Several changes have been made to the current edition of The Racing Rules of Sailing.
The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) announced today that, as a result of actions taken by the ISAF Racing Rules Committee and the ISAF Council during the ISAF Annual Conference, several changes in The Racing
Rules of Sailing for 2009-2012 will take effect on 1 January 2010.

Rule 18.2(c) will be changed to prohibit a newly discovered and potentially dangerous tactic that was an unintended consequence of the current wording of this rule. The revised rule will no longer …

Bank of Scotland, part of the Lloyds Banking Group, has pulled out of marine finance.
The decision to close Bank of Scotland Marine Finance was made after a review last year found that the department was “no longer financially viable or core to the future business strategy”.
Lloyds, 43.4 per cent owned by the government following a bailout last year, has also closed Bank of Scotland’s motor finance division.

Despite the closure of the marine finance department, a Bank of Scotland spokesman toldIBI’s sister title, Motor Boats Monthly, that it would honour all existing …

Riviera has announced plans to focus exclusively on the development and build of the Riviera brand of boats for its large client base and dealer network around the world, dropping its distribution of US brand, Grand Banks Yachts and UK brand, Princess Yachts.
“The Riviera brand has achieved iconic status over 29 years and our future success will be driven by our ability to enhance that position,” said CEO John Anderson. “As we have previously announced, we are restructuring the Riviera business in order to survive the current economic climate.

“As …

AN EXTRA 200 jobs could be created by Princess Yachts’ move to build £12million superyachts at Devonport naval base’s South Yard.
The Plymouth-based luxury boat firm said the jobs would be on top of the numbers already employed making boats at its other sites.
And it means some of the 300 workers axed just last month could be brought back.
Managing director Chris Gates said the firm’s £15million to £20million investment in establishing a new factory on redundant Ministry of Defence land had already protected existing jobs.
It was a key factor in the …

Time and again, we believe in providing accurate information about the boating lifestyle and yachts to all media-houses – in an effort to give the right idea of these to both the classes and the masses, and to eradicate misconceptions.

BTW – an Indian lifestyle-based magazine with a huge Internet following, published an article in its Jan ‘09 regarding the advent of the yachting lifestyle in India, excerpts from key industry players and information on how to go about buying your own boat.
The article is as follows…
OCEAN RIDER
The biggest thing happening …

We are all well aware that owning a yacht would mean that ‘we’ve arrived’ in the world…lounging on it’s fine deck, sunbathing under clear blue skies, cruising across the best Mediterrenean harbours seem like only some of the hedonistic pleasures one can look forward to when you own one of these lovely beauties.

But then, we need to realise that all this would not be possible if some-one behind the scenes would not be taking care of the more mundane things involved with yachting – fueling, cleaning, driving and then making …

From a long time, Indian maritime affairs have always had a major influence from their British counterparts – mostly due to the long years of Imperialism and then partly due to the integrity of their maritime prowess and integrity.
In today’s day and age where yachting has become popular throughout the world, the British manage to influence India’s yachting mannerisms and regulations also…
Just as we boast of our Yachting Association of India, the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is the national governing body for watersports in the United Kingdom. Its involvement includes …

Almost any kid can spend an afternoon fishing with a homemade pole on the banks of a river, or building dams, bridges and pools. It only takes a little bit of imagination to create a small raft to float in your backyard streams.
With some parental guidance and a chunk of balsa wood you can create a genuine craft to navigate that brook that will last for years to come. Follow this step-by-step guide and build your own floating masterpiece.
DIRECTIONS
The Keel and Hull:

1. Draw an outline for your boat on …

Three days into the one of the world’s favourite boat shows…and things seem to be getting only better in France.

With the Mediterranean brimming buzz and activity after waking up from its Summer Slumber…the Cannes Boat Show sets the ball rolling for the yachtsmen and yachting in this region…
CANNES 2008
In what can be considered another epitome of a festival following the Cannes Film Festival…the Cannes Boat Show is able to draw in people from all over the world who feel it is the perfect venue (the scenic French coast) for viewing …

In a case of the Hunter becoming the Hunted…LVMH seems to be doing all the hunting in the world yachting industry.

Only last time we reported that LVMH had bought over the acclaimed Princess yachts of UK, and now to top that – the handbag has gone shopping alone – and has bought off one of the best super-yacht builders of its time – FEADSHIP !

The widening gulf between the haves and the have-yachts has prompted LVMH, the world’s biggest luxury goods group, headed by Bernard Arnault, to enter an exclusive …