METS extends SuperYacht Pavilion for 2008

11 Mar 2008

METS organiser Amsterdam RAI is constructing a temporary hall alongside the established SuperYacht Pavilion. The extension will be in place from September – December 2008 for use at METS and other RAI exhibitions and will increase the SuperYacht Pavilion to 1,900 sq m. 

Hyde sells majority shareholding

11 Mar 2008

Eddie Hyde who, with Keith Musto, founded Musto & Hyde in 1965, has sold the majority of his shares in the company to Nigel Grogan, who has been a consultant to the company for the past two years. 

New Zealanders file AC court actions

11 Mar 2008

On March 7, Emirates Team New Zealand filed two law suits in the New York State Supreme Court in what has been described as an effort to bring the defenders of the 157-year old trophy into line, writes Portsmouth Poll. 

Try boating at The Motor Show

11 Mar 2008

This year's British International Motor Show at ExCeL will see boats forming a large part of the event as National Boat Shows (NBS) organises the Marine Experience with a wide variety of craft for visitors to see and try. 

BBEx meeting set for April 4

11 Mar 2008

The promised meeting for everyone concerned with the Boating Business Exhibition (BBEx) is set for Friday April 4. This is a meeting for exhibitors and visitors alike - and anyone with an opinion on the future of the show. 

BAP client account decision goes to court

17 Mar 2008

PETERS PLC: According to receivers KPMG four independent counsels turned up to represent various clients in the latest court case over the BA Peters Plc crash. This latest action was a hearing in front of a judge to determine what happens to the client account, which showed a distinct lack of funds when KPMG began counting the beans. 

Budget 2008: A reprieve for family businesses

17 Mar 2008

BUDGET: With most financial pundits split on whether Alistair Darling has got his predictions right or wrong, all agree his first budget contained no major surprises. Many of the taxation measures it outlined had already been announced last year and most of the new proposals were targeted at certain specific areas, says Paul Howard. 

Rimmers: no police action at present

17 Mar 2008

CHALLENGER: With persistent rumours flying around that Ed and Gill Rimmer had fled the UK for either France or Switzerland with £2m in their pockets, BB spoke to Geoff Dover, the civilian police officer handling the case at West Mercia Police. 

Coleman resigns

17 Mar 2008

RESIGNATION: David Coleman has resigned from his position as chairman of the British Marine Federation (BMF) International Committee. 

Sunseeker picks up best brand award

17 Mar 2008

AWARD: The Buyout Track 100 best brand award was presented by Sunday Times business editor John Waples to Sunseeker International earlier this month at a special awards dinner attended by the owners and directors of Britain’s 100 fastest-growing private equity-backed companies. 

Marine Industry Regatta entries reach 25

17 Mar 2008

REGATTA: With the addition of Simon Wood Power's The Tank Company/Oval Stainless boat, entries for the 2008 Marine Industry Regatta have reached 25 boats. We have 40 of Sunsail's Jeanneau Sun Fast 37s reserved, so there's room for a lot more entries yet... 

Could Bertarelli forfeit 33rd America's Cup?

24 Mar 2008

AMERICA'S CUP: Where were we, asks Portsmouth Poll? The meanderings in the America's Cup saga continue to rumble on and it gets more difficult to keep up with what Ellison and Bertarelli are up to. Although, says Poll, the Ice Cream Salesman seems to be trying Very Hard to get the date of the Deed of Gift match set back as far as possible. 

Report says up to 4m participate in watersports

24 Mar 2008

REPORT: According to the latest Watersports and Leisure Participation Survey report, up to 4m adults now enjoy a diverse range of boating activities, says the British Marine Federation (BMF). This marks an increase on last year’s figure of 3.7m. 

Ellen MacArthur to get Légion d'Honneur

24 Mar 2008

AWARD: According to Buckingham Palace, Dame Ellen MacArthur MBE is to be made a Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur by president Nicolas Sarkozy during his state visit to Britain this week. The investiture will take place at the Royal Naval College in Greenwich.

BBEx - come and have your say on April 4

24 Mar 2008

BBEx: The promised meeting for everyone concerned with the Boating Business Exhibition (BBEx) is set for Friday April 4 at the Royal Southern Yacht Club on the Hamble River. If there is the demand, we'll run another meeting for those further north - let us know if you want it. 

Bow shaped bridge sails into view

01 Apr 2008

INLAND WATERWAYS: A dramatic new bridge has taken shape at Kirkintilloch. 

Waterways pressure group opens up membership

01 Apr 2008

INLAND WATERWAYS: Save Our Waterways (SoW) – formed as a pressure group some 18 months ago to campaign against the DEFRA cuts in British Waterways’ budgets – has turned itself into a membership organisation, writes Harry Arnold. 

...while NABO leaks volunteers

01 Apr 2008

INLAND WATERWAYS: It is perhaps ironic that a new waterway campaigning membership group is being set up when others appear to be struggling, writes Harry Arnold. 

Scottish Boating Alliance

01 Apr 2008

SCOTLAND: Late February saw the launch of the new Scottish Boating Alliance at the Scottish Parliament, writes Mike Balmforth. 

Welcome Anchorages

01 Apr 2008

PUBLICATIONS - SCOTLAND : Welcome Anchorages is a new free cruise planning guide to ports, harbours and havens on Scotland's southern West Coast and in the Firth of Clyde, writes Mike Balmforth. 

ICC E&N Coasts

01 Apr 2008

PUBLICATIONS - IRELAND: Irish Cruising Club, who publish the only Sailing Directions to the Irish coast, has released a new and fully revised 11th edition of its North & East Coasts of Ireland writes Mike Balmforth. 

Scottish Boat Jumble

01 Apr 2008

SCOTLAND: The annual spring Scottish Boat Jumble will take place at Irvine Harbourside on Sunday 4th May from 10:00am., writes Mike Balmforth. 

Training up for 2012

01 Apr 2008

SOUTH COAST: Christchurch, Dorset is getting set to reap the benefits of the four-year run up to the 2012 London Olympics, writes Iain Sutherland. 

European venture won't expand Cowes

01 Apr 2008

SOUTH COAST: Palmer Johnson which set up its European design office in East Cowes now looks unlikely to build yachts in the town, writes Iain Sutherland. 

Piloting new boat design

01 Apr 2008

EAST COAST: Fenland District Council has entered a joint venture agreement with a boat building company in Somerset to develop and build a new kind of pilot boat that will be of major interest to harbour authorities not just in Britain, but around the world, writes Debbie Cowan.  

Seeking advisors with Broad experience

01 Apr 2008

EAST COAST: A group which advises on issues affecting the Broads is opening up its membership to all users of the waterways for the first time, writes Debbie Cowan. 

Challenger update

01 Apr 2008

INLAND WATERWAYS: The question of who manages what after the demise of Challenger Syndicateships is becoming clearer, writes Harry Arnold. 

Skills hoisted back to the Nene

01 Apr 2008

EAST COAST: Another major step forward has been taken in the £47m Nene Waterfront Regeneration Project in Wisbech, writes Debbie Cowan. 

Training ship contract for Plymouth

01 Apr 2008

SOUTH WEST: A Plymouth boat builder has won a £2m contract to build a training ship for the Marine Society and Sea Cadets, writes Katina Read. 

Launch of Torbay Week

01 Apr 2008

SOUTH WEST: Ocean BMW (Torbay) has signed a deal to become title sponsor of the new Torbay Week, writes Katina Read. 

New owners are old hands

01 Apr 2008

SOUTH WEST: Penzance dry dock has been sold to new owners Tom Williams and Clive Towl, writes Katina Read. 

Boat show for Truro

01 Apr 2008

SOUTH WEST: A new boat show is to take place in Truro in Cornwall in June, writes Katina Read. 

Quay acquisitions

01 Feb 2008

SOUTH WEST: Portishead-based Quay Marinas has signed deals to run two more UK marinas, writes Katina Read. 

Island development to cut yard space

01 Apr 2008

SOUTH COAST: Ambitious plans have been submitted to develop Cowes Yacht Haven, writes Iain Sutherland. 

Cowes power

01 Apr 2008

SOUTH COAST: A deal has been struck between Cowes Yacht Haven , P1 and the British Powerboat Racing Club, writes Iain Sutherland. 

Portsmouth Poll offers new 100 Guineas Cup

01 Apr 2008

AMERICA'S CUP: After Ernesto Bertarelli decided to take the America's Cup back to court to argue for a date for the Deed of Gift race that would give him time to design and build the catamaran necessary for the BWM Oracle match, Portsmouth Poll decided enough was enough. 

Help for companies suffering skills shortages, training issues and apprenticeship dilemmas

01 Apr 2008

TRAINING: If yours is a marine company experiencing skills shortages, training issues and apprenticeship dilemmas, Marine South East has got a free event that will provide information on the opportunities and support for training, workforce development and apprentices in the marine sector. 

Don't miss the BBEx meeting this Friday

01 Apr 2008

BBEx: This Friday sees the running of the Boating Business Exhibition (BBEx) meeting to determine the future of the UK leisure marine trade show. The meeting takes place this Friday, April 4, at the Royal Southern Yacht Club on the Hamble River. 

Dame Ellen MacArthur MBE awarded Légion d'Honneur

01 Apr 2008

AWARD: Dame Ellen MacArthur MBE was made a Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur by French president Nicolas Sarkozy at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich on March 28. 

Onan moves from Berthon to Cummins UK

01 Apr 2008

DISTRIBUTION: Cummins Onan is to move its UK distribution from Berthon Boat Company to Cummins UK, which will serve as its sole distributor for the UK and Ireland. As part of the transition Neil Phelps, Cummins Onan dealer manager for Berthon will move to Cummins UK as sales manager Powergen. 

Brig adds five dealers

01 Apr 2008

A 'practical' chandlery

01 Apr 2008

SHOP: Elite Marine Services is set to launch a new technical chandlery at Tewkesbury Marina in May. 

Cooperation is the name for The Games

01 Apr 2008

SHOWROOM: Two companies are joining forces to lease a 3,000 sq ft undercover showroom at Portland Marina, with display and demonstration model berths nearby. 

Big rig stepping down for service

01 Apr 2008

MIRABELLA V: Rigging company Marine Results of Hamble has taken responsibility for the four-year service of the mast and rod rigging of the giant 98m 46 tonne rig of one of the world’s largest sailing yachts, Mirabella V. 

Holt on Holt-Allen separation

01 Apr 2008

SPLIT: The separation of Holt and one of its manufacturing partners, Allen Brothers after 52 years, is 'regrettable' says Chadwick Beecher-Moore, Holt’s managing director. 

Knowlege-sharing formula for YDSA

01 Apr 2008

CONFERENCE: A 'knowledge table' format was at the heart of the Yacht Designers & Surveyors Association (YDSA) annual conference. 

Steering the Business

01 Apr 2008

EVENT: The yacht racing business has come of age - says Informa Yacht Group, the organisers of the World Yacht Racing Forum. 

Undeflatable Graham Norton wins dinghy

01 Apr 2008

WINNER!: Celebrity Graham Norton has become the proud new owner of a ROVER 310 AIR Avon Inflatable Dinghy following a recent charity event in Billingsgate, London; the 'Undiluted Spirit Charity Ball' featuring Take That. 

A Jersey first

01 Apr 2008

BOAT SHOW: Jersey is to stage its first Boat Show over the bank holiday weekend of 3rd to 5th May, in St Helier Marina: the event aims to attract both locals and seasonal visitors to the island. 

Poole Afloat takes in pirate

01 Apr 2008

EVENT: The south coast’s largest free boating festival and watersports event, Poole Afloat, is joining up with another local event, the Harry Paye Charity Fun Day. 

RIBEX 2008 latest

01 Apr 2008

BOAT SHOW: World renowned rough-water supremo Hamish MacDonald, of the Maritime Rescue Institute, will be opening the 2008 Suzuki sponsored show at Cowes. 

West Country brokers team up on listings

01 Apr 2008

BROKERAGE: Torquay based Quayside Marine has teamed up with fellow brokerage Mike Lucas Yachting, also based in Torquay, and Dorset based Global Yacht Brokers to provide a wider choice of boat listings. 

EMEC: ready to meet environmental challenges

01 Apr 2008

NEW PRESIDENT: Jaakko Eskola, group vice president of Wärtsilä Corporation and head of Wärtsilä Ship Power, has been appointed president of the European Marine Equipment Council (EMEC). He replaces Pim van Gulpen, who has reached the end of his term of office. 

Bénéteau reports strong 1st half sales

01 Apr 2008

FINANCIALS: Groupe Bénéteau says its first-half sales grew by 18.6% over the same time last year to €447.5m, with both of the group's core businesses - boats and mobile homes - contributing to the growth. 

Will there be another Olympic boycott?

01 Apr 2008

OLYMPICS: The furore over China's human rights record and its handling of the Tibet crisis boiled over as the Olympic torch was carried through London on April 6, with policed manhandling protesters and arresting 37 people in what Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell called a peaceful protest. 

Marine Bill proposes many restricted areas

07 Apr 2008

LEGISLATION: The draft Marine Bill was released on April 3 promising a network of marine conservation zones to manage and protect coastal and marine waters, writes Stuart Fisher. Environment Secretary Hilary Benn and Marine & Fisheries Minister Jonathan Shaw marked the occasion by meeting stakeholders at the working and recreational port of Whitstable. 

Boat & Yacht Buyer combines with Boat Mart

01 Apr 2008

The June issue of Boat Mart magazine will be the biggest and best ever, says CSL Publishing. From the next issue, sister publication Boat & Yacht Buyer will be published within Boat Mart, taking all the classified boating advertisements along with it, plus a lot more besides. The publisher is also giving away vouchers for £1 off the price of the big new Boat Mart. 

Takeover rumours push Raymarine up

07 Apr 2008

TAKEOVER?: Raymarine stock rose on the London Stock Exchange following an announcement on Tuesday April 2 that the company had been approached for a possible takeover. The stock had been trading at £2.46 and rose 27% to just over £3 following the announcement. 

BBEx meeting gives Mercator a headache

07 Apr 2008

BBEx: Mercator Media, organiser of the Boating Business Exhibition (BBEx) was left with two basic options at the end of the meeting on the future of the show at the Royal Southern in Hamble last Friday. And neither option offers a clear way forward. 'We have a lot of thinking to do,' said MD Andrew Webster. 

Marine Industry Regatta entries near 30 boats

07 Apr 2008

REGATTA: Entries for the 2008 Marie Industry Regatta are getting closer to the 30 mark with the addition this week of the Oval 316 and Barclays Marine Finance boats, taking us to 27 boats. Thornham Marina is expected to put two boats in next week, taking us to 29 boats. And the Earls Court Boat show is also a hopeful to take us to the 30 boats. 

Sports Boat and RIB Show doubles in size

01 Apr 2008

The fifth annual Southampton Sports Boat and RIB Show will take place over the May 3 to 5 Spring Bank Holiday weekend at Hamble Point Marina. Following the sell-out event in 2007, this year's show is double the size and free to all visitors. 

25 years and counting...

01 Apr 2008

It was 25 years ago last month that Thrusting Publisher Hall and Editor Nash launched Boating Business onto an otherwise unsuspecting UK leisure marine industry. 

SEEDA secures Palmer Johnson

10 Apr 2008

The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) has secured US superyacht company Palmer Johnson’s investment in the Solent against fierce international competition.