BREAKING NEWS!

As reported in the Extra Newspaper, September 30th, 2002

Air Exel, a Dutch Company, will start flying from Bonaire to different destinations as of November 1st, 2002. They will be operating under the name Bon Air Exel in cooperation with KLM.

They will be using 2 Embrear Jets, which can hold 50 passengers and cover the routes to, and from Miami and St. Maarten (Also there will be code sharing with KLM/Northwest which will be very good for all the passengers coming on NW and connecting with Bon Air Exel to Bonaire)

In addition they will also fly2 ATR 42-320 which hold 46 passengers. These aircraft will cover Aruba, Curacao and Venezuela. We will be sure to follow-up and bring you the latest developments as they become available.

Bonaire Dive & Adventure and Sand Dollar Condominium Resort are very pleased to announce that the new pier is open for business. The first boat docked and departed Thursday morning, September 12th at 9:00 a.m. Divers on board the "Free at Last" included several long-time repeat guests, which made the event all the more meaningful to dive shop managing director Andre Nahr and his staff. "We are so appreciative of the support that our guests and our industry partners have given us during these challenging times," said Andre.
Assisting in the celebratory docking were staff members Project Manager Leonel Martijn, naturalist Jerry Ligon, Ocean's Classroom Coordinator Valeria Britta, boat captains James Thode, Etienne Soliano and Marnix Martjin, and administrative assistants Joan Obispa and Rosaura (Chica) Semeleer. Also on hand to wish the divers bon voyage were construction coordinator and Sand Dollar Condominium owner Leo de Bakker, Sand Dollar Condominium Resort General Manager Pamela Teitel-Wardath, and Marketing Manager Carol Bradovchak.

The new wooden pier is an impressive structure, measuring 15 feet (5 meters) wide and 60 feet (18 meters) long. Inset steps on both the north and south sides of the pier make boat boardings safe and easy.

The sturdy cement platform connected to the pier is equipped with convenient fresh water showers, camera and gear rinse tanks. Cement steps on both sides of the platform lead to the beach, providing two entry options for shore divers onto Bari Reef, with ladder access from the pier to be completed by the end of the month.
As many fish lovers know, Bari Reef has been named the #1 site for variety of fish species in the Caribbean by R.E.E.F., and it offers our divers and snorkelers unparalleled fish watching experiences.

Continuing up from the cement platform is a gently sloping ramp and walkway that leads to the dive centers new guest gear storage and equipment rental rooms.

Both the gear storage and adjacent tank pick-up station were built to enable divers direct drive-up access, which makes loading and unloading for off-site shore diving excursions a breeze.

We encourage you to stop on over, and see how easy diving with Bonaire Dive & Adventure and Sand Dollar Condominium Resort can be.

Carol Bradovchak
Sand Dollar Condominium Resort
Sales & Marketing
860-673-2636
carol@sanddollarbonaire.com

The official web site for the December 2002 King of the Caribbean is now live and can be reached at http://www.bonaireworldfreestyle.com. At this new website there is information on the Professional and Amateur competitions, island-wide parties, schedule, registration, accommodations, car and gear rentals and more. Soon the site will also feature a "See You There" page where windsurfers can find out who will be attending this PWA World Championship Freestyle Finals

The small island of Bonaire, located in the Dutch Caribbean, is gearing up for what is expected to be the hottest year-end freestyle finals yet. Bonaire is one of the three Dutch islands located near Venezuela. While it does not have the high numbers of tourists as its sister islands Aruba and Curacao, it is a paradise for scuba diving, snorkeling, and of course, windsurfing. Lac Bay, the pristine area where the Bonaire Sailing Team trains and plays, will be the setting for the First Annual Maduro and Curiel's Bank King of the Caribbean World Freestyle Finals.

Island stars Tati and Tonky Frans and Keke Dammers will be on hand for the competition as well as some new "Bonaire Kids." The Bonaire team has planned a full week of parties in town and on the beach and expects the entire island to join the fun.

Event planners warn all potential competitors and spectators to reserve and buy their airline tickets now. The event falls just before the winter holidays when flights and hotels fill quickly. The Official Airline Sponsor is Air Jamaica. The special Air Jamaica fare may be accessed by calling 800-523-5585 and referencing "Maduro and Curiel's Bank King of the Caribbean". Reservations must be booked in B or M class using ticket designator GD20. If you experience difficulty, call the same number and key in 3 to reach a group specialist.

From Europe KLM (Royal Dutch Airline) is offering special group rates to competitors and spectators. Block seats are held for outbound on Dec. 8 and return Dec. 18th. To secure these rates and reservations, contact must be made with Emile at Maduro Travel. Please email: zaken@maduro.nl or call their help desk at 070-3180310 and ask about King of the Caribbean. Their fax is 070-3562850.

If all direct Bonaire flights on Air Jamaica and KLM fill up, travelers can try American Airlines/American Eagle from the USA or can connect via Curacao and Aruba on Dutch Caribbean Express, Divi Divi Air and Chogogo Fast Ferry from Curacao or Avia Air and Aruba Royal Airlines from Aruba. However, gear transport on the smaller airlines is very limited or not available at all.

Hotel accommodations, car and gear rental can be arranged by contacting Ann Phelan, event coordinator at ann@bonairewindsurfing.com or 800-219-0118 or 508-385-8174 or visit our web site at: www.bonaireworldfreestyle.com.

Preliminary schedule for the weeklong event and island-wide party starting on 11 December is as follows:

· Day 1: Registration and press conference at Kontiki on windy Lac Bay. Opening ceremonies with "A Taste of Bonaire" party featuring the USA band "Sugero" in Kralendijk.
· Day 2: Competition for professionals in the day, Cultural Night at Hollandse Grill in the evening.
· Day 3: Competition for professionals, amateurs and juniors in the day; Caribbean Beach Dinner and Party at Plaza Resort at night.
· Day 4: Competition during the day, dance party at City Cafe at night
· Day 5: Competition in the day, Amateur and Junior Awards Ceremony at night followed by an all-island party at Karels Beach Bar.
· Day 6: Professional competition in the day with a Culture and Christmas Fair in Rincon in the evening featuring local bands.
· Day 7: PWA World Cup final competition for King and Queen of the Caribbean, the World Freestyle Champions. Followed by Coronation Ceremony and party at Sorobon Beach.
The Bonaire Sailing Foundation, a non-governmental organization on the island, is organizing the event and Maduro & Curiel's Bank is the primary sponsor. The event is a Professional Windsurfing World Cup event and other sponsors include Reda Sosial, the Bonaire Hotel and Tourism Association, Bonaire Hospitality Group, Bonaire Tourism Corporation and many more local companies and organizations.



MEDIA CONTACT INFORMATION

In the USA: Ann Phelan, coordinator at ann@bonairewindsurfing.com or by telephone: 508-385-8174

On Bonaire: Byron Trump, bonairepilots@bonairelive.com or Elvis Martinus 011- 599-717-2288 theplace@bonairelive.com


Or see our Official Web Site:

www.bonaireworldfreestyle.com

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In its issue of August 31 2002 Wine Spectator, the world's leading wine magazine, announced the winners of its 2002 survey of the "best restaurants in the world for wine lovers." Capriccio was one of only 17 restaurants in the Caribbean to receive this coveted award and is the only Bonaire restaurant to do so. Wine Spectator reviews the wine list and wine program of thousands of restaurants from 46 countries. The award recognizes Capriccio for the breadth, depth and scope of the wines it offers and ranks its prices for those wines as "moderate."

The wine list of Capriccio contains over 200 labels and approximately 7,000 bottles are stored in the climate controlled wine cave of the restaurant on the Bonaire waterfront. The cave boasts a wide selection from the Wine of the Year 2001 (Solaia '97) to Costera Cannonau from Sardegna and Opus One from California. Add to this many classic wines of Italy, France, Germany, the USA, South America and Australia plus a selection of small vintner specials from all over the world and it becomes obvious why Wine Spectator honored Capriccio as it has.

As the Wine Spectator reports, "a good meal complemented by good wine is one of life's pleasures," and Capriccio makes it possible for its diners to "enjoy the marriage of wine and food." Food and wine are the double passions of Capriccio owners Lorella ("Lola" to her friends and patrons) Scandaletti, Antonella Tiramani and Andrea Magni. Each comes from a different part of Italy and brings a different "favorite" to the table.

Chef Andrea, who studied in his home city of Milano, prefers a simple pasta with shrimp and asparagus and lately has been taking advantage of the fresh vegetables flown in from Ecuador on KLM. But his favorite wine is a very big and spicy Argiano Brunello di Montalcino. Each day Andrea and sous chef Mauro Tomaello bake fresh Italian breads, including two types of focaccia, and make the fresh pastas for which the restaurant has become famous.

Antonella comes from Piacenza, near Parma, which is known for its ham products. She works hard to bring to the famous Italian specialties of that region like "coppa" or prosciutto to Bonaire. For wine, she actually prefers a crisp, spicy Gavi.

Lola, who comes from the Veneto, prefers the northern Italian dishes like Osso Buco, which Andrea has perfected. But her real love is the wine cave she designed and built. For Lola, the joy of wine is discovering new ones and sharing them with her guests. "For me it is a game and has to be fun," says Lola. "It doesn't have to be an expensive wine, it just has to be good."

Each year Lola and Andrea travel to Europe or California to find old and new favorites to ship to Bonaire and they maintain regular contact with the top wineries of the world. Buying fine wines is only the first step in a complex process to assure that the wines served at Capriccio are of the highest standard. The more challenging element of the wine program is shipping the wines to Bonaire where the daily temperatures average almost 28° C (82° F). "That is the hardest part. You have to make sure they are cared for each step of the journey," says Lola who coordinates all wine shipments. "We must be sure that the quality of the wine is as high when we serve it as it was when we chose it at the winery."

The menu of Capriccio is based on traditional Northern and Southern Italian dishes, some with a distinctly Bonairean flair. Customers can enjoy home made pastas, a crisp crust pizza, grilled steaks and chops, chicken or fresh fish. Main courses are priced from $15 to $25.

Capriccio can be found at Kaya Islariba #1, just across from the cruise ship dock on the Bonaire waterfront. Telephone number 717-7230,
e-mail : capriccio@bonairenet.com. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner every day except Tuesday.