Ladies day, Southampton 1969 (© Boat Show)

With the cancellation of the London Boat Show Southampton has become the major UK boat show and this September celebrates its 50th anniversary. Back in 1969 there were just six boats on the water with around 50 exhibitors – in 2018 there are 330 boats on the water and over 500
exhibitors – with some 600 boats in the show.
And this year there are lots of opportunities to try a boat and the show hopes to beat last year’s record of gettin
g 15,000 people onto the water.

For the first time there will be a regatta associated with the show, with three days of racing on Southampton Water on 17, 18 and 19 September. With the backdrop of TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show as you race, it will be a unique and exciting set of events. Whether it’s your first time or your 50th race, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Contenders will compete for the City Cup,  Women’s Cup and Property Cup. There is also, a Community Cup challenge for young people who have faced tough personal challenges, giving them the chance to experience the thrill of sailing.
More HERE

Some of the UK’s foremost wildlife and environmentalist TV personalities will attend the Boat Show which will be co-opened on board the Tall Ship Kaskelot by sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Miranda Krestovnikoff, biologist, diver and wildlife TV presenter. As one of Marine Conservation Society’s leading ocean ambassadors, Miranda is a key advocate for the Show’s three-year pledge to minimise its environmental footprint and raise awareness of the plight of the world’s oceans among its thousands of visitors and exhibitors.
Steve Backshall, adventurer and BAFTA award-winning wildlife expert starring in Deadly 60, Big Blue Live and Wild Alaska Live, will be appearing on the Show’s stage on Saturday 15 September for Q&As about his adventures to date and what’s next for this intrepid explorer, just before he heads off on his latest groundbreaking expedition. And Lizzie Daly, a wildlife biologist, regular face on CBeebies and presenter for BBC Earth Unplugged, will be at the Show on Sunday 23 September hosting a number of interactive sessions for all the family to enjoy, from the ocean’s weirdest sea birds to her personal stories of the wild Welsh coasts. As a conservationist with a fierce passion for protecting our oceans and wild spaces, she hopes to inspire visitors of all ages with her appreciation of the natural world.

Feature boats include Sir RKJ’s Suhaili  and Lively Lady – two timber boats built in India over 50 years ago

Here are some highlights of the show…

You can take part in the all-new kayak water assault course. Grab your friends and family to see who can twist and turn their way to the top of the leader board. All equipment is provided by Rockley Watersports on stand J012 where they’ll be offering a fantastic 20% OFF all remaining 2018 courses as well as ALL 2019 RYA courses and 10% OFF family holidays to France.
All sailing, kayaking or stand up paddleboard sessions are first come, first served so get there early! Try something new or sharpen up existing watersports skills in safe conditions.

Science of the Sea Experience

Learn more about  our blue planet, what lives within it and how you can help keep oceans healthy by reducing plastic waste. The Science of the Sea Experience (stand E030) will include a number of exhibits including a shallow rock pool and films about our relationships with plastics and how we can work together to protect the future health of our oceans. The experience will have aquarium tanks including an oyster cage, and live specimens from Southampton waters!

There is also the research ship RV Callista on feature berth M455. You can come on board and have a tour. A remote autonomous vehicle (ROV) aka “Rex” will be in the water, streaming live from under the vessel so visitors can see what lies beneath! You’ll also be able to see footage from around the world that has been captured by Rex, you can follow this on twitter, here. There will also be a replica of the ROV Rex that is under the vessel to showcase the technology we use to get up close and personal with marine life. Before you leave make sure you take a look at the plankton samples under the microscope, visitors will be able to zoom in on water samples and see the microscopic plankton on the TV above them in the wet lab!

 

Crewsaver, has been selected as the Official Safety Sponsor of the TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show 2018.

As champions of the #LifejacketSafe campaign, Crewsaver continue to lead the way in lifejacket safety.  The new sponsorship will provide a great platform for promoting the LifejacketSafe campaign at integral points around the show.  This will include issue 2 of the popular LifejacketSafe newspaper which will be available free-of-charge throughout the show.

In addition, Crewsaver is delighted to provide its brand new Crewfit 180N Pro lifejackets for use by all event staff and celebrities – helping them to keep safe whilst on the water.  Launched at the show, these new lifejackets join Crewsaver’s hugely successful Fusion 3D lifejacket range. All of which will be available for visitors to purchase at the show.  

Crewsaver offers expert advice and a complete safety product collection including; personal flotation devices, liferafts, performance clothing, distress signals and man overboard essentials – helping you to stay safe on the water and equip you for emergencies.

Find Crewsaver on selected retailers including Marine Super Store (F006), Andark Diving and Watersports (F001), Force 4 Chandlery (J227) and Marinestore (F016). Visitors will benefit from expert safety advice from the friendly Crewsaver team along with the following exclusive show offers! *

  • FREE spray hood with all new Crewfit 180N Pro lifejackets *. Worth £30
  • FREE rearming kit with all automatic ErgoFit lifejackets. Worth up to £36
  • FREE Ergofit safety knife with all Hammar ErgoFit lifejackets. Worth £18
  • £100 off your first liferaft service. Plus, a FREE Inshore Flare Pack or shipping with all Crewsaver Mariner liferafts
  • £100 off your first liferaft service & free shipping with all Crewsaver ISO Ocean liferafts

 

THE SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW ISN’T THE ONLY ONE CELEBRATING A 50TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR

Pedal Boat builder ‘Dad’s Boats’ will return once more to Southampton Boat Show and will also be celebrating a very special anniversary.                 

Norfolk Pedal Boat builders, ‘Dad’s Boats’, are set to exhibit their uniquely designed boats once again at the Southampton Boat Show from 14th to 23nd September and will also be celebrating a very special anniversary. The Norfolk based family run business will be exhibiting their latest Pedal Boat design which allows two people to face each other and pedal forwards in comfort.  The sophisticated gearbox makes it efficient, easy to use and environmentally friendly so you can just sit back, sip a drink, chat and take some gentle exercise while enjoying the water.

David Williams, the Dad behind Dad’s Boats, made his first pedal boat in 1950 so that he could follow his remote controlled yacht.  A decade later and the two seater “Cyclone” was born, used by David on his honeymoon and countless holidays on the Norfolk Broads.  In the summer of 1968, David and his friend were the first to pedal around the Isle of Wight, taking twelve and a half hours!  This makes 2018 the 50th anniversary of their landmark achievement! See Dad’s Boats at the Show or visit the website www.dadsboats.com

Former Gladiator offers tips on fitness

Diane Youdale – Jet

Former star of ITV’s hit show Gladiators, Diane Youdale (a.k.a. “Jet”), will be at oining guests at the Boat Show’s annual Ladies Day (Thursday 20 September 2018) to offer motivational stories and top tips on how to keep fit on the water. Diane has accumulated plenty of fitness and health expertise, practicing as a Psychotherapist for over 20 years. She has also racked up the hours on the water as an avid surfer so is well placed to advise and inspire. Through her alter-ego Jet, Diane is held as a role model to women of all ages and will be appearing on the Show’s Heart Stage to answer questions, as well as meet and greet visitors, on Thursday 20 September at 1pm.

She will also be taking to the water, showcasing her paddling skills, on the Show’s brand new kayak & SUP assault course. This new on-the-water feature forms part of the Show’s popular Get Afloat attraction and will be available for visitors to slalom, spin and manoeuvre their way through daily throughout the Show as they challenge their friends and family to get that winning spot on the leader board.

Digital Yacht will be at TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boats Show on stand J417.

Sailors like the idea of using an iPad, tablet or smart phone for on board navigation with their simple touch screen interface and vast range of charting and instrument apps. Digital Yacht’s new WLN10 Smart NMEA to wifi gateway takes integration afloat even further with the ability to connect to existing on board GPS, AIS and instrument systems and transfer the data wirelessly to the tablet – allowing compatible apps to display and compute with real time information. The WLN10 creates a password protected wifi network and apps don’t need an internet connection to function.

When connected to, for example, an AIS system, real time AIS target positions and identity data will be displayed on detailed electronic charting through compatible apps including NavLink, TimeZero, iAIS, iSailor, Seapilot and hundreds more. The tablet becomes a full function navigation display. The new WLN10 can now be programmed through its simple browser interface for NMEA 0183 data at 4800 or 38400 baud as well as allowing multiple devices to connect so you can be using a PC at the chart table with an iPad on deck. Its also bidirectional so apps can control an autopilot if this function is enabled. Also on show will be the new WLN30 with multiple NMEA inputs and a NMEA 2000 variant.

Win a drone!

SMG with Raymarine, is offering visitors to the British Marine and Exhibitors lounge located in the Mayflower Complex, the chance to win a DJI Mavic PRO PLATINUM DRONE worth £1199. Harry Heasman, Sales Manager at Raymarine says: “As the latest version of Lighthouse 3 for the Axiom product range offers fully integrated control of DJI Mavic Pro Drones we thought a competition to win a drone would be a perfect fit.”

To be able to win this amazing prize, visit SMG in the British Marine and Exhibitors Lounge and answer a simple
question. All correct entries will be entered into a prize draw which will take place on Monday 24th September
2018.

SMG will also have a selection of new products from brands including Fusion, Solar Technology, Garmin, Lowrance and Oxford on display. Full competition terms and conditions are available on request.

 

New Generator

Making its debut at the Boat Show, the Paguro 3 SY is one of the new Synchronous Yanmar powered series of generators from Volpi Tecno Energia. The SY design combines Paguro’s proven generator technology with the world renowned Yanmar diesel engine to deliver an on board power solution that is ultra reliable, simple to use and low maintenance. Featuring twin circuit cooling through stainless heat exchangers and cocooned in a 4- stage soundproof capsule, this 3kW generator runs smoothly and quietly for ultimate luxury on board. Find it in the Ocean Hall on Advance Yacht Systems stand J334.

MDL meeting and relaxation point

MDL Marinas MDL is looking forward to welcoming over 4,000 members and their guests to its stunning waterside hospitality lounge overlooking the main boat show marina (E52), where clients can sample Salcombe Gin or have a complimentary head, neck, and shoulder massage from the 5-star Southampton Harbour Hotel spa team.

Known across its extensive network of over 120 marinas for its excellent customer service, prime locations and top of the line facilities, MDL Marinas is applying its key ethos of relax, enjoy and discover to

its stand at TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show. Salcombe Gin, a traditional copper pot, one-shot distiller based in Devon, will host a tasting session every day between 4 and 5pm on MDL’s stand E52 in the stunning members’ waterside hospitality lounge. Distilling masterclasses will take place on both Sundays (16 / 23 Sept), and Wednesday (19 Sept) between 3 and 4pm. The

Harbour Hotel, Southampton HarSPA, will also be offering complimentary head, neck and shoulder massages throughout the show. Known for their deep tissue massages to ease muscle aches and areas of tension, HarSPA therapists offer Lava Shell, Bamboo and Lomi Lomi massages in the 5-star hotel.

Relax, enjoy, discover  Helping its members to explore with friends, MDL will showcase its impressive network of over 120 marinas. Visitors will also be able to discover the exciting benefits of becoming an MDL member such as Freedom Berthing which gives access to the marinas in the European network at no extra cost, and upcoming offers that feature options for winter marina berthing and storage. Plus, it’s the ideal opportunity to discuss Beds On Board, the accommodation scheme designed to unlock the economic potential of members’ boats.

Additionally, the boat show offers a great opportunity to celebrate and enjoy the end of the season. On the members’ balcony overlooking the marina,  MDL’s hospitality lounge offers a buzzing social environment, complimentary refreshments and fundraising events for the two great charities that the company supports.

Final Push for Pixel Boat record attempt
World Record sailor Alex Alley is planning to add to his two world records by aiming to break the solo non-stop around the world record for a 40′ yacht – the Pixel Flyer. The record currently stands at 137 days, 20 hours 1 minute and 57 seconds. Alex has launched the Pixel Boat campaign to raise money for the attempt and has organised a cruise on the evening of 19 September from Southampton’s Ocean Village at 1845. The cruise includes a two-course meal followed by cheese board and an auction. Tickets are £40 and limited in number so don’t waste any time and order by clicking here or emailing team@alexalley.com Find out more at www.krowdster.co

 New festival of gin
The Boat Show will launch its first ever gin festival to run throughout the Show. The inaugural Harbourside Gin Festival with Pegasus Life, invites visitors to appreciate a selection of hand-picked local and nautical-themed gins. All whilst basking in the last of the summer sun against a breath-taking backdrop of some of the world’s most luxurious and innovative yachts.

These include Surrey Hills based spring-fed distillery Silent Pool and Salcombe Gin, one of the world’s only distilleries directly accessible by boat. As well as Mr Hobbs Gin, a family-run distillery who gives you the most enjoyable way to “mess about on the river’’. The festival is housed within a tranquil pop-up garden set with plush parasoled seating, a festival bar and live music courtesy of resident pianist Danny Mills, who can play and sing over 2,000 songs from memory, from Ed Sheeran to Sinatra.

For connoisseurs there is also a Gin Lounge, a private seating area with spectacular views of the Boat Show. It runs a bespoke masterclass where guests can take a journey through the wonderful world of botanicals. They will be able to sample an array of spirits whilst the resident gin expert talks through each one’s origins, smell and flavours. Then with this newfound knowledge, they’ll have the opportunity to create their very own gin. Tickets are limited and start at £30.50 each including Show admission. For further information and to book your tickets visit southamptonboatshow.com/harbourside-gin-festival-with-pegasus-life.