With only eight days to go until the Tullett Prebon London Boat Show 2013, the event has continued to attract plenty of exhibitors during the Christmas period as well as now, following the New Year. In addition to Princess, Oyster, Sunseeker, Southerly, Fairline and Gunfleet, the newly confirmed exhibitors will be Bank Sails, Seaswift Boats Ltd, Greg Yachts, Tower Paddle Boards, Toomer & Hayter, Quicksilver, Spinto, Sussex Yachts Ltd, Boatbox Ltd, Shakespeare Boats UK Ltd, Scotboats Yacht Membership, Boat Sales International/Moody Yachts, Burton Waters Boats Sales Ltd, Ideaboat/Chapparal and Robalo Boats.
Tullett Prebon London Boat Show
The Knowledge Box can boast some exciting new speakers such as the Coxless Rowers, who will be speaking about their attempt to become the first ever all female team to row the Pacific Ocean. They will be leaving from California this June, and are aiming to break five world records by rowing more than 8,000 miles, arriving in Australia six months later.
Matt Crowhurst is a man who knows all about wakeboarding, having been involved in the sport for 15 years in a range of guises such as pro rider, coach, event organiser and team manager, and he will be able to impart a fair bit about this adrenaline fuelled sport. The Royal Navy will also be present in the Knowledge Box, giving presentations on their contribution to world operations and how they are involved in a variety of missions from counter-drugs to high intensity conflict, and the work of the 771 Naval Air Squadron.
There will be more boats on the dock edge in the shape of the Offshore Raiding Craft (ORC) which is currently in service with the Royal Marines, as well as the Gulliver G, a Nicholson 32 Mk V Sailing Yacht.
Gulliver G shot to fame as a result of Clare Francis sailing her solo across the Atlantic, from Britain to Newport, Rhode Island, in 1973, in the process establishing herself as one of Britain’s foremost yachtswomen.
Update for UK Star Championships – hot off the press, Olympic medallists Luke Patience, Stuart Bithell, Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes have been confirmed to take part in the regatta at the Show and artists David Begbie, Goldie, Pam Glew and Wendy Taylor have signed up to produce sails for the event. It will be possible to watch racing live from 18 – 20 January.
NEW – Ben Ainslie ‘Question and Answer’ session on Henri Lloyd stand: Sir Ben Ainslie, quadruple Olympic Gold Medallist and Henri Lloyd Ambassador, will be holding a Q & A session on Saturday 12 January at 2.30pm on the Henri Lloyd stand, A112.
NEW – The Bluewater Cruisers’ Question Time, 12 and 19 January, a must attend event for anyone interested in sailing across the oceans, whether at the initial stages or just about to set-sail. A panel of experienced cruisers and industry experts will share their knowledge on topics including great boat gear, cruising essentials, sailing with family, and choosing a boat.
NEW – The 20th Anniversary British Steel/Global Challenge Re-union: In September 1992 10 identical steel yachts, carrying a combined crew of 192 men and women with most of them only having trained for the first time the year previously, set out from Southampton on a 27,000 mile sail west-about around the world against the prevailing winds and currents, sailing the ‘wrong way’.
The success of the race spawned four more Global Challenge races at four yearly intervals, the last being in 2004/5. On Saturday 19 January the 1000+ crews which competed in these Global Challenge races will unite at the Show to join Sir Chay Blyth, the original inspiration for the race, being the first man to sail the ‘wrong way’ 20 years before the first Global Challenge, and they will recap the moments of fear and triumph.
