Best of the best

Organisers declare the show a fabulous success

 

As the Sail, Power and Watersports Show heads happily towards this year’s finishing line this evening, the organisers are already declaring the show a fabulous success with record attendance and record sales being reported by Managing Director, James Brooke. “There has been an overwhelmingly positive response from exhibitors and visitors alike and as a result, we will be back next year and are delighted to announce the dates for 2009 are 25 – 29 November.” Brooke also highlights the show’s most successful ingredients as he sees them. “It boils down to three things, namely the timing pre-Christmas when people have some money to spend; a location in Central London and the show content i.e. we embrace exhibitors who are promoting affordable boating.”

There were some high profile names dropping in to say hello today, including Atlantic rowing legend, Roz Savage. Earlier this summer, Roz set out on a three stage project to row 7,600 miles solo across the Pacific, from the United States to Australia. Preparing to embark on the second leg of her three year adventure from Hawaii to the South Pacific, she was at Earls Court looking for new electronics equipment for her boat.

“It’s great to be back in Earls Court at the Sail, Power & Watersports Show. I’ve had a good look round and caught up with a few rowing friends too on the Guinness Stand. I’ve been talking to some of the electronics manufacturers here and hanging out with my friend Geoff Holt. He and I have both faced our fair share of challenges, but I am happy to say we both prevailed in the end.”

Musician and TV presenter Myleene Klass dropped in and attracted huge amounts of attention. The team from Channel 4’s ‘10 Years Younger’ show were out and about amongst the crowds asking visitors to guess the age of their latest makeover recruits for the new series, presented by Myleene and being broadcast in January.

Practical inland waterways courses over-subscribed

Back in the real world and the news that the Show’s practical inland waterways courses are already over subscribed.

The Inland Waterways section is always a very popular feature at boat shows according to Phil Bassett from Canal Experience Training. At Earls Court they have set up an inland waterways community that includes River Canal Rescue (RCR), and engine maintenance courses dedicated to canal users. There's also a new navigation system for canals, and several narrow boat companies exhibiting.

*One of the most popular areas is the training section providing information on canal boat training,” Bassett commented. "The courses are mostly for people buying boats but there’s also a boat handling course for people just going on holiday."

The engine maintenance and first aid courses for boaters have also been drawing the crowds all week and Tony Brooks from TB Training, working for RCR, says the in-show practical courses are really popular. "It's basically aimed at anyone who wants to learn about engine maintenance. We also run courses regularly throughout the year including boat electrical courses." Brooks says that the daily show courses are so popular that it's worth turning up early.

 

Sales up for Elvstrom

Elvstrom Sails UK have possibly one of the most desirable stand situations in the show – adjacent to the Guinness stand on P22.

However, according to Elvstrom's Kevin Sproul, that's not the only reason why business is up. Apparently they've had a fruitful week and Sproul was singing the praises of Earls Court as a central and easy-to-get-to venue.

 

Darwin's Voyage of Discovery and the Beagle Project

An interesting project that is certainly worth a visit when you’re at the Show is Darwin’s Voyage of Discovery and the Beagle Project.

Peter McGrath, founder and director of the Project is on hand to explain this exciting venture which involves the building of a working replica of HMS Beagle. Once she's built, the plan is to recreate the voyage of the Beagle around the world visiting the same landfalls as Darwin.

The whole voyage is expected to take about two and a half years to complete. McGrath explains further, "The replica is being built in Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire because two of the descendents from Beagle's original crew lived there. We're doing okay with the fund raising and we've already got the first of the five million we need!" The ship will be built in 2009 which is the bicentenary of Charles Darwin's birth, and the publication of his most famous tome, ‘Origin of Species’, and should be launched in 2010.

Marine Artists Gallery

The fine art and photographic section at Earls Court has, not surprisingly, been jam-packed with visitors today. Some of the country's best known artists and photographers are exhibiting including Kos Pictures, Ian Roman Photography, Lenswall, Robin Eckardt, Jon Webb and the Taylor Gallery and Art Marine.

Roman, who's been covering some of the world's major yacht regattas this year, including the TP52 MedCup series and Les Voiles de Saint Tropez, says he's had a good response. "This is the first time I've exhibited at a boat show and I'm finding it hugely beneficial. For me it's not so much about selling as it is PR."

For Kos Pictures, who have been in business for over 20 years, this show provides a terrific showcase for some of their outstanding framed images. Kos has had an exceptionally busy week and has sold a lot of her work. Chatting from the show today Kos said: "It's the most amazing show to be at because you've got people just dropping in for maybe an hour after work and as a result I've sold a lot of material. In fact I've sold about 10 images, and they are the big ones too, the 60x40s, and two books, so that's really fantastic." One of Kos's amazing images was used on the front cover of the London Evening Standard Sail, Power & Watersports Show supplement and as a direct result she had many visitors asking to see her work.

Boat, What Boat?

What Boat? is already an established name in online marine leisure media circles and the title is exhibiting at the Sail, Power & Watersports Show for the first time to launch its new three-pronged marketing approach through print, media and the internet. Sales manager Jackie Missen commented, “The brand awareness is very strong throughout the Show and we’ve had lots of interest from the exhibitors regarding advertising and I’m more than thrilled with our presence and the level of sales.”

The show's Thundercat UIM European and RYA National Championship Awards took place yesterday afternoon.