Yachts can now be shipped 'across the pond' as a matter of routine with the introduction of a regular service by Atlantic Yacht Shipping - a subsidiary of Sunsail Ltd. Boats can be loaded aboard a ship from two locations in the Caribbean - the Virgin Islands and St.Vincent - in April, for delivery to Nantes, Palma de Mallorca and the Ionian. The reverse trip to the

Caribbean will take place in November. Costs - including a specially designed yacht cradle - will be in the region of £6,000 for a monohulled yacht up to 45ft. The maximum weight of vessel to be shipped is 25 tonnes. Custom-built cradles for motorboats are provided at cost.