Last Friday saw Europe’s largest boating festival sail into Southampton marking the start of the 47th Southampton Boat Show. Taking place up to the Sunday 20th September, the event showcases some 600 exhibitors with hundreds of legendary boats on display including 330 at the show’s marina alone. Incredibly, it is one of the largest built in Europe with over 2km of pontoons. In addition, there are 100 boats making their debut including 20 World debuts, 48 UK debuts and 6 European.
You can see boats of all shapes and sizes from stand-up paddle boards to the super yachts. The biggest (and most expensive) at this year’s show is the Sunseeker 28 metre yacht at just over 92ft and costing over £4 million excluding VAT. Other large boats include the Princess 88 Motor Yacht at 26 metres, Sunseeker 86 yacht, Princess 82 motor yacht, Flemming 78, Sunseeker 75 yacht, Princess 72 motor yacht and CNB 76 although there are many more.
Boating is however affordable for everyone so you’ll find many small boats and paddleboards at the show too with prices starting at £300. The smallest boat at the show is the BoatBox International 650 LeisureTour at 1.8m.
As well as experiencing life on the water, there are a whole host of family attractions including On The Water’s Get Afloat which enables 8-16 year olds to learn boating and watersports for free. On the Water’s Try a Boat includes unique experiences on board for the latest RIBS to luxury yachts. For younger visitors who want to put their paddle skills to the test, there is the Adventure River Canoe Ride.
There’s also the RYA Active Marina Experience, Suzuki RIB experience and the Platinum Experience in association with Sunseeker Charters which enables visitors to take to the water on a Sunseeker Predator 56 and enjoy Platimum Lounge hospitality. Visitors can also partake in the Global Challenge Experience – getting on board a 72ft Round the World Ocean Race Yacht as part of a team and experience the thrill of ocean racing.
If that’s not enough, special events are taking place with dinghy sailing and Junior RIB racing at the weekend. Other show highlights include the aquarium with touch tanks, rock pools and jellyfish. Plus the Honda Boat Show Eye, the views from which are simply staggering and provide the ultimate birds eye view of the marina.
Other featured boats include the Earl of Pembroke ship which will be featured in the forthcoming ‘Alice in Wonderland – through the Looking Glass’ film.
The preview day provided a plethora of special events from Princess Yachts, Hudson Wright, Williams Jets Tenders, PSP, Honda, Euphoria, Seaward, Suzuki, Landau, Maxi, Ancaster and Fairline to name a few. The star attraction was Sunseeker who delighted the crowds with the fabulous Suzi Perry after music from last year’s BGT winners Collabro. I rather enjoyed a cheeky Chilgrove Gin with the wonderful Sunsail team too.
We couldn’t have asked for a better day. For the most part the sun shone, the skies were blue and the water glistened. There is the most phenomenal collection of boats on display at the Southampton Boat Show. If you’re interested in having a nose or just fancy a fun day out, it’s most certainly worth it! Tickets are available here.
Disclaimer: We received tickets to the Southampton Boat Show for the purpose of this review. As always opinions are our own.
This looks like such a wonderful event. I used to watch the boats and ships in the sea when we went on holiday so it would be great to get up close with some beautiful boats
Those boats look stunning, don’t they? Love the idea of having a boat.
My husband is boat mad and used to own his own – he would have LOVED to attend that festival!
I was in Southampton when the boat show was on actually I even passed by it on my way to Royal Princess cruise ship 🙂 This must have been fun! My OH would love to be there too – he’s crazy about boats!
Oh I love the look of the boat from Alice in Wonderland! I would have to drag my son off that!!
My Dad goes every year as he loves boats. We live around the corner from the Sunseeker factory and know a few who work there – the boats are magnificent – one day we will own one
I wish I could love boats, my dad was a marine engineer. He used to laugh at me as I was seasick on a pond! He would have loved going to a show such as this.
Wow what an amazing looking show – I have to admit I don’t know much about boats but they certainly look impressive. x
Such lovely photos of what looks like a great event – I get a bit too seasick to enjoy anything other than the huge boats though I;m afraid x
Great set of photos Charly, but then I wouldn’t expect anythign else from you. Mich x
The Southampton boat show is a fabulous event for those who love boating already or are looking at ways to get into it. We go every year and come back inspired for the following year’s adventures. As you say, it’s an event that has something for everyone.
wow look at that ship! Amazing!
Oh, great show, we always admire the boats when we travel to Greece, some of them can be quite luxurious!xx