First Lady of Sportfishing: Joan Vernon AUDIO INTERVIEW On Monday I was happy to have the opportunity to interview for the Billfishing Times a lady who has been one of the leaders in conservation efforts directed at protecting billfish species, as a tournament director and leader in the Billfish Foundation along with being a terrific, friendly resource for me on that audio show and website over a number of years.

March 1, 2010

Joan Vernon is her name and she is a long time charter boat captain along with being the past president of the Billfishing Foundation and Tournament Director for the Presidential Challenge of Central America. Joan was inducted into the Big Game Room Hall of Fame during the 2009 Miami International Boat Show. Joan took time out Monday prior to a Billfish Foundation Board of Directors Meeting to chat for a bit from her home at Playa Carrillo, Costa Rica prior to the first leg of her tournament taking place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday March 5-7, 2010.

Joan shared with listeners something of the flavor of this tournament where she caters to every need flying attendees in to fish off charter vessels and a few private ones. Over forty anglers were making the trip for this all catch and release billfish tournament that is a benefit for the Billfish Foundation. This is a heck of a fishing opportunity with available large Pacific sailfish, blue, black and striped marlin also. They are experiencing and El Nino now that may slow the bite, but even if it is off in Central America it will be a welcome up tick from tournaments to the north such as the Miami Yamaha Contender Billfish Tournament that Joan founded many years ago and is scheduled for later this month. The fish are bigger and more plentiful to date off Costa Rica and Joan and the Billfish Foundation want to keep it that way. The series typically includes two additional tournaments although last year it had five including one in El Salvador, Panama, and Guatemala. Political change in Venezuela resulting in that old standard to be dropped a few years ago and hence for 2010 Aruba has been established as the second leg on October 20-22 followed by Guatemala from November 19-21.

For those wanting to find out more and participate in one of these tournaments get more information at www.preschallenge.com or contant Joan Vernon (stateside) 305-904-4678 (Costa Rica 506-8350-2375). Tight lines

Victoriano, Hargrave 101' Raised Pilothouse Premier Interior Tour Pt#1 & 2

Mike Joyce of Hargrave Yachts introduces us to one of his latest vessels, the 101' Raised Pilothouse Victoriano that premiered at the 2010 Miami Yacht & Brokerage Show. Yacht Interior Designer Shelley DiCondina provides the tour of her work on behalf of Hargrave and the vessel owner. Find out more at www.Hargrave.org & www.YachtInteriorsbyShelley.com

Touring 101' Raised Pilothouse Hargrave Yacht "Victoriano" with Mike Joyce, Shelley Higgins DiCondina and Liza Hughes
By Staff Writer Lisa White

Within a few minutes of conversation between Spokes-model Liza Hughes and Mike Joyce, owner of Hargrave Custom Yachts; you'll find "custom" really does mean custom for each and everyone of these vessels. As Mike says many buyers know exactly what they're looking for so a "stock yacht" is not what the customer is going to get. Over the years Mike Joyce and his company has worked closely with Shelley Higgins DiCondina to create lavish luxury custom yacht interiors. Shelley began her career in 1988 as an interior yacht decorator and began her own company in 1992. Mike and Shelley have collaborated on more than 60 yachts and both have the same school of thought when it comes to designing and decorating the interior.

One such case is the 101’ Raised Pilothouse Hargrave “Victoriano” which is a premier charter yacht. Each detail has been thought out and created to look luxurious yet have "sensibility and permanence" to it. The interior has been designed with glossy cherry wood and a camphor burl inlay; a theme that runs throughout the entire vessel. The Victoriano can serve up to eight guests and six crewmembers as every accommodation has been made to ease the lives of the owners, guests and crew. The color scheme begins in the main salon making its way through the yacht; flowing from room to room unfolding like a "story book" as Shelley likes to say. The Victoriano's interior design layout is awe-inspiring with Perlato Suevo marble throughout; including the crew's area.

The Victoriano makes exceptional use of space to compliment the cruising occasions of passengers and crew. There is an incredible amount of storage space in all areas of the yacht including within the stairs, behind beds, couches, cabinetry and custom built 6'x1'x4' lockers. The furniture design considerations afford Victoriano guests posh yet durable long term accommodations The double layered nightstand is one such amenity. Fitted with a layer of glass the piece maintains attractive styling and lessens concerns with moisture from drinks damaging the furniture and the next guests on board experience. Other items such as two dryers in the laundry room have been added to make the wash load easier and quicker.

One of the breakthrough design innovations on Victoriano is found in her double workstation galley. There are dual freezers, sub-zeros, and ovens allowing up to four to comfortably produce the finest onboard cuisine without cramped quarters concerns. The galley has a separate crew area entrance and exit that will reduce salon traffic. As for the staterooms, they too share the extra amenities, with Euro styling big window views of the favorite ports of call. Sophisticated window treatments set the tone with Roman shades of Thai silk that are blackout when down allowing a total escape from the excitement that awaits elsewhere on board. The mirror ceiling baths with semi-recessed sinks and all manner of sophistication also afford additionally beautiful views of the exterior by merely sliding the mirrors to the side. The crew's cabins offer staggered bunks so the crew doesn't feel as if they are crawling over someone else and have private baths with the same quality stone, cabinetry and fixtures as the rest of the yacht. The crew quarters additionally have reading lights, dressers, 20” televisions and portals to make this 101’ Hargrave a desirable yacht for crew on extended cruises.

Heading up onto the upper decks takes one to the pilothouse and the flybridge. As with other areas of the yacht there is nothing stock here. The pilothouse is equipped with an ultra leather settee in buff with black suede tiger print pillows and state of the art electronics that monitor and command control over every aspect of onboard mechanics and electronics along with total surveillance capability. The flybridge is equipped with an empradora light topped teak curved bar. The seating is of Magelite material as with many of the interior wall treatments. It is not a vinyl but just as durable. Behind the comfortable seating and midship on the flybridge there is a 60" hot tub provided with sun pad for those laid back afternoons. The starboard side cabinetry also offers plenty of storage space. The spacious aft area has sufficient space for storing sun loungers, jet skies, tenders and probably a helicopter if you so desire.
With the combination of Mike Joyce's and Shelley Higgins DiCondina's vision; Hargrave Custom Yachts are truly the mansions of the sea. From each curve of the bar, angle in the cabinetry, roman shade and everything in between the vision of the design team and the tastes of Hargrave’s loyal clientele are on display. They’ve done it again enhancing the vision of what a luxury charter yacht can be and doing it in the solid design tradition of Jack Hargrave.

The Getaway Times would like to thank Mike Joyce and Shelley Higgins DiCondina for the interview and tour of The Victoriano. Mike Joyce can be contacted at www.Hargrave.org Shelley DiCondina can be contacted at www.yachtinteriorsbyshelley.com.

Efrem ''Skip'' Zimbalist III discusses his famous dad, his St. Petersburg Boat Show, and direction of Show Management

by John Hawley

To obtain the most authoritative voice on what is in store at the St. Petersburg Boat Show, which will take place on Nov. 16-19 at Bayfront Yacht Basin, St. Petersburg, Florida one needs to talk to the president and CEO of a company named Active Interest Media. AIM’s subsidiary Show Management owns or manages five of the Florida boat shows including the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat show and Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show that were previously run by Yachting Promotions Inc. (YPI). While the successes of YPI are legendary in the yachting world everyone over 40 years of age will recall the family name of AIM and Show Management’s president and CEO as his father was Efrem Zimbalist Jr. who played the lead role in the television series the FBI. There is also a famous sister named Stephanie who played the role of Laura Holt opposite Pierce Brosnan, in the hit 80’s television series Remington Steele. His other sister Nancy was also a success playing tennis and making a career at Phillip Morris promoting women’s tennis and their Virginia Slims tournament (continued).