Oy Nautor Ab in Pietarsaari, Finland, the builder of Nautor’s Swan yachts, has appointed New England Boatworks Inc. (NEB) in Portsmouth, RI an authorized Swan Service Yard. NEB will be working together with the Nautor’s Swan Customer Care Department, which oversees a network of authorized service centers worldwide. This new partnership is expected to work seamlessly, as many Swan owners and captains in New England as well as those cruising to and from Europe and the Caribbean have used NEB for years as their preferred service and refit yard. 

Mystic Yacht Charters LLC is a new business that brings together the boat owner and the experienced charter client. Launched by David Bobbin, the charter business is located at Mystic Shipyard.

“The many benefits for the boat owners include a full maintenance program, liberal owner usage policy, and earned revenue from the charter proceeds to offset ownership costs. The benefits for the charterer include available boats for that long weekend or extended sailing vacation on the beautiful waters of Southern New England without the expense of ownership,” said Bobbin. 

A new boatyard in Stamford, CT is expected to be in operation this month, as part of real estate developer Building and Land Technology’s (BLT) Harbor Point project in the City’s South End. The new facility, Skipper Gardella’s at Harbor Point, will have fuel docks and a travel lift for hauling and launching boats and will serve as an interim facility at Harbor Point. The facility is located on the site of Brewer Yacht Haven West, which closed last October. 

Andrew Cooley has formed Cooley Marine Management LLC (CMM). Cooley has an extensive background in the marine industry including: sailmaking, yacht rigging, private yacht management, mega-yacht refit, commercial service management and new boat construction. Cooley’s most recent position was lead refit and service manager for Derecktor Shipyards CT, where he ran large scale refit and vessel construction projects such as the Mari Cha III (155’ sailing yacht) refit and the recently completed Hornblower Hybrid Ferry. 

The 2012 International Nonsuch Rendezvous will be held July 15 - 21 at Mitchell Park Marina in Greenport, NY, located near the eastern end of the North Fork of Long Island. The Rendezvous has activities for Nonsuch racers and cruisers alike, including racing in Gardiners Bay, daysails to Coecles Harbor and Sag Harbor, a potluck dinner in Mitchell Park with a classic car show and live music, seminars, an optional tour of three North Fork vineyards, a Fun Fleet pursuit race for all boats, and an awards banquet at Shelter Island Yacht Club. For more information, contact Rendezvous Chairs Jenny and Jack Lombard at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit ina.memberclicks.net.

The International Lightning Class Association (ILCA) has an-nounced the 2012 grant recipients in its Boat Grant program. Two teams of young sailors will have the use of a Lightning for this season and will be mentored by veteran Lightning sailors. “Once again we had a great pool of applicants for the program and it was tough choosing two teams out of this talented group,” said Boat Grant program Co-Chair Bill Fastiggi. “Every year we are amazed at the quality of these young applicants, both as sailors and individuals, and we are pleased that we will be able to introduce these two teams to the Lightning Class.”

Hempstead Harbour Club will be awarding two all-expense-paid scholarships to their junior sailing program. These scholarships are generously provided by the Heritage Cup Regatta - a classic wooden boat regatta founded by Capt. Mike Emmert.

Cruise for Life is a new, one-of-a-kind fundraising event, taking place on July 28 at Macmillan Pier in Provincetown, MA, to support cancer research and compassionate patient care at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and other New England-based cancer centers. Cruise for Life is a “Boat-a-thon” for power- and sailboats alike, with participants raising money from sponsors and proceeds donated to the Jimmy Fund and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.