Southampton is a city famous for its connections to the sea, and this year’s Southampton International Boat Show is reaching out to local residents to come and enjoy all aspects of watersports with a special Community Day taking place on 19 September.
“Southampton, a waterfront city, has unique links to the sea with the Mayflower in 1620, the tragedy of the Titanic, as a major shipping cruise liner terminal and with the Boat Show, bringing employment and prosperity to the city. However, many city residents never get the chance to go on the water themselves. This year, thanks to a newly introduced Community Day, we are able to give even more people the chance to get on the water from all walks of life, from in and around the city,” said British Marine’s Hampshire Ambassador Richard W. Roberts.
British Marine, which organises the internationally renowned Southampton International Boat Show, is keen to encourage anyone living in the locality to come and have a go at all the exciting watersports activities taking place during the show. There is a special ticket offer for anyone living in postcode areas SO14 to SO19, with entry costing just £14 per adult and free admission for children under 15 and senior citizens on 19 September.
“We want to encourage everyone from the local community to feel welcome and come in and see what fun and exciting opportunities there are – whether you’re in, on or near the water,” said Richard. “There’s so much to see and do, for all the family, no matter what your age or ability. Activities range from cruising on the Solent to having a go at windsurfing, diving, paddleboarding and kayaking. Visitors can go out sailing on a variety of boats from dinghies to yachts, enjoy the thrill of powerboating and racing on a RIB, or choose to be part of the crew on the impressive and historic Morgenster Tall Ship.”
Through the exciting five new zones at this year’s show, there is plenty to see, try and buy from the hundreds of exhibitor stands and display stalls on the land. On the water there. are boats of every size and type to be viewed and explored on the huge marina. Famous faces and celebrities will also be on hand, with a series of appearances and inspiring talks from Great Britain’s medal winning sailing Olympians, famous Round the World sailors, and inspirational environmentalists.
There is plenty of action to watch on the water too, from model boat racing to stunning displays of awe-inspiring action-packed stunts and tricks from Flyboarder James Prestwood and world champion stuntmen performing free style jet-ski acrobatics.
When it is time to relax, visitors can head to the Quarterdeck Bar and Restaurant to enjoy a grand stand view of the activities on the water, or wander through the central Festival Green family entertainment area, with music playing throughout the day and into the early evening. With tasty and high-quality artisan street food offerings available throughout the show, for those who fancy top class restaurant cuisine, a visit to Kutis Indian Brasserie in the historic and majestic Royal Pier is a must.
For the grand finale on Community Day, local teams and exhibitors are invited to take part in the Great Southampton Boat Race, starting at 1pm on 19 September. This is the chance to be creative and build your own eco-friendly cardboard boat and see how your team fares in the race in front of your family, friends and supporters!
Councillor Daniel Fitzhenry, Leader of Southampton City Council said: “After the last 15 months, it is time to go out again and enjoy the activities we love doing. Community Day at Southampton International Boat Show is a great opportunity for families to be active together and try different ways to get on the water without travelling far afield. The new show layout gives the event a larger footprint and we are delighted to have the show back in our city this year, ensuring attendants can enjoy the water safely and with minimal COVID restrictions s we can Get Southampton Moving and recover from the pandemic.”
Running over 10 days, advance tickets for the event can be purchased online at www.southamptonboatshow.com,
The show is open from 9.30am to 6.30pm, with the Festival Green area remaining open to enjoy outdoor refreshments, food and entertainment until 9.30pm each evening. Tickets are available now to purchase online at www.southamptonboatshow.com
