Howards' Way

Tom Howard, along with son Leo and daughter Lyn, celebrate their success in the prestigious Commadore Cup but when Tom reveals he has been made redundant from Southern Aviation, none of his family is too happy. Jack Rolf is concerned that his business, The Mermaid Boat Yard, is about to go bankrupt. Tom discusses his problems with Avril Rolf and considers investing his redundancy in the Boat Yard.

Ken Masters is interested in taking over the Mermaid Yard. He employs Leo Howard at the local pertol station and is eager to employ Jan. Meanwhile, Jan and Tom argue incessantly about how he should spend his redundancy money. Polly Urquhart's daughter Abby returns from finishing school but she has not turned out how the Urquhart's expected. Avril tries to prevent Tom from making a foolish investment. In order to raise more capital, Tom asks Avril to find a buyer for the Flying Fish.

Tom confesses to his family that he has invested in the Mermaid Boat Yard and his family is livid about the sale of the Flying Fish. Abby finds settling into the Tarrant social scene rather a challenge. Tom begins work at the Boat Yard where Avril remains coy about the buyer of his boat. Jan’s mother, Kate, encourages her to accept Ken’s offer of work. A distressed Abby takes some drastic action.

Leo acts like a hero. Jack has reservations about Tom’s approach to the Mermaid Yard and Avril is caught in the crossfire. Abby’s relationship with her mother continues to be a difficult one. Tom and Jan have a frank discussion about the state of their marriage when Jan finds herself preoccupied with her job at Ken Master’s company. Lynne expresses an interest in participating in the impending Fast-Net boat race and Philip Morton is looking for some crewmembers.

Avril and Jack continue to disagree over the future of the Yard and Tom's role in the decision making. Jan offers Ken some business advice over dinner, much to Tom's annoyance. Leo takes a shine to Avril but Abby feels left out in the cold. Kate rescues Jack from a ditch and they have a heart to heart about business and family matters. Lyn and Tom sail the Flying Fish for one last time.

Abby secretly leaves for Southamptom leaving all in Tarrant mystified. Lyn is perturbed by Phil Norton's agenda and blows her chance of crewing for him. Charles Frere shows an interest in developing the marina. Ken uses his knowledge of who really bought the Flying Fish to drive Tom and Jan further apart.

Whilst the mermaid celebrated another successful launch, its future hangs in the balance at a London court. The mysterious disappearance of lovelorn Lynne causes panic.

Brittle Polly Urquhart is delighted by the arrival of American stud Orin. Lynne's amnesia leaves her living in a world of strangers and news from France threatens Tarrant's bourgeoning fashion scene.

Environmentalist Leo comes to blows with creepy Ken Masters over the development of a local beauty spot. Patriarch Tom resorts to desperate measures to hep Lynne.

As leather-clad Leo mourns for the birds, Mr Shellet plots a dangerous revenge. Ken's ambivalence towards Claude's designs enrages dazzling Jan and silver fox Charles puts a scheme in motion.

Lynne’s transatlantic venture drives a wedge between Tom and Jan. Resistance to the marina development gathers momentum and Jack delivers Shellet an ultimatum. 

There’s concern across Tarrant as Lynne disappears from radar. Abby’s mothering abilities are called into question and the press get wind of swanky Charles’s plans… 

The Mermaid is struggling to escape the negative publicity generated by the catamaran accident and desperately needs new contacts. Meanwhile Jan's ultra chic designs are in such great demand she decides to employ an extra pair of stylish hands.

The future of the Mermaid hangs in the balance with the coroner's verdict yet to be decided and to add insult to injury Charles plans to withdraw the Barracuda from the market. Tom and Avril's relationship comes to an end.

Polly and Gerald's relationship is suffering as her spending gets out of control. Is Charles trying to sabotage the Mermaid? With financial ruin on the horizon, Jack earns a much-needed commission and Leo's boat refurbishment business is a success.

The competition is on as the Summer Powerboat race , leads to tensions between Ken and Charles. Sir Edward , is approached by Jan with a business proposition and , he has one for her but of a personal nature. Ken , and Sarah are caught in a compromising position.

Jan's newly discovered talent Anna reveals she may be promised to someone and forced to quit the exciting world of fashion. Tom learns the outcome of the trial and can breathe a sigh of relief; meanwhile Leo's business has a new investor.

The Mermaid faces repossession, but a saviour is on hand. Entrepreneurial Jan drives a hard bargain and after agreeing to help Tom out financially, she walks away with a forty percent stake in the boat yard.

As air-sea rescue searches for Charles and Avril, Sir Edward waits on Jan's answer to his proposal and Ken Masters looks to cash in on the plummeting Frere Holdings share price.

Jan comes under pressure after a break-in at her design house, Sir Edward involves Tom in plans for the America's Cup and Polly sets her sights on becoming a top business woman. 

Avril has discharged herself from the clinic, Jan offers Tom her shares in the Mermaid, Leo races for Relton and Abby does a photoshoot. 

Sir Edward and Ken discover their proposed oil site is a designated bird sanctuary, Sarah scuppers a Russian Leisure Cruise deal and could Jack be leaving the Mermaid Yard? 

Jan is befriended by fashion executive John Soames, Avril discusses her marriage proposal with her father and a big win at the races funds Jack’s plans for a wooden weekender vessel. 

Sir Edward provides Tom with some unwanted information about his America's Cup rivals, Ken and Sarah's business relationship becomes more acrimonious and Jack collapses on board the Barracuda. 

As Charles and Gerald face investigation by the Fraud Squad and Leo begins to recover from his crash, Laura Wilde arrives to take over Wilde Mouldings...

Ken finds trouble in his personal and business life. Jan meets James Brooke, her potential competitor and Charles' plans for Relton become all too clear.

Charles attempts to discover who implicated him in the fraud enquiry, Laura and Tom discuss joining forces with Ken and Abby travels with Leo to the Isle of Wight.

Laura aims to profit from Charles and Avril's feud. James and Jan are at loggerheads over a designer and it is soon clear that business as well as personal matters have prompted Orin's visit.

Leisure Cruise shares are being bulk purchased by a mystery buyer. Laura warns Ken to keep personal matters out of business and Abby reassures Leo as he becomes jealous of Orin.

Jan and James' business arguments fail to prevent them getting closer. Jack discovers Vanessa's secret business dealings and Abby's announcement finally opens Gerald's eyes...