Thanks to Suzanne and Alan for this round-up of what they found at the Southampton Boat Show. Ed
Originally built in Sweden in 1945 the tall ship ‘Earl of Pembroke’ was one of the largest masted boats at this year’s Southampton Boat Show. It has featured in a number of TV programmes and films.
Having been laid up in Denmark ‘Earl of Pembroke’ was completely restored in 1994 as a replica of Cook’s ‘Endeavour’ and after further restoration was renamed ‘Earl of Pembroke’, the original name of Cook’s ship.
Also moored in the Boat Show Marina was the J109 ‘Red Arrow’, owned and operated by the RAF Sailing Association. This yacht has had a busy campaign this year having taken part in the JPMAM Round the Island Race and the Rolex Fastnet Race which both started off Cowes.
The Red Arrow and Arrows
In conjunction with the appearance of ‘Red Arrow’, Saturday saw a show-stopping performance from the RAF Aerobatic Display Team-better known as ‘The Red Arrows’.
In their 50th Anniversary Year there were spectators all over the city, as well as at the show, to see a unique show by the nine ace pilots in their Hawk T1 jets.
Introduced by Suzi Perry
Based in Poole, Sunseeker International recently sold its 100th 100 foot motor yacht. To open the Sunseeker stand Suzi Perry, from BBC’s Formula One, introduced ‘Collabro’, winners of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’.
Carrying on the British talent theme Sunseeker had a number of iconic items on display including portraits of HM The Queen by David Bailey CBE, which he’d taken over the years.
Other British items included a hand blown Cleaves Bowl featuring the emblems of the four British countries in sterling silver gilt and vitreous enamel, a fibreglass Paddington Bear designed by Stephen Fry and a dress designed by Nicholas Oakwell, involving 2,320 hours of work and incorporating 65,000 Ostrich feathers.
Former title sponsor of the Show, PSP Logistics has a base in Cowes. At present they are sponsoring a yacht in the 2015/16 Clipper Race and were pleased to announce an expansion of their company with a new base planned for Poole.
Painting demos by Stephen Lees
Formally a PT instructor in the Army, where he met GB athlete Kris Akabusi, Stephen Lees was giving demonstrations of his marine paintings. Using acrylic paint he paints directly onto canvas in one evolving sequence.
While the background paint is still wet, he adds details with fluidity of lines and shapes using a mini-trowel, which he then cleans on his t-shirt! Each painting takes just a few minutes.
‘Sailing Today’ Awards
There was much interest in the inaugural ‘Sailing Today’ Awards. In total there were 15 categories including Sailor of the Year. This award, sponsored by Wight Vodka was presented to Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.
Henri Lloyd’s Elite Jacket was accorded the Clothing Innovation Award with Paul Strzelecki, CEO of Henri Lloyd, receiving the trophy whilst The Royal Southern Yacht Club, one of the organising clubs for Cowes Week, gained the Yacht Club honour. Over the last year the average age of members of RSYC has fallen from 50 to 40. Their new facility was officially opened by HRH Prince Philip this summer.
Sunsail, one of the main providers of yachts for those who do not have their own boat but who wish to compete in Cowes Week, once again had a link up with Chilgrove Gin the official Gin of Cowes Week and the only Gin in the UK made from grapes.
Island businesses
It is always good to support Island businesses and BVD Marine from Bowcombe Business Park had a display in the Arena Area.
Their Seaspray dories can be fitted out as workboats or sportsboats whilst their Coastworker boats are rugged seaworthy workboats and their microboats are unsinkable and form incredibly stable performance tenders.
With good weather at the start of the Show numbers of visitors packed into Mayflower Park and the Red Arrows display certainly proved very popular on Saturday.
This year’s Southampton Boat Show continues until Sunday 20th September.
