Dear Islander,
I must admit to a small sigh of relief whilst writing this, as our copy deadline was brought forward by one week this month, in order that our printers can take a well earned summer break during August. I think it was Harold Wilson who said, “a week in politics is a long time”, but I now know that a week in publishing is also a long time, if it´s a week that you suddenly don´t have, to get copy gathered and on to the page!
The only minor hiccup is a delay on printing our “2006 Marine Business Directory” supplement, which will now feature in the autumn issues to co-incide nicely with yachts returning from summer cruises and the re-fit season.
Anyway we have made it, your copy of The Islander will be available in all the usual places by the 15th August, and the staff at our printers can relax on their vacations, like so many others are doing at this time of year.
Some yachting enthusiasts and professional crew will be thinking of giving up their holiday time in order to improve their boating skills, qualifications and general seamanship with some training. Where better to do it than in the sunny Balearics, which offers an amazing array of professional training facilities for all types of boaters, yachtsmen and crew, at just about every skill level and discipline for either leisure or vocational purposes.
This issue of The Islander provides a good reference for much of that training availability, with detailed information from the RYA and Bluewater Sea School covering the various courses offered by their highly reputable organisations.
Having done the RYA/MCA Advanced Powerboat/Commercial course and practical assessment myself, in the North Sea in late October, including a night passage around Cork Sands in a Force 7 - S. Westerly, I can vouch for it´s worth as a challenging and stimulating experience, but can also understand the attraction of doing it in slightly more benign conditions!
For those interested in the RYA Advanced Powerboat course, it is run by two sea schools in Mallorca, one in Portals Nous and the other in Port Pollenca.
But, whether you are training, or just relaxing during the hot days of August - Enjoy!!
Peter Franklin