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 Welcome
to the October/November edition of Club Marine
Magazine – my
first as CEO and publisher.
We are very proud of our ever-increasing circulation,
which has now risen to 82,642, as confirmed by the Australian Bureau
of Circulations audit from January to June this year. Likewise, we’re pleased
at the growing popularity of our sister publications, Club
Marine Engines On Blue, Club Marine Trailerable On Blue and the exciting
new Club Marine Big On Blue. These three titles have a combined circulation
of just over 40,000, meaning our readers are part of a huge community
of devoted marine enthusiasts who choose Club Marine publications
to keep them informed, entertained and inspired to pursue their love
of the marine lifestyle in Australia and New Zealand.
Of course, Club Marine magazines are just a small part
of what we do; our core business is pleasure craft insurance, and
we have been market leader in this field for more than
40 years.
Club Marine is a unique Australian success story, due
in no small part to the hard work and dedication of our staff over
many years. As incoming CEO, I have inherited the expertise of a national
leadership team with over 160 years collective experience. In fact,
elder statesman of the group, National Operations Manager Ian Newman
(known internally as ‘The Old Man of the Sea’) recently celebrated 30 years
of service with the company – a rare and commendable achievement
indeed.
My aim is to ensure that we use this depth of knowledge
and long-term commitment to the company’s values to ensure that we continue
to deliver the highest standards of customer service, policy benefits
and value for money that have made Club Marine the insurer of choice
for the more than 135,000 boat owners who currently insure with us.
Our national network of brokers, agents, assessors, salvagers and
repairers is backed by the global strength and knowledge of the
Allianz Group of Companies, with full service Club Marine branches
in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Auckland, as well
as affiliated offices all around the world. Consequently, we are uniquely
placed to provide our customers with the service, advice and peace-of-mind
you need, whenever and wherever in the world you choose to cruise,
race, fish, ski, surf or otherwise enjoy this great marine lifestyle
of ours.
Club Marine is also recognised as being a leading supporter
of the myriad exhibitions, regattas, tournaments and other events
that fill the boating calendar each year. Over coming months we are
looking forward to taking part in the Club Marine Mandurah Ocean Marina
Boat and Fishing Show in WA from October 7 to 9, as well as opening
day celebrations at yacht clubs all around the coast throughout October;
and, of course, the largest and most anticipated marine event staged
in Australia for many years, the Volvo Ocean Race Melbourne Stopover
in January and February, 2006.
Perfectly timed to coincide with the lead-up to the
2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, the Volvo Ocean Race Melbourne
Stopover is part of the Victorian Government’s major events calendar, and will
provide yachties, boaters and land-lubbers alike with a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity to be part of an event to be remembered. For more information,
take a look at our preview in this edition, or go to www.visitvictoria.com.
Club Marine is very proud to be an official in-port
supporter of the Melbourne Stopover, and sponsor of the inaugural
Club Marine Challenge Rally – an event co-hosted by Yachting Victoria (www.vic.yachting.org.au)
and Challenge, a leading provider of support for kids and families
living with cancer and other life-threatening blood disorders (www.challenge.org.au).
The Club Marine Challenge Rally will be held on Saturday,
January 21, 2006, and will feature a variety of rally participation
options to suit everyone, from a keel boat rally over five courses
(featuring the majority of the Geelong Skandia week fleet), to a parade
and spectator fleet of cruising yachts, motor cruisers and trailerable
boats, all following the passage of the 1874 iron barque James Craig
up Port Philip Bay. Participants will cruise into the Yarra River
and on to Docklands, where those who have registered and made a tax
deductible donation to Challenge will moor or raft up for an overnight
celebration of all things nautical, with live entertainment, a food
and wine festival and fireworks spectacular.
There are more details on these exciting events elsewhere
in this issue, or you can visit any of the websites mentioned above.
In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this edition of Club
Marine Magazine,
and I look forward to seeing you out on the water.
Safe boating.
Mark Bradley
Publisher and CEO
Club Marine Limited
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