Water, water, everywhere, but not a lot to sail on

As an example, Chen points to the fact that fishermen enjoy exclusive rights to a 4.8km zone around Taiwan's coast. They can veto projects like marinas, and have caused problems for a proposed third marina in Kaohsiung County. For Liu and Chen, the yachting law they sought — with eased and clarified restrictions on private boating and provisions for things like marinas —would have cut the proverbial Gordian knot. "We were so close," Liu said. "It makes me angry," Chen said. "We thought they were finally going to change."