The regional minister for Economy and Tax, Lluis Ramis de Ayrefor along with the president of the local Chamber of Commerce, Miquel Llado recently announced the launch of a website, produced in collaboration with the Chamber and funded by the EU, "As a tool to promote the sector (marine) using up-to-date technology".
Despite this hyping, the reaction from major local, non-Mallorcan owned marine companies has been scathing to say the least.
One comment was, "I´ve already looked at it and am appalled. My Mallorquin girl in the office went to the launch last week in my place and told me it was a good job I hadn´t wasted my time as it was appalling.
No body will ever use it. They have missed the point completely".
Another comment from someone who had also offered his and his company´s help in promoting the Mallorcan marine business said, "Aren´t they wonderful - mind you these are the same brain donors who put ´Cambra de Commerc´ on their stand at the Monaco boat show! Standing room only on that one as you can imagine".
The site, is in Catalan, Spanish and English however the English translation ranges from the incomprehensible to the ridiculous.
Here are some examples of the ´English´ from the website.
On windsurfing-
Surf and windsurf are two of best known and spectacular sports which can be practiced at Balearic coasts. Surf is not an easy discipline, it requires particular skills and lots of balance to stand on a sliding board and take advantage of waves strength. With time and patience you can easily learn by yourself.
Kitesurfers use the ropes that attach them to the parachute for control their movements, and due to the force of wind they achieve high speeds and long jumps while literally riding and flying over the waves. Kitesurf is becoming little by little one of favourites sports for risk lovers.
On sail training-
The ´Cadet´ is an apprentice boat designed for the maritime education for children and adolescents. This boat has all of the typical defects that a normal boat could have, and the apprentices are taught to work around these defects and master them for later in their careers.
This conscientious work for obtaining the maximum output swings - on one hand - on a relatively simple and obtainable, but on the other hand at the same time quite complete rigging for starting to delve into the navigation of double boats with jib and spi.
On the charter market-
In this sense and according to recent analysis of the Balearic charter situation, the offered values are: privileged surroundings in a consolidated and stable destination, proximity to the main ports of origin of potential tourists, a top quality and diverse offer, an excellent reputation, an international fame, as well as a high degree of client satisfaction.
A final comment from yet another company that offered their services to promote Mallorca was, "I particularly like the ´search companies´ function ...listed in Spanish in non-alphabetical order ...for ease of use amongst our international clientel".
Check it out for yourself- www.balearsnautic.com