PMY - Power&Motoryacht

Some of you may have heard a recent rumor floating around the industry that long-time Jersey boatbuilder Ocean Yachts was closing for business—which is simply not true. I had caught wind of the rumor and went straight to the source, John Leek IV, the company's general manager, to see what was up. Here is what J4 had to say via e-mail:

It finally happened you guys. I had a dream to fly, and I made it come true. Jetlev was kind enough to get me a test flight on their R200 Jet Pack, and ... It. Was. Suh-weet.

I don't want to give away too much because PMY Tries in our January issue will have all the details, but keep your eyes peeled for a video of my flight coming soon to our Web site.

 

I had the pleasure of getting to know Michael Ryan—who co-ran Maestro Yachts in the Americas, and who passed away unexpectedly on November 2^nd at the too-young age of 54—on a trip to Bimini last May. It was a trip for work, but Michael’s undeniable affability made it feel very much like I was vacationing with old friends, despite not really knowing any of my travel companions.

Listen, I have no idea what these people are saying, or why they built a boat that doesn't float, or why this video went viral referring to this thing a "yacht" (looks like a ferry to me). But I do know that when you roll a $2.6 million dollar vessel right off the blocks and straight to the bottom of some nasty-looking river in China, there really is only one thing to say: In the immortal words of the great Homer Simpson ... D'oh!

Two divers are saying that they came to the surface during a dive trip three miles off Key Biscayne this week and their dive boat was ... gone. They hung on to a fishing buoy for two hours until they were picked up by a passing yacht, No Compromise.

This is is Jeremy Walker, a New Zealand fisherman who hauled in this 671-pound bluefin tuna earlier this week. The fish would have brought in an estimated $80,000 at market, had Mr. Walker and his chums decided to sell it. Instead, they ate it.

Readers,

It is with a heavy heart that I write this blog. As of today, August 24th, 2011, my dreams of flying through the air with a water-powered jetpack strapped to my back have been derailed. Jetlev apparently wasn't ready for me. I'd guess they're making some tweaks after that Jetpack fail video at the San Diego Boat Show went viral. Not a good look for them at all. 

It looks like it's really gonna happen you guys. A few weeks ago I blogged about that dude's epic, live-TV fail using the Jetlev R200 water-powered Jetpack and I asked PMY's readers to come through and get me one.

And just two short weeks later ... none of my readers have yet to respond.