Press reports suggest she was bombed by US aircraft and shelled by British ships, being hit 16 times. Television pictures showed she remained afloat, in spite of the damage.

So the America's Cup millions (grillions) have drawn the attention of the northern hemisphere's major money-grubbers with Poll hearing of more than 60 sites getting on the 'phone to the Societe Nautique de Geneve with kind offers to host the 32nd America's Cup on behalf of the landlocked Swiss Alinghi team.

Even Cowes had a go (although Poll wonders where the megastars could have moored their boats for the now obligatory "mine's bigger than yours" billionaire's bragging competition).

Only eight sites have caught the imagination of the Swiss:

Barcelona, Lisbon, Marseille, Naples, Palma de Mallorca, Sardinia - Porto Cervo, Tuscany - Elba, and Valencia .With estimates running at more than £100,000,000 to stage a challenge in Europe - and suggestions that up to 12 syndicates might be challenging - there should be the odd euro or two to be made by the European recreational marine trade.

As a money-absorbing machine, the America's Cup must now equal Formula One.

Apoplectic exhibitors have been venting their ire to Poll over the addition of a second late night opening at the 2004 London Boat Show .While most are annoyed that a second late night has been added, the vast majority are exceedingly annoyed at the arrogance with which the board of National Boat Shows simply issued an edict announcing its decision.

Exhibitors found out only when a letter announcing the last ExCeL open day went out in March.

A paragraph in the letter simply announced: "It has been agreed by the National Boat Shows Board that the 2004 London International Boat Show will now incorporate an additional late opening. This is to take advantage of the catchment audience who work within Canary Wharf and the surrounding area" .Poll hears the number of non-NBS board exhibitors consulted before this edict was issued was - in round terms - zero.

Is NBS getting touchy about its declared target of 200,000 visitors, Poll wonders?

Talking of "mine's bigger than yours", Poll hears the golfer Greg Norman has taken delivery of his Oceanfast -built megayacht, Aussie Rules .She's just 70m loa and charterers actually get a fleet for their money.

Aussie Rules sports a 12.8m sportfisherman with "four berths and a galley to cook up the catch of the day".

She also has a 9.2m SeaVee for smaller fishing excursions, a 7m Novurania Equator 800hp for diving and providing guests with a dry ride ashore.

Poll hasn't finished yet. There are two 5.5m Hewes Bonefishers to manoeuvre over sand flats and estuaries in areas such as Key West, Florida, a 4m Narwhal rescue boat and - finally - four Yamaha Wave Runners.

All this costs a mere US$43,000 a day. Maybe next year, says Poll.

The Powers That Be for the Olympic Games decided (a bit like NBS , says Poll) that the boats at the 2003 Athens Pre-Olympic event will be provided with country flags for display on mainsails and spinnakers.

This decision brought a storm of protest in the Internet newsletter, Scuttlebutt , with various correspondents pointing out that British boats can only fly a Red Ensign and not the Union Flag.

According to Peter Cook , one-time editor of Yachts & Yachting, theflying of flags afloat is governed by the Merchant Shipping Acts.

British boats must fly the Red Ensign, he said, unless special dispensation has been obtained from the Minister of State for Defence.

Over to you, Mr Henderson ?.