ShowFive Things To Do…

1.  Kite-Surfing
The new interactive Watersports Zone, in association with Mark Warner, the Para Academy, Jet Skier & Personal Watercraft and Sportsboat & RIB will challenge visitors to test their skills at one of the latest watersports crazes, kite-surfing.  Adrenaline junkies will get the chance to compete against each other at this fun sport, in a safe, dry environment using one of the Show’s exciting indoor simulators. 

2.  Ocean Racing
Another opportunity to experience a unique sailing experience - without having to go anywhere near the water - is provided by the spectacular Volvo Ocean Race Simulator.  This 3 minute ride will give visitors a taste of the dramatic race and feel the sensation of hurtling down huge waves in the Southern Ocean, breaking the 24 hour mono-hull record and finally rounding the infamous Cape Horn!    

3.  Deck Games
Another ‘must do’ is Deck Games, supported by the Marine Leisure Association in partnership with Dinghy Sailing. Hoping to encourage young people to participate in boating, activities include a dinghy simulator from he Royal Torbay Youth Sailing Trust, rowing machines, a painting competition as well as a sail hoisting competition.  Standing on a simulated deck with a real mast and sail, kids (of all ages!) compete to hoist the sail to the top of the mast in a race against the clock, with the best times recorded for all to see.

4.  Start Boating
Visitors to the Show can discover how to start boating in a great new feature for 2008.  Brought to you in association with All At Sea, it’s the ideal place for anyone looking for impartial advice on how to take up boating.  Visitors can learn from the experts about the different routes into boating; from the lower priced products which encourage entry level boating, to the more expensive options.

5.  Explore HMS Exeter
This year, visitors can step foot onboard and explore HMS Exeter, the very first Royal Navy Destroyer to be present at the Show. The current HMS Exeter has a distinguished history, having served in the Falklands War (1982) and the first Gulf War (1991). The Type 42 vessel will be moored outside on the Show’s marina in the Royal Victoria Dock and is truly an experience not to be missed!

Five Things to See…

1.  On-water Regatta
If it’s a friendly spot of competition that floats your boat, check out the Show’s very own Regatta, the Dinghy Weekender, on 19 and 20 January 2008.  The exciting action out on the Royal Victoria Dock will include the Ovington Boats Musto Skiff Grand Prix featuring B14s and 29ers on the Saturday and the impressive Yachts & Yachting ‘Battle of the Classes’ Pursuit Race on Sunday.  Plus there’s the Carmela Cup during the first weekend, Thundercat demos for the first eight days and the Sunseeker P1 Race boats will be racing each day.

2.  Anchoring Masterclass
Sponsored by Blue Water Supplies and Jersey.com and in association with Practical Boat Owner and Yachting Monthly, the crowd-pulling masterclasses in anchoring are extremely popular with everyone from beginners to skilled sailors alike. This eye-catching and educational feature simulates how to overcome frequently encountered anchoring problems. 

3.  Classic Boat Building
If older boats are more your thing, be sure to head to the Classic Boat feature, supported by Classic Boat magazine, Old Pulteney and International Paint, which will be displaying four superb examples of older craft this year.  The oyster fishing smack Boadicea, the oldest working sail boat in the UK, will celebrate its 200th birthday at the Show.  Meanwhile the Classic Motorboat Association will re-introduce its 10’ 10” classic wooden speedboat, Colliwobble, first exhibited at the Show back in 1962.

4.  New boats!
Come and see all the newest boats and products as they’re unveiled at the Show. Sealine International preview their new 35 Sport while Sunseeker will also have two new boats making their debut at the Show - the new 34 Metre, retailing from £6.2m, and the 86 Yacht, from £2.8m.  Sessa Marine will unveil the Sessa C65 Sports Boat and the new C46, plus Fairline will unveil at trio of new Targas.  Northshore Yachts are premiering their new Southerly 72, Clipper Marine will launch the Bavaria 38 and Laser is launching their new BUG.

5.  Extensive range of marine products
Visitors looking for something a little more affordable will find plenty of exhibitors with exciting products on offer.  Not only are there large boats, there’s small boats, chandlery, and a multitude of marine accessories and equipment companies.  From personal watercrafts to sailing schools and fashionable clothing brands such as Henri Lloyd and Timberland, there really is something for everyone!

Five Things You Can Hear…

1.  What Life is like as a Coastguard
Our everyday heroes will be celebrated with representatives from the Port of London Authority and the Marine & Coastguard Agency who will share what a typical day in their lives is like in the ‘Life as a…’ feature. 

2.  Updates from the Cutty Sark conservation project
Throughout the Show, the Cutty Sark Trust will be working on selected artefacts from the conservation project.  The Trust will be bringing back to life original parts of this famous Tea Clipper, badly damaged by fire in May. Presentations on the big screens will bring visitors up to date on their progress.

3.  Boating Heroes
Boating Heroes will be taking to the stage daily to recount their exciting stories, including charismatic Geoff Holt who will give his fascinating account of how he became the first disabled sailor to sail single handed around Great Britain. And be sure to catch the current Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year, Katie Miller, who at 19 circumnavigated the British Isles to raise money for the Ellen MacArthur Trust.

4.  Boating Review 2007
Making its debut at the Collins Stewart London Boat Show will be Boat Review 2007 – a boating montage of the year presented on the main stage.  Boat Review 2007 will bring the year to life reliving the highs as well as the lows, the excitement, the drama on the water and the awards our boating heroes have won and lost. 

5.  Watersports Stars
Stars of the watersports world will be giving informal talks throughout the Show at the watersports zone.  Among the stars will be Steve Trapmore, who won Gold in rowing at the 2000 Sydney Olympics; Chris Harvey, a Surf Kayaker; and Peter Chilvers, who invented wind-surfing in 1958, at the age of 12, on Hayling Island. 

 Visit www.londonboatshow.com for the latest news on all the Show’s features and attractions.  Visitors can use the website to book tickets online, or they can call the ticket hotline 0870 060 0246.

For further press information contact: Boat Shows Press Office at Publicasity on tel: 020 7632 2432, Fax: 020 7240 2520 Email: boatshow@publicasity.co.uk

-Ends-
Notes to Editors
• High resolution pictures are available upon request.
• The 2008 Collins Stewart London Boat Show in association with the Daily Mail is organised by National Boat Shows Ltd (NBS). NBS, which also organises the Southampton Boat Show in association with ITV Meridian, is a subsidiary of the British Marine Federation (BMF), the trade association for the UK boating industry.
• Collins Stewart has offices in London, New York, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Dublin, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Tokyo and Mumbai. Collins Stewart is the largest private client stock broking and portfolio management business in the Channel Islands and is one of the UK's leading wealth managers for private clients, trusts, charities and private companies and private companies
• Publications can offer readers £3 off the normal day door price.  To give away tickets in a competition or to arrange the discount, please call the Boat Show team on 020 7632 2432.
• The 2007 Collins Stewart London Boat Show was awarded ‘Exhibition of the Year’ Award at the Trade Association Forum Awards.
• Please be advised that press registration is now available on link http://www.londonboatshow.com/press-area/press-registration/

Getting to ExCeL
• Travelling by road and rail  – ExCeL is located just a stone's throw away from Canary Wharf and with easy access to the Jubilee line
• Travelling by boat – 100 acres of dockland frontage gives easy access. The Thames Clipper service links Central London piers with ExCeL
• Travelling by Air – visitors can travel to London City Airport which is a 5 minute taxi ride from ExCeL
• Parking – with over 4,000 parking spaces, visitors will benefit from the introduction of a flat rate parking fee, charged at £9, as opposed to a prepaid hourly rate

Attention: RADIO STATIONS
o Keep up to date with the latest news from the 2008 Collins Stewart London Boat Show - Breaking boating news; Celebrity visits; key Marine Industry news; business updates from the regions. Regular News Feeds will be available via ISDN (G722), e-mail (MP3 or wav)
o Coming to the Show - why not book a broadcast from our live facility (available from 11-20 January 2008).
o For more information, contact: Tracey Clarke, before event 01329 238857 fax: 01329 827728 Email: tc@eventbroadcast.org During Show - mobile: 07768 806699