Nine years ago the Personal Watercraft Partnership was conceived by a group of like-minded companies committed to promote and protect the United Kingdom's Personal Watercraft Industry. For those of you that do not know that is "Jet Ski's" to most people.

Oh no, I hear you cry not those nuisance things that ruin my quite Sunday afternoon sailing. Well I am here to tell you there is quite another story. With partners like The British Marine Federation, The Royal Yachting Association, Manufactures, Insurance Brokers, Publishers and Datatag who have invested a considerable amount of Time and money in promoting and protecting the sport in the past and will continue to in the future this is an organisation that has helped to continually promote and educate at all levels, from Manufactures to Local and National Authority's to the end users. Many great achievements have been made that has cumulated in the publishing of a Management Guide that has been adopted around the world with fantastic success.

While the Personal Watercraft Partnership is made up of a professional team Chris Nevell-Parry has been the Executive Director since it's conception. Chris has worked tirelessly for the last nine years talking to anyone who wanted to listen. When I asked him what has been his greatest achievement over the last nine years he simply said "Well it never ceases to amaze me how well received we have been. People have come together and have been so supportive. When we have brought together people from the BMF, RYA, Local and National Authority's and the riders of these PWC's all entering into dialog in the same room at the seminars that we have put on around the UK all getting on and making friends is just marvellous" Well sadly Chris has after nine years decided to retire and he will be a very hard act to follow.

Stepping up to the mark is John Biggar who was appointed as Chris's successor from the 1st April. John is no stranger to the PWC world as he has been a participant in the sport for many years. In the last five years he has been the Chairman of JAWS (Jet Ski and Watercraft Society) based in Herne Bay in Kent. JAWS has been recognised as one of the leading clubs around our coast line who is dedicated to promoting safe and reasonable use of these craft. John has worked with Local Authority's and all sorts of people and organisations to raise the profile of these craft and the sport in general. He has had many successes but to name but two it has been the affiliation with the MYA (Medway Yachting Association) and the opening of a new launch site that has stuck in his mind the most. "Who'd of thought five years ago that today a PWC club would have been associated with a Yachting Association. It is great that now people can see we are not all reckless and behave in a bad way. In fact, it is quite the reverse".

John will now be working closely with the team to continue to promote and support the sport and all those connected with it. The road shows are a great way to get the message across to those who want to listen but he will be looking to widen the audience by the use of forums with a question and answer section, exhibitions at relevant shows and using publicity such as Magazines and News Letters to get the message across. "It is not often that the positive work and use of these craft is publicised" and this is something that John will be keen to promote in the future.

We wish Chris a long and enjoyable retirement and the best of luck to John in the future.