New owners experienced in five star resort operations acquired the Yacht Haven Park and Marina in mid-2021.   These professionals have committed to an overall investment of nearly $90 million into the property with a multi- phase plan which encompasses improvements which, once complete, will renovate, renew, replace or upgrade every aspect of the property.   No detail has been overlooked as corresponding resort amenities and personalized services will come on line as each phase is accomplished.  Currently $26 million in improvements are underway with Phase One and Phase Two of the plans to be completed in the coming months.

$26 Million Two Phase Renovation Plan

Phase One of a complete resort transformation of Yacht Haven  has been underway since early summer with many improvements already in place for guests to enjoy, including:

• On-site Concierge Services
• Redesigned Resort-Style Pool with Tiki Hut Oasis
• New Docks
• Riverside Tiki Hut
• High-Speed Wi-Fi
• New Tropical Landscaping

Phase 2 improvements include:

• Fitness Center
• Shuffleboard, Cornhole, Firepits
• Poolside Tiki Huts with Hammocks
• Dog Park
• New Tropical Pool and Expanded Sundeck
• Paddleboard, Kayak and Boat Rentals
• Upgraded Laundry and Restroom Facilities
• Valet Trash Service
• New Paved Roads and Motorcoach Sites

Hall of Fame Marina gave back to the community thanking the health professionals from Holy Cross Hospital that are saving lives.  The plan was two fold, hard working health care professionals would enjoy a fun relaxing experience on a Tropical Sailing sunset cruise.  Cruise certificates were included in a special gift basket including personal notes of gratitude with champagne and chocolates.  Twenty five cruise certificates and gift baskets were presented and distributed.  The cruise certificates were for the health care professionals and a guest along with the other items.

This was a great way of rewarding these health care workers on the front line from Hall of Fame Marina and our local business partners.

Hall of Fame Marina Salutes Dive4Vets during National Marina Days

Hall of Fame Marina in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. announces Dive4Vets as its charity beneficiary for its annual National Marina Days celebration on June 22, 2019.

Hall of Fame’s National Marina Days (NMD) celebration includes a fun morning cruise on S/Y Spirit of Lauderdale for Veterans and guests. The route follows the Intracoastal to Port Everglades into the Atlantic Ocean and return. Immediately following the cruise, the JROTC color guard of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School will lead the Pledge of Allegiance and our National Anthem, followed by a program honoring Veterans and a luncheon at G&B Restaurant, including a Fallen Soldier Table.

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis will present the city’s proclamation celebrating National Marina Days and honoring Dive4Vets. With one week left for fundraising, generous marine industry sponsors have already raised $3,300 towards a beach accessible wheelchair and other equipment to aid Veterans in SCUBA diving.*

“Diving is a fun recreational activity on the water and that’s the mission behind National Marina Days,” said Scott Salomon, CMM, and marina manager of Hall of Fame Marina. “We are happy to shine the spotlight on Dive4Vets and believe in their mission to help our nation’s Veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country and our freedom. If we help save one Veteran’s life by helping them learn to dive and to enjoy the water, then we have really accomplished something important, together.”

Sponsors may raise enough funds for two beach accessible wheelchairs according to Salomon, who reports one sports wheelchair was also donated.

Kary McNeal, a dive professional and founder of Dive4Vets, is a retired gunnery sergeant and US Marine Corps Veteran. He established Dive4Vets as one solution to counteract Veteran suicides, which sadly average 22 lives lost daily for combat deployed Veterans.

“Frankly, I started Dive4Vets because I just got tired of going to funerals,” said McNeal, who explains the water is a great equalizer. “Diving is a social sport where everyone is interdependent on each other and removes the isolation factor plaguing so many Veterans. Diving cannot be enjoyed alone and gives Veterans more confidence and higher self esteem.”

McNeal’s company, Aquatic Ventures, certifies about 700 divers annually. About 20-percent are Veterans whose first SCUBA certification is completely funded by Dive4Vets. Veterans dive over 60 fascinating wrecks off the shores of Broward County, like The Windward Trader just off the shore of the Pompano Beach fishing pier.

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of our founder Michael M. Sachs, on April 11, 2019.  The Westrec team, and the marina industry will miss him!

Michael M. Sachs passed away peacefully at his home on April 11, 2019, days shy of his 78th birthday. Michael was always admired for his energy, determination, sharp mind and business acumen. A graduate of the University of Illinois (B.S., Accounting, 1962) and Stanford University Law School (J.D., 1965), he was also a Certified Public Accountant in Illinois (the youngest ever at the time) and California.

Michael practiced law at Kindel and Anderson, became a Partner at Agnew, Miller and Carlson, and then formed his own firm, Sachs and Phelps in 1982. Michael served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Public Storage, Inc., from 1982 to 1990, where he helped to raise over $3 billion in equity capital. In 1987, he conceived the idea of storing boats in the same manner as people’s personal goods, and with that stroke of genius, formed Westrec Financial Inc. Michael was the principal architect behind the formation, development and capitalization of Westrec Marinas, which has been successful for over 30 years. Michael served on the Board of Directors of many public and private companies during his career, and was frequently sought out by acquaintances for advice on startup companies. He was always generous with his time
and advice.

Michael is survived by his wife of over 30 years, Maureen, his sister Rosanne Ezer (Steve Ezer), nieces Debbie Ezer and Melissa Martin (Paul Martin) and grand nephews Bradley and Derek Martin.

508-Rack Hurricane-Ready Dry Storage with Re-Designed Park, New Office, Retail Store and Bath House  

Westrec Marinas is pleased to announce the development of the new Haulover Marine Center, is well underway.   Located on the Intracoastal Waterway at Bakers-Haulover Inlet in North Miami Beach, Florida and nestled between Sunny Isles and Bal Harbor, the new building will be opposite the existing open dry storage rack system.   Following extensive negotiations with Miami-Dade County Parks and Recreation Department, all permits were issued and construction commenced in July 2014 with a completion date Grand Opening scheduled for the spring of 2016.

The most popular inland sandbar and one of the nicest beaches inSouth Florida  lie adjacent to the   site of the new Haulover Marine Center.  Westrec leases both the Marine Center on the north end of the Park where the new building will be located and Haulover Point which houses a retail store and fuel dock  at the southernmost end.

The appeal of the area for boaters and Westrec alike is an all-amenities approach enabling easy access to the water in an enviroment welcoming to water lovers whether visiting the park by water or land.

Haulover Marine Center is less than one mile from Baker’s Haulover Inlet and provides quick and easy ocean access. Between both, a boater’s ideal all-purpose location is represented with retail stores, a restaurant, fully stock extensive bait and tackle, a gas and diesel fuel dock, a marine service department, restrooms and a sanitary pump out.

To enhance and modernize Haulover Marine Center’s existing facilities while adding nearly double the dry storage, Westrec Marinas has successfully negotiated leading edge design, engineering and construction of the following improvements:

• 508-rack fully enclosed dry storage building

• A new marine center rated to withstand a Category 5 hurricane. Prime materials, such as galvanized steel, will be used throughout

• An innovative elevator lift system will be used for launching and retrieving vessels

• The dry storage building is being designed specifically to hold the larger multi-outboard engine boats that are popular in today’s marketplace.

•  The new dry storage building will be five racks high, accommodating those vessels up to 50’ in length overall

• A new parking area will be constructed to provide adequate parking for marina tenants and beach goers alike

• Other components include a new office, retail store, and bath house

• As part of the project, Westrec will remodel the existing Haulover Point retail store and fuel dock

To kick off the project and to indicate its excitement in developing this important boater’s mecca, Westrec is offering  a number of preopening  specials to those looking to secure a space for their boat and be among the first to be accommodated  when the new building is open in the spring of 2016.

Save the Date for the Westrec 2015 Rendezvous in Key Largo. Friday July 24th thru Sunday July 26th.

Join us for a weekend of fun in the sun with boaters from Harbour Towne, Haulover and other Westrec Marinas. First timers will learn your way thru the feather bed shoal south. No worries because we will have no boat left behind! You choose to come by boat, car, or both! Relax– it’s the keys!

Click the links below for more information.

National Marina Day at Hall of Fame Marina Day

In January, the M/Y Arctic P went on a month-long voyage to the Ross Sea region of Antarctica, including nearly 2000nm crossing the Southern Ocean. The voyage, organized with EYOS Expeditions, took them along the Ross Ice Shelf to the Bay of Whales where it nosed into the ice to set a new record for the most southerly position of any vessel ever: 78°43.0336’S, 163°42.1317’W, as officially recorded in the Guinness Book of Records.

“My reaction was one of feeling surreal,” Capt. Pugh told Ben Lyons of EYOS Expeditions, which organized the voyage. “It wasn’t until we actually crossed the furthest south that it hit home to everybody that this was a first.”

Capt. Pugh, who has an Australian master’s unlimited license, has spent eight years with M/V Arctic P, and before that was first mate on M/Y Octopus. He’s also worked with cargo ships, sailing ships, tall ships and cruise ships in his nearly 25-year career.

Capt. Pugh and the crew were honored with the Distinguished Crew Award at the International Superyacht Society’s annual awards gala Wednesday night in Ft. Lauderdale.

“It was a little different this year,” said Gary Groenewold, area vice president for the southern region at Westrec Marinas. “Nobody’s life got saved and there was no tragedy, thank goodness. But it is a milestone event.”

The crew are: Capt. Russell Pugh, Capt. Ronnie Maclean, Chief Mate Paul Crierie, 2d Mate Sam Daly, 2d Mate Luke Johnston, Tender Mate David Kerr, Bosun Afkar Ergis, Relief Bosun Sam Webb, Dive Master Jason Cram, Carpenter Upul Gamaralalage, Deckhand Xavier Mclean, Deckhand Sam O’Flaherty, Purser Tony Barnes, Supernumery Ikuyo Pugh, Chief Eng. Johann Pawlik, 2d Eng. Oleksandr Barchan, Fitter John Britto, Fitter Amit Dias, Electrician Vikrant Chavan, ETO Martin Potter, Chief Stew Lal Hikkaduwage, Chief Stew Kari Rasinaho, Stew Anton Dabrera, Stew Azhar Ergis, Stew Keith Samarakone, Stew Dush Siyanayake, Chef Arham Ergis, Chef Sarath Induruwage.

The crew are: Capt. Russell Pugh, Capt. Ronnie Maclean, Chief Mate Paul Crierie, 2d Mate Sam Daly, 2d Mate Luke Johnston, Tender Mate David Kerr, Bosun Afkar Ergis, Relief Bosun Sam Webb, Dive Master Jason Cram, Carpenter Upul Gamaralalage, Deckhand Xavier Mclean, Deckhand Sam O’Flaherty, Purser Tony Barnes, Supernumery Ikuyo Pugh, Chief Eng. Johann Pawlik, 2d Eng. Oleksandr Barchan, Fitter John Britto, Fitter Amit Dias, Electrician Vikrant Chavan, ETO Martin Potter, Chief Stew Lal Hikkaduwage, Chief Stew Kari Rasinaho, Stew Anton Dabrera, Stew Azhar Ergis, Stew Keith Samarakone, Stew Dush Siyanayake, Chef Arham Ergis, Chef Sarath Induruwage.

Four expedition crew also accompanied the voyage, including an ice pilot, naturalist and doctor.

Westrec sponsors the Distinguished Crew Award, which is part of the International Superyacht Society’s annual design and leadership awards. Other winners announced at Wednesday night’s gala:

For Best Power larger than 65m, the 213-foot (65m) Heesen M/Y Galactica Star

For Best Power 40-65m, the 152-foot (46m) Feadship M/Y Como, which also won for best interior

For Best Power 24-40m, the 111-foot (34m) M/Y Quaranta built by Curvelle.

For Best Sail larger than 40m+, the 185-foot (56.4m) S/Y Mondango3 built by Alloy Yachts.

For Best Sail 24-40m, the 107-foot (32.6m) S/Y Inukshuk built by Baltic.

For Best Refit, the 196-foot (60m) M/Y Dream built by Abeking & Rasmussen refit at Jones Boatyard in Miami.

Its Business Person of the Year was awarded posthumously to John Percival of Hoylake Sailing School and John Percival Marine Associates in the UK. Capt. Percival died in March.

Leadership Award was given to Tom & Henk De Vries of Feadship.

Fabien Cousteau Blue Award was given to the International SeaKeepers Society.

Waterscapes was honored for Excellence in Innovation.

Original Credit for Article goes to Lucy Chabot Reed of Triton Today