Tributes have been paid to yachting
journalist Mike Balmforth who has sadly passed away following a long-term illness.

Mr Balmforth was a popular Practical Boat
Owner contributor who was best known for his active maritime contributions north of the border.

The British Marine Federation praised Mr Balmforth, the BMF Scotland President, for giving a ‘life
time contribution to the marine industry and the promotion of sailing and
boating in Scotland’.

Mr Balmforth’s career experience spanned
yacht broking, marine equipment distribution and journalism. 

In recent years, Mr Balmforth had
spearheaded the drive to raise the profile of the industry and boating in the
Scottish Parliament and was the architect of the establishment of a Cross Party
Group on Recreational Boating & Marine Tourism in the Holyrood Parliament.

At a Management Board meeting, BMF National
President, Mike Cook paid tribute to the contribution that Mike Balmforth made
to the BMF both nationally and in Scotland. 

He said that since joining the Board in
2009, Mike had always made a considered contribution and provided wise counsel. 

He concluded the Mike was a rational,
sensible and thoroughly nice man who would be greatly missed by his Management
Board colleagues.

The Yachting Journalist Association (YJA) described
Mr Balmforth as ‘an active and highly regarded member of the YJA Committee for
many years’.

Mr Balmforth died on Sunday December 2, after suffering from poor health over
the last couple of years. 

Mr Balmforth’s funeral will be held at 3pm
on Thursday, December 13 at Greenock Crematorium, 1 South Street,
Greenock, PA16 8UG and there will be a gathering afterwards at the Royal
Gourock Yacht Club.