The boats braved an unpleasant crossing and arrived in Cherbourg to find not one French person waiting. The UK national press couldn't find anyone in France who knew anything about Sail 8.

Ah well. There'll be another brilliant idea along in a minute, won't there Sir Bob?

Marine Trade Show:

Following the Marine Trade Show being "put on hold" last November, a meeting was held at this year's Schroders London Boat Show to discuss the way forward.

That meeting, which was attended by close to 40 people, ended with the very definite instruction that the industry wants - and needs - a successful Marine Trade Show.

We now have two trade shows. Unfor tunately, neither is the Marine Trade Show. But there is hope on the horizon.

Alan Morgan, chairman of the Marine Trades Association (MTA), and a director of National Boat Shows (NBS), told me: "NBS, the British Marine Federation and the MTA are fully committed to having a trade show, preferably in October, and we are working with a third par ty towards putting a show in place in 2006."