COLLINS STEWART LONDON BOAT SHOW TO CELEBRATE NATION'S MARITIME HISTORY
 ExCeL London , 11-20 January 2008
Whether you're a boating novice, marine veteran or you just like playing around on the water, the Collins Stewart London Boat Show is the perfect place to experience the best of the boating world. Bursting with new, exciting and interactive things to do and see, the Collins Stewart London Boat Show is a celebration of our island nation featuring everything from seafaring skills through to boat design and coastal life. The Collins Stewart London Boat Show takes place from 11-20 January 2008 at ExCeL London.
The ten-day event will bring together the largest and most varied collection of boats in the UK as well as attracting an interesting and exciting array of boating personalities and marine experts. Budding boat owners can check out the latest innovations and products on the market, while boating novices can learn everything there is to know about boating, watersports and our island heritage.
For the first time ever, the Collins Stewart London Boat Show will sport a special 'Island Nation' theme, encouraging visitors to reconnect with the UK 's historic roots through a series of exciting and thought provoking features.
Climb onboard
Show visitors can explore hundreds of different world-class makes and models of boats from multimillion-pound motor-cruisers to one-man lasers and inflatable RIBS, and everything in between. From the makers of celebrity-style vessels to manufacturers of smaller craft like, visitors can climb aboard and experience any of the hundreds of the boats on display with specialist experts on hand to answer any questions.
Learn from the best
 Experts from across the industry will be on-hand to help, educate and offer tips and advice on a multitude if boating related topics. Specialists ranging from finance experts through to sailing schools will make sure that visitors leave the Show armed with all the information they need. A range of interactive features will help visitors learn to anchor boats, use deck-gear correctly, navigate in fog, and maintain an engine.
Youngsters can take their first steps into the sailing world by playing at the Deck Games area of the Show. The specially designed games will help them get fit for sailing, teach them how to hoist a sail and rig a boat as well as allowing children to race against each other in a variety of activities.
Sit back and relax
Back by popular demand, the inland waterways attraction is a space for visitors to enjoy the best of our inland waterways. Canal boats, river cruisers and day boats will be moored on the attraction. This year, the Collins Stewart London Boat Show has teamed up with Crocus to provide specially grown grass for the feature to bring an extra taste of the countryside.
Broaden your horizons
 Both boating novices and marine veterans will enjoy learning new skills, listening to historic tales as well as picking up top boating tips at the Sky Sports Theatre. Demonstrations and presentations scheduled throughout the Show include:
• Practical advice and demonstration from ex-British military personnel including Special Forces and security services about how to stay safe at sea
• Visitors can also take a trip down memory lane as retired lighthouse keepers talk about their experiences in the isolating but once vital job
Fine dining and refreshments
Making its debut at the Collins Stewart London Boat Show is Green's at The Semaphore Restaurant. Simon Parker-Bowles is bringing his legendary London restaurant Green's to the Show. Visitors looking for a taste of the high-life will be able to experience fine dining set amongst some of the world's finest motor cruisers, complete with a purpose-built lighthouse, and will reflect the quality and style that Green's is renowned for. To book a table at Green's at the Semaphore Restaurant please call 020 7820 3576.
With over 700 exhibitors, around 1000 world-class boats and masses of related equipment, the Collins Stewart London Boat Show is a must attend event for everyone with a passion for the water. The Show will be open daily from 5-14 January 2007 from 10am until 7pm (6pm Sunday 14). Thursday 11 is late night opening until 9pm. Adult tickets start at £12.50 and this year children can come for free. For more information or to book your tickets visit www.collinsstewartlondonboatshow.com or call 0870 060 0246.
Five things to do, see and hear at the Collins Stewart London Boat Show
 Visitors to the 2008 Collins Stewart London Boat Show, which takes place from 11-20 January 2008, are spoilt for choice with things to do, see and hear throughout the Show. Now in its 54th year, the Show promises to offer something for everyone and will welcome some 140,000 people.
Five 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.
ExCeL has great transport links, it is conveniently located close to London City Airport, there is a direct dual carriageway link to the M11 and M25 and ExCeL even has its own dedicated Docklands Light Railway station - Custom House for ExCeL - providing fast, convenient access to the City (30 mins) and the West End (45 mins). To find out more about the facilities the venue now offers visit www.collinsstewartlondonboatshow.com
RYA TAKES TO THE MAIN STAGE AT COLLINS STEWART LONDON BOAT SHOW
RYA Training and The Green Blue will be taking centre stage at this year's Collins Stewart London Boat Show, where visitors can get advice and tips on how to improve their boating skills and practices. If you're new to navigation then don't miss RYA Training Manager, James Stevens' talk, 'Start to Navigate' (Saturday 12 th , 11am), whereas for the more advanced sailor 'How to pass your Yachtmaster Ò ' could be more up your street (Monday 14 th , 11am).
The Green Blue will also be taking you through how to make your sailing more environmentally friendly with the help of yachting journalist and recent Green Blue convert, Tom Cunliffe, (Friday 18 th , 16.30), who will be putting the Green Blue team through their paces on the benefits and impacts of being green .
But it's not just the main stage that will see all the action as the RYA launches its brand new 'Get the Knowledge' campaign, designed to get more people to match their on-water experiences with off-water learning, through expert advice and information contained in its wide range of RYA publications (Saturday 12 th , 12.30, stand no. BO01). Come along for the launch and you could be pitching your sailing knowledge against the experts in the 'Get the Knowledge' quiz.
Publications also showcase the latest RYA DVD, 'Boat Handling for sportsboats and RIBs' by John Mendez.
On Friday 18 th , The Green Blue will be hosting a short seminar on the future of antifouling in freshwater environments, from problems to solutions (14.30-16.00, South Gallery room 30). If you want to have your say on the future of antifouling book your place by calling 02380 604 228 or emailing info@thegreenblue.org.uk
London Boat Show also marks the unveiling of the 2007 RYA Yachtmaster Ò of the Year, (stand BO01, Wednesday 16 th , approx 15.45). HRH Princess Anne will present the award to the yachtsman or woman, who has excelled when taking their Yachtmaster Ò examination, one of the most highly respected qualifications in the world.
The RYA's 12 Regional Young Sailor of the Year 2007 winners will also be at the show (Saturday 12 th Jan, 16.00, main stage) to receive their prestigious awards. Voted for by RYA affiliated sailing clubs, these young sailors have made a significant impact on youth sailing. Ranging from gold medal winning achievements and overcoming adversity, to the huge amount of hard work and effort they give back to their clubs.
Two of the RYA's regional winners, Laurence Greenough and Tom Gillard, have also been selected as finalists for the National Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year Award, the winner of which will also be announced at the ceremony.
If all that isn't enough to whet your appetite then throughout the week on the RYA stand you will be able to buy RYA publications (15% discount for RYA members), vouchers, find out about getting into the many aspects of boating and talk to experts from the RYA and get advice or pick up some handy hints 'n' tips.
Images have been reproduced by kind permission of onEdition
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