Southampton Boat Show preview
In the wake of last year’s cancellation we mustn’t take our big events for granted. Rob Melotti previews
The UK’s biggest boat show is back!
Back in September 2020 Britain’s ‘biggest festival of boating’ left everyone feeling a bit seasick as Southampton City Council cancelled Boats 2020 the evening before opening. But as the summer ends in 2021 and the UK appears to be steadily progressing under relaxed Covid safety measures, all we need is a bit of autumn sunshine on the South Coast... Is this ‘welcome to the new normal’?
For the 52nd edition, the Southampton Boat Show has been redesigned and given extra acreage, mainly at the entrance, which is now flanked by activity zones. The new Festival Green area will remain open until 9.30pm each evening for food and entertainment, while the Foredeck Stage in the Classic and Dayboat Zone has a variety of presentations in store.
There are dayboats and dinghies – power and sail – across all areas of the show (I’ve picked out some highlights), plus the biggest boating beasts can be found down on the marina including the 1919 Tall Ship Morgenster (daily sailings 1700-1900) and round the world 72ft racing yacht, Global Challenger.
Dayboat sailors and fans of classics should look out for Cornish Crabbers (M001) who will be exhibiting a Shrimper 21 with carbon mast and an all-electric pod drive motor from ePropulsion.
Historic gems on show include the fully restored 1946 Osbourne Day Cruiser from Dennett Boat Builders, alongside Star Yachts’ brand-new Bristol 6m open launch, a retro-styled wooden yacht with an integral swim platform.
Willow Bay Boats will be building a clinker dinghy on their stand over the 10 days of the show, alongside a completed Farthing sailing dinghy.
Owners’ associations include the Atalanta, Legend, Nicholson 32, Hunter, Westerly and Old Gaffers Association, who are displaying the Gaffling: a 13-footer from designer Andrew Wolstenholme.
Mayflower Park
It’s the UK Debut for the Viko S35. The boat is available in a two- or three-cabin layout and is priced ‘ready to go’ with a UK specified pack of extras from £109,000 including VAT. The S35 will be on show alongside the entry level S21. The Cruising Association (CA) in Ocean Hall is launching the update to its invaluable mobile app CAptain’s Mate. Available only to CA members, the app collates reports from all its members worldwide on ports, facilities, tips and advice. It’s a huge resource and makes annual membership even more attractive.
Stand E001 is the home
of PBO at the show with a discount on subscriptions and a stock of our Essential Boat Maintenance book available to buy for just £5.
Marina displays
British shipyard Discovery will be showing the 14.5m swing-keel Discovery 48S alongside a walk-in scale model of the interior of the new Southerly 42.
Hallberg-Rassy will be launching its brand new HR400 model at the show, care of Hamble dealership Transworld Yachts. Inspiration Marine Group will have nine models on show from Dehler, Moody and Hanse – including the Hanse 348.
Dufour is bringing its entire range. The Dufour 470 is the new sibling, alongside the Dufour 360, 390 and 430, and completes the updated stable with more modern styling and performance. Notably, it has a galley forward of the saloon, just aft of the mast, so is an interesting layout to see.
For something with a slightly sportier bent, there is the Salona 46, making a world debut. Designed by J&J, she aims to be a fast performance cruiser for short-handed sailing, designed around electric propulsion.
There’s the Dehler 38SQ to have a look at, which updates the deck layout and accommodation of the 38 for a sporty and engaging fast cruiser. Also on display with Inspiration Marine is the Moody 41 Deck Saloon – an innovative boat that aims to bring the insideoutside, one-level living of catamarans to the monohull world.
The Sun Odyssey range will also be on show, with a new Sun Odyssey 380 model recently announced.
Powerboating
Former Princess Yachts CEO Chris Bates has moved into the boat restoration business. Founded just a year ago, Setag Yachts is working with clients to purchase used boats and modernise them with new interiors and equipment. They are exhibiting a Fairline Squadron 58 and Squadron 42 afloat at the marina (M650), while currently working on a 1995 Princess 440 and Phantom 42, so if you’ve got your eye on a project... it could be worth a visit.
Family cruisers from Finland’s Sargo range include the brand new Sargo 28 well suited to year-round boating with window defrosters, insulation and heating systems built in.
How to...
On stand C067 you’ll find the International Boatbuilding Training College offering its range of short courses (1-5 days) including tool restoration, how to make a boat hook, build a paddleboard paddle, how to caulk, make your own clock and barometer plaque, construct a dovetailjointed tool case... and many more!
Turn over the page for Rupert Holmes’ preview of electronics