Sep 1985 - Nov 1990
2.8
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The BBC's answer to Dynasty, Howards' Way was launched in 1985 with an enormous 1 million pound budget. The main characters in the show were 'best boat designer in the world' Tom Howard, his boutique running wife Jan Howard, 'I'll have a drink' Jack Rolfe and a nasty man called Ken Masters. It starred Maurice Colbourne.
S3 Ep11
8.0
12th Nov 1987
There's trouble in paradise for young lovers Leo and Amanda, with arguments on the horizon and a shocking discovery awaiting Leo, things aren't looking good. Ken's venture Leisure Cruise is going from strength to strength but Sir Edward could be about to change that.
S3 Ep10
8.0
5th Nov 1987
After the success of the Barracuda, a celebration is in order and it's officially launched by Relton. Charles has a new business partner, but he is left reeling after he learns his new investor is in fact his father.
S3 Ep9
8.0
29th Oct 1987
Surprises are in the Tarrant air as Jack receives a blast from the past when his ex Vanessa shows up; Gerald earns a lucrative job offer from Sir Edward and financial assistance from Charles; meanwhile the Barracuda's race is a rewarding one.
S3 Ep8
8.0
22nd Oct 1987
Avril and Charles are at loggerheads after she decides to put the Barracuda back on the market, with her job on the line will she go ahead? Tensions at the Mermaid mount when a commission for Ken looks possible.
S3 Ep7
8.0
15th Oct 1987
Impressionable Leo makes a spontaneous decision after meeting Amanda's parents and decides it's time to move their relationship to the next level. Jack's frustration at Jan's interest in the Mermaid begins to show.
S3 Ep4
8.0
24th Sep 1987
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.
S3 Ep3
8.0
17th Sep 1987
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.
S3 Ep2
8.0
10th Sep 1987
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.
S2 Ep13
8.0
27th Nov 1986
Charles and Abby come to a resolution. Claude’s designs dazzle the London Fashion Show, but hearts break and blood is spilt on the beaches and blouses of Tarrant.
S2 Ep11
8.0
13th Nov 1986
Abby is seduced by the icy blue eyes of sexy but dangerous fanatic Curtis Jaeger. Leo and Jan come to blows and Tom is left reeling by Avril’s cold and concrete business heart.
S1 Ep1
1.7
5th Sep 1985
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.
S2 Ep12
6.0
20th Nov 1986
Darling Jan proves she’s as wonderful a daughter as she is a mother and lover. Charles finally gains control of the boatyard, but is it just business he’s after? What future is there for the Mermaid when tragedy strikes the Lynnette?
S5 Ep10
6.0
9th Nov 1989
Jan determines to stand by James. Kate is concerned about the impact of the new marina development and Jack has difficulty dealing with memories of his late wife.
S5 Ep11
6.0
16th Nov 1989
Charles and Gerald set their sights on revenge. Abby refuses to hand William over to the Hudsons and Ken and Laura court Sabio Fernandez for a business deal.
S5 Ep13
6.0
30th Nov 1989
Avril's position is in jeopardy now that Ken has sold his Relton shareholding to Charles. Jan confronts James over his actions and Leo takes on Ken in a one-against-one long-distance race.
S6 Ep12
6.0
22nd Nov 1990
Laura's future at Leisurecruise is in jeopardy, Robert Hudson arrives in Bermuda and Admiral Redfern has something important to say to Kate
S2 Ep8
7.0
23rd Oct 1986
Polly’s revelation leaves fertile Charles in a quandary. Jack’s behaviour causes concern at home and the boatyard, forcing wily Avril into a boardroom decision.
S3 Ep1
7.0
3rd Sep 1987
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.
S3 Ep5
7.0
1st Oct 1987
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.
S3 Ep6
7.0
8th Oct 1987
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.
S1 Ep1
1.7
5th Sep 1985
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.
S1 Ep2
12th Sep 1985
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.
S1 Ep3
19th Sep 1985
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.
S1 Ep4
26th Sep 1985
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.
S1 Ep5
3rd Oct 1985
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.
S1 Ep6
10th Oct 1985
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.
S1 Ep7
17th Oct 1985
Over dinner with Tom, Avril confesses to buying the Flying Fish. Polly encounters Charles at a gallery opening but does not get the reception she desires. She later admits to Jan that Gerald is not Abby's father. Ken continues to cause friction between Tom and Jan. Charles expresses an interest in purchasing the Mermaid Yard and saving it from financial ruin. When he pays Avril a visit, the true nature of their past relationship emerges. Tom comforts Avril following her unexpected encounter with Charles.
S1 Ep8
24th Oct 1985
Charles and Ken come to gentleman's agreement about the planned marina. Jack turns to drink when the yard loses the German business contract and the bank threatens to foreclose on on the loan. Charles talks with Avril about purchasing the yard. When Tom wants to re-mortgage their home, Jan turns him down flat. Meanwhile, Ken offers Jan a helping hand and Leo finds Abby. Jack is outraged, yet again, by Tom and Avril's decisions about how to run the yard.
S1 Ep9
31st Oct 1985
Charles enlists Gerald's help in his plans to develop the marina. Tom and Jan come to a financial agreement even though their marriage is over. Leo is determined to help Abby and her unborn baby. A mysterious man, Richard Shellet, claims to have a genuine claim over the Mermaid Yard. Jan travels to London where she meets fashion photographer Claude Dupont. Lyn has great success in the Fast Net race and Ken naively agrees to go into partnership with Charles.
S1 Ep10
7th Nov 1985
Tom and Avril's first night together is interrupted by a boating accident. When it emerges that the boat was recently serviced by the Mermaid Yard, there are criminal charges to answer. Leo becomes suspicious of his father's relationship with Avril. Jan is angered when Ken tells her what has been going on. Richard Skellet pursues his claim on the Mermaid Yard and it emerges he has a backer with a vested interest in gaining ownership of the yard.
S1 Ep11
14th Nov 1985
The legal battle between Jack and Skellet over the Mermaid Yard hots up. Tom adapts his boat designs to appease Jack while Charles and Ken's plans for the marina development forge ahead. Charles seduces Lyn and learns of Tom and Avril's affair. Jan receives a business offer from Claude Dupont and a personal offer from Ken. Kate invests in a racehorse. Polly interferes in her absent daughter's life.
S1 Ep12
21st Nov 1985
There is descent at the Boat Yard because Tom, Avril and Jack are all too preoccupied elsewhere. Jan and Ken celebrate the opening of their new business venture, the Periplus Boutiquie. Shellet is happy to receive payment from Charles as they await the outcome of the legal action. Tom and Avril get support over his latest design from Relton. Charles and Lyn spend time together but she has doubts about his sincerity. Polly and Abby come to blows with potentially fatal consequences.
S1 Ep13
28th Nov 1985
Relton Marine is apprehensive about investing in the Boat Yard's latest project. Lyn's altered behaviour causes Tom and Jan some concern. As Charles waits for his American wife to arrive, news of his past relationship with Polly becomes public knowldge. Abby gives birth but her relationship with her own mother continues to be problematic. Tom and Jan agree to a divorce and Relton makes Avril a lucrative offer. When Lyn finds Charles in a compromising position, disaster strikes.
