The RYA have launched a guide to help yachtsmen understand the complex changes in taxation over red diesel.

There is also a guide to the calculation of duty and VAT under the new arrangements.

The following link will take you directly to the pages on Red Diesel and help demystify some of changes: www.rya.org.uk/KnowledgeBase/legal/reddiesel

In the light of these changes Yachting Monthly raced in a 43ft yacht against a 40ft motor-boat from the Solent to Cherbourg to see how much fuel each used and find out the comparative cost in cruising for the sailorman over the motorman. You can read the results in the December issue out on November 13.