1 The show for every sailor
The Southampton International Boat Show really stands out among international boat shows as being an event for all sailors. Very few other events worldwide have such a broad range of boats and focus. But that doesn’t make it a jack of all trades and master of none. Whether you are a cruising yachtsman, a serious offshore racer, a passionate club dinghy sailor, an admirer of wooden boats or a paddleboarder, the show really offers a depth of riches. The successful format of having ‘zones’ will be repeated in 2023, with dedicated areas for different interests, so it’s easy to go and see the area of your core interest, before enjoying the ambience of the wider show and wandering round at your leisure. The show’s footprint in Southampton will again stretch right into the heart of the city, with a convenient entrance near the shopping arcades and car parks. This larger area gives the organisers plenty of space to accommodate all boating interests, as well as much else besides.
2 Chandlery is back
Understandably, the pandemic years saw clothing outlets and chandlers stay away from shows. This, however, did deprive the show visitor of one of the great show