International Superyacht Society Crew of the Year Award

I just recieved this email from my friend and founder of Yacht Aid Global, Mark Drewelow

Big news,,,, the International Superyacht Society has awarded all Captains and Crew that participate in YAG activity, the ISS crew of the year award. I will be in Florida on Oct 29 to accept the award on behalf of all Captain and Crew that participate.

We have been partnering with Mark and YAG with the yachts good will efforts as we travel from place to place. Mark and I collaborated on the hugely rewarding Komodo School Fence Project as well.

More from Mark Drewelow 30 October at 13:58
It is very late at night on Thursday, actually it is now Friday. I am back from the International Superyacht Society Awards Gala. This is an annual event where awards are presented for Design and Leadership. One of the awards is called the Distinguished Crew Award. YAG was awarded this on behalf of all the Captain and Crew out there that YAG.

There was a 3 minute introduction by Gary of Westrec with a series of YAG slides on two huge screens. I then went on stage to receive the award and say a few words. There were a few tears shed in the audiance. The combinate of the intro, slides and my jumbled words on stage apparently made a powerful impact. YAG stands alone in our industry.

Stay tuned for more information.
Best regards
Mark

I hope that by the ISS recognizing the handfull of yachts that are really making a goodwill effort as they travel, that more and more yacht crews and owners will become proactive in the communities they travel to.

Get involved at what ever level, whether it is contributing clothing or school supplies, cleaning a beach, volunteering at a school or hospital, teaching skills or building a fence it all takes so little time and effort and the reward for all involved is immeasurable.

As a boating community I feel that we generally "take" from the areas we cruise and do not necessarily leave a positive footprint. I believe in Karma as a Captain and I have seen and felt first hand the good coming back to us in direct proportion to the good we give.

I can only imagine what the reception and attitude towards cruisers would be like if the majority rather than just a few of us found a way to contribute in the areas we get so much from.

Tim

Komodo Island School Fence Completion Report

I. Project Description
School Fence Completion Report
Project Title Location Work Volum Source of Budget: Tim Forderer, C2C and Philip Palmer
Project Timeline: 3 ‐ 15 Sept 2009

II. Narative Description
Background.
There are a total of four villages inside Komodo National Park. Komodo Island has one village; Rinca Island has two villages named Rinca and Kerora; and Papagarang Island has one village. Komodo village is the most populated among the four villages. As of 2009 (August) a total of population of Komodo Village is 1368 residents. Although there is primary school in Komodo village since long time ago, but only 70 percent of children completed their six years of primary school. Less than 25 percent of those who finish primary school continue onto junior high school in Labuan Bajo or other town. However, since mid of 2008, a junior high school class has been started by using primary school buidling. Junior high school building is now under construction and need to build a ring fence.

The reason why need fencing.
The Junior high school building is located next to primary school building that has already been fenced. The two building are located in the area of Komodo National Park where the wild animal ; Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) run wild freely but tightly protected. Komodo Dragon is a dangerious predatory animal and can attack not only prey but also human. Thi is the basic reason why the school buildings should be fenced. The fence is intended to prevent komodo dragon entering from the school area with 89 student, so teaching and learning process can take place in a safety condition.

The fence building was already discussed with the vice headmaster together with Tim Forderer. They committed to commence the fence improvement after Ramadhan holiday. The bamboo fence has been successfully built by involving local people including youth organisation, teachers and also students. This fence is very useful to protect a number of 90 students and several teachers from dragon attack that can happen at any time and in any place. All materials for this fence were imported from Labuan Bajo, Flores Island using traditional boat. Some remaining materials (bamboos) will be used to improve and replace some part of the old fence behind the elementary school.

Renold Ch Manalu
Community Development and Outreach Manager
Gang Mesjid Kampung Cempa, Labuan Bajo, Manggarai Barat, Flores-NTT, 86554, Indonesia T: +62-385-41448, +62-385-41328 F : +62-385-41225 | M : +62-811-385-1696 rmanalu@putrinagakomodo.com | gokomodo.org | komodonationalpark.org
PT. Putri Naga Komodo is an enterprise partnership between The Nature Conservancy, the Global Environment Facility and the International Finance Corporation

North Cape Yacht Club Sailing School Benefit

I am super excited to be going back to Toledo Ohio over Thanksgiving this year. This is where my love and passion for sailing all started. It started with my Dad teaching me to sail in #100 Interlake (a 18 foot centerboard sailboat) off of my Grandfathers dock in Lost Peninsula on the Ottawa River.

Its always very, very special for me to go back to Toledo and see my friends here. This is the place that I have very strong personal connections to for many reasons, this is the place that I call home. When you only spend three weeks a year in the USA, I think the place you call home is a pretty "strong call."

Here is the information for the NCSS Benefit. If you are in or near Toledo over Thanksgiving weekend I would love to see you! Below is also a number for RSVP.

Thanks Leslie Hill and her "crew" for putting this all together - I am very grateful, humbled and EXCITED!

_____________________________________________________________________________

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2009
THE North Cape SAILING SCHOOL PRESENTS:

TRAVELS AROUND THE WORLD WITH PROFESSIONAL SAILING CAPTAIN TIM FORDERER

FROM THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH TIM WILL PRESENT HIS SAILING AND GOODWILL TRAVELS DOING WHAT HE LOVES CIRCUMNAVIGATING THE WORLD ON THE 90 FT YACHT VIVID. SOME OF THE DESTINATIONS INCLUDE THAILAND, INDONESIA, NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA, CUBA, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, GREENLAND AND MANY MORE.

JOIN US FOR DINNER AND A GREAT PROGRAM FEATURING:

Junior Program – 5:00 – 6:00
Dinner – 6:00 – 7:00
Presentation – 7:00 – 9:00
Menu – Clam Chowder, Crab Cakes, Bread, Salad, Dessert
Price - $12.00 adults (includes program)
Kids - $5.00 (Pizza included)
Program only no food - $5.00

Reservations for dinner are greatly appreciated. Contact Leslie Hill at 734.243.1222.

All proceeds benefit the North Cape Sailing School.

Arte Moris (Art Lives!)

Right now we are underway from Dili East Timor to Ambon Indonesia. Just about 150 nm to go. The coolest thing happened in Dili over the past three days.

First take a second and check out www.artemoris.org just read the quick history about the group.

So about Arte Moris, I stumbled on this place while out taking pictures in East Timor. The vivid colors of the wall murals and graffiti stood out boldly in an other wise colorless roadside.

As I walked to the entrance I had an immediate strong sense that I was entering someplace very special. At first I thought it was just another broken down and abandoned building complex. Quickly I realized that this was an artists sanctuary. This place was a safe haven, a place of peace and harmony, a place for freedom of expression and an incubator for creativity and personal growth. Every place I looked was art and young Timorese kids working on their creations. This was the first place that I walked in Timor where every one seemed chilled, happy and with moving with a sence of purpose. The positive energy and vibe that was generating from the people and this place was very strong and I could feel it.

If you have never been to Timor, this place is the worlds newest democratic and free country. It did not become this with out a heavy social impact. It took years of struggle and violence and that is not over. Timor is a place that is in general grossly impoverished, barb wire and high prison like fences around every building and home, UN Police and western military on constant patrol, homeless children, kids working in a dry river bed from sun up to sun down sifting stones for building material and earning $12 a truck load..thats about 4 usd a week. The real victims in all of this have been the Timorese youth.

Amidst all of this is Arte Moris a colorful sparkling vibrant gem. Basically a free art live in community for refugee children. Simply amazing...

I was emotionally moved and motivated with in 5 minutes at this place. I wandered around, soaking up the vibe letting my heart lead me. I knew I had to find a way to connect. I knew that my brother Chris would love this place and that sister Ann and brother Matt would as well with their deep Art involvement and passion.

At the back of the compound I met the young Timorese director Iliwatu and Charline. They could see my enthusiasm immediately as I was having trouble getting clear understandable sentences out. I had 30 questions all coming out of my mouth simotaniusly and squeezed in that endless stream of questions I kept muttering WOW! This Place is Amazing....


We spent about an hour together and I had some ideas taking shape. In this hour I learned a great deal about the history, the people involved, the strong life changing impact that Arte Morsi was having on the kids that come through. I learned of an international exhibit they did in Australia. I learned the far reaching benefits (to all involved) of their international exposure. I shared with them Ann's recent hugely successful project "Beyond the Borders" http://www.beyondtheborder-art.com/ I shared with them Matt's collaborative projects with the Paint Night Group. www.mattforderer.com

I went home that night buzzing and could barely sleep. I had an idea shaping and that was not going to let me rest.

The next morning I put my "smart" duds on and walked confidently up to the American Embassy. I walked up and handed the emotionless embassy security my passport and I said.."I would like to see the US Ambassador for Timor!". With a little finesse about 10 minutes later I was sitting in a comfortable room with the US Ambassadors' Public Relations Director. I shared my initial vision of getting a group of Arte Moris Artists and their works to the United States for a cultural, educational experience and a art exhibition in San Diego. I was met with open minded, support. The US Embassy knew very well of the group and was a fan. The embassy was also keen to show the American Public a positive Timorese image. I suggested the biggest help they could provide would be handling all of the Visa paperwork and in the air transport to and from for the artists and their exhibit. On the spot he offered an initial green light of support and a general commitment to modest financial support. Ok so now I am really buzzing.

I shot out to the Arte Moris compound and shared the news with them. I shared with them the vision of the USA opportunity, which was really the sum of their "wish list" from my conversation with them. It was a shared vison and it was becoming a reality. Understandably, they where cautiously enthusiastic, yet fully on board in concept.

The next piece of the puzzle was to get Ann on board. I had sent her a link to the Arte Moris website the night before to prime her mind. When I talked with Ann about the opportunity and to get her input, she was already 10 steps ahead of me in the project planning process, spitting out bullet points of what "Beyond the Borders" and she could do to make the effort a reality. Amazing such automatic synergy on this effort with each person approached. To me, a concrete sign that this is VERY WORTHWHILE effort!

The next day sitting on the front porch of the Arte Moris compound. People where coming and going, puppies barking and playing, in the adjoing room - a cartoon art class is being led by visiting American Cartoonist, Mike Loew, Charline, Iliwatu and I sit huddled around a cheap Nokia Cell phone set to speaker phone talking to Ann at home in San Diego California and talk for almost an hour.

The outcome; true shape and shared vision of the cooperative effort between East Timor's Arte Moris Art School and USA Beyond the Borders Art Fair. On the call the vision gained life and momentum, and specific next steps agreed to, to make this a reality.

The target date to have the Arte Moris Timorese group and exhibition in San Diego USA is the beginning of September 2010

We hung up the call with Ann, the three of us pushed back in our ratty rattan seats, sat silently for a minute and then all just started laughing with excitement of what had been created and given life to in 24 hours from the time that we met and I randamly stumbled upon and wandered the Arte Moris Compound shooting photos. So cooooool.

Pretty cool!