With the UK’s most celebrated marine event nearly upon us, Mike Pullen investigates what the 2010 Southampton Boat Show has in store . . .

From 10 to 19 September 2010, the UK’s leading outdoor boat show will once again return to Mayflower Park and open up its salty embrace to the boat lovers of the world. Bringing hundreds of boats, exhibitors and visitors together on the south coast for the 42nd time, it aims to fulfil its reputation as one of the most interactive boat show experiences around.
It also aims to showcase the very best of the British marine industry, with boats of every shape and size, ranging from dinghies to powerboats, sailing cruisers to catamarans and inflatables to kayaks. You get plenty of small stuff too, with marine products, accessories and services, plus the latest clothing ranges, chandlery,
electronics and engines. You can find out about your local sailing club, enroll on a course or gather inspiration for your next holiday.

Andrew Williams, Managing Director of National Boat Shows (NBS), explains the idea behind the 2010 event: “We are really looking forward to the PSP Southampton Boat Show. There is so much for visitors to see and do this year. It’s a great day out for everyone in the late summer sun, from boating enthusiasts to families with children of all ages, to the ‘just curious’.”

Down in the marina
Construction of the show’s two kilometres of pontoons takes well over a month to complete, but it is certainly time well invested. Not only does it enable the venue to claim the mantle of ‘Europe’s largest purpose built marina’ but it also enables the organisers to display 350 boats on the water alone. That is precisely the kind of thing that makes the Southampton event special. It’s outside, in the UK’s spiritual heartland of recreational boating, and it has a huge fleet of boats down on the water where they belong. From ocean rowing boats to luxury ocean cruisers and everything in between, you should be able to find it down on the show pontoons.
The marina will also host a selection of feature boats, one of which is the University of Southampton’s research vessel, Callista. The ‘science ship’ will be on the marina for the duration of the show and is designed to encourage curious minds to come aboard to see, feel and touch the fascinating ‘other world’ of life beneath the ocean. You can even take part in experiments, see live specimens and play with the ship’s marine gadgetry.
Also on the marina will be Calypso from the Jeremy Rogers yard, a greener version of the iconic Contessa 32. Now it might not be that sporty, but it is resoundingly green and that alone makes it a vessel of great importance to us all. Embracing hybrid engines, hydrogen fuel cell technology, solar panels and reclaimed and recycled fixtures and fittings, Calypso embodies a green vision supported by the only bespoke environmental boating programme of its kind from the BMF and the RYA - The Green Blue. Take a look and see just how far the latest cutting edge green technologies have come.

While you’re pondering the merits of brave new technologies, you might want to consider the ROV stand. Operated jointly by the University of Southampton and the National Oceanography Centre, it offers visitors the chance to navigate a model Roving Underwater Vehicle (ROV) around a course. You can also find out how the pressure of going to extreme depths can affect the body, or you can even have a go at carrying out an RNLI rescue against the clock.

Try-a-Boat
Try-a-Boat is back for another summer hurrah. It basically allows visitors (well, those who arrive early and get their booking in) to have a go on a boat completely free of charge. Hosted in association with www.onthewater.co.uk, you can find the booking office in the show arena on stand A001. Make sure you’re quick.

Try-a-Dive
Andark is once again hosting the Try-a-Dive feature. Conducted on their stand, just by the first bridge, Try-a-Dive is fully supervised by qualified professionals in a four-foot deep tank to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for that first experience of scuba diving.

Try-a-Ladies day
Thursday 16 September will see the third consecutive Ladies Day. Quite rightly, it will centre on the Piper Heidsieck Champagne Bar, where there will be a range of prizes for the Best Dressed Lady. TV presenter and former Capital Gold DJ, Mike Osman, will head up proceedings and, given that it is happening in aid of the Wessex Cancer Trust, it ought to be productive as well as fun. Rumours that there will be men on hand to help with the parking are unfounded, inflamatory and heavily frowned upon by those of us at SB HQ.

Save £5 by booking in advance
Tickets bought at the door will be priced at £18 but you can save £5 by booking in advance via the website (www.southamptonboatshow.com) or by calling the ticket hotline on 08712 307140. Each ticket admits one adult and two children under the age of 15. For those visitors wishing to treat themselves to a more elite experience at the show, the Platinum ticket buys you a free Show Guide, exclusive use of the Platinum Lounge in the Mayflower Complex, complimentary hot drinks and a selection of pastries in the morning, plus a buffet lunch and afternoon tea. The Platinum Ticket also presents you with the chance to get out on the water with a luxury powerboat experience aboard a Princess yacht. Take a look at some of the notable exhibitors in the list below and get yourself booked in.
08712 307140 / www.southamptonboatshow