Stern Shot Stumper!

As we told you in our June issue, no one correctly guessed April's "Stern Shot" location, which means that Raymarine VHF is still yours to win!

You can view the photo here, in your old April issue, or in the contests section on PMY's Web site. Once you've figured out the correct waypoint and boat location e-mail your answer to sternshot@powerandmotoryacht.com by June 15, 2008. Can we stump you again?

Tour de Force

Saturday was a special day for Pat Hanrahan, as this lucky PMY reader was the winner of our "I Want to Tour a Megayacht" contest. He and his wife Cynthia were accompanied by me on not just one but two yacht tours: the 150-foot Mystic and the 150-foot My Iris. The treat came courtesy of Merle Wood and Associates, which was exhibiting the two yachts at the show. (Both are for sale through the firm.) Cromwell Littlejohn, a sales broker with the company, explained everything, from where the yachts were built (Mystic at Christensen Shipyards, My Iris at Trinity Yachts) to how crew and guest traffic is handled and even introduced the Hanrahans to the yachts' respective captains, who filled them in on the electronics at the helm and the cruising regions they've visited so far.

To see just some of what the Hanrahans took in during their tour, click here, then click on the first video at the top of the page.

If you missed out on this contest, don't despair. Keep checking our Web site's Contests page for your next chance to win something.

Good Enough to Eat

Forgive me as I wipe the drool from my chin. You're looking at the surf-and-turf dish that made Stephanie Hodges (below) of the 135-foot Atlantica the winner of the Concours de Chefs competition at last month's St. Maarten Charter Show.

The industry-only show is attended by charter brokers and media from around the world, who inspect some of the best yachts available for your vacation pleasure. Since anyone who's ever chartered a luxury yacht typically raves about the food for far longer than he or she stayed aboard, the Concours de Chefs is a way to showcase these creative culinary artists' talents.

Hodges, whose yacht is part of the International Yacht Collection charter fleet, certainly wowed the judges with her dishes. She made sesame seared yellowfin tuna drizzled with wasabi sauce and sweet soy, topped with baby rocket (baby greens, for those of you nongastronomes). She also made shitake mushroom and seared wagyu beef filet on top of roasted asparagus with horseradish creme. Her finale: carrot and zucchini cake with pineapple and walnuts, topped with pineapple cream cheese ice cream.

I think I just gained ten pounds writing this post. Off to the gym...

Megayacht Contest Continues

If you've been hithering to and fro to get your Christmas shopping finished, you're not alone: A few people have told us they've been meaning to enter the "I Want to Tour a Megayacht" contest but have gotten bogged down with paper and bows (the latter being the pretty glittery items on presents, not the pointy things on boats). They've asked for more time, beyond the December 21 deadline, so we're granting it.

Of course, that includes you, too. The new deadline is January 18.

Click here for details on how to enter.

Want to Tour a Megayacht?

Depending upon what part of the country you live in, you may very well have been preparing for an onslaught of Old Man Winter's wrath this weekend. Personally, I find it far too early to be experiencing the white stuff, so that's why I'm looking forward to escaping the Northeast and heading to sunny and warm Florida for the holidays.

If your first escape won't be for a while, or if you're looking for a good excuse, there's always the Miami International Boat Show and the Yacht & Brokerage Show in February. And it just so happens that we at Power & Motoryacht are holding a contest right now where one lucky reader will get a personal tour of a megayacht, from bridge deck to bilge, at the Yacht & Brokerage Show.

To read full details and enter, click here.

Contest for Cruising Kids

The National Safe Boating Council is asking for entries for its 2008 Boating Safety Sidekicks Contest "I'm a Safe Boater, Are You?"

Children between the ages of four and 15 and are encouraged to submit stories, posters, or videos that describe how they stay safe on the water. Winners will receive prizes courtesy of West Marine and WithinReach.

For more details and to view last year's winning entries, visit the Boating Safety Sidekicks Web site.

Finals for Fido

From August 10-12, the 2007 World Championship Boatyard® Dog Trials will be held in Rockland, Maine during the Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Show. Yes, you heard me—the Boatyard Dog Trials. And I have it on good authority they’re a total blast to watch.

So, what’s a dog gotta do to take top prize at such an illustrious event? It turns out, quite a lot. First, each dog must complete a rigorous dockside obstacle course. Next, he or she must master a tricky dinghy-hopping trial. And lastly, each contestant has to show off a special talent in the all-important freestyle event. In past years, dogs have shone in this last section by executing spot-on Elvis impressions.

This year’s contestants include (among others) a border collie, a yellow lab, and last year’s champion, Soldado, who hails from Culebra. What are these entrants going to be judged on? Both the handler and dog must finish the trials totally soaked. Other than that, they’ll simply be judged on their pizzazz.

The bottom line? This event promises to be a real riot. So, if you’re a dog-fan and find yourself in Rockland mid-August, do yourself a favor and go check it out. Woof.

Your Boat Tips Wanted. Prizes Offered!

The smiling man you see above is Capt. Joe Barbara with his new Edson PowerKnob. Barbara was photographed by his wife at the helm of his 38-foot Ronin Sportfish just off Manalapan, Florida. He was the winner of Power & Motoryacht's monthly Tip of the Month Contest last February for recommending the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser as “the best small detail a boater needs to keep aboard.”

Want a chance to win this great product? Post your best tips here and send them to jeffrey.moser@primedia.com today.