In a statement released this morning Sailing Adventures Limited, has officially announced that it has purchased Action Leisure’s subsidiaries Shoreline Limited, Speed Marine Holdings Limited, and Express Marine Services Limited, all of which had been placed in administration two weeks ago.

The group is now trading as Marine Force Limited, which includes the largest collection of retail chandlery outlets and mail order catalogue in the UK. Marine Force retails under four different banners: Captain OM Watts; CruiserMart; Force Four Chandlers; and London Yacht Centre.

There will be a number of strategic changes to the company over the coming months, Sailing Adventures claims, although the company will continue to carry on its chandlery and mail-order businesses, operating under its existing brand names.

“This acquisition will give a significant boost to the ambitions of Sailing Adventures Limited which is currently building a 90ft superyacht as a platform for making television travel documentaries for terrestrial television as well as developing its Yachting Gateway (internet) portal. These companies will fit very well together and enable some quite quick expansion over the next couple of years,” said Oliver Vaughan, chairman of Sailing Adventures.

Jonathan Booth, managing director of Marine Force said: “We are obviously delighted that the company has been purchased by Sailing Adventures Limited. We can now continue with our strategy of consolidating and expanding our core areas of business. We are also encouraged by the very positive response from our employees and our major commercial partners who have been extremely supportive.”