As we approach the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, there's a
joke being e-mailed around the world which contrasts modern 'politically correct'
thinking with the values of the Napoleonic age.


It has Admiral Nelson querying a signal that reads 'England expects every person
to do his duty, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or religious
persuasion', whereupon Captain Hardy has to explain that the Admiralty is now
an equal-opportunities employer.


When Nelson demands a report from the crow's nest, Hardy informs him that the
lookout post has been closed by the health and safety watchdog because it has
no harness and inadequate disabled access.


When Nelson asks Hardy to break open the rum ration, he is politely reminded
that it has been abolished as part of the Government's clampdown on binge-drinking.
And when he orders his crew to engage the enemy with cannon fire, he learns
that they're afraid of being bombarded with compensation claims if they injure
anyone.

But in this issue of MBM our focus is not on an allegedly small-minded
captain but on an assuredly big-thinking boatbuilder of the same name.

Our report
on the new Hardy 50 motoryacht (see page 28) shows what can be achieved . by
a British organisation . when it is prepared to raise its game and at the same
time remain fully flexible. It shows how their stunning new flagship evolved
through months of discussion with its discerning first buyer, as a perfect example
of how custom-building can and should work.


Like defeating Napoleon, it wasn't cheap and it wasn.t easy, but ultimately
it was well worth the effort.

Hugo Andreae, 15 June 2005