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General Members Meeting St. Petersburg St. Petersburg, FL Spa Beach at The Pier Nov. 2-5, 2006 Strictly
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| Sail America's General Members Meeting on Oct. 6 at Phillips Restaurant in Annapolis The General Members Meeting will be the perfect time to meet Sail America’s new Executive Director, Jonathan Banks, and talk with Sail America board members, network with industry colleagues, ask questions, contribute ideas and suggestions, and learn more about Sail America’s exciting plans for the future. The meeting will kick-off with networking and a Continental Breakfast from 8:00-8:30 a.m. Banks will then lead a very informative presentation and discussion from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Guest speakers include Thom Dammrich, NMMA’s president, who will present the results of the Discover Boating campaign and provide a sneak preview of the new creative for the 2007 campaign; Bill Bolin, Sail America’s president, who will present proposals on how the sailing industry will participate and contribute to the Grow Boating Initiative; and Kevin Murphy, national show manager, who will outline plans for the 2006/2007 boat show season. Banks will also announce the winner of the drawing for a free, one-week charter on a 40’ yacht in the Caribbean, courtesy of Sunsail, a First Choice Marine Company. Companies and individuals who submitted their membership renewals to Sail America by September 15 were entered into the drawing. “There is no RSVP and no cost– we just need your participation!,” said Banks. “I’m looking forward to a fantastic meeting and a chance to meet you first hand.” The Phillips Annapolis Harbor Restaurant is located at 12 Dock St., next to the city docks. 
NMMA’s “Grow Boating” Campaign’s Big Plans for 2007 NMMA’s “Grow Boating Initiative” will roll out a new TV commercial and print campaign in 2007, after celebrating a debut year of impressive successes in 2006. Since the “Discover Boating” campaign began in March 2006, it has met or exceeded all of its marketing goals. Here are some of the highlights:
“The sailing industry’s investment in the Grow Boating Iniative has already begun to reap returns, as thousands of prospects discovered sailing resources through the Discover Boating website,” said Jonathan Banks, executive director of Sail America. “We believe Sail America has already enjoyed excellent value for the industry’s investment into the campaign.”
In 2007, the campaign will be updated and tweaked with a new “experience boating” theme based on the existing strategy that “Boating connects like no other.” One new broadcast commercial will be added to the two commercials that were produced in 2006; the print campaign will be all-new and both are expected to air mostly from March through June of 2007. Sail America contributed $75,000 to the Grow Boating Start Up Fund in 2004. Sailboat manufacturers currently contribute about $60,000 annually toward the Grow Boating Engine Assessment, which generates about $13 million per year for Grow Boating when the power boat segment is included. Funding for the Grow Boating Initiative goes toward the national marketing campaign, Dealership Certification, and Water Access Protection. NMMA contributes additional dollars for product certification, staffing and overhead. Taken together, the Grow Boating Initiative budget is over $16 million per year. “The Discover Boating campaign has undoubtedly proved its value to the sailing industry,” commented Banks. “Going forward, the sailing industry will need to make a more equitable contribution to ensure our ongoing participation and exposure. We are working on a new funding model that we will communicate to members shortly.” TOP
Strictly Sail St. Petersburg to Feature “Trawler and Power Cruiser Expo” As Sail America gears up for the 12th annual Strictly Sail St. Petersburg show, the local committee and Sail America’s Board of Directors have been working hard to come up with new and innovative ways to attract more attendees and increase the number of boats on display. Several ideas have been considered and, after much discussion, the Sail America Board decided to allow a limited number of quality power cruisers to exhibit at the Strictly Sail Show. For 2006, Strictly Sail St. Petersburg will feature the “Trawler and Power Cruiser Expo”- the best selection of Trawlers, Downeasters, Power Cats and Power Cruisers. "The addition of power cruisers will provide a significant boost to Strictly Sail St. Petersburg, Florida’s West Coast’s premier boating event,” said Bill Bolin, president, Sail America. “The Trawler and Power Cruiser Expo will attract an affluent and more diverse audience and will add much needed revenue to the show." The Trawler and Power Cruiser Expo has been welcomed by a number of sailboat manufacturers, many of whom are already testing the water in the long-range power cruising market. Accessories companies and retailers have also welcomed this move as many of them make and sell products for both sailboats and powerboats. Space will be limited to 15-20 high quality power cruisers, and preference will be given to those that are built by Sail America members. “There have been significant changes to the market since Sail America (formerly ASAP) was created 15 years ago. While our mission ‘To promote the growth of the sailing industry’ remains unchanged, the truth is, there is considerable cross over between the power cruising and sailboat markets,” added Bolin. “Both markets will benefit from this added exposure.” The Sail America Board believes the addition of power cruisers will help ensure the long-term success and survival of Strictly Sail St. Petersburg. Sailors Gear Up for Boat Show Fun at 2006 Strictly Sail St. Petersburg  Sailors and boating enthusiasts throughout the Southeast are gearing up for the 12th Annual Strictly Sail Boat Show on Florida’s Gulf Coast -- one of Sail America’s premiere sailing events in the country. St. Petersburg’s lovely Spa Beach at The Pier sets the scene November 2-5, 2006 as visitors experience the latest boats and accessories. New 2007 models of Beneteau, Catalina, Hunter, Island Packet, Hanse and many more will debut in the water and on land at Strictly Sail St. Petersburg. In addition to the rousing lineup of new sailboats, the 2006 show will feature over 150 exhibitors with the latest sailing gear and accessories, and more than 100 seminars with presentations from global sailors, authors and experts in navigation, software and marine equipment. Sailors of all ages and boat-handling abilities will delight in the special events included in this year’s festive agenda. Newcomers to sailing can hop aboard a variety of boats for a free sailboat ride, courtesy of Discover Sailing, a national introduction-to-sailing event that seeks to introduce more people to the sailing lifestyle. Strictly Sail St. Petersburg show hours are Thursday, November 2 through Saturday, November 4 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday, November 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission is $10 per person on weekdays and $12 per person on the weekend. Children 15 and under are free with a paid adult. Advance tickets can be purchased online at www.strictlysail.com. TOP
Gill North America has developed a stylish new line of wetsuits specifically designed for sailors that employ cutting edge materials to add extra durability, buoyancy, stretch and overall comfort. “The eight-piece line designed for men, women and junior sailors combines technical performance with day-long comfort,” said David Pritchard, Gill North America’s president. “Gill’s new wetsuit line incorporates several state-of-the-art materials in several different areas of the wetsuit — all serving very specific purposes for today’s sailor.” For more information, contact www.gillna.com. Hunter Marine, one of the world’s largest sailboat manufacturers, was awarded a special commendation by the National Water Safety Congress for its initiatives of voluntarily placing carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in the cabins of all its keel boats. Hunter Marine has made CO detectors standard equipment for the past five years in its boats 25’ and larger. “Carbon monoxide detectors are a part of our comprehensive effort to provide as much safety equipment as possible on all of our boats,” said Eric Macklin, market development manager for Hunter Marine, who accepted the award on behalf of the company. “We appreciate the recognition of our efforts to make boating safer for everyone.” |
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