Before METS, Beneteau hit its suppliers hard with new contract negotiations - Volvo Penta lost its engine supply to Beneteau yachts to Yanmar and Nanni. Lewmar lost its winch contract to Harken.

While Lewmar retains its position in supplying hatches, portlights windlasses and anchors to Beneteau, the company immediately hit back at Harken by ousting it from its winch supply contract at Bavaria.

The talk is of some pretty large discounts being offered?.

Raymarine, however, is believed to be happy with its position as a major electronics supplier to Beneteau.

But with the Navimo Group sitting in the wings with an enormous range of products and already supplying Beneteau with a wide range of equipment from deck hardware, through water supply and exhaust accessories to bow thrusters, compasses and safety equipment, there must be some more nervous CEOs out there?? At METS we learned that Bainbridge and Aqua Marine are to merge.

Full details have yet to be announced, but the deal is due to be signed on December 6. It's expected that the two companies will combine operations at Bainbridge's Hedge End depot and continue trading under their own names. Ivan Steele is expected to remain at Aqua Marine.

On the home front, it was nice to see the job of chairman at British Waterways was being advertised last month. One of requirements cited in the job spec is that the candidate need demonstrate "An open and approachable personal style that inspires trust among British Waterways' many stakeholder groups", which rules out the incumbent George Greener. When the organisation's CEO pleads to be trusted during its annual meeting, the responsibility must go straight to the top.

Given the kind of leadership BW has enjoyed in the past, the organisation will be able to get back on track.

Finally, as we closed for press, McMurdo made a few staff redundant. The company has not had a good year and some products have not performed entirely as anticipated. In addition to its EPIRBs and PLBs attracting attention, McMurdo's DSC radio came out too late and too expensive.

Following the redundancies announced to the staff in the morning, a memo was circulated in the afternoon announcing that managing director Gary Mullins had decided to move on.