Howards' Way - Season 3

Sir Edward Frere arrives and expresses an interest in his son's business affairs. Jan finds herself in demand but when she is unable to keep up with requests for her clothes she decides to employ a new designer. Meanwhile, Kate settles into Jan's home. Following the catamaran incident, the Mermaid Yard struggles to find new contracts and negative publicity does little to alleviate their troubles. Charles continues with his marine development plans but becomes suspicious of John Ingram. Charles takes a fancy to a picture up for auction but is frustrasted to learn he is not the only interested party.

Tom and Jack await the coroner's verdict and the Mermaid Yard continues to face financial difficulty. To add to their problems, Charles plans to withdraw the Barracuda from the market. Amanda pursues Leo but her outrageous actions create a stir. Robert McIntyre expresses an interest in Leisure Cruise but not everyone is eager to accept his potential investment. Avril waits to see if Charles agrees with her business proposals. A depressed Polly employs an interior designer while her relationship with Gerald becomes distant. Jan employs Anna Lee, a young design student. Charles is distracted from work by his father's presence. After Tom discusses his divorce with Jan, he and Avril agree their relationship is over.

McIntyre agrees to invest in Leisure Cruise but Mark Foster is definitely not happy. Leo's boat refurbishment business is a success and his first commission is from Amanda. Jan has trouble persuading Anna's traditional Chinese father the Anna should be given her independence. Polly is concerned when Gerald receives mysterious calls from a doctor and she continues to spend inordinate amounts on decorating. Tom believes that Charles is trying to destroy the business because of his past relationship with Avril. Sir Edward contemplates investing in local, small businesses. Charles is angry with Avril for failing to secure the McIntyre investment for Relton. Tom hits financial hard times and moves in to the painting shed at the yard. Things look up when Jack gets a commission from Admiral Redfern.

The catamaran accident creates a heated debate at Relton. Meanwhile at the Mermaid Yard, workers are laid off. Mark Foster is determined to enter the Summer Powerboat race but this only leads to more conflict with Ken. Ken is eager for Leisure Cruise to beat Charles' boat in the race. Jan goes to Sir Edward with a business proposal and he offers her dinner.Gerald expresses his anger at Polly's continued spending spree and then goes AWOL. When Charles has to present the winner's cup after the powerboat race he finds himself humiliated. Ken and Sarah are caught in a compromising position and Tom tenders his resignation.

Leo's new business receives a boost when Amanda decides to invest. Ken and Sarah separate but Mark cannot cope with his wife's betrayal. When Avril is put in charge of renting out the units on the business park, there is an awkward meeting between her and Jan. Tom gets evidence that confirms the Travis' had an accident prior to the drowning incident. McIntyre reneges on his deal with Leisure Cruise. Gerald explains why he has been so distracted form work. Anna confides in Kate about her worries that she will be forced to marry and then give up designing. Emma Neesome, from the Department of Shipping Science, agrees to help Tom prove his innoocents. Leo learns some shocking news from Amanda's father. Charles is pleased to learn that Avril's relationship with Tom is officially over.

Following the death of her husband, Sarah rejects Ken and contemplates taking her investment elsewhere. Jack pressurises Avril into asking Charles for money when the bank threatens to repossess the yard. Meanwhile, Emma finds more evidence that the Lynnette had been involved in a previous accident; however, she and Tom struggle to locate the incriminating evidence. Tom accepts Jan's offer of financial support but he creates a raucous when he invests her 40% of his share in the boat yard. Charles has trouble fighting off his father's interest in his consortium. During a business visit to his chateaux, Avril and Charles rekindle their relationship.

Jan's involvement in the Mermaid Yard continues to infuriate Jack. Leo begins working for Ken at Leisure Cruise. Anna is unhappy with her arranged marriage and, when she disappears, Jan is worried about the impact on the business. Gerald withdraws a substantial amount of money from his and Polly's bank account. He then disappears again. Avril encourages Charles to be more accepting of his father but this only leads to animosity between them. Polly's flirtation leads to embarrassment. Leo meets Amanda's parents and makes a spontaneous decision about their relationship. Firm evidence is obtained to enable Tom to clear the Mermaid Yard.

When Avril wants the Barracuda put back on the market, Charles threatens to fire her if she goes ahead. While his business expands, his disagreements with Sarah intensify. Gerald explains his recent absences to Polly. There is a heated debate at the Mermaid Yard when they discuss a possible commission for Ken. Jan tells Sir Edward about Anna's disappearance and asks him for some business advice. There is a party to celebrate Leo and Amanda's marriage but her father is far from happy about the situation. There is an unexpected visitor.

An old flame of Jack's, Vanessa, arrives and he misses the start of the Wolf Rock Race. Anna reveals the true extent of her family problems to Jan. Gerald is surprised to receive financial support from Charles and is even more surprised when Sir Edward offers him a job. Power boat racer Richard Spencer talks with Avril about joining Relton. Jan goes out to dinner with Ken where they discuss work and their relationship. Leo is angered by Amanda's flirtatious ways. Charles does not want Jan at Relton board meetings because of her developing relationship with his father. The Barracuda has a successful race and receives more publicity when a dramatic sea rescue takes place.

Tom's recent boating success is celebrated and the Baracuda is officially launched by Relton. Charles is disturbed to learn that his new business partner is his father. When Anna refuses to marry, her father denounces her. Polly decides to seek employment. David Lloyd warns Ken to keep an eye on Leisure Cruise. Jan is not impressed by the pace of work at the boat yard. Leo is perturbed by Amanda's constant socialising. Jan arranges a fashion shoot at Highfield. When Sarah returns early, she is curious to find out what Ken is really up to.

Leo and Amanda continue to argue and Polly throws herself into her work at Periplus. Sarah is angry at Ken for making business decisions without her knowledge. Avril sets out to resolve the conflict between the Mermaid Yard and Relton once and for all. Charles and Sir Edward hold a press conference to announce their joint business park venture. When Ken decides to float Leisure Cruise on the stock market, he asks Amanda's father to be in charge of the floatation. Meanwhile, Sir Edward plots Ken's downfall. Over dinner, Ken talks to Jan about her feelings towards Edward. Later, he is angry to learn his loan has been declined by Sir Edward. Richard Spencer is involved in a boating accident and Leo makes a disturbing discovery about his wife.

Polly is left in charge of Periplus and the power goes to her head. Gerald is convinced that Sir Edward is out to ruin Ken. When a cheque from Ken is rejected by the bank, Avril and Tom are less enthusiastic about his latest commission at the boat yard. Leo and Amanda discuss her affair. During the opening of the marina, Charles is furious with Avril when two clients meet up after he expressly told her to keep them apart. Meanwhile, Avril feels Charles' expensive gifts are simply to manipulate her. Sir Edward is informed of Charles' developing business contacts.

Ken and Sir Edward discuss the impending floatation of Leisure Cruise. Amanda's father accuses Leo of marrying his daughter for her money. Charles' new investors visit the business park and Jan's latest fashion designs prove popular with the critics. The yard's latest boat, The Spirit of Tarrant, is a great success. Gerald warns Charles about a potential take over of Relton and he is disturbed to learn that Abby has gone missing from Orin's home in the USA. Charles apologises to Avril for his obsession with work and neglecting their relationship. In an effort to mend the growing rift between them, he manages to persuade her to visit New York with him. Ken and Sarah make a financial killing while Charles' plane crashes into the Atlantic en-route to New York.