4 SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW SET TO IMPRESS
The organiser of the Southampton Boat Show says that this year’s event will be the biggest yet. Run over 10 days from the 13th-22nd September, British Marine is promising boats and products from over 600 global brands.
As well as being the first opportunity for British showgoers to see a number of exciting new models from Sunseeker, Princess and Fairline, including the 60-knot Hawk 38, it is also claiming to have a broader selection of overseas craft than ever before. Azimut and Ferretti will both have demo boats on show while niche manufacturers, such as Hydrolift performance boats and Iguana amphibious boats, will also be exhibiting for the first time.
Accessibility and inclusivity will be the focus this year, from the title sponsor, Borrow A Boat, to Wetwheels, the official charity for 2019. Wetwheels provides fun, highly sensory activity experiences on board specially built accessible powerboats for disabled children and adults of all ages. The charity will be at the show offering on-water experiences as part of the interactive Try-a-boat attraction.
New features this year include a replica of the 1703 frigate built by Peter the Great, a Try-a-dive tank, a virtual reality sailing experience, a completely new food terrace offering a wide menu of choices, and a new waterfront viewing area for people to relax and watch the on-water activity.
Traditional events like Try-a-boat, using fast RIBS and sail boats, and Get Afloat, offering paddle boarding and dinghy sailing, will still remain at the heart of the show.
There’s also a new app for the show, which will help people pre-plan their visit. They’ll also receive top tips, guidance, the latest news and offers, as well as free maps available to all visitors at the show.