Hello MMD

[Norske3]

Catch anything worth talking about in sunny Florida? :cool:

[mmd]

Does a hurricane count? I was in Ft. Lauderdale when it passed overhead, then spent the next few days powerless and hot. By the time I gave up and bugged out south to the Keys to go fishing with my client/buddy on Sunday the waters were still too lumpy and muddy for fishing, so we drank beer and told lies instead.

Prior to my encounter with Katrina I managed to spend a very enjoyable dinner with Concordia 41 (Margo) and her sister and family. The trip also placed me in company with the upper stratosphere of yachting. I was aboard the 177-foot motoryacht Katherine at Fraser Yachts, the new 125-ft Global series at Cheoy Lee, and a 165-ft steel/aluminum yacht (I didn't catch the name) at Atlantic Marine. Impressive stuff. I also spent a day at Huckins Yachts where I saw some pretty cool smaller stuff in the 40-ft to 60-ft range. Even some wooden ones.

Apparently I just missed meeting Jimmy Buffett at Cheoy Lee. He was there to sign the contract for a new 100-ft expedition yacht and we arrived about a half-hour after he had left. I did see the design drawings laid out on the conference table, though - it looks like a pretty comfortable and able ship.

All-in-all it was a reasonable business trip. I did what I was supposed to do and saw the people I was supposed to see, so now I have to write up reports to disseminate and wait to see where the chips fall. Maybe if my karma is intact the clients will see fit to send me back there this winter for the Ft. Lauderdale Yacht Show and IBEX. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Surely the weather will be better.

In the meantime, I must get back to doing my day job, which today requires that I produce a drawing of an exhaust system for the 26-ft lobsteryacht. Maybe I can sell it to Jimmy Buffet for use as a tender on his new boat... ;) :D

[Alan D. Hyde]

Michael, if you'd like to make that suggestion to Buffet, I know a member of his band pretty well (grew up across the street from him)... :D

Alan