The Advance Passenger Information System, more affectionately known as APIS looks set to bottom out in Antigua, one of the only islands that had attempted to introduce the system in the first place.
Sources close to government have indicated that this hugely unpopular and impractical piece of officialdom is being “suspended until further notice”. The legislation requiring yachts to submit, via internet, their arrival details prior to reaching their destination is part of a Caricom endeavor to track movement between the member islands. Originally introducted for anti-terrorist measures during the World Cup Cricket event earlier this year. Although aircraft submit flight plans, the same procedure for yachts is just not feasible – as mentioned in previous articles, a yacht leaving the Canary Islands cannot possibly state what time it will arrive at its destination. There is always an element of doubt as to which day they will arrive, let alone which hour, and unforeseen weather or other circumstances may dictate an entirely different destination that first assumed.
Like many islands in the Caribbean, Antigua relies heavily on the marine industry, from mega yachts to homely cruisers, and with last season’s changes in taxation laws and customs clearance procedures, the potential impact of further inhospitable bureaucracy was intensely worrying.
The Antigua Barbuda Marine Association (ABMA), working alongside marine associations throughout the islands, have been in discussion with government ministers and immigration officials to try to resolve this issue. The news, therefore, that APIS is to be suspended shows just how much the government of Antigua and Barbuda support the marine industry. In fact the Ministry of Tourism is going one step further by employing Hospitality Officers for the yachting sector to meet and greet visitors, and assist with immigration and customs clearance.
As whole fleets of yachts lie ready to travel thousands of nautical miles to the Caribbean, Antigua can heave a huge sigh of relief that it will yet again be welcoming old friends and new arrivals with open arms.

Carlo Falcone travelled to the UK yesterday to oversee the loading of the 10 Petticrow Dragon yachts ordered for the new Harmony Hall Yacht Club in Antigua. Falcone, owner of ‘Marielle’, the 80ft Fife classic and the fast 44ft ‘Caccia Alla Volpe’, has recently purchased the Harmony Hall Restaurant and Art Gallery and is establishing a Yacht Club. It is here that Carlo will introduce Dragon match racing.

Have you seen the latest Feadship F-Stream design? Feadship unveiled the 55 metre F-Stream design concept at the Monaco Boat Show in September. Potential owners and onlookers were impressed by the Studio De Voogt design. Feadship carried out market research and explored various new technologies to incorporate in a futuristic looking package. The F-stream uses the latest developments in hull design, glass construction technology and aesthetics. The hybrid propulsion package is impressive. Two dieselelectric cycloidal propulsion rudder systems offer dynamic positioning, silent cruising and efficient roll damping. In passive mode they also serve as rudders. The twin diesel-direct driven fully submerged axial water jets offer higher speeds.

The Winners of the 1st Annual Yachtbuddy Photographic Competition 2007 are:

The 1 st Prize, “Best Yachting Photograph of The Year”, is awarded to Jon Cartwright for “Homeward Bound”.

Jon wins the US $ 1,000 prize and a trophy. The panel consisted of 4 judges, all with experience as photographers. Each judge submitted a winner and 9 runners up. Jon’s photo was a winner without a doubt.

Choosing the 9 Runners Up was more difficult. Clearly a few photographers were unlucky not to be included. The 9 Runners Up are awarded “Yachting Photograph of the Year Finalist” with prizes of a Certificate and a Yachtbuddy .com t-shirt each.

Are you looking for a job on a yacht? Do you have the necessary qualifications and experience? If so look over the following jobs and click the links. Don’t forget to tell the agents that you first heard of the jobs on Yachtbuddy.com. For those of you not yet qualified you can follow the link below to visit other articles on how to get ahead.

Links to articles on getting yachting qualifications: Yachtbuddy’s The Crew Mess.

YCO Crew:

Deckhand/engineer for a 41 Meter Motor Yacht. An AEC qualification would be prefered. This yacht will spend the winter in the Caribbean. Antibes.