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EDITORS COMMENTS - SEPT. 2010 |
 Dear Islander,
Here I am back from the hols, and feeling a bit fortunate to have missed the heatwave, which I was kept well in touch with by e.mails and text messages from various “sufferers” while I dodged the constant rain showers in Holland.
I know I say this every year, but its really true that my biggest regret about being away in August is missing the classic and vintage yachts competing in the Trofeo Conde de Barcelona in the Bay of Palma.
Our superb front page picture taken by Nico Martinez, shows the overall winner of the classic class, the resplendent Giraldilla, built in 1963 for the King of Spain and faithfully restored by the Real Fundación Hispania. Apparently she had a close tussle with the second placed Emeraude right up to the line with seconds between them in a lively blow, on the last day of the regatta, now in its 26th year.
I must admit to an affinity with this age of yacht as she was built just two years before I started building wooden boats myself, as an apprentice at a yard near the Medway Yacht Club in Kent. My boss was an olympic sailor and a talented shipwright, I wish I had listened to him more, and perhaps I would have followed in his footsteps. Anyway it wasn’t a bad start to a boating related life both in work and leisure , so I certainly can’t complain! (But I do recall that the 3 pounds, 7 shillings, and sixpence a week didn’t go very far!)
On the subject of restoring royal yachts, please take a look on page 10 at the advert promoting the WOWee One, a brilliant little gizmo that amplifies and gives stunning bass resonance to musical output from an Ipod, Ipad, laptop or TV. I have one myself, its never off in the office, and you can take it with you just about anywhere. Its a snip at €60 and every one sold donates a sum to the restoration of the Hispania, so that she can race in the vintage class next year.
Casting my eye over news of more recent build projects, I see that there is now some doubt over whether Roman Abramovich’s M/Y Eclipse will actually really overshadow the current largest leisure yacht in the world, which is the 162 m M/Y Dubai, owned by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashi-Al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai . It seems, according to the latest CNI Superyachting Index, that the Russian billionaire´s yacht is a mere 162.5m instead of the expected 167.5m. Oh well, I for one won’t be losing much sleep over the issue...
Those of you who like to read Elena Pipo´s sometimes feisty opinions, will have to miss her this month as she is taking a well earned break with her family. But you will find on page 22 an article about Ben Miles who works in our industry and deserves some support for a brave charity venture.
Talking of charity, do have a peek at page 11 which carries a stop press announcement about an Irish band called Chanter, who will be playing for charity here during late September. They have toured extensively and recorded their celtic music, and will be playing for free here to raise money for some good causes. Venues will be confirmed on our website from 15th Sept, or call us after then to find out more.
Finally one more plea for action as I’m on a roll with the begging bowl. You might have heard that Mallorca is in the running to be chosen for the European City of Culture... and why not I ask myself. But we are currently 2nd in the Spanish vote behind Oviedo, and need all the votes we can get to catch up. I have cast mine and it only takes seconds.
Log on to: www.elcultural.es/capital_europea.aspx
Let’s go for it, we all know it makes business sense...
Until next month, enjoy the balmy breezes. Peter Franklin. |
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