TV Yachts is the first dedicated television channel to showcase the world’s finest sailing, motorised yachts and powerboats and is also the official broadcast sponsor of the Honda Formula 4-Stroke Powerboat Series.

Enjoy the exclusive opportunity to get inside the world’s top yachts with The Virtual Shipyard, which brings together the most exotic yachts for sale and for show, providing a never seen before insight to an international world of sea-faring luxury, all on TV Yachts.

The partnership between GDB and Verismo furthers TV Yachts’ existing reach in the UK, whilst, extending Verismo Network’s offerings into the UK and Europe. Under the agreement, GDB secures exclusive rights to provide its IPTV channels via the VuNow service, to the UK, at launch this September 2009.

Currently only available in the USA, the VuNow service enhances TV entertainment by giving consumers the ability to access and enjoy internet video directly on their TV, without a computer.

TV Yachts joins the current features of the Vunow service, such as access to YoutubeTM and other popular websites (MSN, National Geographic, CNN Video, ABC News and many more); Personal Media, which, allows the sharing of photos, music and video with family and friends, via the TV; Video Search (powered by Vtap), which, allows the consumer to search from thousands of online video sites (Vunow supports more than 1000 video sites) and Movies & TV, which, places movies and TV episodes from Hollywood to Bollywood, as well as foreign films, classics, documentaries, TV series, independent features, special-interest titles, educational and instructional videos, and much more, at the fingertips of the consumer.

Dhaval Ajmera, Executive VP of Verismo Networks, comments: “We are pleased to partner with GDBTV. The bouquet of live TV channels, provided by GDBTV, is crucial for the success of Verismo Network’s VuNow internet TV platform in the UK”.

James Deans, spokesman for TV Yachts comments: “This couldn’t have come at a better time for TV Yachts, especially considering that we are filming the fourth leg of the Honda Formula 4-Stroke Powerboat Series (Association) at the end of August and this, alongside TV Yacht’s already, well-established following, will give it the coverage it truly deserves”.

TV Yachts is currently broadcast on the Global Digital Broadcast (GDBTV) platform and is available online around the world, via the TVYachts.com website and GDBTV’s Go UK TV portal; and on television sets via the Something TV service in the United Kingdom and the IPQube service in Canada.

VHF communication at sea is often hindered by the struggle to be heard above the noise of the wind. The new ICOM IC-M35 features a smart new function called Clear Audio Boost.

Constantly measured ambient sound pressure means the IC-M35 can boost the incoming or outgoing transmission whenever the background noise level reaches enough volume to warrant it There is a manual override in the form of a button labelled simple “Loud”, that switches everything to full volume, while the standard microphone cancels unwanted noise as well.

The radio is buoyant and waterproof to IPX7 (1m for 30 mins) and , depending on how much power is required, there is an the option to transmit from 1W to 6W. It’s powered by a lithium-ion battery, and a hands-free kit is also available.

icom m35

• Check forstay and backstay toggles, clevis pins and plit pins for security
• Check all tang bolts T-bar and shroud terminal backing plates for wear and possible cracking, ensuring the fastenings are secure
• Examine all swage terminals and make sure there are no cracks, especially on the inside of T- and shroud-type terminals. Make sure there is no sign of the wire either pulling out of the terminal or any broken strands where the wire exits the terminal. Lubricate all turn-buckle threads with light oil or grease; this is especially necessary on turn-buckles with stainless bodies to prevent galling, a condition where the threads become abrasive and seize together.

Corrosion on the mast foot

• Check spreaders and their mountings brackets for security on the mast.
• Check the goose neck for security, making sure there is no wear either on the pivot bolt or the toggle. If there is excessive vertical moment fit either stainless steel or nylon washers onto the bolt above and below the toggle to take up the loose play
• Check round halyard exit plates for any signs of cracking of the spar wall; this is especially necessary on performance fractional rigs set up with large amounts of pre-bend
• On keel-stepped masts check the rubber desk seal gaiter to make sure it hasn’t perished, also checking to make sure any drain holes are clear and that the gaiter is not covering them
• Check to make sure any drain holes in the mast are clear
• Check the mast step is securely fastened to the deck or floor

After this date, beacons transmitting on this frequency will only be used for localised homing, so for the most part they are redundant.

RYA Cruising Manager Stuart Carruthers explained: “Nowadays modern beacons transmitting on 406 MHz offer many advantages over analogue 121.5/243 MHz beacons. “With a 406 MHz beacon, the position of the distress can be relayed to rescue services more quickly, more reliably and with greater accuracy. These will not be affected by the change.”However, some of the older devices transmit on 121.5/243 MHz only and it is these that will become redundant as a means of emergency alert following the decision to discontinue monitoring this frequency.

“The important thing is that people check their beacons and make sure that they are not redundant. From a safety point of view, this is paramount,” he added.

The frequency on which your EPIRB transmits should be clearly marked on the casing so it’s an easy matter to check.

Cospas-Sarsat, the organization that runs the satellite system supporting these alert devices, has decided to cease satellite processing following recognition of the limitations of the 121.5/243 MHz beacons and the superior capabilities of the 406 MHz alerting system.

In addition, only about one alert out of every fifty on the analogue system was a genuine distress.This has a significant effect on search and rescue resources and was a major factor in the decision to discontinue the service.

However, 121.5/243 will continue to provide a short-range homing signal once an initial call for assistance has been made and rescue services are in range of the casualty.

For further information the MCA’s Marine Guidance Notice gives you a full overview of the changes.