Dear Islander,
The story on the front page is frightening- has anyone else had a similar experience? If so please get in touch.
Doubting Thomases should not read the email correspondence (Nigerian Letter-Features section) but I promise you it’s absolutely genuine- I have kept the original emails for anyone that still doesn’t believe it.
There has been much speculated about the rise and fall of International Yachtmaster Training here in Mallorca. Perhaps they over extended themselves with their large premises in Col De’n Rabassa and the initial rush of ´Class 4´ students fell off faster and lower than they anticipated.
Locally, Lars and Emma Loftus (incidentally congrats on their recent wedding) have resigned but were unable to add anything (I guess because of legal restrictions) except that Ft. Lauderdale will, "satisfy all outstanding debt in Spain as IYT Spain is a Spanish branch of the US corporation".
Having said that I noticed that on the IYT website they have removed any reference to Mallorca and only claim to have branches in the US and South Africa.
I have also heard some (on good authority) rumblings that the whole organisation may be suffering under an enormous costs burden. See letter to Editor.
You may remember the letter (in the last issue) of warning regarding the local car hire company RTR, based in San Agustin.
Following on from this I have it on very good authority that an astonishingly large number of their cars are embargoed and that they are likely to be snatched back (sooner more than later) by the courts to satisfy debts.
If I was in need of a hire car I would stay well clear of them- there are plenty of others to chose from- you have been warned!
The organisers of the Palma boat show have released attendance figures. They claim that there were 55,000 visitors; 5,000 up on last year.
Sorry, but I just cannot believe it. Again one must ask why they are not members of the International Federation of Boat Show Organisers? Their members produce independently audited attendance figures!
By the time this issue is printed the details of the new "Government leases" on marinas (Andratx expires on the 8th June) should have been released- I hope to be able to give the low-down on them in the next issue. See Interview with Onofre Rullan-Features section
John Rule