It’s official. A crewing crises is hitting the superyacht industry. With full order books and mega yachts being launched on an almost daily basis experts estimate that the crew shortage for this year alone will amount to over 3,000 persons. A new training academy with Royal Navy connections has been launched at the Monaco Boat Show (19-22 September, 2007) to help fill the gap. Flagship Superyacht Academy (FSYA), a British-based academy partnered with the Royal Navy, will provide a range of accredited training programmes that match the standards of the Royal Navy and are tailored to meet the industry’s specific needs.

The battle between the two Caribbean yacht charter shows gets more bizarre every year. The Antigua Yacht Charter Meeting (5th-10th December 2007) continues to face challenges from the MYBA St. Maarten Charter Show (3rd-7th December 2007). Now that the MYBA, a worldwide yachting trade organisation representing 50 major brokerages, has taken control of the St. Maarten show the gloves are off. Brokers, owners, skippers and crew are forced to choose between the two. While yachts can’t practically go to both brokers are reluctant to support both shows due to travel and expense difficulties. There are a lot of views around on this devisive subject. Here are some. Please add your comments to the debate.

The organisers of the 39th Southampton Boat Show, which ended on Sunday, have claimed a major success. The show had a 10 day run and approximately 127,000 visitors attended. This was a 8% increase over last year. There were record visitors on press and preview day and one of the largest attended second Saturdays in recent years, with visitors enjoying 600 exhibitors and over 370 boats afloat at the Hydropool Marina.

Veteren boat racing at the Rolex Veteren Boat Rally took place on the 13th to 15th September over 3 races (The 12 Metres occupied the 11th to the 13th). Overall winners of the series were Mariette in the Vintage Gaff Division, Marjatta in the Vintage Bermudian Division and Emeraude in the Classic Division.

FINAL STANDINGS
Place Boat Name, Owner/Charterer R1-R2-R3-Points

Classic Yacht
1. EMERAUDE, Vittorio Cavazzana, 1-5-1-7.00
2. STELLA POLARE, Marivela, 2-2-3-7.00
3. STORMVOGEL, Ermanno Traverso, 3-1-4-8.00

Vintage Bermudian Yacht
1. MARJATTA, Giovanni Broggi, 1-2-1-4.00
2. MARIELLA, Carlo Falcone, 2-1-2-5.00
3. SKAGERRAK, Raffaele Ranucci, 3-3-3-9.00

In a story first reported in the Chicago Sun Times, members of the Chicago Yachting Association complained to Chicago Park District officials on Wednesday, September 12, and asked Clear Channel to be more sensitive of the acts booked at the Northerly Island Charter One Pavilion.

Apparanetly rappers Snoop Dogg and Wu-Tang Clan both used very nasty words in their separate concerts on August 26 and September 2 at at the Northerly Island Charter One Pavilion. Snoop Dogg even said “f**k” and encouraged fans to “kill the police.”