Yachts to Call Your Own (If Only for a Vacation)
By JANE L. LEVERE

CHRISTINE JORDAN and William Krohn celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary last winter in style: they took a weeklong cruise through the British Virgin Islands on a 46-foot yacht they had chartered, complete with a captain and a chef. The couple, from Cleveland, dined every evening on the deck and set their own agenda for the trip. "We could sail or walk on the beach or around town however long we wanted, receive personalized snorkeling instructions," said Dr. Jordan, 53, an anesthesiologist. "That was lovely."One of the best parts of the trip, said Dr. Jordan and Mr. Krohn, 51, a newspaper editor, was the price. The charter, arranged by Ed Hamilton & Company in Whitefield, Me., cost $4,600, or around $330 a day per person. (Air fare and the traditional 15 percent tip for the crew were extra.)

Yacht charters are clearly no longer only for the rich and famous. The price that Dr. Jordan and Mr. Krohn paid for theirs was similar to the average for commercial cruises on many luxury ships. But other charter deals can cost far less, travel experts say, during off-peak seasons for your destination, or if you book well in advance and have flexible plans. If you are willing to hoist the sail, mop the deck and stay the course - in other words, to do everything yourself - the price may fall further.

Travel experts say charters have gained popularity as people seek creative ways to customize their vacations. Charters are available in waters around the world, from the Caribbean, which is most popular in the winter, to the Mediterranean, South Pacific, Pacific Northwest and Alaska, most popular in the summer. Although charter brokers and companies can usually find a yacht for you anywhere, some specialize in specific regions. Interpac, for example, specializes in Mexico, the Pacific Northwest and Turkey, and CEO Expeditions specializes in Alaska.

Rates vary widely. For $1,053 a week, experienced sailors can take a so-called bareboat charter - the kind on which you do everything yourself - on a 32-foot Moorings sailboat large enough for four passengers in the British Virgin Islands, through Oct. 24. The price does not include food and air fare. For those looking to be pampered, about $100,000 buys a week from Yachtstore on a 130-foot luxury powerboat, large enough for 10 passengers, in the Caribbean in the winter, with a crew of seven. The price does not include air fare.

Sarah Woods, a senior vice president for account management in Santa Ana, Calif., for Navigant International, a travel management company, has sailed on both cruise ships and chartered yachts with crews. A charter vacation is ideal, she said, for "an adventuresome person who doesn't like a formal or regimented vacation.""You've got to like the water and sun, and to want to entertain yourself," she said. "It's much more flexible than a cruise vacation."She prefers yachts with crews to bareboat charters. "When I'm on vacation, I don't want to make up a bed or cook, and my husband's not experienced as a sailor," she said.

In planning a yacht charter vacation to any destination, consider your budget and whether you prefer a powerboat or sailboat or a sedentary or active vacation. "A broker will interview you and ask you these questions, and you should know all these things before you make your call," said Kenny Wooton, editor in chief of Yachting magazine.

Although most brokers have access to the same yachts, some are more knowledgeable than others. You can find an experienced company through personal references, travel agencies that arrange charters or the industry's main trade associations, which include the American Yacht Charter Association, www.ayca.net; the Charter Yacht Brokers Association, www.cyba.net; and the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association, www.mybamembers.com.

Most brokers require payment of half the total cost upon booking, with the balance due immediately before departure. They will usually deposit these funds into an escrow account. Because deposits are generally nonrefundable, most brokers recommend that you buy trip cancellation insurance, which can help you recoup any losses if you or a relative fall ill and you cannot make the trip, or if your trip is disrupted by a tropical storm.

If you want to charter a specific boat during peak weeks - like Christmas or Presidents' Day week in the Caribbean, or July and August in the Mediterranean - brokers recommend booking 6 to 12 months in advance. These days, though, many travelers prefer to plan closer to the time of departure because of economic and political uncertainties, travel experts say. If you book late, of course, the selection of yachts may be limited. But waiting can also lead to discounts.

Some bargains, for example, are available now for Caribbean charters this fall and winter: through Oct. 24, the Moorings is cutting the price of a two-week, 41-foot bareboat charter for six passengers in the British Virgin Islands by 25 percent, to $3,308. For winter bookings made by Oct. 1, Ed Hamilton has a weeklong all-inclusive charter for two, with a crew, on a 44-foot catamaran in the Virgin Islands for $7,980; after Oct. 1, the rate rises to $9,000.

Another way to save money is to charter an older yacht. Rates at the Moorings, for example, are lower for its three- to five-year-old yachts than for its one- and two-year-old ones.

Whatever you pay, chartering lets you spend quality time with friends or family, said Ms. Woods, the executive from Navigant."And, unlike on a big ship, you never have to dress up; there are no formal nights," she said. "I was in shorts or a swimsuit all the time."

LEADING LUXURY AIR AND YACHT CHARTER ORGANIZATIONS FORM MARKETING AND SALES ALLIANCE

Air Royale, Inc. and Yachtstore, Ltd. join forces to provide combined air and sea services to their common high-end customer base.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. and NEW CANAAN, CONNECTICUT, May, 17th, 2002 - Air Royale, Inc. and Yachtstore, Ltd. today announced that they have joined forces in an exclusive alliance to provide their respective services to their existing customers and other high net worth consumers and corporate clients.

Through its sister company Private Jetaway, Air Royale will be Yachtstore's exclusive partner in the area of private air charter while Yachtstore will serve as Air Royale and Private Jetaway's exclusive resource in the area of luxury yacht charter. The parties will also work closely to develop and market combined fly/yacht travel vacations.

"We feel this makes complete sense," said Air Royale President and CEO, Wayne J. Rizzi, "our companies cater to the same upscale customer base, and there are many instances where the convenience of private air charter can add a crucial element to a luxury yachting vacation, many of which originate at destinations not well served by the major airlines. Moreover, private air charter, like private yachting, is a very secure and attractive alternative in these uncertain times."

The Air Royale/Yachtstore alliance will be much more than a simple Internet links arrangement. The companies are creating reciprocal co-branded websites to attract customers, provide rich content on their respective services and refer interested parties to the appropriate party for servicing. The companies will also proactively market their combined services to their existing customers and the general public.

"Although our core business is yacht charter and sales, our goal is to provide our clients with a variety of highest quality information and services related to the yachting experience. Like Air Royale, our focus is to serve as the definitive resource for our customers in our area of specialty and find the best situation based on their needs and not our desire to sell any particular product," said Yachtstore President & CEO, Michael W. Halstead. "Air Royale's ability to provide the best in private air charter will add another key service for our customers and will provide a perfect complement to their yachting experience."

Yachtstore.com is the world's first and a leading global "clicks and mortar" yacht brokerage and charter organization. The company is headquartered in New Canaan, Conn. with offices and/or representatives in New York City, Newport, Rhode Island, Fort Lauderdale and Beverly Hills. Yachtstore operates on the Internet through its principal website, www.yachtstore.com and through a global conventional brokerage network. It specializes in the charter and sale of luxury boats and related goods and services, and offers authoritative information on yacht charter and ownership. Yachtstore also serves as a behind-the-scenes information resource and service provider in yacht charter for several major travel and luxury marketing organizations.

Private Jetaway was founded to provide ultra-high levels of service to the leisure traveler. "Private Jet to the Private Villa where your butler and staff await you is merely the start of what we deliver to our clients", Rizzi says. "We know all of our guests needs, from the texture of your favorite linen all the way down to the scent of the aromatherapy in your hot-tub." The price of this luxury? "Weekend retreats exclusive of private air charter begin at $24,900.00. Custom extended retreats peak out at approximately $500,000.00. And you can never put a price on privacy and security," quips Rizzi with a smile.
Private Jetaway serves clientele with exclusive retreats in over 400 cities worldwide.

Additional information on Private Jetaway is available by visiting www.privatejetaway.com or by contacting the managing director, Michael Tertoole, at (323) 930-2244; e-mail: mike@privatejetaway.com

Additional information on Yachtstore is available by visiting www.yachtstore.com, or by contacting Michael W. Halstead, Yachtstore, Ltd., at (203) 972-6300 or e-mail: mwh@yachtstore.com,

TRAVELLER'S CHOICE TO USE YACHTSTORE'S FIVE STAR FLEET CHARTER SERVICES

NEW CANAAN, CONN (December 15, 2001) Yachtstore, Ltd. today announced that it has formed a marketing and promotional alliance with the travel agency marketing group and network, Holiday Marketing/Traveler's Choice and MART ("Traveler's Choice"). Traveler's Choice and MART have entered a partnership agreement for Yachtstore to be the exclusive provider of yacht charter services to its two networks of travel agencies and agents. Traveler's Choice and MART jointly have over 2000 affiliates.

According to Peggy Hattendorf, Executive Vice President of Traveler's
Choice, Traveler's Choice will work closely with Yachtstore to package luxury
yacht charters in a way that will make the process more convenient and
understandable to Traveler's Choice travel professionals and their customers.
Yachts participating in the program will be part of Yachtstore's Five Star
Fleet™, a quality control and marketing initiative in which yachts are
evaluated and recommended according to Yachtstore's "Five Stars of Quality," which include, quality, ambiance and seaworthiness of the yacht itself, its crew, cuisine, onboard water sports equipment and other amenities. The program will feature all-in package prices and attractive itineraries on a variety of luxury motor and sail yachts in various ports of call, including New England, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Available yachts range in size from 50 to 250 feet and more. Weekly charter rates range from $10,000 to well over $500,000.

"Now, more than ever, private yacht charter is an attractive alternative," said Michael W. Halstead, CEO of Yachtstore. It is private and secure and affords people the opportunity to gather together with those important to them for a unique, intimate and memorable experience. What's more, it is very cost competitive with other luxury vacation options. We hope to make yacht charter attractive and readily available to the vast and relatively untapped audience of 'Baby Boomers' who are currently spending their travel and leisure dollars elsewhere. We are delighted to be developing this initiative with Traveler's Choice and the members of their network."

Yachtstore, which operates principally through its global web site,
www.yachtstore.com, is the world's first global "clicks and mortar" yacht brokerage and charter organization. The company is headquartered in New Canaan, Conn. with offices and/or representatives in New York City,Newport,
Rhode Island, Fort Lauderdale, Beverly Hills and San Francisco. The company operates on the Internet and through a global conventional brokerage network, specializes in the charter and sale of luxury boats and related goods and services, and offers information and entertainment content to the yachting community.

# # #
Media Contacts:

Yachtstore, Ltd.
Michael W. Halstead (203) 972-6300; e-mail: mwh@yachtstore.com

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BOLT LAMOTTE JOINS YACHTSTORE.COM TEAM

NEW CANAAN, CONN. (November 27, 2001) - Yachtstore, Ltd. today announced that Bolt LaMotte has joined the company as a full time broker to assist the company in that segment of its business focused on the sale of luxury yachts.

LaMotte will operate out of the company's headquarters in New Canaan,
Connecticut.

Bolt LaMotte joins Yachtstore with extensive experience in the yachting and
business worlds. His background includes working as Director of Professional
Services for Notara, an Internet software company; as a manager in the
Financial Services sector at Andersen Consulting; and as an insurance broker
at Marsh & McLennan.

Joining Yachtstore merges LaMotte's career with his life long passion. His
yachting career started when he was five, when he learned to sail on the
Chesapeake Bay. His passion for sailing continued at the University of Rhode
Island, where he competed on one of the nation's top college teams for four
years. He later sailed professionally on the Grand Prix racing circuit in
fleets that included the One Ton, Fifty Foot and Maxi classes.

In addition to his racing career, LaMotte has solid cruising and charter experience on both power and sailing yachts, including overseeing the commissioning of new yachts for Little Harbor Custom Yachts. He is a member of the New York Yacht Club and lives in Darien, Conn. with his wife, Kirsten, and their two children.

"We are very pleased to have Bolt join the Yachtstore team," said Yachtstore's founding Chairman and head of brokerage, Paul Madden. "This, along with our veteran brokers and our strategic alliances with others in key yachting markets, will strengthen our capability to provide the best possible service to those seeking to sell or purchase a yacht."

Yachtstore is the world's first global "clicks and mortar" yacht brokerage
and charter organization. The company is headquartered in New Canaan, Conn. with brokers and charter specialists in offices in New York, Newport, Rhode Island, Fort Lauderdale, and Beverly Hills and representatives in other major global yachting centers. The company operates on the Internet through its principal website www.yachtstore.com and through a global conventional brokerage network, specializes in the charter and sale of luxury boats and related goods and services, and offers information and entertainment content to the yachting community.

For further information contact:

Paul M. Madden 401-849-9242; e-mail: pm@yachtstore.com
Bolt LaMotte (203) 972-5911; e-mail: bolt@yachtstore.com

Yachtstore, Ltd.
P.O. Box 1085
New Canaan, CT 06840
www.yachtstore.com
Yachtstore: "The Definitive Source for All Things Yachting"

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YACHTSTORE OFFERS LINK FOR YACHT CUSTOMERS TO HIGH-END PROFESSIONAL RISK SERVICES
Marsh's Insurance, Risk Consulting Services Now Accessible To Yachtstore's High-End Yacht Market Customers

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. and NEW CANAAN, CONN., July, 2001 -- The Private Client Services Practice of Marsh Inc. and Yachtstore, Ltd. today announced they are working together to provide Yachtstore's high net worth customers with access to Marsh's specialized risk and insurance services through the Internet.

Marsh will be the Yachtstore "preferred provider" of insurance and risk management services and will provide content on these subjects in the "Purchase" and "Partners" sections of Yachtstore's Web site, yachtstore.com. In addition, Yachtstore's Web site will provide a link to www.marsh.com, the Marsh site.

"Although our core business is yacht charter and sales, our goal is to provide our clients with a variety of highest quality information and services related to the yachting experience. We are achieving this through relationships with industry leaders, such as Marsh," said Yachtstore President & CEO, Michael W. Halstead.

"We are excited about linking with Yachtstore and introducing their customers to our array of specialized programs and services," said Gregory J. Glover, a managing director of Marsh. "Our wealth of knowledge and experience in this area and our global resources put us in a unique position to deliver the best and most comprehensive insurance and risk management related advice to Yachtstore's elite clientele."

Marsh's Private Client Services practice specializes in the protection of luxury yachts and other large assets. The firm's clients include owners of many of the world's largest motor and sailing yachts that cruise throughout the world. The Luxury yacht division focuses solely on the needs of yacht owners and charterers.

Marsh, the world's leading risk and insurance services firm, has 35,000 employees and annual revenues of $4.8 billion. The firm provides advice and transactional capabilities to clients in over 100 countries. Marsh is a unit of Marsh & McLennan Companies (MMC), a global professional services firm with 57,000 employees and annual revenues of $10 billion. MMC also is the parent company of Putnam Investments and Mercer Consulting Group. MMC's stock (ticker symbol: MMC) is listed on the New York, Chicago, Pacific and London stock exchanges. MMC's Web site address is www.mmc.com. Marsh's Web site address is www.marsh.com.

Yachtstore.com is the world's first global "clicks and mortar" yacht brokerage and charter organization. The company is headquartered in New Canaan, Conn. with offices and/or representatives in New York City, Newport, Rhode Island, Fort Lauderdale, Beverly Hills and San Francisco. The company operates on the Internet and through a global conventional brokerage network, specializes in the charter and sale of luxury boats and related goods and services, and offers information and entertainment content to the yachting community.

Additional information is available by visiting www.yachtstore.com, or by contacting Michael W. Halstead, Yachtstore, Ltd., at (203) 972-6300 or e-mail: mwh@yachtstore.com, or

Gregory J. Glover, Marsh Private Client Services, (954) 765-5681; e-mail: gregory.j.glover@marshmc.com.

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HAVE YOUR TRAVEL AGENT PULL THE YACHT AROUND
Virtuoso Travel Consultant Network Enters Exclusive Partnership with Yachtstore

NEW YORK (July 20, 2001) - Sure, your travel agent can book you on the next flight, but can she secure a private yacht for you at the drop of a hat? If she's a Virtuoso travel consultant, the answer is yes. Virtuoso, a network of 264 luxury leisure travel agencies in the Americas, has entered a partnership agreement with Yachtstore to be the exclusive provider of crewed yacht charter services.

"The demand for yacht charters is ramping up with the flood of affluent Baby Boomers beginning to dominate luxury travel," said Matthew Upchurch, CTC, chief executive officer of Virtuoso. "Chartering a yacht provides ultimate flexibility in mobility . . . you can stay as long as you want at a port without being at the mercy of a cruise ship schedule. That really appeals to affluent Boomers. Not to mention the high style involved in having your own personal ship."

According to Upchurch, Yachtstore is working closely with Virtuoso to package luxury yacht charters in a way that will make the process more convenient and understandable to consumers and travel consultants. Yachts participating in the program will be part of Yachtstore's Five Star Fleet™, a quality control and marketing initiative in which yachts are evaluated and recommended according to Yachtstore's "Five Stars of Quality," which include, quality, ambience and seaworthiness of the yacht itself, its crew, cuisine, onboard water sports equipment and other amenities. The program will feature all-in package prices and attractive itineraries on a variety of luxury motor and sail yachts in various ports of call, including New England, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Available yachts range in size from 50 to 250 feet and more. Weekly charter rates range from $10,000 to well over $500,000.

To showcase and market the chosen yachts, Virtuoso and Yachtstore have selected ShowBoats International magazine as the exclusive provider of the catalog that will support the program. Several copies of a special version of ShowBoat's Charter Fleet International catalog will be distributed to each of the 264 Virtuoso travel agencies in North and South America.

"Our goal is to demystify yacht charter and simplify the process for both travel professionals and their customers, " said Yachtstore President & CEO Michael W. Halstead. We hope to make yacht charter attractive and readily available to the vast and relatively untapped audience of 'Baby Boomers' who are currently spending their travel and leisure dollars elsewhere. We are delighted to be developing this initiative with Virtuoso, an experienced industry leader with an excellent reputation and extensive distribution network."

Dubbed "the new travel gurus" by Condé Nast Traveler magazine, Virtuoso (formerly API Travel Consultants) has served world travelers for 50 years. Its more than 6,000 expert travel consultants offer credible advice, professional service and personal planning. Leveraging more than $2.5 billion in annual buying power, Virtuoso holds exclusive agreements with the world's leading hotels, resorts, spas, cruise lines, tour companies, rail lines, airlines and ground operators. Those relationships translate into room upgrades and complimentary meals to private tours and limousine transfers for Virtuoso clients, and these perks are available for no additional cost and often turn a good vacation into a great one. For more information regarding Virtuoso and/or to find a Virtuoso travel specialist, call 800.401.4274 or visit www.virtuoso.com.

Yachtstore, which operates principally through its global web site, www.yachtstore.com, is the world's first global "clicks and mortar" yacht brokerage and charter organization. The company is headquartered in New Canaan, Conn. with offices and/or representatives in New York City, Newport, Rhode Island, Fort Lauderdale, Beverly Hills and San Francisco. The company operates on the Internet and through a global conventional brokerage network, specializes in the charter and sale of luxury boats and related goods and services, and offers information and entertainment content to the yachting community.

# # #
Press Contacts:

Yachtstore, Ltd.
Michael W. Halstead (203) 972-6300; e-mail: mwh@yachtstore.com

Virtuoso
Keith Waldon, (512) 847-7200; email: kwaldon@virtuoso.com

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GANIS CREDIT CORPORATION AND YACHTSTORE FORM MARKETING ALLIANCE

Industry Leaders Use Synergies to Offer Value-added Services to High-End Yacht Market Customers

NEW CANAAN, CONN. and COSTA MESA, CAL. (May 2, 2001) - Ganis Credit Corporation and Yachtstore, Ltd. today announced the formation of a strategic marketing alliance aimed at leveraging the companies' synergies to enhance business-to-customer services within the yacht industry.

The combined program capitalizes on the convenience of Web-based services, positioning high-end yacht enthusiasts with greater access to Yachtstore products and services and financing programs through Ganis Credit Corporation (Ganis).

"Our goal is to continue providing the most efficient and affordable processes to deliver Yachtstore products and services to our customers, " said Yachtstore President & CEO Michael W. Halstead, adding that the global company is currently expanding its focus within the elite-end of the yacht market. "The expansion entails commencing new initiatives that, having our customers' needs in mind, certainly merit the establishment of today's announced relationship with an industry leader such as Ganis."

Ganis, a unit of Deutsche Financial Services, specializes in providing U.S. boat and yacht loans up to $2 million. The marketing alliance bolsters the company's yacht industry marketing initiatives by designating the lender as a Yachtstore-preferred financial services provider.

In conjunction with the preferred-status, an electronic portal to Ganis' financial programs will be provided via a link on the "Purchase" and "Partners" section of Yachtstore's Web site, yachtstore.com. The marketing alliance also provides ganiscredit.com visitors with a direct link to Yachtstore.com where respective Yachtstore products and services are offered, including the company's yacht charter and brokerage services.

"We are excited about linking with Yachtstore and introducing their customers to our menu of specialized programs and services," said Ganis Vice President Michael Rapp, who called the Ganis-Yachtstore program, a "win-win-win" alliance. "This is a great trifecta. The customer benefits from improved accessibility to product and financing. Yachtstore moves product faster, and Ganis is introduced to a new customer base."

Founded in 1980, Ganis Credit Corporation is a national consumer finance company specializing in marine and recreational vehicle loans. A unit of Deutsche Financial Services (DFS), Ganis Credit Corporation is affiliated with DFS ultimate parent, Deutsche Bank AG, one of the world's largest financial institutions with assets in excess of $830 billion on December 31, 2000.

Yachtstore.com is the world's first global "clicks and mortar" yacht brokerage and charter organization. The company is headquartered in New Canaan, Conn. with offices and/or representatives in New York City, Newport, Rhode Island, Fort Lauderdale, Beverly Hills and San Francisco. The company operates on the Internet and through a global conventional brokerage network, specializes in the charter and sale of luxury boats and related goods and services, and offers information and entertainment content to the yachting community.

Business Contacts:

Yachtstore, Ltd.
Michael W. Halstead (203) 972-6300; e-mail: mwh@yachtstore.com

Ganis Credit Corporation
Michael Rapp, (714) 481-8835; e-mail: michael.rapp@db.com

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Under the agreement, West Marine will serve as Yachtstore's supplier for a wide variety of yachting parts and accessories and will be featured on the "Store" section of Yachtstore's global web site www.yachtstore.com. The companies will jointly promote the alliance and site, which will contain West Marine's 50,000 item product inventory. West Marine will host the e-commerce store, process all orders and provide customer service.

Yachtstore.com will enjoy a corresponding presence on West Marine's web site, www.westmarine.com in which certain Yachtstore products and services, including crewed yacht charters, will be offered. The companies plan to collaborate on other services for the yachting industry.

"We are pleased to have established an alliance with an industry leader such as West Marine," said Yachtstore President and CEO, Michael W. Halstead. The association will help us reach a wider audience of boating enthusiasts, and through West Marine, we will be able to offer Yachtstore.com's customers the widest array of marine supplies and accessories and the best service."

West Marine Director, John Noble, adds, "Our association with Yachtstore will create added value for West Marine amongst their important customer base, particularly as they enter yachting through charter or first purchase. Our customers and Yachtstore's clientele have much in common: they love boating and they appreciate selection, convenience, service and value when it comes to their purchase of marine services, supplies and accessories."

Yachtstore.com is the world's first global "clicks and mortar" yacht brokerage and charter organization. The company is headquartered in New Canaan, Conn. with offices in New York City, London and Monaco and branch brokerage offices in Fort Lauderdale and Beverly Hills. The company operates on the Internet and through a global conventional brokerage network, specializes in the charter and sale of luxury boats and related goods and services, and offers information and entertainment content to the yachting community.

West Marine, Inc. is the largest specialty retailer of recreational and commercial boating supplies and apparel in the world and offers a variety of services, including insurance, towing and finance for marine, boating and watersport uses and purposes. The company offers its products through 235 stores in 39 states, it's wholesale division "Port Supply," through it's catalogs and through its Internet site, www.westmarine.com.

For further information contact:

Yachtstore:
Michael W. Halstead (203) 972-6300; e-mail: mwh@yachtstore.com
Paul Madden (203) 972-5902; e-mail: paulmadden@yachtstore.com
Jeff Blumenfeld (PR agency) (203) 855 9400; e-mail:blumassoc@aol.com

West Marine: John C. Noble, (831) 761-4007; e-mail: JohnN@westmarine.com

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YACHTSTORE TO APPEAR ON NATIONAL TV 6/2000

New Canaan's Yachtstore.com selected to appear on "MoneyHunt"

NEW CANAAN, Conn. (June 23, 2000) - A local firm that sells and charters
"mega-yachts" over the Internet expects to receive some mega exposure this fall when its chief executive officer appears on "MoneyHunt," a public
television show that plays like the "Siskel & Ebert" of the business world.
New Canaan resident Michael W. Halstead recently taped an appearance on
the show to explain the concept behind his company which is pursuing a
"clicks and mortar" business strategy. Yachtstore.com is building a worldwide
network of "bricks and mortar" yacht brokerage, management and charter
companies, and supporting them through its Internet site, www.yachtstore.com.

MoneyHunt offers a forum for selected entrepreneurs to present and defend
their business plans before a panel consisting of two hosts and a guest
industry expert who then critique the entrepreneur's business plan and
discuss whether the idea can find financing in the competitive race for
venture capital.

"There's no actual money awarded on the show, but many entrepreneurs have generated funding from their appearance," according to Halstead. "The
producers tell us that 13 of the show's 26 guests last year raised $17
million as a result of the exposure."

"We're hopeful that the exposure generated by this appearance will lead
to financing to enable us to more quickly expand our already successful
Internet service aimed at high net worth individuals," said Halstead, an
attorney and successful 26-year veteran of the television and event marketing business.

Yachtstore.com was started in 1996 by boating industry consultant and
Internet entrepreneur Paul M. Madden, also of New Canaan.
MoneyHunt, based in Norwalk, premiered in January, 1997, and is now seen
on over 100 public television stations nationwide. For more information:
www.moneyhunt.com.

Earlier this month, Yachtstore merged with Monaco-based Edmiston &
Company Limited to form a new company called Edmiston-Yachtstore Holdings LLC. The combined entity is the world's first global "clicks and mortar"

yacht brokerage organization. The company is presently in the capital
markets seeking additional funding to be used for a global consolidation of
the high-end yachting business, as well as for construction of the ultimate
transactional yachting-related Internet site, and associated marketing and
branding initiatives.

Yachtstore is headquartered in New Canaan with offices in New
York City, London and Monaco, and branch brokerage offices in Fort
Lauderdale, New York City, and Beverly Hills. The telephone number is 203 97
2 6300; mwh@yachtstore.com; www.yachtstore.com.

# # #

Editor's Note: Photos of Mr. Halstead on the set of "MoneyHunt" are
available via e-mail upon request. Contact: Jeff Blumenfeld, 203 855 9400.

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Yachtstore.com, the first-mover in yachting on the Internet, today announced signing a long term agreement with supermodel/actress, Lauren Hutton. Ms. Hutton will serve as the principal spokesperson for Yachtstore's Five Star Fleet™, the world's first branded fleet of crewed charter luxury yachts and will serve as a member of Yachtstore's Advisory Board. As part of the consideration for her involvement, Ms. Hutton will receive founder's equity in Yachtstore's parent company, Yachtstore, Ltd.

Yachtstore.com, founded in 1995 by entrepeneur and avid sailing enthsiast,
Paul M. Madden, was profiled in a May 1992 article on Up&Comers in Forbes
magazine. Yachtstore is focusing on utilizing the Internet to provide better
access, information and service to consumers in the highly fragmented and
relatively disorganized $20 billion worldwide high end boating market.

"We approached Ms. Hutton to be our spokesperson once we learned that she has a strong interest and a long history of involvement in outdoor adventure and in particular in boating and scuba diving," said Madden. "Our research indicated that she has a high degree of awareness and credibility with both male and female consumers in our highly-educated and affluent target market."

"Yachtstore is more than just another overnight dot com wonder" said Madden's partner and Yachtstore's CEO, Michael W. Halstead. "We are in the process of combining a number of top tier complementary "bricks and mortar" yachting businesses to create new efficiencies and provide the best possible market intelligence and service to our discriminating clientele. We feel our
relationship with Lauren Hutton along with a number of "out of the box"
initiatives and strategic alliances we will be announcing in the coming
months will help us break through the dot com clutter and remain a viable,
profitible company long after the dust has cleared on the current Internet
mania."

Yachtstore recently completed a highly successful photo session with Lauren
Hutton in the waters off Palm Beach, Florida. "I am excited to become part
of the Yachtstore team, said Ms. Hutton. "It will be fun to be an integral
part of this exciting venture in an area in which I have long had a personal
interest. In fact, I'm both an owner and a client of Yachtstore since I've
asked Paul and Mike to get to work to find me that classic sailboat I've long
dreamt about."

The yachtstore.com website, started four years ago by Madden in his home
office with a budget of $100, has grown to a site with over 2000 images of t
he world's top luxury yachts for sale and charter. Yachtstore is about to
"turn on the lights" to a new and improved web site which it hopes to quickly
build into the world's premier information and transaction site for high end
boating. Stay tuned.

Press Contact:

Michael W. Halstead, 203 972 6300; mwh@yachtstore.com
Jeff Blumenfeld, Blumenfeld and Assoc. PR, 203 855 9400; blumassoc@aol.com