Stephens

RMK Merrill-Stevens introduces electronics division.

The refit on the Miami River continues as RMK Merrill-Stevens Shipyard (RMKMS) introduces a marine electronics service and sales division led by David Gratton, past chairman of National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA). Gratton is an expert outfitting megayachts with complete electronics systems, having serviced and installed equipment on thousands of vessels with Martek of Palm Beach, which closed in 2018. During his tenure at Martek and on NMEA’s board, Gratton pioneered…

Derecktor to Develop New US Superyacht Hub

St. Lucie County Commissioners unanimously chose Derecktor Shipyards to create and manage a facility servicing large yachts in Fort Pierce, Fla. on Nov. 14. Located about 100 miles north of Fort Lauderdale and about 40 miles north of Palm Beach, the shipyard will develop a proposal for a mutually agreeable lease and contract to develop the 290-acre port, with deep water draft, easy land access and no fixed bridges.Derecktor was established in 1947 by the late Bob Derecktor, a competitive sailor in his own right with his personal fleet of “goose” sailboats…

Sparkman & Stephens Under New Ownership

Sparkman & Stephens has announced that Donald Tofias, of Newport, R.I., has purchased the iconic yacht design and brokerage firm. Tofias will assume the role of President of the firm, having purchased 100 percent of the assets.Tofias is a lifelong sailor and founder of the W-Class Yacht Company. Over the past 30 years he has owned and campaigned a Waldo Howland and Ray Hunt, Jr. Concordia Yawl, a W. Starling Burgess Cutter, and for the past 20 years, W-Class Racing Yachts, including the W.76 sloops, designed by Joel White, which will now be marketed by Sparkman & Stephens.Tofias said…

Rambler Introduces New American Yacht Line

Rambler Yacht Co. has announced the Rambler 38, the first model in a line of new American yachts. Rambler revolutionizes yachting with emphasis on style, sustainability and ease of use with the most environmentally conscious center console to ever hit the market. Designed by Sparkman & Stephens, an iconic American naval architecture firm since 1929. Built by Lyman-Morse, a revered and distinguished American boatbuilder. The Rambler 38 is a head-turner in the harbor. Refined hull lines and sophisticated design blend beautifully to produce a center console yacht that is stunning…

Sparkman & Stephens under New Ownership

Sparkman & Stephens (S&S), the naval architecture and brokerage firm founded by Olin Stephens and Drake Sparkman in 1929, announced that it was acquired by a group of private investors led by Brooke S. Parish and John B. Reuter. The transaction enables S&S to implement expansion strategies in its design and brokerage businesses, for which it sought growth capital. The firm remains privately held and terms of the deal were not disclosed. “We feel a tremendous sense of pride and responsibility to assume stewardship of a brand and a company whose legacy in American yachting cannot be overstated…

Rockport Marine Acquires David Jones Yacht Brokerage

Custom wooden boat builder and designer Rockport Marine of Rockport, Maine, has acquired David Jones Yacht Brokerage, effectively expanding Rockport Marine's offering beyond the design, construction and refit of wooden yachts to the sales of new and used vessels. David Jones Yacht Brokerage has facilitated the sales of classic wooden yachts for 16 years. The company has represented boats by designers such as Alden, Crocker, Fife, Herreshoff, Hinckley, Rhodes, and Stephens and Waring. David Jones, former owner, will continue working with Rockport Marine for at least one year during the transition of the brokerage ownership.

Abandoned Yacht Found Off Port Stephens Beach

A yacht with no one on board has been discovered in the ocean in Port Stephens in the Hunter, prompting fears a person may have fallen overboard, as per a report in SMH. The eight-metre yacht was spotted on Tuesday night drifting off Samurai Beach in the Hunter region, 205 kilometers north of Sydney. Police on Wednesday launched a large-scale search for a 48-year-old man from Tasmania who was believed to have been living on the yacht, named FireFly. Just after 6pm, police announced the search will be suspended until 8am on Thursday, but 'due to the conditions of the water, it is unlikely the man was able to survive'.

Equiom Expands Yachting and Aviation Teams

Equiom Group announced the expansion of its yachting and aviation teams with the recruitment of Ayuk Ntuiabane and Grant Atchison. Ayuk and Grant recently joined Equiom following its appointment as manager of the Moore Stephens Trust Company in the Isle of Man and will be working alongside Steve Cain, Edward Leigh and the existing teams based at Equiom’s headquarters in the Isle of Man. The teams will work with clients and advisers to optimize the structures and business models required for the secure and cost-effective operation of yachts and aircraft…

Moore Stephens, RSA Partner on Yacht Medical Coverage

Game changing new medical insurance with global unlimited cover for the world’s superyacht crew has been released by Moore Stephens. Developed with Royal and Sun Alliance (“RSA”) the Superyacht Crew Plan's  adaptable coverage has no deductible/excess and allows the choice of where treatment is received. The Superyacht Crew Plan  is available exclusively through Moore Stephens Crew Benefits.

New Medical Insurance Plan for Superyacht Crew

Moore Stephens Brokers Ltd (MSBL) announced the Superyacht Crew Plan, an adaptable group medical insurance product created with Royal & Sun Alliance (RSA) specifically designed for superyacht crew and available exclusively from Moore Stephens. Moore Stephens was directly involved with RSA in the structuring of the coverage which features no deductible/excess and unlimited cover. As part of the close relationship MSBL is directly involved in managing claims to ensure prompt service. “We have a strong relationship with RSA. Already we’ve had a Captain sign up who wanted cover for his pregnant wife.

Kennedy Named Director of Marketing

Fleet Miami has announced it has appointed Kathy Kennedy as Director of Marketing. Kennedy joins the Miami-based yachting club from her most recent position as Executive Vice President of Moore Stephens Isle of Man. Prior to that she worked with the Ferretti Group on North American market development and served as Derecktor Shipyards’ Director of Marketing during the build of the 85.6m motor yacht Cakewalk. In her new role, Kennedy will oversee Fleet Miami’s brand identity with an emphasis on outreach and business development.

Yacht Designers Stephens Waring Shortlisted for Award

US classic yacht designers Stephens Waring Yacht Design say that the recent globally recognised 2014 International Yacht & Aviation Awards gave the Maine design house  an opportunity to push the envelope in terms of creativity and strengthen their reputation as a world leader of 'Spirit of Tradition' yacht design. Two of the company’s designs – Citronella – a 44ft elegant, easy to handle, fuel-efficient, classic-looking powerboat designed for cruising and comfortable entertaining, and Rapture – a striking, 37ft modern classic day sailing boat – made it to the short listing stage in the Yacht Concept up to 30 metres category.

Obituary: Wesley Wheeler, 1933-2014

Wesley D. Wheeler passed away on April 18 in Stamford, Connecticut. He was 80 years old. He was laid to rest in Cyprus Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn, N.Y. Wheeler was an active member of the marine community for 60 years. He lived and worked in many countries and for some of the largest naval architects, consultants and shipbuilding companies in the world including JJ. Henry & Co., J. J. McMullen Associates, H.M. Tiedemann & Co, American Bulk Carriers, Sparkman & Stephens Inc., Astilleros Espanoles and M. Rosenblatt & Son. He founded his own firm, Wheeler Associates Ltd.

Modern Classic Yacht Designs Showcased at NY Yacht Club

Bob Stephens co-founder of Stephens Waring Yacht Design, and Alison Langley –  acclaimed marine photographer – were at the New York Yacht Club recently to showcase their plans for the forthcoming season. In the crowded Model Room over 70 guests heard Stephens talk about the development of Spirit of Tradition/Modern Classics. He spoke passionately about the rich heritage of yacht design and production, and highlighted the fact that these boats do not replace classic yachts but instead, complement them.

The Rise of Sailing

The 2014 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS), from May 22-25, 2014, will be the place to see the newest sailing vessels, both performance and cruising yachts, mono and multihulls, for those who dream of feeling the wind in their hair and exploring boundless blue horizons. Sailing is enjoying a boost in popularity, thanks in part to ‘the Jessica Watson effect’, the success of Australia’s sailors at the London Olympic Games in 2012 and the protracted, thrilling America’s Cup series which brought the multihulled wonders to the world’s attention.

Moore Stephens Partner to Chair U.S. Superyacht Tax Panel

Ayuk Ntuiabane, partner at Moore Stephens Isle of Man, leading providers of multi-sector accountancy, consultancy and financial services, will chair a panel of international marine tax experts at the International Superyacht Society’s “YachtInfo” Seminars at the 54th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show on November 1, 2013. Ayuk’s panel will specifically address tax issues surrounding superyacht chartering around the world, with particular emphasis on U.S. and Caribbean waters and an update on recent changes in European VAT.

Clarksons Gift Rescue Boats to Sailing Centre

Clarksons recently visited the Docklands Waterports and Sailing Centre (DWSC) near Canary Wharf  on the UK's River Thames to officially launch the two new rescue boats it has bought for the organisation. The state of the art Rigiflex boats - named after two esteemed late Clarksons' Chairmen, Sir Alexander Glen and Sir Carron Greig - will enable DSWC to increase the number of participants that can be tutored on the water at any given time. The DWSC is located in the Milwall outer dock…

Grand Banks Announces On-Water Display at Sanctuary Cove Show

Grand Banks will display the new Aleutian at the 2013 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show in May. The company’s on-water display includes a recently-arrived three-cabin 53 Aleutian RP model and a new 47 Heritage EU. The 53 includes the features and style of her big sisters, the 59, 65 and 72 and 76 Aleutian models. These include a full-beam master stateroom, the modified deep-V hull that performs at hull or planing speeds and ample power through twin turbo diesel engines - up to 715hp each in the 53. The 47 Heritage EU used the trawler-style design, common to many Grand Banks vessels.

New W-class Yacht Designs

W-Class Yacht Company is expanding its family of yachts to include 100’, 123’ and 135’ models. The first of the new designs, the W.123', was developed by Bruce Johnson (formerly of Sparkman & Stephens) in collaboration with Rockport Marine Yacht Design. The new racer/cruiser yachts will retain the ‘Spirit of Tradition’ and performance attributes of the existing W-Class Yacht Company’s W.37’, W.46’ and W.76’ models. The W-Class yachts will be built at Front Street Shipyard in Belfast…