Seippel and Lights prestigious client ‘Team SY Beaugeste’ Wins the Pinmar Golf Tournament Mallorca 2011!

Each year in Mallorca since 1989,Pinmar Yacht painting Systems, has held the Annual Yachtsman’s Golf Tournament his event is one of the largest amateur golf tournaments in the world! It is also vital for charity fund raising and most of Mallorca’s Yachting fraternity turns out for the Golf tournament, the annual gala dinner or both. 

Last years proud winners were the team from Beaugeste, the teams Captain was the son of the owner.  The team was heroic in more than one way and decided to auction the winning cup in aid of the Pinmar Charities.  An Amazing 10,200 euros was raised by auction of the cup contributing a huge percentage of the staggering 67,000 euros raised for charity throughout the entire 3 day event.

Beaugeste is a 37 meter sail built by Brooke Marine and launched in 1989 also! Bannenberg & Rowell Design is responsible for her beautiful exterior and interior details, with engineering by Ron Holland Design.  She is described as a traditional sloop motor sail.

Beaugeste is staying here in Mallorca over the winter for a refit before their usual summer season tour of the Mediterranean but the team has confirmed they will be back at the Pinmar 2012 Annual Golf Tournament to defend their title!

Acknowledgement the Islander.

With so much focus nowadays on the superyacht industry, it is important to recognize that the insurance needs of owners of smaller boats can often be overlooked.

“Everybody wants cheap boat insurance these days. Seippel & Light Marine Insurance Broker continues to search for the best insurance cover at the most competitive premium, but we will never compromise cover for the sake of price,” says Heidrun Bierkämper, director of Seippel & Light.

Based in Puerto Portals, Mallorca, Seippel and Light are specialists in finding the most suitable marine insurance policy for their clients, whether it is for a superyacht, yacht or smaller craft.

Cover for Superyachts & Yachts

Superyachts are generally in excess of 100 feet. Yacht insurance coverage  is more individualized because most large vessels have the capability to travel further and have more complex crew and liability risks to consider. Seippel & Light can arrange all the necessary coverage from the world’s most specialized super- and megayacht underwriters.

Vessels over 23’fall into the categories of yachts or motor boats. There are a variety of fairly standard products on the market for these risks, but beware! The expression All Risks can be misleading, and indeed inaccurate. A read of the small print will show you what is covered, and, more importantly, what is excluded. At Seippel & Light we try to point out the pros and cons of each policy we offer, so there are no surprises at claim time.

Cover for Small Craft

Small Craft are generally considered to be 23′ and smaller. Fishing boats, sailing dinghies, speedboats and some RIBs are all considered to be small craft, and you may find yourself wondering if boat insurance is really necessary. We certainly recommend that you have insurance for your small craft, despite its size and relative propensity for accidents. As with most insurance, it’s only when you don’t have coverage that you really appreciate how vital it can be. It is also important to ensure that your insurance complies with national
legal requirements. Different countries have different requirements.

Invariably the best deals for small craft are to be found online. However, it is always best to contact a reliable insurance broker in order to make sure that you are getting the coverage you need. Online deals that “seem too good to be true,” often times are just that.

We encourage owners of small craft to contact us directly to see what kind of deals are to be found.  Seippel & Light offers three key elements to our clients – affordable insurance for small craft with peace of mind that you are obtaining an appropriate insurance policy for your needs;  and, most importantly, help in managing your claims, making an undesirable situation as painless as possible.

From our offices in Mallorcawe provide competitive, efficient, multilingual, worldwide cover. Please call Tim Light or Heidrun Bierkämper to discuss how we can help you on +34 971 100 070 or email marine@seippel.com.

The Lady Anne, a 224-foot (68.5m) superyacht, has been purchased for the price of approximately $70 million by Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder. She was sold jointly by Burgess Yachts and Merle Wood & Associates.

Lady Anne is one of the 100 largest and most beautiful yachts in the world, according to Power & Motoryacht magazine.

Lady Anne was designed by the late Walter Franchini. A few of her remarkable features include  a spiralling five-storey staircase, spacious decks, a main salon, a theatre room and a light and airy upper salon. The master suite has white triple A-grade Thassos marble. The yacht also features a library, gym and six staterooms that can accommodate 16 people (not counting the crew of 18).

Lady Anne went on the market early this year with an asking price of $86 million. In August, Burgess and Merle Wood & Associates said the boat had been sold but did not disclose the sale price.

It has been reported that Burgess has been contracted to provide the new owners with full yacht management services. Furthermore, Burgess is offering Lady Anne for charters in the Mediterranean.

A seminar to discuss the latest regulations affecting the leisure marine industry is scheduled to be held on Thursday, October 20th in Madrid at the InterContinental hotel.

Unidad Editorial, a Spanish publishing group, is to host the Marina Seminar (Encuentro de Puertos Deportivos), a conference focusing on marina development in Spain.

The Spanish coast has 358 ports and docks for sports and recreational boats with approximately 129,554 berths. However, in recent years Spain has seen an increased shortage of moorings, despite efforts to expand existing marinas. The current trend has been to up-grade facilities rather than build new ones. The environmental impact of these projects has been a major concern.

Government authorities and members of the Spanish Federation of Pleasure Harbours Association (FEAPDT) will be guest speakers at the event, which will analyse of new regulations, proposed reform to the Coastal Act, the New Port Act, ways to financing marina projects.

On the 25^th of September the Global Ocean Race started from Palma de Mallorca.  Teams set off on a course of 30,000 sea miles all around the globe. After 5 legs with stops in South African Capetown, in Wellington in New Zealand, in Punta del Este in Uruguay as well as in Charleston / USA the Class 40 yachts will return to the bay of Palma more than eight months later.

Leg 1: Mallorca to Cape Town – start 25th September 2011

The fleet will spend their first days in the Mediterranean, passing through the Straits of Gibraltar and then hooking into the trade winds of the North Atlantic to descend South towards the equator and the Doldrums.

The Doldrums, or Pot au Noir as the French so aptly describe the area, is tactically difficult and mentally challenging as the wind dies away to nothing, interspersed with thundering squalls accompanied by torrential rain. It will be 300 miles of grim hell until the trade winds to the south take over, allowing the sailors to break free of the unsettled weather and set a course for the South Atlantic scoring gate. The gate, set off the Brazilian coast, acts as a point gate but more importantly it serves to keep the boats well to the west of the South Atlantic High.  Those sailors tempted to cut the corner and sail a direct course for Cape Town could find themselves in the grip of perfect beach weather; hot and flat calm.  For the rest it is a fine line south skirting the High, staying in the breeze yet trying to shave off miles by cutting the corner. Finally, at around 38 degrees South, they will pick up a westerly wind on the edge of the Southern Ocean and fly downwind into Cape Town, South Africa.

Leg 2: Cape Town to Wellington – start 27th November 2011

Cape Town, the Tavern of the Seas has welcomed sailors for centuries. Majestic Table Mountain rises out of clear, cold water and offers the sailors a three week respite before they head back out again, this time into the rough and tumble of the deep south. No sooner will the racers have passed Cape Point than the first fringes of the Southern Ocean will be felt.  Cold, damp wind blowing direct from the Antarctic ice pack across a span of frigid ocean will hint at the danger that lies ahead. Strong westerly winds and massive seas will propel the fleet further south, under Australia where the danger of ice lurks. It will be a time for monitoring the radar, keeping a vigil on deck, and praying to the gods. Communication between boats will be constant as each sailor knows that their first lifeline, should anything go wrong, will be a fellow competitor.

Leg 3 – Wellington to Punta del Este – start 29th  January 2012

Wellington, the capital city of a nation that is sailing mad, will treat the sailors to a belated Christmas and allow the teams time to regroup before tackling the second half of the race.  Leg 3 takes the fleet back into the Southern Ocean, this time around the infamous Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America.  It will be another turbulent ride dodging the worst cold fronts and riding the best. Those that are lucky will get a glimpse of the famous cape that has intrigued and devastated sailors for centuries: others will give the land a wide berth before turning their bows north and heading for Punta del Este, Uruguay at the mouth of the River Plate – a city with a rich history of hosting round the world sailors. Here the crews will fix their boats and prepare themselves in the comforting knowledge that the Southern Ocean and all its dangers are behind them.

Leg 4: Punta del Este to Charleston – start 1st April 2012

Two tough tactical legs remain and as Spring wakes up the Northern Hemisphere the sailors will head north, skirting the coast of Uruguay and Brazil, passing Fernando a second time and traversing the Caribbean Sea.  Further north, the welcoming shores of North America lie just over the horizon and Charleston, known as the friendliest city in America, awaits the fleet. The final days into Charleston will provide potentially tough weather and the Gulf Stream crossing could be critical as its strong currents have a major affect on the boats.

Leg 5: Charleston to Mallorca – start 20th  May 2012 

The final leg is back across the North Atlantic with its springtime depressions that will provide fast downwind sailing for the fleet before they once again arrive in the Mediterranean. This leg could well dictate the overall positions of the entire race. Excellent tactics will be crucial as the sailors choose their path through the strong currents of the Gulf Stream, keeping out of the strongest winds of the low pressure areas, staying clear of the light airs of the Atlantic High centred over The Azores and keeping a constant lookout for cargo vessels in the busy shipping lanes. Finally they will arrive at the final finish line of the race – back where they began their circumnavigation at the beautiful island of Mallorca.

You can keep track of this event by visiting http://globaloceanrace.com/.

Today the 2011 SuperYacht Cup kicks off in sunny Palma de Mallorca, with racing taking place from June 23^rd to 25^th. This year´s race features 21 entries, with yachts ranging in size from 24 m to 62 m. 

The SuperYacht Cup Palma is the longest running superyacht regatta in Europe, with the first regatta held in 1996.  Since then, the regatta has attracted over 200 of the world’s largest privately owned sailing yachts over 24 m. 

The next few days will boast many dock parties and BBQ´s in the regatta village and elsewhere, including an elegant prize-giving ceremony and gala event on the evening of the 25^th at Es Baluard Museum of Contemporary Art in Palma.

 The SuperYacht Cup is a private event for sponsors and participants. However, on Saturday the 25^th, the regatta village will be open to the public from 9:00-13:00.

The Superyacht Cup is supported by local government and tourism authorities to showcase the Balearic Islands as one of the best superyacht bases in the world.

For full details, please visit www.thesuperyachtcup.com. 

For more information about Seippel & Light Marine Insurance Broker SL. Visit us at www.seippelandlight.com and www.marine-insurances.com.

Inspired by the methods of British Sailing associations, which help young people in difficulty,  Joves Navegants was created.  Aware of the complicated situation for certain youngsters on the island in serious economic and family difficulties, the founders of Joves Navegants decided to share their passion with these youth – sailing.

The foundation organises several types of trips out to sea on the yacht, Galaxie.  She is a  22 meter, one off, custom-built auxiliary ketch, built in aluminium by Chantier Naval  de Biot in 1979.

Seippel & Light Marine Insurance Broker SL take part in Joves Navegants by providing the marine insurance policy/coverage for S/Y Galaxie. 

These days out involve journeys of discovery, awareness campaigns for sustainable development, participation in races and training aids to enable certain youngsters to envisage sailing as a professional career.

Joves Navegants recently took part in the salt route regatta, and they won! For the past three years they have come first in their class on two occasions.

In May 1846 the siege of Barcelona by the Carlist army during the “Mariner’s Revolution” produced a shortage of salt which put Barcelona into peril. 

Mr. Pep Ferres, a business man from Barcelona, Spain had the original idea  for the “la Ruta de Sal,” which  involved calling on the most famous navigators of the time and presenting them with a challenge.  

Mr. Ferres  would pay for the service of transporting salt from the Pitiusas’s salt mines to El Garraf ( Barcelona). The only catch was that the first to arrive would be paid in gold. The vessels to arrive after the winner would be paid a pittance, or perhaps nothing at all.

The first to arrive was the “Maltese Falcon,“ a 32 meters long schooner from Baltimore with Greek skipper, Andreas Portus. Only three vessels took place in the first regatta.

 “La Ruta de la Sal” is not an easy regatta. The crossings are long and are undertaken in a time of year which is meteorologically complicated. This provides the attraction of adventure and the incentive of classifying is in itself already a victory.

Joves Navegants, this year’s winner, also came 11^th out of 158 sailing boats. You can learn more about the foundation at http://jovesnavegants.org/.

To all at Seippel and Light Marine Insurance Broker SL,

Last October my husband and I attended a very sociable evening at your office in Portals. I was so fortunate to win the draw for a trip to Ibiza, compliments of Mayka Tours.

On Tuesday last Ken and I left Palma de Mallorca via the fast ferry and headed for Ibiza. This was quite different for us, as on previous visits  to Ibiza it was always by boat  (ie Triple T or Jackalope). In fact the last time we were there we were with our dear friend Guy Foster whose funeral we attended 6 weeks ago.

Thanks to Mayka Tours, we had a wonderful time. We were very generously treated by Mayka and very impressed with her professionalism.   

Thank you to all at Seippel and Light Marine Insurance Broker SL for your involvement in this. We look forward to continuing doing business with you.  All the best for a really good season.

Kind Regards,
Rachel and Ken Bryan

Seippel & Light Marine Insurance Broker SL would like to provide you with some important tips so you can be safe this summer. The number of claims made on marine insurance policies are higher during the summer months due to the increase in water sports and related activities.

Before you head out, brush up on basic safety rules.

• Learn to swim. Swimming courses are often offered for free in different communities. If you’re not comfortable taking a class, arrange for private instruction.
• Take a boating-safety course. Topics typically include what to do in an emergency, navigation basics, and the effects of wind, water conditions and weather.
• Wear a life jacket. Stock the boat with enough approved life jackets for everyone on board. More than 80 percent of people who drown in boating accidents aren’t wearing life jackets.
• Protect your passengers from carbon monoxide. Boat engines emit carbon monoxide, an odorless — but deadly — gas. To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, keep passengers away from the engine, both in the boat and in the water. If your boat has a gas engine to generate electricity — to run an air conditioner in a cabin, for example — make sure there’s proper ventilation, and install carbon monoxide detectors in sleeping and living quarters.
• Share your plans. Make sure someone on land knows where you plan to go and when you plan to return.
• Avoid alcohol. Water sports and alcohol don’t mix. Alcohol impairs judgment, balance and coordination — all essential for safe boating. Your marine insurance policy will be invalidated for claims due to excessive alcohol consumption.
• Watch the weather. Head back to shore if the skies look threatening

MARINE INSURANCE NEWS FLASH: You never know when you may need to file a claim on your marine insurance policy….Seippel and Light Marine Insurance Broker S.L. have got you covered.

The £9m yacht burns at Poole Quay in Dorset

A 34m Sunseeker, with an estimated value of £9m, was totally destroyed by fire at Poole Quay, Dorset on the weekend. The blaze, which reached 70ft at one point, happened just after 10pm on Friday.

A total of 50 firefighters with six appliances attended the incident, which is thought to have been caused by severe lightning in the area at the time. Lifeboats moved other yachts away from the burning vessel to prevent the fire from spreading. 

“I’ve never seen anything like it. It started off as just a few flames but in minutes the whole boat was alight,” said Peter James, an eyewitness. “At one point the flames were about 20 metres high.”

Mike Cox, Dorset fire and rescue service’s station manager, said that an investigation is under way. “It’s not thought to be arson as there were 24-hour security guards at the boatyard and they hadn’t seen anyone,” he said.

Stewart McIntyre, managing director of Sunseeker International, told the Daily Telegraph that insurers had been notified of the incident and a surveyor has been appointed.

Although there is some minor damage to equipment in the surrounding area, Sunseeker’s production facilities were not affected by the fire and it remains “business as usual” at the UK yard.