Dear Islander,
No sooner do we get Christmas, New Year, and all the Fiestás out of the way, and here at The Islander we have another celebration looming, as it is 10 years in March since John Rule published our first issue back in 1997.
Coincidentally, (and more by accident than design) we are also planning to launch our new web site in March, so we have more than enough reason to crack a bottle of bubbly (or two!) and to publish a special Anniversary edition of The Islander to mark the occasion.
Regarding The Islander website, well it just happens to be almost half the age of the printed publication, and that is a long time in the Internet world, even an old fogey like me can understand that!
We have no intention of becoming a web based publication, as we like to think that picking up a newly printed (or even well thumbed) magazine, and relaxing comfortably with your favourite drink to read its contents, will always be a pleasurable experience, which cannot be replaced on line!
But our on-line readership grows every month, and includes many yacht crews who are away at sea, and owners of yachts and properties who are not full time residents, but want to keep up with things here, via The Islander while away.
For this issue we welcome Laura Penn of Luna Radio 100.3, as a new contributor to our lifestyle section on page 12, and we wish the team at Luna Radio all the best for growth, and island wide broadcasting in the near future.
Now, when it comes to activities around the leisure ports and marina´s of these fair islands, I would doubt if there has ever been a time with more frenetic, impassioned, and it has to be said, politically influenced “goings on”, than there is right now.
You only have to look at our last few issues, and the local daily press, to see that hardly a day passes without a new announcement, or threatened civil action, coupled with speculation, or tales of elated winners and aggrieved losers involved in some leisure marine project or other!
As we go to press we hear of new 30 year concessions being granted in Fornells and Ciutadella in Menorca, and in Porto Cristo on the East coast of Mallorca, and as these are all yacht clubs, the members will probably take comfort in the cosy feeling of long term security even though at a higher cost to themselves.
Meanwhile, the good news is about extra moorings in Port Adriano, and a proposed deep water marina project on the east coast, both with dockage for yachts of +50m.
Peter Franklin