IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Editor James Boyd unveils the future of madforsailing.com

Recently there have been many rumblings over the future of madfor sailing and it is with great pleasure that I can now confirm that on Monday, 30 September 2002, madfor sailing is to be relaunched in a completely new format and under a new name.
This move follows the sale of madfor sailing's assets by Madforsport Ltd to a new company International Sailing Media Ltd.

Over the last two years madfor sailing has established itself as a force to be reckoned with in the yachting press, harnessing the power of the web to deliver readers high quality, impartial journalism quickly and in a well presented manner.

It was this reputation which won madfor sailing the contract to deliver content to the official website of the Volvo Ocean Race. Our efforts were recognised earlier this year when we won the Sealine Media prize at the prestigious British Nautical Awards - the first website ever to do so.

In March we were the first sailing website to ask our readership for a subscription - maintaining quality coverage is an expensive business and we did not plan to join the many sailing websites closing at that time.

So where now?

Madforsport Ltd have sold the assets of madfor sailing to concentrate on their magazine publishing business that includes the titles Sailing Today and Aqua. The change of name is to prevent any potential conflict in the future with Madforsport Ltd's 'madfor..' brands and identity.

International Sailing Media Ltd are owners of the new website and I am the major shareholder in this company. We will be continuing with the subscriber-based model. This is now succeeding throughout the web for sites like ours, which deliver high value content to their readers, through a well presented site not dominated by intrusive advertising . madfor sailing readers can rest assured - with the new site we will be fulfilling your existing subscriptions through to their end date.

Editorially we will build upon madfor sailing's reputation for quality, independent journalism and we will continue to bring you the latest news and views in the world of yacht and dinghy racing. The fresh design of the new website will be more attractive and user friendly and, of most importance, we will in due course be introducing many additional benefits for you our readers.

Why are we doing this?

The first question we are always asked is "how do you make money?" A very good question indeed. Over the last few months we have learned a great deal about the website subscription business and we plan to impliment many of these lessons, providing us with a modest business and you and potential new members with a much improved service.

In the short term - please bear with us. There will be the inevitable teething problems with the site and there are still some parts of our service which must be got up and running over the new few days.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Tony Harris, the CEO of Madforsport Ltd and the visionary who set up madfor sailing along with the original editor Mark Chisnell.

And the name? ...all will be revealed on Monday.

James Boyd