The Southampton Boat Show will undergo a re structuring for this year’s event in order to meet demands to keep the show safe for visitors and exhibitors alike
Following the UK government’s recent roadmap announcement, British Marine, the organisers of the Southampton Boat Show, will return safely and with style this September.
They plan to alter the show format, including Europe’s largest purpose-built marina with hundreds of marine brands together in one location, the 52nd edition of the show which this year runs from the 10th until the 19th of September
Working in partnership with Southampton City Council, British Marine has confirmed that additional land will be made available for use at this year’s show, making the show bigger than ever before.
This larger space creates the opportunity for a new entrance to the show outside Southampton’s West Quay shopping centre.
Once inside the show, visitors will be guided through the world of boating and water sports in zones that will cater for specific interests to give a tailored show experience.
The first zone will be for paddle boards, kite surfers, kayaks and windsurfers. In bid to inject excitement and offer an alternative to what promises to be a route march along a pre designated route this will accompanied by a stage, street food, music as the organisers strive to inject a lively vibe showcasing the water sports lifestyle and simplicity of getting afloat.
There will be a Dinghy Zone geared towards the interest of dinghy sailors and high-performance sailing.
This will slowly flow into the Classic Boat & Day Boat Zone aimed at celebrating the boats and craftsmanship that stands the test of time.
Finally visitors will get to move into Mayflower Park and the marina, where there will be hundreds of power and sail boats, equipment and services on display.
There will be a wide range of on-the-water experiences for everyone as the natural arena between pontoons and shore is utilised further to create a safe and constantly active water park with opportunities to demonstrate, compete, entertain and get more people out on the water, all with live commentary.
This will hopefully showcase how getting out on the water really is for everyone, and that access to water sports is easier than people may think – in craft of all shapes and sizes!
Throughout the show there will be new entertainment features, including stages offering live music, entertainment and guest speakers to showcase the lifestyle that watersports and boating offers and create a buzzing show atmosphere.
As per the Government roadmap, it is planned for outdoor events to run in full format by September 2021. However, the health, safety and security of visitors remains the number one priority.
Through engagement with the relevant Government department and Southampton City Council, British Marine will ensure it incorporates any necessary COVID-19 safety measures that may be required at the time.