Tim saw Lady M in the Wicomico River off Cobb Island, MD in Charles County recently.  Thanks for the photo, Tim.

Marinalife announced the winners of its 10^th Anniversary Best Marina contest: Nantucket Boat Basin, in Nantucket, Massachusetts, for Best Transient Marina; and Haven Harbour Marina, in Rock Hall, Maryland, for Best Customer Service. Joy McPeters, president of Marinalife shares, “Our goal at Marinalife is to help the boating community connect and stay strong, and honoring these leaders in the marine industry is part of that effort.”

Marinalife’s inaugural poll of boaters reached out to a database of more than 8,600 marinas and customers, and allowed them to vote online this spring. Nantucket Boat Basin, a 240-slip, full-service marina located two blocks from the seaport Town of Nantucket, was voted Best Transient Marina.

“It’s all about hospitality – when I can make our guests happy and feel as if they can truly relax, I know they will return,” says George Bassett, Nantucket Boat Basin’s Director of Marina Operations for the last 25-years. His personalized touch, which includes a hand-written confirmation note and a “welcome bag” delivered to arriving boaters, has gained Nantucket Boat Basin (NBB) a loyal following. The marina boasts an impressive 85-percent return rate, and the staff keeps close track of customers’ names and slip preferences. “At NBB, you feel like you’re part of the family,” notes Stanley and Elizabeth Star, regular visitors to the marina. The facilities at NBB include 18 bathrooms and showers.  A full-time concierge service is also on-call to make restaurant reservations, tee times, and special arrangements such as clambakes on the beach.

Haven Harbour Marina, located in Rock Hall in the heart of Chesapeake Bay’s prime cruising ground, has just added Best Customer Service to its growing list of awards and accolades. “Our attention to detail and customer focus – from the grounds and slips to our expert service department – have helped us win this great honor from Marinalife’s members,” says General Manager Jonathon Jones. Haven Harbour’s full-time Customer Service Manager, Mark Bryden, focuses entirely on client satisfaction and happiness. The staff is well-versed on a 60-item customer service checklist that includes greeting their guests and maintaining the marina

“The facilities are excellent, well-maintained, and always clean,” says Rita Shade, a loyal Haven Harbour customer from Woodstown, New Jersey. “The staff is exceptional and always friendly. The marina goes out of its way to help.” Haven Harbour’s immaculate grounds, with gardens, waterfront gazebos, pools and more are just part of the draw. It’s the warm, professional attitude and first-class repair and maintenance that have attracted boat owners to Rock Hall. Haven Harbour will deliver boats and transport customers back to their home ports after service. “We go the extra mile to make our customers’ experience the best,” says Jones.

Jason says that he saw this amazing boat in 2007 going through the C&D canal.  He had a little different view then most see, being a bridge inspector. Great to see Blue Moon from a different angle.  Check the other Blue Moon articles for more info, especially in the comments section.

Check out this gorgeous salty, BBC Rio Grande.  This German vessel currently arrived in Becancour from Lake Michigan to load for overseas.  I got these shots as the Rio Grande passed in front of Boldt Castle in Alexandria Bay.

Be sure to click to enlarge the photos!

We are so happy to hear that Abby Sunderland was found safe after losing communication with her parents and sounding her EPIRB alarms.  She was in radio communication with an Australian jet, and a boat should reach her tomorrow.  Abby was aboard her sailing vessel, Wild Eyes, when she was hammered by 60 knot winds and 20-25 foot waves.

Photo credits by GizaraArts.Com.

Remember Hermione, the 1925 Elco?  Jody Reynolds, one of the Owners, sent us some photos that Gretchen Coyle had taken.   The first one is Mike Wright and Jody Reynolds, watching the Marshall Cat regatta at famous Useppa Island (on the SW coast of Florida). This was one of the few warm days of the winter.  The second was shot as Hermione arrived at Little Egg Harbor, NJ, after her passage from southwest FL.

Here are the pics Michael Soby took of the Perseverance II in Marina Mile Yacht Basin in New River, Fort Lauderdale.  Michael reports that the Perseverance II has been there since at least April 1 undergoing some repairs.   In late April , there was scaffolding on the port rear area, and they covered the top level of the ship in plastic shrink wrap from the bow to about midship.  The scaffolding just came down in early May and they completed the plastic wrap on the top level of the ship.

We have been following Jessica Watson since the inception of her incredible trip.  She started at 15!  We are pleased to hear via her blog and the LA Times that her mission is complete.

Sea Sense has been offering sailing and power boating instruction primarily to women boaters since 1989. This Florida school offers classes worldwide on charter boats as well as privately owned boats.  Early on, the company integrated international offerings into its courses and has taught throughout the Caribbean and in Italy, Greece, France, and Tahiti. Each year a different international course is offered and in 2010, Sea Sense will teach an all-women course on board a modern, 48-foot canal barge in Ireland along the Shannon River from Sept. 11-18.

The boat travels through the Irish countryside that is home to ancient Celtic monasteries. Each evening will be spent tied along the canal in picturesque village ports with hospitable people and warm pubs for dinner and music.

This is a great way for women to become comfortable with boat handling, navigation, and routine boat maintenance while getting to experience a great travel experience in a beautiful environment.  The course will focus on chart reading, helmsmanship, hands-on maneuvering and docking, knot tying and proper line handling, and basic engine checks and troubleshooting.

The course is open to women of any level of boating skill.  Here’s a way to improve your boating confidence and get a vacation at the same time.

Jeannine Norlander got these great shots of Perseverance II when she was leaving Burnham Harbour last month. Other updates about this megayacht are here and here in the comments.  Don’t forget to click on one of the photos to enter the lightbox.