IT IS tempting to ask out loud what the Southampton city region has to do to further its ambitions to capitalise on its links to the sea?

Certainly the city seems fated at present to face barriers to making the most of what is surely its most precious asset.

Yesterday this paper bemoaned the fact Southampton had been forced to rule itself out of bidding for the next Clipper Round the World Yacht Race through lack of funds.

Last month we reported how a bid to entice Sir Ben Ainslie’s America’s Cup challenge to the city had failed, in part thanks to a preference in Government to favour near neighbours Portsmouth.

Today we explain how another high-profile bid to boost the region’s maritime offering is facing threats.

Our page 32 report explains how there are concerns that land at Hythe which has been the focus of a bid to open a Marine College for the region could be sold off by the Government to a higher bidder, perhaps for housing.

New Forest MP Dr Julian Lewis has raised the issue in the Commons, and turned the spotlight on what might turn out to be yet another lost opportunity in what is becoming a summer of such missed chances.

The college proposal is backed by Green Marine, Brockenhurst College and University of Southampton.

It will be a great pity if such an opportunity is allowed to slip away.