Southampton Boat Show
The Southampton Boat Show is an on-water boat show,one of the largest in Europe and the biggest of its type in the UK. It started in September 1969 and is held annually in September in Mayflower Park, Southampton, England. It is one of the two major annual boat shows in the United Kingdom, alongside the London Boat Show. Both are organised by National Boat Shows, which is a subsidiary of the British Marine Federation, the trade association for the leisure, super-yacht and small commercial marine industry.
The 2007 event, the 39th of its kind held since 1969, was publicised as The Big Southampton Boat Show, in association with ITV Meridian, and was held from 14 September to 23 September. At the 2007 event there was a chance to see HMS Bounty, a ship featured in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End."Official home page". Southampton Boat Show. Retrieved 2007-09-19. .
History
Since 1997, the Boat Show has been a ten-day event, after the passing of the Southampton International Boat Show Act 1997"Southampton International Boat Show Act 1997". Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI). 15 July 1997.. Past events have attracted a large number of visitors, with more than 123,000 attending the 2004 event"Southampton Boat Show". vistsoutheastengland.com.. The 2005 event featured a makeshift beach, with tonnes of sand being imported to the event"SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW 2005".
Exhibitions
The exhibitors at the Boat Show cover every aspect of the leisure marine industry from boat builders, sail makers, chandlers and engine manufacturers to marine finance, clothing specialists, navigation equipment. There are thousands of boats, brands, products and suppliers for the ten day Show. At the 2007 show over 600 exhibitors were present."Southampton Boat Show". Southampton City Council. 2007-05-16. Retrieved 2007-07-28.