[K1W1]

Hi,

Talk about biting the hand that feeds it, I guess the Pastis or Scotch you seem to imbibe in so frequently must have had a real pasting today.

How often have we seen you here stating how you have been in the business for years and how it has changed, how thick and stupid the crews are today for using the internet to find things and then asking you or your company to supply it, how wonderful a certain brand of paint is, how Antibes has gone downhill with the popularity or yachting ..... the list is quite long.

Originally Posted by airship

Sounds just like what the UK PM David Cameron just did, believing that he might have even 1 or 2 of EU countries standing behind him. As it turns out, all 17 Eurozone contries (those that have already adopted the Euro) plus the remaining 10 EU countries who've basically committed their countries to at some stage adopting the Euro today support the latest plans.

The UK is the only one of the 27 who has not sold their soul on the Euro so what choice did he have?

Originally Posted by airship;

The UK, like the free-wheeling, tax-avoiding superyacht owner are now in some form of quandary.

Just as you and your company will be when Owners say enough is enough and stay away.

Originally Posted by airship;

The UK, together with the USA have had in common a distaste for the Euro which dates back many years and unless I'm much mistaken, have together used their combined resources to undermine the Euro in recent times.

A bit of currency trading between selling litres of Bilgekote perhaps? You might be interested to know that one of those supposedly responsible for giving the £ such a hiding that the UK stayed out of the Euro is a large yacht Owner - his vessels are privately registered so he pays tax on everything fuel, food, supplies etc.

Originally Posted by airship;

.....also assuring that all the UK's offshore tax-havens are maintained for the benefit of a few.

...of the yacht Owners who have sent business your way over the years perhaps?

Originally Posted by airship;

Perhaps, and finally, the EU countries worthy of the name will be able to proceed, having shrugged off the worst efforts that some nations already mentioned above imposed on other more defenceless nations in various forms.

I think that you have omitted to mention the countries collectively known by the unfortunate abbreviation of P.I.G.S. - Oh heck aren't they already members of the EU and use the Euro? What happened there or can the blame for their ineptitude and corruption be laid at the UK and USA's feet by a few more drams of your favourite tipple.

Originally Posted by airship;

What should this mean for yachts (foreign-flagged, outside of the EU)? If they're commercial yachts, earning revenues from their presence in EU waters, then they should be taxed on this income and VAT (sales taxes) applied.

About the sanest thing you have ever written.

Originally Posted by airship;

Yachts registered for VAT in any of the UK's multiple offshore tax-havens (especially I.O.M.) should be immediately "arrested and chained" if found to be within any EU port. and subjected to in-depth investigations concerning their activities. Whether or not VAT is ever accounted for in reality: "I.O.M. companies can register for VAT under UK provisions, yet I.O.M. companies apparently never have to publish their accounts etc."

There it goes again, savaging the hand that feeds you.

Originally Posted by airship;

Frankly, I'm under the impression that there is today a whole yachting "sub-industry and culture" composed of so-called financial specialists etc. which has successfully terrorised most yacht owners.

You shouldn't just limit your rant to the such a select number, what about the management co's, brokers, incompetent surveyors ( often the three are closely associated behind the scenes)who have all jumped on the cash cow and in some cases have made it so unwelcome and financially damaging for an Owner that they have sold their dream vessel and are no longer a part of that fraternity.

That was great now I am ready to have my dinner.