Apparently not easy to miss, English Braids tell us Clarance is six foot two with eyes of blue and is no newcomer to the marine world.

BB wonders what that six foot two can do?? From an early age Clarance was close to the marine trade with the family having the former Chris Clarance Marine in Falmouth.

Sailing and later racing dinghies led Clarance into yachting where he has lead some notable races in South Coast regattas with the Beneteau 36 and later, his Jod 35.

Clarance spent a little over seven years in the Navy Fleet Air Arm, during which he saw action in Sierra Leone.

English Braids say they expect he will see a lot more ropey action around the coast in the near future (is this the April issue? - Ed) .

Ian Simkins has been appointed One Design production manager at North Sails . He joins the company with some 16 years of sailmaking experience.

Prior to joining North, Simkins was based at the recently closed Hyde Sails keelboat loft in Hamble. He started at Hyde after the company brought the UK assets of Ullman Sails, which he both ran and co-owned for 14 years.

Well known to one design sailors, Simkins has designed and built world and national championship winning sails for classes including the B14, Contender, Lark, Osprey, OK and National 12.

Bob Clark has joined Mark Dowland Marine as technical manager. He has exceptional experience and product knowledge and joins MDM from Aqua Marine where he was technical sales manager.

A familiar face and personality in the marine industry, Clark's role will be primarily focused around new business opportunities for MDM's range of technical products.

Based at the MDM Wareham sales office, Clark will also be involved in training and development on technical matters with in the company.

This new role will see Clark at the forthcoming MDM Las Vegas Trade Show and new MDM Spring Trade Show, where he is looking forward to catching up with customers and suppliers.

Lewmar has appointed Olympic sailor and America's Cup GBR team tactician Adrian Stead torepresent the company as a racing ambassador during 2004.

He will also play a consultancy role in product development.

Stead returned last year from the America's Cup where he was tactician for the British GBR Challenge. In the short time since, he has won the Admiral's Cup, Key West Race Week, and the Euro Prix 45 UK championships.

His previous successes include the Admiral's Cup, the Farr 40 World Championships, participation in the Whitbread Round-the-World Race and sailing twice in the Olympics.

He has won numerous national championships.

Ambassador at large, Own Parker, will continue to represent the company and Lewmar says further ambassador appointments will be made in the coming year.

Gavin Savage has joined Peters Plc as finance director to steer the company's continued expansion in UK and Europe.

Savage joins the company from accountants Ernst & Young, where he has gained extensive experience in corporate finance. Currently living in Winchester and commuting to London, Savage plans to relocate closer to Peters' Chichester Marina headquarters.