Boat tax fears
The Dutch government announced to the two months-old European Single Market that it was to impose a 'boat tax' in the from of an annual licence.

Fears were expressed that a similar tax could be levied by the UK government in the March Budget, leading to a repeat of the 1975 luxury rate of VAT that halved the size of the UK industry.

John Moody was optimistic that the company's plans for a new showroom and offices in its marina at Swanwick on the Hamble would get the planning permission it had applied for. Premier Marinas must wish they could go back in time...

A new concept in boat ownership was launched by Bob Shaw and Peter Heale at Maritimeshare (what would the British public have thought of 'fractional sailing' in those days?)

Jack Barr, OBE, had just succeeded George Cowan as president of the British Marine Industries Federation, Sue Grant had just become a director at Berthon International and Mark Turner had just joined Spinlock as marketing manager.