MED BOUND 2007 COUNTDOWN CONTINUES

March 16, 2007. Contributed by Milt Baker, Med Bound 07 Organizer

The countdown continues, with less than 10 weeks before Med Bound
2007 yachts meet at Coral Ridge Yacht Club in Fort Lauderdale. Judy
and I were at Coral Ridge last week for preliminary meetings, and
the staff and leadership are enthusiastic about having CRYC act as
host club for the rally. They look forward to welcoming Med Bound
2007 yachts to their club.

Dockmaster Sharon Crockett will be there when you arrive to assist
with slip assignment and docking. On check-in with the club, each
captain will provide a credit card for an imprint and will be issued
temporary club membership cards for crew members. These membership
cards can be used to charge food and beverages at the club.

ENTRY APPLICATIONS - A LITTLE HELP PLEASE!
March 24 is the deadline for Med Bound 2007 captains to send in
entry applications, pictures, registration/documentation copy, and
deposit checks, and it's important that we have your information by
that time because we must make commitments for numbers of people for
social events and for Med Bound 2007 clothing. If you haven't sent
your entry application, please get moving on it--we need your help
on this!

CHECK-IN WITH MED BOUND 2007
Skippers and crew members will also need to check in at the Med
Bound 2007 office at the club on May 18. We'll have a goodie bag
for each yacht with shirts, caps, rally operations manual, updated
schedule, and other stuff we think you'll like. There'll also be Med
Bound paperwork to be completed on check-in.

NON-PROFIT, VOLUNTEER AND PAY-AS-YOU-GO!
A reminder: Med Bound 2007 is a non-profit, break-even, volunteer
event. While I'm confident we have things well in hand, let me tell
you that arranging an event like this requires tremendous effort,
and occasional glitches are inevitable--especially when the
volunteers (including Judy and me) are working hard to get their
boats ready for the trip ahead. Nevertheless, we are on-course for
an excellent yachting event and I'm sure we'll all have a great
time. One more point for the record: any money in excess of $100
left over in the Med Bound 2007 coffers at the end of the event
after all bills are paid and obligations are met will be refunded to
Med Bound 2007 captains in an equitable manner, proportional to fees
paid in.

CASH, CHECKS AND CREDIT CARDS
Please keep in mind that fees paid to Med Bound must be by check or
in cash--we are not equipped to take credit cards. As noted above,
you may secure your temporary membership at CRYC with a credit
card. Likewise, Royal Bermuda Yacht Club will request a credit card
to secure your temporary membership there on the same basis--that
the bills will be paid by the end of your stay. You may use a
credit card to pay your marina bill in Newport and Gibraltar, but
not in Horta where cash (euros) will be required.

WHAT TO WEAR?
One social event in Fort Lauderdale, one in Bermuda and one in
Newport will be coat-and-tie affairs (with equivalent dress for the
ladies), and everything else on Med Bound 2007 will be informal or
casual. A blue blazer works well for most guys on events like
this. During the NAR, many of us had fun with coat and tie over
long socks and dress Bermuda shorts for the bon voyage dinner at
RBYC; a similar Med Bound event will be held at RBYC. If you don't
have long socks and dress shorts, don't worry . . . they're
available at all the department stores in Hamilton, just steps away
from RBYC. (Bermuda shorts regalia makes for great pictures for the
folks back home!)

PORT VISITS
Arrangements are being made for Med Bound 2007 activities in Fort
Lauderdale, Bermuda, Newport, Horta and Gibraltar. Keep in mind
that each skipper is responsible for paying his own dockage in all
Med Bound ports. At this writing, the following plans are in the
works.

--FORT LAUDERDALE. Pricing for dockage at CRYC is not yet firm
(being set this week), but we expect to a discounted rate of about
$2.00 per foot or less, plus electricity. CRYC has free wi-fi for
all Med Bound yachts. Plan to arrive by noon on Friday, May 18,
though there should be dockage available if you wish to arrive a few
days early. Friday will be check-in day, with the Med Bound 2007
office open at noon. There'll be an all-hands meeting at 4 pm to
provide an overview of Med Bound 2007, with time for questions and
answers. Following the meeting will be a PAE-sponsored cocktail
party. Inspection of yachts will begin on Saturday, with
inspections by James Knight, a Nordhavn systems expert, and Bernie
Francis, the mechanic/technician who will accompany the fleet to
Bermuda, Horta and Gibraltar. In addition, we will have a separate
inspections of each yacht by a team of Med Bound captains as
coordinated by Jerry Reynolds of the N62 New Frontier. The bon
voyage dinner (coat and tie) will be Tuesday, May 22.

--BERMUDA. Dockage will be at Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) and
as a special concession Commodore Andrew Cox and Dockmaster James
Barnes have authorized a special rate of $3.00/ft., a 25% Med Bound
discount from the club's normal rates. Electricity is extra. RBYC
has free wi-fi for all Med Bound yachts; Jim Fuller of Summer Skis
and I both used it last spring and found that it worked very well.
Jim is working with RBYC towards two no-host Med Bound 2007 social
event(s) at the RBYC: a barbeque on the patio with steaks and local
fish at about $45.00/person (plus drinks) and a more formal (coat
and tie) bon voyage dinner at about $65.00/person (plus drinks) two
nights before departure. Duty free fuel will be available at the
Shell bunkering dock at the dockyard, and we expect to make
arrangements for all yachts to take on fuel in the final days before
departure. Billing for fuel will be through Global Yacht Fuel for
those yachts registered with Global.

--NEWPORT. Dockage will be a Banister's Wharf at a discounted price
of $3/75/foot (as opposed to the regular price of $4.50/foot) plus
electricity, as arranged by Jenny Stern of PAE. Jim Fuller and
Jenny are making arrangements for a no-host arrival dinner and a
more formal (coat and tie) farewell dinner in Newport hosted by
PAE. Venues for the two social events are still in play

--HORTA. Agent Marco Quadros of the Bensaude Agency will handle our
inbound paperwork. He reports that he has made reservations for Med
Bound yachts at Horta Marina. Dockage charges in Horta, one of the
great bargains anywhere, are: €10.55 per night for 12-15 meter
yachts, €14.60 per night for 15-18 meter yachts, and €21.55 for 18-
25 meter yachts, including electricity and water. (The euro is
currently about $1.31.) Marco will also make arrangements for duty
free fuel for those yachts which require at least 5,000 liters
(1,321 USG), with billing through Global Yacht Fuel (see below).
N46 Frog Kiss, crossing to Horta directly from Newport, is expected
to be the first to arriving, preceding the rest of the rally yachts
by at least a week. Patrick and Chris Mouligne are making
arrangements for a pier party to celebrate the Med Bound arrival,
and there will also be a no-host dinner ashore at a local
restaurant.

--GIBRALTAR. Agent Robin Bachelor of Yacht Help Group will handle
our inbound paperwork. Thanks to Dockmaster Karl Bissell, who did
an excellent job for us us on the NAR, Med Bound yachts have
confirmed reservations for discounted dockage (15% off) at Marina
Bay Marina, the same marina used by the Nordhavn Atlantic Rally.
Undiscounted rates are £20.50 per day for yachts 12-15 meters,
£23.00 for those 15-18 meters, and £30.00 for those 18-21 meters in
length. Electricity is £1 minimum charge / 15 pence per KWH, and
water is £1 min charge / 1 pence per liter. Gibraltar pounds
sterling are at the same exchange rate as British pounds sterling,
currently about $1.95 per pound. Further information on Marina Bay
is at: http://www.marinabay.gi/main.html The final dinner in
Gibraltar will be at a local restaurant and is being arranged by
Karen Crannell of Adventure. Duty free fuel is available in
Gibraltar, with billing through Global Yacht Fuel.

FORT LAUDERDALE MEETINGS, SEMINARS, SOCIAL EVENTS
The Med Bound office will be open during normal office hours in Fort
Lauderdale, beginning at noon Friday, May 18 and continuing until
the final captain's briefing on departure day. Here's a preliminary
list of the meetings, seminars and social events scheduled for Fort
Lauderdale. Keep in mind that the seminars are for all hands
(anyone interested)--not just for captains.

Friday, May 18
12:00 Deadline for arrival at CRYC
4:00-5:30 Captain's Meeting – All Hands Welcome.
Med Bound 2007 Operations Overview. Milt
Baker, Jim Fuller.
6:00-9:00 Med Bound Welcome Cocktails and Hors
d'Oeuvres - CRYC - sponsored by PAE - casual

Saturday May 19
SEMINARS
Lugger and Northern Lights: trouble-Shooting and maintenance.
8:30-10:00 Bob Senter
10:00-10:30 Break
10:30-12:00 Bob Senter
12:00-1:00 Lunch on your own
1:00-2:30PM Bob Senter
2:30-3:00 Break
3-4:30 Bob Senter

Sunday May 20
SEMINARS
8:30-10:00 Damage control. How to handle emergencies at
sea. Barry Kallender
10:00-10:30 Break
10:30-12:00. Keeping Your Stabilizers Happy and Working.
Staff, Trac/ABT Stabilizers. John Champion
and Ernie Romeo.
12:00-1:00 Lunch on your own
1:00-2:30 Radar 101. Adjustments, Ranging, Clutter and
other Radar Issues Demystified. Peter
Prowant, Furuno/MaxSea Sales & Technical
Representative
2:30-3:00 Break
3:00-4:30. Managing Medical Emergencies at Sea. Greg
Beckner, MD.

Monday May 21
SEMINARS
8:30-10:00 Using Iridium and Globalstar with Ocens for
E-Mail, Weather, and Keeping in Touch. Andy
Cool, Explorer Satellite
10:00-10:30 Break
10:30-12:00 Keeping Your Autopilot on Course. Simrad
Staff.
12:00-1:00 Lunch on your own
1:00-2:30 Watermakers, Keeping Yours Working and Happy.
Harry Abeles, Village Marine Tec.
2:30-3:00 Break
4 3:00-4:30 Trouble Shooting Nordhavn Systems. James
Knight, Yacht Tech

Tuesday May 22
FREE DAY
7:00-10:00 pm Bon Voyage Dinner – CRYC (coat and tie)


Wednesday May 23
4:00-4:30 Preliminary Weather Briefing from
Meteorologist Bob Jones, Ocean Marine
Navigation Inc. (OMNI) - Med Bound 2007
Weather Router

Thursday May 24
9:00AM. Captain's Meeting, Trip Briefing, Final
Weather Briefing. Milt Baker, Jim Fuller,
Bob Jones.

10:30 – 11:00 Depart from Coral Ridge Yacht Club
12:00 Depart for Bermuda from Port Everglades sea
buoy

GLOBAL YACHT FUEL. Just a reminder: if you expect to take on fuel
in Bermuda, Horta or Gibraltar, be sure to complete the Global Yacht
Fuel form posted in the Files section of this bulletin board so you
can be billed by Global. If you do not do this, you'll probably pay
higher prices and will probably have to pay for your fuel in cash
(U.S. dollars in Bermuda, euros in Horta, and Gibraltar pounds in
Gib).

CALLING ALL CAPTAINS
If you have not been doing so, now's a good time to begin sending
Med Bound 2007 updates to all your crewmembers to keep them "in the
loop." The information here is intended for all crewmembers, not
just captains. You might want to send past updates as well—or give
your crewmembers the URL of this bulletin board and have them join.

ALL SET WITH CREW?
Having a problem getting crew? Keep in mind that this bulletin
board has postings from a number of people who have expressed
interest in taking part in the rally. At least two boats have
already signed on crew from the bulletin board but all indications
are that there are qualified candidates just waiting for your call
or e-mail!

COAST GUARD DOCUMENTATION
Each Med Bound 2007 yacht should arrive at Coral Ridge Yacht Club
with its proper documentation certificate valid through at least
July 7, 2007 for Gibraltar-bound yachts and June 14, 2007 for
Newport-bound yachts. IF your vessel is not documented, be sure
your state registration is good through the dates above.

PASSPORTS AND VISAS
A reminder: each Med Bound 2007 captain and crewmember needs a valid
passport good through the end of the last leg the yacht will
complete. Visas are not required for U.S., Canadian, U.K. or other
E.C. citizens. The captain of any yacht with a crewmember who is a
national of another nation should check to determine whether a visa
is required to visit Bermuda, Portugal or Gibraltar and, if
necessary, make certain the crewmember has one prior to departure.

PRACTICAL FACTORS
Just a reminder to all captains that the practical factors posted
under Files on this bulletin board will be included in the Med Bound
2007 Entry Agreement and have been provided as a check list to help
you make sure that each crewmember has the hands-on skills needed to
safely cross an ocean or make a long ocean passage on a small
yacht. Practical factors are vital for every crewmember and the
practical factors listed should be accomplished before the yacht
arrives in Fort Lauderdale for Med Bound. Crew training such as man-
overboard drills, simulated launch of the life raft, checking fuel
and coolant levels, for example, should actually be performed to
familiarize captain and crew with the sequence of events and to make
certain these can be accomplished while underway with existing
tools, equipment and systems in place.

MEDICAL READINESS
We'd like to reiterate to every Med Bound captain and crewmember
once more that you're about to embark on a serious voyage and may be
away from land-based emergency medical facilities for up to two
weeks at a time. Med Bound 2007 has no on-staff professional
medical personnel, and each yacht is expected to be self-sufficient
for dealing with serious medical problems at sea. It is entirely
possible that the passages will include strenuous physical activity,
uncomfortable motion, and sleep deprivation. For your own safety and
well being, it is vital that each captain and crewmember have a
physical examination to confirm that they are in good physical
condition and ready for voyage of this nature.

FUEL TANKS AND FILTERS
As we have mentioned before, contaminated fuel is the number one
problem causing engine shut-downs offshore. A load of bad fuel or
dirt, water and microbic growth in fuel tanks that is stirred up by
the rock and roll experienced during rough seas can exceed the
capacity of even the best filter systems. A good practice before
going on a long ocean passage—especially if your yacht has been
sitting mostly unused for a long period--is for fuel tanks to be
emptied, opened, inspected and thoroughly cleaned shortly before
departure.

F.C.C. RADIO LICENSE
An FCC license is required to operate your VHF and SSB radios
legally outside U.S. territorial waters. Application can be made by
calling 1-800-418-3676 or on the Internet at
www.fcc,gov/formpage.html

PARTICIPANTS AS OF MARCH 11, 2007
Following is the current list of yachts participating as of today:

Fort Lauderdale to Bermuda
--N62 Adventure - Dave and Karen Crannell
--N62 New Frontier - Jerry and Con Reynolds
--N55 Salty Dawg - David and Lowie Bock (with crew Dennis and Esther
Bruckel)
--N55 Moana Keuwa - Christine Bauman
--N50 Downtime - Walter and Mary Smithe (with crew James Knight)
--N47 Bluewater - Milt and Judy Baker
--N47 Imagine - Greg and Kathy Beckner
--N43 Summer Skis - Jim Fuller
--N40 Beso - Chip and Kay Marsh

Newport to Horta
--N46 Frog Kiss - Patrick and Chris Moligne - this is N4601!

Bermuda to Newport
--N62 New Frontier
--N50 Downtime
--N47 Imagine
--N43 Summer Skis
--N40 Beso

Bermuda to Horta
--N62 Adventure
--N55 Salty Dawg
--N55 Moana Keuwa
--N47 Bluewater

Horta to Gibraltar
--N62 Adventure
--N55 Moana Keuwa
--N47 Bluewater
--N46 Frog Kiss

SHAKE-DOWN CRUISE
Bluewater has put few hours on the clock since last October, and
we've just completed two weeks of work and upgrades on the hard. To
shake down systems and make sure we have things fine-tuned, Judy and
I expect to take a two- to three-week shakedown cruise to the
Bahamas in early April. (We'll have e-mail and satellite phone, but
our communications will definitely be limited.)

If your yacht has been mostly unused for several months, a shakedown
cruise is probably in order to identify and deal with the gremlins
so you don't have to do so enroute to Bermuda.

QUESTIONS? IDEAS? SUGGESTIONS?
If you're a Med Bound captain or crewmember and have questions,
ideas or suggestions, please post them here or send them to me at:
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Thanks for your support,

--Milt Baker
Med Bound 2007 LLC
Organizer, Med Bound 2007