service and attention to detail since 1969. Sail-it-yourself bareboat, power, and crewed yacht charters with captain and chef are available. The Moorings is owned by TUI Travel, PLC, one of the largest and most successful travel and tourism companies in the world. Trust in TUI: Your vacation is in safe hands.

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There is only one such event, and its called the Highland Spring HIHO.

Based in the British Virgin Islands, HIHO, short for "Hook In and Hold On" was first conceived in 1979, and celebrated its 25th anniversary in late June, drawing 140 participants from 14 countries. Click below to read more.

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