EC VAT fears
Harmonisation of VAT throughout the Single European Market – due to happen on January 1st 1993 - was worrying the industry.

With just six months to go, uncertainty over the VAT status of boats being moved around the community had resulted in a hefty discussion document being presented to the European Commission by the then HM Customs & Excise.
Not a lot happened then. And little has changed since…

MBE for Braithwaite
Robert Braithwaite was made an MBE in that year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Now, 15 years later, he’s got a CBE.

GPS
To demonstrate the accuracy of the new-fangled GPS, Yachting Life, Simpson-Lawrence and the Aquatic Boat Centre organised a pub crawl around Loch Lomond to pre-programmed hostelries.
They don’t do marketing like they used to…

Iain Sutherland went on a trip round Camper & Nicholsons Yachts in Gosport and reported on the 39m Rob Humphreys motor yacht being fitted out, the J-Class Velsheda being rebuilt, the 12 metre Flicka being restored and ‘one or two other classy boats awaiting repair or renovation’.
Those were the days, eh?