CURTIS STOKES & ASSOCIATES, a group of professionals who specialize in worldwide yacht sales, yacht charters and new yacht construction, has recently opened a new office on the Potomac River at Occoquan Harbour Marina, in Woodbridge, Va. Curtis Stokes & Associates, which has its headquarters in Fort Lauderdale along with a full-service office in Annapolis, considers their presence at the Occoquan Harbor Marina to be of strategic benefit to its growing list of customers.

"We are always looking for better ways to serve our clientele," said Curtis Stokes, president of the bonded and licensed yacht brokerage company. "Part of that strategy is to make it as easy as possible to serve the people who come to us for unparalleled service."

Terry Holzman, General Manager of Occoquan Harbor Marina, said, "We are honored to partner with such a professional and successful yacht brokerage firm as Curtis Stokes and Associates. Their reputation and concentration on customer service matches ours, so we feel our firms will be a great fit for our mutual clients in this area."

Contact them at www.curtisstokes.net.

C-JAM YACHT SALES, a full-service marine dealer located in Stevensville, Md., announces the addition of Bruce Staley to its sales team. Staley comes with a wealth of experience within the industry, having spent the last ten years representing quality boat lines while offering professional customer service. C-JAM Yacht Sales offers customers a range of quality products and services to suit their boating needs. 443-249-3192; www.cjamyachtsales.com

DELTAVILLE YACHTING CENTER and CHESAPEAKE YACHT SALES are delighted to announce the running of the Sunfish Challenge and Distance Dinghy Race on Saturday, Septemeber 19. The race route runs for 11 miles, starting at Willoughby Round Middle Ground Light. Put your dinghy to the test and enjoy a day of sailing and partying. Three Sunfish classes, plus FJs, Lasers, Force 5, windsurfers and any dinghies 22 feet or less. For more info contact regatta chair: Jonathan Romero at 757-285-6017 or [email protected].

KOHLER MARINEsets sail aboard L'Hermione, the French ship that visited the Bay in June. Deep inside the wooden hull of L'Hermione, three Kohler Marine generators are among the limited modern machines incorporated into the ship's design for enhanced safety and comfort. A 300 kW and a 400 kW generator provide electrical power to two propellers (pods), which are utilized for port maneuvering as well as to help guard against no-wind conditions at sea. An 80 kW generator is also on board and delivers continuous power for the ship's electronics. All three generators were selected based upon their performance, reduced noise levels and low vibration. Minimizing noise and vibration is especially important on a replica wooden ship which is intended to help people experience what sailing would have been like in the 1780s.

"Everyone at Kohler Marine is proud to be playing a vital role in the overall performance of L'Hermione as she sails along the eastern coast of the United States this summer," said Bas Van Steeg, regional sales manager for Kohler Marine. "We're aligned with the spirit of adventure, innovation, and technical achievement represented by this project and we're thrilled that L'Hermione is now being celebrated around the globe."

Kohler Power Systems, a division of Kohler Co., provides complete power systems, including generators (residential, industrial, mobile, portable, and marine), automatic transfer switches, paralleling switchgear, monitoring controls, and accessories for emergency, prime power and energy-management applications. Kohler Power Systems has delivered energy solutions for markets worldwide since 1920. For more information, visit www.kohlerpower.com.

The CHESAPEAKE BAY MARITIME MUSEUM in St. Michaels recently donated 13 sailing dinghies to the MILES RIVER YACHT CLUB FOUNDATION for use in the Miles River Yacht Club's summer Junior Sail Program. The seven JY one-design sailing dinghies and six FJ Flying Junior sailing dinghies were previously used in the Museum's youth sailing camp program, which has been replaced with a new small craft rental program at the museum.

"The Miles River Yacht Club junior sailing program is growing its enrollment, so the gift couldn't come at a better time," said MRYC Foundation Chairman Dr. Sherry Manning. "The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum's thoughtful repurposing of these sailing dinghies means we can now support more experienced young sailors out on the water with advanced boats, helping them to develop life lessons, self-reliance and leadership skills in the process. We are most grateful for the donation."

The MRYC Foundation makes grants of funds and equipment to non-profit organizations that offer youth sailing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, rowing and other maritime-focused educational programs. In its first four years, it has made $200,949 in grants to 23 non-profit organizations in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.