Finance Minister Paula Cox, no doubt along with other Cabinet Ministers including Sports Minister El James, deserve credit for listening to the appeals from Bermuda's sailing fraternity to take another look at the increase in Customs duty on boats.

The Budget intitially proposed to increase the duty on all new boats from 33 percent to 50 percent on the basis that all boats are luxuries.

Although this newspaper still does not agree with that statement, Ms Cox's decision last week to hold duty levels at 33 percent for International Sailing Federation classes of boats is a step in the right direction and should be welcomed by competitive sailors, many of whom represent Bermuda with distinction at home and abroad.

There's a good case to be made by the Island's sailors that the duty rate should be lowered further for competitive sailing classes, and the Bermuda Sailing Association should start lobbying now.