We all need a yellow submarine

by Lynn Fitzpatrick on 29 Oct 2007 Many of us are used to seeing Winnebagos (the classical US motor-home) towing cars. Some of us don’t even marvel at the jet skis, pleasure craft and even helicopters that we see in the transom holds and on the decks of mega yachts.

Just when I was coming to grips with a seven story elevator aboard a private yacht, a new dimension was added. Actually, a couple of dimensions were added. Dinghies and life rafts stowed on deck or in davits came first. Then it was jet skis. Then we grew used to seeing pleasure craft and tenders being part of the package. All of those toys floated and could be hoisted on an off a larger boat relatively easily.

Dealing with the hassles associated with arriving in port without your own ground transportation was solved when it became possible to store scooters on board. All well and good if you and the guests aboard your vessel are nearly as youthful as your crew, but what about those families with youngsters or elderly who can’t drive? Well, now you can offload a mini cooper or a smart car from your mobile showroom.

If you have been out to sea for awhile and want to go for a special tour, why not consider the purchase option with the yellow submarine?

If you are going to do something, do it big. While their way of saying it may be more colorful than mine, that’s the way it is with John Dane and Austin Sperry, the winners of the US Olympic Class Star Trials. John Dane, the founder of megayacht builder trinity Yachts has been showing up to regattas on the East Coast of the US for a quarter of a century with his boat, Showdown. It’s utilitarian and comfortable – a floating bunkhouse, bachelor pad and launching station complete with multiple decks for dining, lounging and spectating.

At this year’s Olympic Trials, the show was no different. Others had coaches, coach boats, trailers, multiple suits of sails and support from friends and family, but none put on the display of the Dane/Sperry team. Camped out in Marina del Rey, CA for six months, the team had a house near Cal Yacht Club set up with bunk beds to accommodate all of their family, coaches and tuning partners. They had big tenders and little tenders, captains, boat drivers, weather gurus and top guns. They had multiple Star boats…and they had a big tent.

Looking at their program at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, it’s no surprise that their Olympic campaign resembles the scale and proportions of the Trinity Yachts display at the boat show.

They took center stage on the Face Dock and have a huge air-conditioned tent with leather sofas, coffee tables, partitioned offices and an extended family that is the epitome of southern hospitality.

Not only that, their yachts are gorgeous. John and Austin and their support team from Gulfport, Mississippi are on a roll.