Dear Islander,
Well, here we are starting off another year, and let’s hope it is a good one for one and all !
I hope you have all had a great festive season, and like me are starting on the various detox and healthy regimes for the start of the new year !! I’m not sure how long it will last though with San Sebastian fiesta just around the corner !
January is traditionally a quiet month, industry wise here in Palma as the industry doesn’t get back to work until after the Three Kings holiday, and many either taking skiing holidays or working on the charter yachts in the Caribbean.
Writing this in Mid-December, sat in short sleeves with the office window wide open, and 20 degrees outside, it seems odd talking about this being the winter season!! What a few months we have had for weather, making our enjoyment of this wonderful island all the better !
2015 ended up being a great year for the charter business in the Superyacht market here in the Med, up over 400 % on 2014. It now seems the matriculation tax withdrawal is finally showing real signs of having a positive effect, not just on the charter businesses, but all the ancillary companies too. This, coupled with a fantastic winter refit season in the local shipyards bodes well for the forthcoming season.
Sadly I have to report on another well-known character from the local community and industry being taken from us far too early. Ceri West, who ran fabulous five star Silver Service training courses for stewardesses here in Palma passed away on December 2nd. She was a beautiful lady both inside and out with a wicked sense of humour, and will be missed by many here in Palma. She leaves behind three sons Alex, Luis and Oliver.
This month sees the London and Dusseldorf Boat Shows take place, with Team Islander visiting the former for the first time in three years to see what’s happening in the Blighty yachting market. Fairline Yachts was recently placed into administration, after several troubled years, and their absence will leave a big hole to fill at this year’s show. We hope this is just a temporary setback and that many of the 400 plus odd workers are able to keep their jobs.
Fair Winds !
