Dear Islander,
After the winter and spring we have had I’m reluctant to start moaning about it being too hot, and if I was out sailing all day I’m very sure I wouldn’t...not for one second! But, sitting in an office with the choice of having blue fingers from the icy chill of the air-con, or turning the noisy contraption off, and dripping sweat all over the computer keyboard, is not what I dreamed of when I signed up for my spell in paradise!
Anyway moving swiftly on, before I start getting angry letters saying that I should be less grumpy and count myself lucky etc. etc. I would like to thank the dozens of people who responded to our two page “Great Yachting Debate” special last month, and asked us to send the full detailed report on the facts presented at the forum on “Yachting Opportunities” held in Palma on the 25th June.
I do hope that the document gave a clear idea of the overwhelming facts and figures that are now being presented to politicians and various public authorities right across the board in Palma, Madrid and Brussels.
I shall quote as follows, the final two paragraphs of an article written on the same subject for the coming issue of Boat International magazine, by their legal eagle Ben Maltby.
“Leaving aside the issue of Matriculation Tax being contrary to European Union law, the lobbying has a more fundamental aim: to change the Spanish politicians’ view of yachting from a display of frivolous wealth to be taxed as much as possible, to an economic engine redistributing vast wealth in a sustainable manner – creating quality tourism and supporting thousands of skilled jobs.
“Owners looking to charter in Spain can take heart that the yachting industry in Spain is not taking matters lying down. While there is still a need for all owners to be certain about their and their yacht’s tax position before cruising Spanish waters, it may in the not too distant future become feasible to offer large yachts for charter in Spain; those who do take the plunge first may find it rewarding.”
Now, getting back to my other favourite lobbying subject for 2010: The Silent Killer - aka plastic waste in our oceans.
Has anybody been following the voyage of The Plastiki, the yacht built from 12,500 plastic bottles that Bates mentioned in our April issue. She set off from San Francisco on 20th March to sail 11,000 miles across the Pacific to Sydney.  
On 21st July the tracking on their website showed that they had covered almost 8,000 miles in 124 days so far, with about 3000 left to go in their almost unsailable floating freak show!
During this time 7,440 million plastic bottles were used in the USA alone, and the fact is that nearly every plastic bottle ever made in the world...still exists today!! It is estimated that 500 Billion to 1 Trillion plastic bags are used by consumers worldwide annually. Far too many of them end up in the sea, with tragic and disastrous consequences.
You can find out more at: www.theplastiki.com  
Please help by convincing anyone you know that there is a real alternative, it costs nothing to do, and we can all start to help right now, by refusing or recycling plastic packaging...
I’m off for my usual August break, sailing in the fresh(er) breezes of Northern Holland. Whatever you are doing, stay cool and have a ball!!

Saludos, Peter Franklin