International Yacht Collection (IYC), acquires The Sacks Group

October 12, 2010 – Fort Lauderdale, Fl – Two of the best-known names in the yachting industry, The Sacks Group Yachting Professionals (TSGYP) and International Yacht Collection (IYC), announced they have joined forces. IYC, a division of Trinity Yachts, LLC, has acquired TSGYP, creating a single powerhouse firm with truly global reach that will offer existing and prospective clients an unprecedented portfolio of services covering every aspect of the yachting experience, including Luxury Yacht Vacations, Yacht Brokerage, Charter Marketing, Yacht Management, New Construction Services, and Crew Placement.

Effective October 15^th, TSGYP will relocate its offices to IYC’s Fort Lauderdale headquarters at 1850 SE 17^th Street. President and Charter Specialist Jennifer M. Saia will continue with the newly expanded company in a leadership role as the Executive Director of the Luxury Yacht Vacation Division and will be very involved with New Business Development.

“The vision of The Sacks Group Yachting Professionals has always been: ‘To Exceed Expectations with Professional Service in the World of Luxury Yachting’,” Saia said. “I’m proud to say that in my 20 years with The Sacks Group, and almost 17 years as President and Charter Specialist (a.k.a, Owner of the company), my team and I have delivered this vision to hundreds of satisfied yacht owners, charter clients, captains and crew. Now, the opportunity has arrived to make a change that will enhance this vision and provide even greater resources and opportunities to our clients and staff, supported by IYC’s amazing worldwide operation.

With the merger, the two companies’ combined luxury charter, brokerage and management yacht fleet will grow to more than 160 vessels and counting. “However, we will still remain a ‘boutique’ operation in terms of the individualized, custom-tailored service we provide our clients,” Saia assured. The firm’s strategic partnership with IMA Yachts, a premier provider of new build, operational and management services aiding yacht owners and clients throughout the full life cycle of their vessel, also will continue, she announced. “Our clients now will have the best of all three firms’ experience, expertise and relationships within the yachting industry around the globe. This merger is winning proposition for everyone.”

2010 PERSEUS AWARD WINNER ANNOUNCED

Honoring yacht owners who have demonstrated exemplary effort

and contribution toward marine wildlife conservation

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL – Yacht owner, Mr. Paxson “Packy” Offield, is the recipient of the inaugural PERSEUS AWARD.

Mr. Offield is a dedicated conservationist whose extraordinary hands on effort and recent financial support (channeled through WildAid), has played a major role in the Galapagos National Park’s shark tagging program. He is the Chairman of the Offield Center for Billfish Studies; a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of billfish populations worldwide through scientific research, education and advocacy and has been involved in developing satellite tags for tagging billfish in Pacific waters for several years, to track migration and otherwise unknown data on billfish. Mr. Offield is also a director of the Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies and a Lifetime Member of the National Coalition for Marine Conservation, Pacific Region. He has served as Chairman and Board member to several national and international non-profits including The Billfish Foundation, The Peregrine Fund, the Catalina Sea Bass Fund, the San Diego Zoological Society, the Little Traverse Conservancy, amongst many others. Mr. Offield is currently a Board Member of the Santa Catalina Island Company, formed in 1894. This company has been guided by the Wrigley and Offield families since 1919. Packy himself has been intimately involved and currently sits as President and CEO. He lives with his wife Susan and their four children in Harbor Springs, Michigan, and also spend time in their homes in Laguna Beach and Catalina Island, CA.

Pacific Bound Yachts, Inc., a global yacht support services firm, will host the award ceremony at their November 1st event - “Sights and Sounds of the Pacific Corridor” to be held at the Museum of Discovery and Science in downtown Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

The Perseus Award

In 2010, the Perseus Award was created to recognize yacht owners who have demonstrated exemplary effort and contribution toward marine wildlife conservation. The award embodies the spirit of Perseus, the Greek hero; a child of the sea who grew up to be one of its greatest heroes and protectors. The award is also meant to encourage luxury yacht owners to take a greater role in conserving our marine heritage given their privileged and intimate relationship with the ocean. The Award itself is a stunning glass sculpture designed and cast by world renowned Bulgarian artist, Latchezar Boyadjiev who will be present at the award ceremony.This year’s award was generously donated by Pacific Bound Yachts of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Each summer the Perseus Award Committee will receive nominations from around the world. These nominees will be put forth to a distinguished panel of judges comprised of yachting industry and conservation leaders; all of whom bring their vast knowledge in diverse disciplines and expertise to the Panel.

The 2010-2012 Perseus Award Committee Members are:

Roger Liang Founder/Owner, Kingship Yachts

Peter Knights Co-founder, WildAid

Lisa Greenberg Founder/President, Pacific Bound Yachts & WildAid Board Member

Jamie Edmiston Edmiston & Company

Dr. Alex Hearn PhD, Marine Biologist, Coordinator of Migramar

Tim Heywood Yacht Designer

Dick van Lent Co-Founder/President – Feadship

Tork Buckley Captain, Editor, The Yacht Report

Michael Bradfield Superyacht Owner

Selection Criteria

The following criteria guide the Perseus Award Selection Committee in selecting Award winners:

· Recent hands-on efforts that have enhanced marine conservation.

· The adoption of steps to make their yachts environmentally friendly and provide significant inspiration to other

yacht owners.

· Significant monetary contribution to marine conservation efforts.

Relevant Websites:

Pacific Bound Yachts www.pacificboundyachts.com

WildAid www.wildaid.org

Latchezar Boyadjiev www.lachezarboyadjiev.com

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Norma Trease Joins Yachting Today.TV

Norma Trease joins Yachting Today TV as a freelance contributing editor. Norma will also be conducting  interviews at yachting events with leading industry personalities. With many years in the yachting industry, Norma adds her lively interview style and vast experience to offer interesting stories. Look for Norma here in the coming months.

Yachtgallery.com makes its debut as the first company to offer Virtual Assistants to the brokerage community with affordable services from Email marketing to closing complex International deals. Services are priced with the individual broker in mind who might not otherwise have their own personal assistant.

Barbara was recently with Northrop & Johnson as Managing Director, and before that she helped Yachtcouncil develop one the industry's foremost multi-listing service. Yachtgallery.com

* Luke Brown Yachts is happy to announce that Andrew Cilla, was named ‘Broker of the Year Award' by FBYA ~ the Florida Yacht Brokers Association.

* The $18,000 Boat Sales Tax Cap has passed in the state of Florida.  “The Boat Sales Tax Cap has achieved a major milestone,” said Jeff Erdmann, a member of the Florida Yacht Brokers Association (FYBA) Legislative Committee, which spearheaded efforts, in coordination with the Marine Industries of South Florida (MIASF)

* Northrop and Johnson announces the addition of Shawn Laird to the Fort Lauderdale office in the charter division. Shawn previously worked for Fraser, Koch Newton and Bob Saxon Associates.