Cardinal Sin

Well having spent a few days recovering from nine days at boot Dusseldorf, I have become quite reflective.

The event, noted as the world’s largest water sports trade fair and back after a three-year break (where did that time go…) was certainly buzzing while I ghosted around the halls. How fantastic to see the smiling, enthusiasm and crowds and also the exhibitors enjoying the experience.

With visitor numbers exceeding 230,000 from over 100 countries seeing 1,500 companies spread over 16 halls, you certainly got your money’s worth.

I certainly did not hear anyone complaining about the entry price at this event.

From an exhibitor’s perspective there were no long lonely hours hanging around stands, trying not to get bored by playing UK ‘stand’ games. Added to which was the exhibitor party of enviable scale, showmanship and inclusion (but never talk to me about drink tokens again…).

My disappointment however comes from my shear frustration that despite the large number of British companies, we could not even organise a Brauereibesichtigung to promote ourselves, unlike the Association of Estonian Marine Industries.

A massive, missed opportunity to do some good and help market understanding and support.

Why are we still - three years on from Brexit - not appreciating that we must do so much better and promote the fact that we are actually a little bit good at what we do across the range of business we offer. When we work together, we are rather special.

That’s why I am disappointed in both myself and you, for not pushing more, and getting our act together outside of the UK.

A British man who founded and ran the yacht management company Master Yachts has been arrested in Spain on US criminal charges alleging that he helped a billionaire Russian oligarch evade sanctions relating to a US$90 million megayacht.

Richard Masters, 52, now faces extradition to the US on charges that he tried to hide Viktor Vekselberg’s 255ft luxury yacht, the Tango, from authorities.

Masters and a Russian national, Vladislav Osipov, 51, are charged in two unsealed separate indictments, with facilitating a sanctions evasion and operating a money laundering scheme in relation to the ownership and operation of the motor yacht.

An arrest warrant against Osipov is outstanding.

Masters ran a yacht management company in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. After Vekselberg was sanctioned in April 2018, Masters’s company took over the management of Tango, and conspired with others to evade the US sanctions.

The indictment alleges that both defendants used a variety of techniques to