Virtual PA based just outside Richmond on Thames offers busy people an opportunity to delegate. Utilise the services of a corporate freelance PA at a fraction of what it costs to employ one. +44(0)20 8979 8803 sara@virtually247.co.uk

An exciting bottom rimless addition to our range suitable for all sports with hydrophilic nose pads and ear pieces. RRP £34.99, Action Eyewear price £24.99 including soft case, hard case, VAT, postage & packing to a UK Mainland address.

2xs has berths available for weekend 10-11th May From Brighton see http://www.sailingcharter2xs.co.uk/winter_offers2007.html

The highly efficient pressurised wet abrasive system makes use of garnet, olivine, recycled glass and other special abrasives as soda when a more gentle approach is required . Cost per square metre is invariably lower with Aquablaster than conventional open dry and dusty grit blasting. The system runs without re-filling for up to 5 hours . Abrasive consumption is so miserly you will be amazed how low the consumables expenses are. Aquablaster is no ordinary blasting pot – the pressure vessel is charged with water, not compressed air and the abrasive / water mix can be finely metered to suit virtually any blasting application. When the wet abrasive particles enter a compressed air stream they fly faster and smoother than any dry blasting system, impacting the target in a uniformly dispersed, high velocity pattern. The result is far more efficient use of the abrasive blast media and consequently higher production rates. The real pay-off is that Aquablaster consequently makes the use of more expensive abrasives cost-effective. For steel surface preparation, almandite garnet is highly efficient, demonstrating consumption rates of around 15 Kgs / sq. mtr compared to 40-45 Kgs / sq. mtr for an equivalent open dry air blasting system.

Typical nozzle sizes for Aquablaster are 5/16 inch; 3/8 inch (9mm) and ½ inch (13mm). For delicate work the smaller-diameter nozzles can perform the most delicate work—there is almost infinite adjustment available between the vessel water pressure and the compressed air flow. Sensitive materials like old timbers or wooden furniture can have paint or varnish skilfully massaged away to expose the original wood in almost pristine condition. Aquablaster is in widespread use in the leisure craft industry where GRP (glass-re-enforced plastic) hulls can, be prepared for re-coating to very high standards using soda/water mix very gentle and yet effective

Abrasives such as olivine, crushed waste glass, calcium carbonate (soda) and many other materials heavier than water can be used to great effect.

Stone and brick can be brought back to near original condition. The absence of chemicals and dust make the system highly attractive from an environmental standpoint, particularly so in heavily built-up areas with narrow streets where the problems associated with chemical or dry abrasive cleaning become insurmountable.

Behind sheeted-in scaffolding, passers-by are often barely aware that Aquablaster is restoring a building to its original appearance. Even without sheeting, the wetted abrasive is down to ground within 3-5 metres and materials like olivine, which is a pale green in colour, create only a light dusting of non-toxic sand.

The system has proved particularly effective for removing thermoplastic white lining from road surfaces largely replacing the traditional method of burning this material off. By-products from burning are therefore totally eliminated. Aquablaster can deal with most forms of graffiti swiftly and cleanly without the use of chemicals. The extremely low abrasive consumption combined with the absence of dust means the work can be carried out in an environmentally compliant way with the minimum of cleaning up Steel & cast iron substrates can be tackled by adding a anti rusting agent into the on-board water supply stopping flash rust (gingering) for up to 72 hours from the process. Call for a free estimate or book a demonstration. 01621 841100 Available from Mid July 2008

Low pressure slurry antifoul removal using little water and soft volcanic lava.

- Antifoul removal - Gelcoat removal - Surface etching on new yachts

Modern Methods of Heaving-to for Survival in Extreme Conditions Revised and Expanded Third Edition. Due for release in Early April 2008, now offered by TheSailingChannel.TV at a pre-publication discount. See: http://thesailingchannel.com/pardey/pardey_videos_books/books/storm_tactics_handbook.htm

“In a storm at sea, luck is highly biased toward the sailor who has a plan.” So write Lin and Larry Pardey in this, the third edition of their highly regarded Storm Tactics Handbook.

As in the first two editions of this book, they describe their concerns about the tendency of modern sailors to discard the classic methods used to bring sailing vessels of all sizes—from vast clipper ships to tiny yachts—through amazingly strong winds and heavy seas. “There is only one storm tactic that has the ability to sap the power of breaking seas,” they explain. With clear and concise diagrams, they proceed to show how heaving-to works and how even the most modern of yachts can be made to heave-to, whether with only sail power or with the assistance of a sea anchor.

Discussions on avoiding chafe, building and using storm staysails, choosing storm gear, deploying para-anchors, avoiding the worst areas of cyclonic storms, and many more have been expanded to answer many questions posed by readers and seminar attendees.

A discussion of the many ways heaving-to can be useful at sea—as a way to help the crew keep well rested, to effect repairs, to steady a vessel should outside assistance ever be necessary—will convince even those who plan to run before their imagined “ultimate storm” that heaving-to is still a “must know.”

A series of user-friendly checklists will help sailors from the moment they start looking for their perfect offshore boat, through outfitting, and as they encounter their first storms at sea. Highly readable stories of the Pardeys’ encounters with storms, and of experiences related by several other modern sailors, help illustrate and expand the points made in this book.

Since writing the previous edition of Storm Tactics Handbook, Lin and Larry have voyaged an additional 35,000 miles. This has taken them as far north as Norway, twice across the Atlantic, south to Argentina, into the Pacific, around Cape Horn against the prevailing winds, and then on a circuit of the North Pacific. With insights gained from these recent voyages, they have fully revised and expanded this text by more than 40 percent, including nine completely new chapters. New material includes: Lessons from Cape Horn An interview with the late Sir Peter Blake, on storm survival and heaving-to Heaving-to using a Galerider on 55-foot Morgan’s Cloud Adding rudder protection stops

Mario Vittone, a U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer for 14 years, in an unsolicited testimony, wrote: “I have been on several rescues (and heard of many more) that would have been completely unnecessary if the sailboat captains aboard would have . . . practiced the skills taught by Lin and Larry Pardey. Not knowing how to heave-to in bad weather is as inexcusable as not knowing ‘red, right, return’.”

Previous editions of Storm Tactics Handbook have sold more than 32,000 copies worldwide. As recently as November 2007, the second edition—ten years after its publication—was consistently #1 on Amazon.com for instructional sailing books and #2 for atmospheric science.

Prepub Price: $19.95 Postpub Price: $22.95 Pages: 256 Binding: Paperback Pub Date: Early Apr-08 Size: 6” x 9” ISBN: 978-1-92921-447-1 Code:STH3

The Polution SOlution. A simple Spray designed to elliminate sheen and pollution caused by oil spillage and to protect the environment. This innovative and unique product has evolved from it’s usage in various oils spills, including the successful clean up after The Pretige sank off north-west Spain. Classified as green clearance by OSPAR HONCF with accreditation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and various State Departments for use on US Shorelines and waters, S-200 offers a proven, cost effective and natural solution to marine hydrocarbon pollution. The rapid reproduction of naturally occuring micro-organisms charges the affected area with nutrients, which digest the oil, turning it into carbon dioxide and water. WOW an environmentally friendly solution to oil spillage! Obviously the best solution is prevention but when an accident happens this is what you need to have around. Available in 1/2 litre, 1 litre, 2 1/2 litre, 5 litre and 25 litre.

Bilge Mantenance System. Removes oil around the clock. BioSok is a natural 100% biodegradable and non-toxic bilge sock. Placed in the bilge it goes to work immediately to safely eliminate most of the oil and fuel which spill into the bilge, also eradicating odour and fumes. Uses naturally occurring micro-organisms to brak down oild or fuel into Co2 and water. Leaves clean water to be pumped out. BioSok can last upto 5 years, at the end of its life simply throw away the empty BioSok bag in normal household waste. Every boat with internal combution engine should have one.