From the Bridge

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From the Bridge
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There are so many things going on at Bluewater Books & Charts right now that I'm not sure where to begin. We spent the last five days at the Miami Beach Convention Center, in the midst of one of the largest boat shows in the world. The Miami International Boat Show claimed to have something for everyone, showcasing boats from as little as $1,000 to as much as $3 million. There were three separate locations, as well as the Charter and Brokerage Show, on Collins Ave.

With three locations and two booths, things were hectic. We were delighted to see many old friends and new customers who came by our main booth on the second floor of the Convention Center. Ted Shanstrom, from Armchair Sailor in Newport, flew down to manage the booth that we shared with Maptech. The hot item at the Maptech Booth was Maptech's new Chart Navigator Pro, a software package that contains an all-inclusive navigation program, vector and raster charts of the entire U.S., including inland rivers, and much more at an incredible price. Call our Electronic Navigation Department for more details.

Toni Barber managed to get away from the booth on Friday afternoon to visit the Charter and Brokerage Show, where she talked to many of our Large Yacht Customers and spread the word about our program. On Sunday, Melanie Neale took a break from the booth to visit Strictly Sail, were she connected with some of our cruising customers and met with some of the authors we carry to discuss future events. Jessica and Rachel, our deck hands from South Broward High School, got an inside look at the Marine Industry by helping us out at the booth on Saturday and Sunday, and Justin was busy burning chips the whole time.

If you weren't at Nigel Calder's free seminar on February 11, you missed a great opportunity to learn why you can't always rely on your charts. Nigel made an excellent argument for prudent, cautious navigation, and we had a phenomenal turnout. Our next event is Instrument Expo, on March 29. I hope to see many of you there.

Another new development at Bluewater has been the launching of MERSA, a business to business program that allows us to work closely with other marine retailers and better assist our customers. You can visit our Press Releases page to learn more. We are constantly looking for new ways to work with our customers, and, as always, we welcome your feedback.

John Mann

In this issue�

Going Native with the Fijians
Tina Dreffin and her family are bound for adventure aboard their catamaran, Scud, in the South Pacific. Join them as they head upriver to attend a sacred kava ritual.

Announcing Instrument Expo, 2006
If you haven't been attending Bluewater's fabulous events, it's time to start! Instrument Expo is next on the list.

Who's Hot and Who's Not in Navigation
The last event at Bluewater was a huge success. Everybody who is anybody in the South Florida cruising community showed up to listen to Nigel Calder present on navigation.

Newport to Bermuda, Safely
The Centennial Newport to Bermuda Race kicks off the summer season up in Newport, RI. Join Armchair Sailor at the Safety at Sea Seminar, hosted specifically for participants in the race, on March 11 and 12.

Wild Boat Rescued
When it comes time to figure out how to launch a boat washed ashore in Hurricane Wilma, everyone has an opinion. Susi Frances and her family just stand back and watch the mayhem unfold.

A Sailor's Winter Lament
Jim Hawkins, one of our readers, shares his thoughts on being land-bound for the winter and away from the boat he loves.