Olympic Sailors Launch Southampton Boat Show
The Southampton Boat Show kicked off over the weekend with the British Olympic sailing team and actress Michelle Keegan in attendance for the launch. Running from Friday 16th September until Sunday 25th September, the show will showcase the best that the international boating world has to offer after another successful Olympic Games in Rio earlier this summer.
Featuring one of Europe’s largest purpose-built marinas, the event plays host to family-friendly attractions, including free on-water experiences; The Festival Stage powered by Datatag and the COMPASS scheme, live music, talks from boating professionals; fashion shows; a number of air displays over the Marina, and Bumper Boats sponsored by Sunseeker in support of Macmillan Cancer Trust.
Over the course of the Show, visitors will be able to explore over 130 debuting boats and nearly 600 brands exhibiting, including powerboat manufacturers BIC Aluminium and Alpha-Centauri and sail yacht brands North Carolina (EDPNC) and Nautor’s Swan.
The opening show played host to the British Sailing team, which included Olympic medallists, Giles Scott, Saskia Clark, Hannah Mills and Nick Dempsey.
Gold medal winner, Giles Scott said: “The Southampton Boat Show is a highlight on any sailor’s calendar and is a great place to spend time with family and friends. It’s something everyone should experience.”
Saskia Clark, Women’s 470 sailing gold medallist, commented: “Having an annual event like the Southampton Boat Show that gives the opportunities for people to try out different types of water activities is crucial for the sport of sailing. Who knows, maybe the next generations of Olympic medallists are among us here today?”
Michelle Keegan, who officially opened the Southampton Boat Show 2016, added: “I’m so excited to be a part of this year’s Show. I’ve been fortunate enough to spend time onboard boats around the world, but there’s nothing like seeing all these spectacular boats displayed together in one place here in the UK. It’s an incredible experience.”
