Raymarine reject Garmins offer

Well after yesterdays reports that Garmin had tabled an offer to the Raymarine shareholders for the purchase of their rivals, news has just been announced that the Raymarine board has urged it's shareholders to take no action with regards to this offer.

The Raymarine board have however announced that they are in advanced talks with a third party over the sale of Raymarine Holdings LTD who are offering a price of 17.5p per share (the Garmin offer was 15p per share).

we will keep you posted on any further news

Garmin bid for Raymarine

After months of speculation marine electronics specialist Garmin have made a formal offer to acquire competitor Raymarine for a price of 15 pence per share. If approved the deal would see Garmin pay Raymarine shareholders an estimated £12.5 million, Garmin would also have to taken the significant debt that Raymarine currently owe, last published at a net figure of £91.6 million.

Raymarine have seen a sharp drop in share price from there peak in April 2007 at 490p per share this has been blamed on the whole on the decline in demand for hi-end electronics since the economic down turn.

There seems to be mixed opinions to whether the merger will be allowed to go through due to competition laws, but Garmin believe when combined the 2 company's will still below 30% of the market share which is below the level where concerns normally arise.

We will keep you posted with any further updates.

More New Clothing Ranges At Mailspeed Marine

Ahead of the launch of our new Spring/Summer catalogue supplement we are pleased to reveal 2 more new clothing ranges in addition to the new Chatham casuals announced last week.

We have a selection of performance and casual lifestyle items from the prestige marine brand Dubarry. Many of you will know Dubarry from their reputation as making some of the best sailing boots around, who in recent years have turned their expertise to producing a capsule clothing range, building on their reputation for technical and manufacturing quality. Highlights of the range available include the Storm jacket, which is a blouson style jacket with taped seams which make it 100% waterproof, the Twickenham and Landsdowne rugby shirts are great additions to your summer wardrobe whilst the Melbourne Performance short are ideal for summer sailing.

Along side this new range of Dubarry casuals we have added some new lines to the popular Holebrook range of jumpers. Inspired by the landscapes of the Swedish archipelago where they are produced these jumpers offer a smarter alternative to a fleece, within the range are are selection of wind proof jumpers which have also proved very popular with golfers.

check out the range of Men and Women's casuals here to get your self kitted out for the summer.

Gillingham to Southampton - keep turning right

A boater had to be rescued after believing he could make it to Southampton without charts by keeping the coast to his right


A motorboater who thought he was sailing around the coast of the UK but was in fact circling the Isle of Sheppey off the coast of Kent had to be rescued by the RNLI earlier this month after running out of fuel.

It is believed the 45-year-old gentleman bought his 20-odd-foot motor boat online, and set off from Gillingham thinking he could reach Southampton on one 20lt tank of fuel.

He didn't take any charts or navigational equipment, instead thinking that if he kept the coast to his right, he could navigate into the North Sea, through the Dover Straits and onto the Solent.

But his plan came undone when he ended up sailing round the eight-mile-wide Isle of Sheppey for a day and a half before running out of fuel.

His told rescuers that since he could drive to Southampton on one tank of fuel, he could make the same journey by boat on just one tank.

Coastguard Ian Goodwin said: "We passed on relevant safety advice and advised him that the best way to Southampton would be by train.

"However, he said he would get some fuel and get under way but asked us if he went left or right when he came out of the Swale."

Thanks to Motor Boat and yachting for the original story

Henri Lloyd Renew Falmouth Week Sponsorship

Organisers of Falmouth Week Sailing regatta which is the 2nd largest sailing regatta in the UK (Cowes week being no.1) have announce technical and lifestyle clothing manufacturer Henri Lloyd as the events title sponsor. This will be the sixth consecutive year in which Henri Lloyd have sponsored the event. Sponsorship includes prizes of Henri Lloyd branded clothing and gift vouchers for competitors.

Richard Gates from Falmouth Town Council and chair of the shore side committee said "it is extremely positive that Henri Lloyd have committed to continuing their sponsorship for a further 2 years as the brand name is a great addition to Falmouth week"

This years Falmouth week runs from the 7th-15th of August.

Beaulieu Boat Jumble

The 2nd best way to spend a lovely warm sunny spring day this Sunday would be to have a potter around the Beaulieu boat jumble (the best option being out on the water).

Open from 10am on Sunday the 25th of April the boat jumble features hundreds of different stands ranging from normal boaters selling off there old unwanted spares to professional chandlers like Mailspeed Marine clearing out old or display stock at bargain prices.

Set in the beautiful grounds of Beaulieu in the New Forest Hampshire it's well worth a day out as your admission fee will also grant access to the National motor Museum, Palace house and Beaulieu Abbey.

Tickets are £7.70 advance or £8.70 on the day for adults and £5.70 in advance or £6.70 on the day for children.

For more information follow the link

Chatham Now Available At Mailspeed Marine

Mailspeed Marine are pleased to announce a new range of clothing and footwear for sale on the website and via mail order.

We have teamed up with renowned marine footwear manufacturer Chatham Marine to bring a capsule range of deck shoes, casual marine styled footwear and marine styled casual clothing.

The range is all made from top quality materials and the G2 range of deckshoes come with a 2 year guarantee. At present stocks will be fullfilled direct from Chathams warehouse and should arrive at your door 48hrs after you place your order.

We love this range and are all ready planning what we are going to buy for the summer.

Make sure your on trend with the marine look this summer and check out the range here.

Guide to racing lifejackets

Racing Lifejackets: What’s Hot?

If you are searching for racing life jackets, the amount of variety on the market can make this a tough decision. There are plenty of factors to consider when it comes to racing lifejackets, so read this guide to learn more about what’s available out there.

Racing Life Jackets Buying Guide

Crewsaver 190 Life Jackets, £199.99



The 190N Zipped Plus is one of the best jackets out there right now. It took two years of research to come up with this gem, and there’s no doubting the fact that much care has been put into the design of this life jacket.

Specialist features include a body that’s shorter than the average in order to allow increased manoeuvrability and comfort. Thought has been put into the back of the jacket to ease pressure both in and out of the water.

The asymmetric bladder design helps to boost safety, as the wearer is turned onto their back in a much quicker time in comparison to a standard jacket. A built-in hood and light further safeguard the wearer’s security in a Crewsaver 190 Life Jacket.

Click here to watch Pete from Crewsaver showing us this lifejacket at it’s launch at London Boat show.

Spinlock Deck Vest Life Jacket, £194.99

This trendy Spinlock Deck Vest turns the traditional lifejacket design on its head. Unsurprisingly, Spinlock’s innovative design technique has attracted the attention of lots of buyers. But how does it differ from the norm?

Well, the designers of this jacket have produced arguably the most lightweight model currently available on the market. Much thought has been put into the wearer’s comfort and flexibility – the Spinlock offers maximum freedom of movement and the soft neoprene neck cover offers an extra degree of comfort.

Other features that make this product such a strong contender in the racing life jackets market include retro-reflective strips for enhanced visibility, integral spray hood, light weight harness attachment point and integral AQ98 light.

Marine Audio Guide

Marine audio equipment is more advanced than ever, and is now much simpler to use and install thanks to personal MP3 players. For a guide on the different marine audio equipment available, including information on Fusion marine audio systems, read the following.

Marine Audio Equipment – Fusion Marine Audio
Fusion marine audio technologies are cutting edge and reasonably priced. Their music systems and accessories (such as Fusion iPod docks and Fusion speakers) are great for all boating needs due to their forward thinking and innovative ideas.

Fusion iPod Docks
Fusion iPod Marine Stereo Unit
The Fusion iPod Marine Stereo Unit is a brilliant on board music option. It is the first marine audio unit ever that has true iPod docking facilities. Your iPod would be encased inside the system’s waterproof drawer, for protection from water and elements. To control the music from the outside, your iPod integrates with Fusion iPod Marine Stereo Unit. It has AM/FM radio, and different volumes can be set for all areas of your boat, for more personalised marine entertainment.

Fusion iPod Marine External Dock
Another option for Fusion iPod docks is their external dock that can be plugged into the Fusion MS-CD500. This is better for those who already own that stereo and so converts it into an iPod friendly music system.

Fusion Speakers
Marine Audio – Fusion Marine Speakers – 7”
To ensure that your music is heard properly around your boat, investing in some good speakers will really help. Fusion Marine Speakers are perfect for boating as they are fully waterproof and comply with dust standards. Fusion Marine Speakers come with a set of three grills: standard, sport and cloth, making your onboard entertainment extra special.

Fusion speakers in the Fusion marina audio range, also come in smaller sizes (6” and 4”) so depending on your individual marine audio equipment requirements and preferences, you will surely find something to suit you.

"Men wanted for hazardous journey"

Scottish adventurer Jock Wishart has announced his plans to be the first to row to the magnetic north pole. The expedition will start from Resolute Bay in Canada and will take in a 450 mile route through the ice fields to the pole.

This expedition has only become possible over recent years as the route was previously impassable by boat, but due to climate change and the thawing of the ice joch believes that he and his team will have a window of just a few weeks to make it through before the water freezes again.

If your sitting there wishing you could do something like that, then maybe you can. Jock is looking for 5 willing and able crew to go along with him on the expedition which is due to start in July 2011.

Wishart quotes Ernest Shackletons advert in the Times when he was recruiting for the Nimrod trip in an "Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful."

Hmmm not exactly selling it to me but I'm sure there will be plenty of people willing to give it a go.

Good luck to them.

For more info and to watch Jock's video introduction to the journey just click here to view the Row to the Pole website

Mailspeed Exclusive Dee Caffari Interviews

I have just finished setting up the new Mailspeed Marine Youtube channel. It is early days at the moment and we only have a few videos uploaded to the channel but there are plenty more waiting to go up soon.

We have some great videos of Dubarry boots featuring guest presenter Dee Caffari. For those of you unfamiliar with Dee, she is the first Women to sail single handed non stop around the world in both directions.

In future we will have a good mixture of product reviews, informative how too videos and more exclusive interviews with the elite of the boating world.

Enjoy.

Extreme Sailing Returns To Cowes

One of Europe's most iconic sailing venues will welcome back the Extreme Sailing Series this summer for the second leg of the five-event circuit.

The home of UK yacht racing, Cowes on the Isle of Wight will host the only UK stop. The ‘Extreme Sailing Series at Cowes Week' will build on the success of 2009 where the Extreme 40 racing was a key attraction during this world famous regatta, with celebrities Simon Le Bon, Ben Fogle and F1 chief Nick Fry vying for 5th man spots on board, and BBC Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank performing a live set in the public bar. The racing in 2010 will be held later in the day, from 5pm on some days, to ensure the sailors taking part in Cowes Week as well as the general public can enjoy the great entertainment on the water while enjoying a relaxed drink, food, commentary and music at the Egypt Point race village.

Gilles Chiorri, Event Director for OC Events, commented: "The Extreme Sailing Series at Cowes Week was a huge success in 2009 with not only the general public lining the seafront to watch the sailing, but sailors racing in other classes heading down to Egypt Point as soon as they finished their own racing to watch the Extreme 40 spectacle. We hope to continue that trend in 2010 with much of the racing starting after the main Cowes Week fleets have finished - there will be plenty to see and do at Egypt Point and we look forward to welcoming everyone there."

Stuart Quarrie, CEO of Cowes Week Limited added, "We're delighted to welcome the Extreme 40s back to Cowes Week in 2010. Last year the racing added hugely to the great spectacle of our regatta and, having taken onboard the feedback received, we're delighted that some of the racing will be held later in the day enabling more Cowes Week sailors to enjoy the spectacle too".

Four of the five venues have now been confirmed for the 2010 Extreme Sailing Series European circuit with the final venue announcement due on 21 April. With more races scheduled than ever before, the 2010 circuit will see up to ten teams battling it out for the title, won in 2009 by Pete Cumming (GBR) and his crew on Oman Sail Masirah.

In a change to the 2009 format, every day of sailing will count in 2010 - four days of points scoring racing in Sète (FRA), Trapani (ITA) and Almería (ESP) - whilst the organisers, OC Events, will capitalise on the only UK leg being played out at the same time as Cowes Week with six days of racing for the teams. The opening day in each venue is a dedicated point-scoring ‘Media Day' with all fifth man slots reserved for journalists and reporters and the remaining days will play host to not only the Media but VIP guests, with courses laid close to shore to entertain the general public.

The calendar for the 2010 Extreme Sailing Series Europe is confirmed as:

Sète, France 27-30 May
Cowes, United Kingdom 31 July-5 August
Germany 26 -29 August
Trapani, Italy 23-26 September
Almería, Spain 9-12 October

Choosing the best deck shoes

Deck shoes are excellent if you go sailing, they can stop you slipping on deck, can keep water out and be a coastal fashion statement. This article will help you to choose the right deck shoes for you. It is so important for you to have deck shoes that are comfortable and reliable. There is such a huge variety of deck shoes available that you could choose from that it can prove difficult to pick the ones best suited to you. The traditional style of deck shoes made by brands such as Dubarry, Henri Lloyd and Orca Bay are still extremely popular with the sailing community but there are some more edgy designs of deck shoes made by Sharx.

What to Look for in Boat Shoes

•Deck shoes should be comfortable and durable, so that you can easily perform all necessary tasks.

•You should choose deck shoes with lots of traction you will need shoes with non-slip technology on the outsole.

•To keep comfortable inside your deck shoes you will want them to be water resistant.

•You may also be climbing when sailing so you will need deck shoes with some shock absorbency and the ability to bend so you can climb thin poles.

•Being able to get your shoes on and off quickly is quite important in case you need to get into the water for any reason.

•You are likely to be wearing your deck shoes for quite some time so you will need them to have some breathable fabric so you do not get a build-up of moisture. If your feet are in a moist environment for a long time then you can develop fungal infections like athletes foot.

•You should check that the eyelets are rust proof; they will be getting wet quite often. You will want your deck shoes to be fashionable and functional for more than a few wears so check they won’t rust.

•Strike a balance between style, comfort and durability that is right for you and you will find your perfect pair of deck shoes.

Encouraging results

Our Young Mailspeed Sponsored 29er sailors have posted some encouraging results so far at the RYA national youth regatta in Weymouth. In their first event since making the switch to the 29er they have achieved some good results in windy conditions posting results in the high teens with a best of 13th so far, which is pretty encouraging stuff in a fleet of 30 boats.

With the wind disappearing today it will be interesting to see how they get on in these unpredictable conditions.

Hopefully we will have some picks from the event to put up here soon.

well done guys.

CREWSAVER REINFORCES RNLI LIFEJACKET CAMPAIGN MESSAGE

Crewsaver, the leading marine safety equipment manufacturer, is reinforcing the RNLI's "Useless Unless Worn" campaign’s with its own message about lifejacket safety. When people wear a lifejacket they should also use crotch straps and fit a spray hood as well.
This simple message addresses some of the most common safety issues surrounding lifejacket use. Without crotch straps even a properly adjusted lifejacket can ride up easily, preventing the lifejacket from performing properly and leaving the mouth perilously close to the water.

If the lifejacket has not been adjusted and fitted properly the consequences can be even more dramatic. There have been many instances were a lifejacket has lifted completely over the wearer's head. With a crotch strap the wearer can adjust how the lifejacket sits on the body, even when the jacket is inflated in the water.

Another key safety item is the spray hood. Once in the water a spray hood is essential in anything other than flat water. When floating in a lifejacket, a body will naturally turn to face the wind and waves. Even small waves will break over the jacket and into the wearer's face making it difficult to breathe clear air. The hood reduces the amount of spray inhaled and also makes the wearer more visible to other crewmembers or search and rescue teams.

Explained Crewsaver's Nigel Parkes: 'Even in a moderate sea state, the cold water can make it nearly impossible to maintain a regular breathing pattern. Gulping just a cupful of water can cause serious issues. Take in a litre of water, and the likelihood is the person could drown.'

Added Lucy Searle, Commercial Manager: "The RNLI takes the lead in encouraging safety at sea in addition to rescuing people who get into difficulty on the water. We are very proud to reinforce their "Useless Unless Worn" campaign safety message about crotch straps and spray hoods.”


The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescueservice around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. Click here to become a member and to find out more about how to support the RNLI.