Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Grand Opening in Jacksonville for West Marine

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West Marine will have a Grand Opening Friday March 27 – Sunday March 29 for the Jacksonville Flagship Superstore located at the Markets at St. John’s Town Center.

This store will be the biggest West Marine store in the world, featuring a 300 square foot fly bridge and 30, 000 square feet of products for boaters and fishermen.

Activities include:

Chair Fighting Challenge – “the mechanical Bull of the Fishing World” on Saturday and Sunday

Power Boat Docking Challenge: show off your skills by maneuvering  a 4ft twin engine, remote-controlled boat.

demos, clinics, contests  and much much more. Click here for more about the Grand Opening at West Marine in Jacksonville.

Wild Ways Tours by Amelia River Cruises

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Amelia River Cruises has set the dates for its next series of Wild Ways Tours offering tourists and locals, alike, the unique experience that has earned a nomination as Best of the Best in Boat Cruises by WJXT. Votes are now being recorded for a wide range of Jacksonville and surrounding area businesses by category.
A link to voting can be found on the company’s home page at www.ameliarivercruises.com.

To celebrate this nomination, Captain/historian Kevin McCarthy of Amelia River Cruises and international zoologist/columnist Dr. Pat Foster-Turley are conducting a new series of Wild Ways boat tours this spring in and around Cumberland Sound. Each tour will visit different places and tell different tales of local history and wildlife here and around the world.

All tours will be about three hours long depending on wildlife and wild happenings that are encountered along the way. Tours are scheduled for 10:30 AM on Tuesday March 31st and Tuesday April 28, and at 6 PM on Saturday, May 16th as part of the Wild Amelia Nature Festival. Tours will embark from the Fernandina Beach downtown marina at the foot of Centre Street and cost $38 per person plus tax.

Soft drinks are provided but people are encouraged to bring their own snacks and other drinks if they wish. For more information and to make reservations, call Amelia River Cruises at 904-261-9972.

Those interested in scheduling their own chartered Wild Ways Tour can call the office or visit us on the web at www.ameliarivercruises.com.

NASA’s Shuttle Discovery Launches to Fully Power Space Station

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Space shuttle Discovery and its seven-member crew lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 7:43 p.m. EDT Sunday to deliver the final set of power-generating solar array wings and a new crew member to the International Space Station.

Discovery’s STS-119 flight is carrying the space station’s fourth and final set of solar array wings, completing the station’s truss, or backbone. The arrays will provide the electricity to fully power science experiments and support the station’s expanded crew of six in May. The 13-day mission will feature three spacewalks to help install the S6 truss segment to the starboard, or right, side of the station and deploy its solar arrays. The flight also will replace a failed unit for a system that converts urine to potable water.

Shortly before launch, Commander Lee Archambault thanked the teams that helped make the launch possible.

“It’s truly an honor to be part of this team representing NASA, the nation and the international partners,” Archambault said. “See you in a couple of weeks.”

Archambault is joined on STS-119 by Pilot Tony Antonelli and Mission Specialists Joseph Acaba, Steve Swanson, Richard Arnold, John Phillips and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata. Wakata will replace space station crew member Sandra Magnus, who has been aboard the station for more than four months. He will return to Earth during the next station shuttle mission, STS-127, targeted to launch in June 2009.

Former science teachers Acaba and Arnold are now fully-trained NASA astronauts. They are making their first journey to orbit on the mission and will to step outside the station to conduct critical spacewalking tasks.

Can-Am Days in Myrtle Beach 2009

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In Myrtle Beach this weekend, the big Can-Am Days Event kicks off. This festival is basically “Snow Bird Spring Break” in South Carolina and comes with a huge line-up of fun events for the family.

The event usually draws about 100,000 Canadian visitors and snowbirds from northern states to South Carolina. The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce introduced Canada Days back in 1961 to attract Canadians during their spring break. The name was later changed to Canadian-American Days. This festival is considered to be the first international festival organized in the state of South Carolina.

From March 14-22, 2009, the Myrtle Beach area rolls out the red carpet to welcome Canadian and American visitors with a line-up of fun events, giveaways, discounts and concerts taking place throughout the Grand Strand.

“Can-Am Days celebrates our snowbird visitors, who escape the cold and snow for the beautiful climate and wealth of attractions of the Myrtle Beach area,” said Brad Dean, MBACC president and CEO. “Many of these visitors have been traveling to our destination for decades, and we strive to create new memories for each generation through our festivals.”

“This year we welcome RBC Bank as presenting sponsor,” said Amie Lee, MBACC director of festivals and special events. “RBC Bank has added excitement to Can-Am Days by introducing the Battle at the Beach golf tournament. The timing of the tournament coincides perfectly with the much-anticipated unveiling of the new Pine Lakes golf course.” The Pine Lakes golf course has been closed for nearly two years for renovation and redesign and will reopen March 14.

The 48th Annual Canadian-American Days will offer a variety of events. Highlights include:

* 26th Annual National Shag Dance Championships, March 12-14 – This competition is especially fitting for the Myrtle Beach area, where the shag dance originated. The event showcases amateur and professional division dancers with more than 50 couples are expected to compete for the national title. Studebaker’s, Myrtle Beach. Admission $15-$25.
* 2009 RBC Bank Presents the Royal Canadian Artillery Band and Seaforth All Girls Marching Band Concert, March 14 – The Royal Canadian Artillery Band, one of six Canadian Forces brass and reed bands, is a unit of 35 professional musicians. Formed more than 100 years ago, the Royal Canadian Artillery Band represents the Canadian Forces at home and abroad. The Seaforth All Girls Marching Band of Ontario has been delighting audiences near and far with popular show tunes and other nontraditional marching music for more than 60 years. The band, a group of 50 to 60 young women, range in age from 11 to 19. Surfside United Methodist Church, Surfside Beach. Free but tickets are required. Tickets available Feb. 25 at the Surfside Beach Town Hall.
* 2009 RBC Bank Presents the Royal Canadian Artillery Band, March 15 –The Royal Canadian Artillery Band, one of six Canadian Forces brass and reed bands, is a unit of 35 professional musicians. Formed more than 100 years ago, the Royal Canadian Artillery Band represents the Canadian Forces at home and abroad. Myrtle Beach Community Church, Myrtle Beach. Free but tickets are required. Tickets available Feb. 26 at the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.
* 2009 RBC Bank Canadian-American Days Kickoff Celebration Expo, March 16 – This expo officially kicks off Can-Am Days and features exhibitors, musical entertainment, prizes, giveaways and refreshments. Myrtle Beach Convention Center, Myrtle Beach. Free to the public.
* Out of Winter Into Spring: The Courage to Live Undivided, March 17-19 – Presented by Still Learning Inc., this retreat at the beach will renew the heart and spirit. Sea View Inn, Pawleys Island. Space is limited. $889 per person. Canadian currency accepted.
* 15th Annual South Strand Wildlife and History Day, March 18 – Enjoy family-friendly entertainment, exhibits and activities including birds of prey and reptile demonstrations and sea turtle and beachcombing programs. The Taste of Murrells Inlet, a culinary extension of the event, will boast specialties from some of the finest restaurants in the “Seafood Capital of South Carolina.” Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. Event and park admission are free. Cost for food.
* 2009 Battle at the Beach, March 19 – Golfers are invited to participate in the first annual Canada vs. U.S.A. Friendly Competition for the RBC Cup, four-person scramble format. The tournament will take place at the just-renovated Pine Lakes golf course, known as “the Granddaddy.” Prizes will be awarded. All tournament profits will be donated to Myrtle Beach Haven. Presented by RBC Bank and sponsored by Damon’s Grill, Scatori’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant and Divine Dining Group. Pine Lakes Country Club, Myrtle Beach. Fee $100 per person, $350 per foursome.
* For more information, call (800) 356-3016 or visit CanAmDays.com for the most current information and event times.

Vintage Cars on Amelia Island, Florida

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An unprecedented collection of the world’s finest vintage motor cars will roll into Amelia Island, March 14th, 2009 for RM Auctions’ highly anticipated Automobiles of Amelia Island event.

A popular and permanent fixture on the auto events calendar since 1999, the annual multi-million dollar auction will once again be held in conjunction with the famed Amelia Island to make for an ultimate vintage car weekend for motoring enthusiasts. Held on the grounds of the stunning Ritz-Carlton Hotel – a setting only surpassed in beauty by the magnificent cars on offer – the event weekend is commonly referred to as the ‘Pebble Beach of the East Coast’, attracting fashionable collectors and enthusiasts from around the globe.

“Our Automobiles of Amelia Island auction is an important event on the collector car calendar as it attracts many European and East Coast enthusiasts,” said Ian Kelleher, Managing Director of RM Auctions.

“From speed to style, this year’s event will feature a magnificent roster of collector cars, highlighted by several historic race cars, some of which share Florida’s rich automotive racing history,” he added.

For the car enthusiasts amongst us, some 100 vintage motor cars are set to cross the block during the single-day RM auction. Highlighting the exceptional line-up is the legendary 1911 Oldsmobile Autocrat “Yellow Peril” race car, a historic 1927 Bugatti T51 with an extensive racing history, and an innovative and beautifully restored 1954 Packard Panther Concept car, one of just four built and the only one in roadster form.

1911 Oldsmobile Autocrat “Yellow Peril” race carThe “Yellow Peril” has a fascinating vintage racing history. Regarded as one of the biggest and most powerful vehicles of its era, the original owner, John Greenway Albert, modified the car shortly after purchase in an effort to make “race ready”. Special modifications included constructing a one-off aluminum race body and a unique gas generating system – the latter which saw Albert emerge as a pioneer of fuel injection. Painted bright yellow, Albert name the car “The Yellow Peril” and raced it on various local dirt and board tracks, reportedly often removing the fenders and headlamps to further lighten the load.

Other notable highlights for the event include: a 1941 Chrysler Newport, one of the earliest concept cars built and used as the Official Pace Car for the 1941 Indianapolis 500; a stunning 1939 Bugatti Type 57C Faux Cabriolet “Charmaine”, one of the last Bugattis built before World War II and formerly owned by a remarkable series of famous British personalities; and a magnificent collection of 1932 V8 Fords.
RM’s Automobiles of Amelia Island auction event will be held at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton, 4750 Amelia Island Parkway, Amelia Island on March 14th, 2009. A full day auction preview will be held March 13th from 9am to 6pm followed by the auction from 11am on March 14th. Admission to the auction is by catalog only, which admits both the catalog holder and a guest. The full-color collectable catalog is available for $100 U.S. (plus shipping), by calling (800)-211-4371 or visiting www.rmauctions.com.

About RM Auctions, Inc.
Celebrating nearly 30 years in the collector car industry, RM Auctions Inc. and its associated companies are responsible for acquisitions, restorations and sales of the world’s rarest and most valuable vintage automobiles, including record-breaking sales in Maranello, Italy and London, England. RM’s restoration division achieved unprecedented accolades in 2006, when the Company earned “Best of Show” honors at the world’s top three collector car events in a single year. www.rmauctions.com

The Concourse d’Elegance is held on Amelia Island, Florida March 13-15, 2009