Festival of Boating

It’s Boat Show time in Southampton for the next nine days — a festival of boating that has become a mecca for anyone who takes to the water, or even simply aspires to sail.
I’ve been making sure that my diary is free for a ten day period in September for many years now. I shouldn’t really admit to having attended the first one, back in 1969.  But I did, and I don’t think I’ve missed one in all those years.
This is the 47th show, and vastly different from the original all that time ago. This year nigh on  600 exhibitors are there, representing every aspect of the leisure marine industry, and if you are looking for some ancillary for sailing, you are sure to find it here  — anything from a pair of deck shoes to a super yacht or plush £5 million motor cruiser.
This Boat Show boasts one of the biggest purpose built marinas in Europe with over two kilometres of pontoons and more than 300 boats, berthed alongside with some of the world’s most prestigious brands.
Latest statistics from the boating industry suggests participation in leisure activities on the water is on the increase, and this show bears evidence of that.
More evidence of its ranking is that the organisers of the Yachting Journalists’ Association, currently in association with the sailing website, boats.com choose each year to launch one of the world’s top sailing accolades, the British Yachtsman of the Year, and the associated Young Sailor of the Year Award, at the Show.
Back in 1969 one sailing magazine editor predicted the Southampton Show stood every chance of becoming a very popular annual event.  He is now retired but if he returns this week, he will find plenty of evidence of just how true his words were.
 
No doubt I will be back on the pontoon built alongside the city’s waterfront Mayflower Park tomorrow.