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Not really the news...

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by YachtForum, Oct 15, 2006.

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  1. YachtForum, Oct 15, 2006
    #1
    YachtForum

    YachtForum Publisher/Admin

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    Because I'm just returning from a trip, I spent Sunday morning sorting through press releases and news. Often, there are press releases that don't really qualify as news... and a few that are downright ridiculous! Here's a small sampling... (the names have been removed to protect the innocent... and the guilty)

    1. "Big yacht returns to major yard for her 4th haul out".

    If we ran a press release for every boat that was hauled out, a magazine would run out of pages and website would run out of bandwidth. This is the same yard that sent us a press release on a new large yacht contract they received... although they could not provide any details, specs, renderings or images on the build. So... why issue a press release??? :rolleyes:

    2. “Yacht building conglomerate boasts increased revenues & profits… while decreasing debt.”

    The press release I would REALLY like to read is... “We are continuing to sell over-priced boats of questionable quality to naïve consumers who are more concerned with image then engineering.”

    3. “Yacht builder to display 4 new models at boat show”

    If these were custom built boats… that would be news. If these were new models as a result of new designs & tooling… that would be news. But in this case...these are 4 boats from existing molds!

    4. “Stainless steel light improves docking conditions”

    According to the ad agency that wrote this garbage, ahem I mean verbage…

    “Even during the day, the process of docking and reversing can be tricky. Attempting to do the same at night with minimal lighting further adds to the frustration. Fortunately, ABC Lighting offers its 123 Series Docking/Hull/Back-Up Lights made from stainless steel to brighten up dark conditions, ensuring boaters safely maneuver their craft”.

    Got news for ya fella... it'll take more than set of lights encased in stainless to keep neophytes from testing pilings! :rolleyes:

    5. "Fish stories..."

    There are boat companies that issue press releases claiming their boats are better because someone raised the largest fish at a tournament. While I’m sure fish are smart because they travel in schools, I’m not sure they can tell the difference between a Triton and a Ranger!

    So there you have it... my twisted look at the Sunday morning news.
  2. KCook, Oct 15, 2006
    #2
    KCook

    KCook Senior Member

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    Even so . . . . we would appreciate any releases featuring bikinis :D
  3. Kevin, Oct 15, 2006
    #3
    Kevin

    Kevin YF Moderator

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    "In today's news, something happened." - Dan Rather, CBS Evening News. :D

    Like Kelly said, unless these models are wearing bikinis... :cool:

    They evidently have a keen grasp of the obvious! :rolleyes:

    That is rich... I actually laughed out loud at that one.
  4. K1W1, Oct 15, 2006
    #4
    K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    I know what at least one of the above items refers to, I saw it online earlier in the week. The docking is actually about a week earlier than it was forecast to be by the dockside telegraph.

    Do ya think the ABC Lighting Co reversing lights actually have Stainless Steel lenses(j/k)

    I wonder if they are accompanied by that annoying beep that you get with so many large vehicles

    I am not sure of this different boats attract fish thing but have to say I went around the world on a large motor yacht where the Mate who was a fanatical fisherman spent quite a lot of time under the boat on Scuba ensuring we had one shiny blade on each wheel prior to departure from various places.

    We had a fantastic run of fish on that boat. We kept any dolphin, tuna,mackrel, wahoo etc and let 99% of all the billfish we caught go. There were 2 Marlin, A Black off Somalia and a Blue off Borneo that were badly injured after more than 4 hrs fight to land that were filleteted before being released!
  5. airship, Oct 16, 2006
    #5
    airship

    airship Senior Member

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    Well, at least the yachting industry rarely attracts the attentions of sensationalist reporters and their tabloid employers though...?!

    I know of a 50m motoryacht that had "a bit of a problem" this summer whilst cruising in southern Turkey:

    A burst pipe lead to the rapid flooding of a very small section of the engine room bilges. Unfortunetly, this was also where the yacht's vacuum toilet pumps and sewage treatment plant were installed. By the time the bilge alarm went off and the source of the leak was detected, the electric motors for the vacuum toilet pumps were 50cm underwater and the yacht didn't carry any spare motors... :eek:

    This was followed by several leg-squeezing and butt-clenching hours (one imagines) whilst the chief engineer disassembled the motors, cleaned and dried them out and then refitted them. One of the 2 motors worked, allowing the toilets to function again! And arrangements were made through a French supplier so that the chief engineer's girl-friend (who just so happened to be available for immediate travel) could pick up a new 28kg electric motor and fly with it to S. Turkey, where she duly arrived at just before midnight the following day. That's what I call a real "you want what, when, how and where" service... :)

    It was a close-call though. The owners had been considering curtailing their summer cruise...firing the crew and selling the boat (well, they're very particular - they pay for "big name" yacht management, want a "perfect yacht" and never squabble over bills...) and this wasn't the only time they've felt "let down" over the past 7 years. :(

    But, how might it have been reported...?!

    Billionaire's megayacht almost sinks...

    A 180ft $200m motor yacht, sporting 10 decks and an Olympic-sized swimming pool which once belonged to Diana Ross, other priceless antiques and treasures, was minutes away from catastrophe earlier today...

    Helicopters were standing by to evacuate passengers and crew from the 200 metre superyacht which threatened to capsize at any moment...

    Celebrities forced to "do it over the side" (exclusive pictures)...

    Phew! :p
  6. Arniev, Oct 16, 2006
    #6
    Arniev

    Arniev Senior Member

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    So was it a "180ft" or "200 metre" superyacht?
    :)