Claire talks about the team presence at the show
It’s a warm and windless start to day 9 of the boat show as the Saturday crowds begin to pile in to the main entrance. The blustery wind seems to have finally subsided; the many flags and banners hanging limp and the water still and misty. The shipping forecast for today for the Thames and Wight region is ‘Southwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Moderate or rough, decreasing slight to moderate. Showers then fair. Moderate or good’. It looks like the wind is due for a return and brollies may be needed. The queue for the Try-A-Boat is growing by the minute, as before stretching along magazine alley with people running to join the queue.
Let me tell a little about what the MBM team have been up to over the last 9 days of the show. Editor Carl, Technical Consultant Mark Turley and Freelance Boat Tester Justin Olesinski have been examining the new boats for the forthcoming show review (November issue). Photographer William Payne has been busy taking exterior and interior photos of boats to be featured. While Assistant Editor Stewart has been out and about the show interviewing on camera some important boat show figures by camera-women, me. Interviews include Colin Watts of Boat Showrooms on their new Grand Banks 47, Martin Broom of Broom Boats on the new 425 and Andrew Williams, Managing Director of Nationals Boat Shows. Look out for the latest clips on our video page . Practicals Writer, Neale has been gathering information for our show gear round up, the show is littered with new gadgets and gizmos. One remarkable bit of kit is Sea Safe’s Life Jacket system; a waterproof jacket and a lifejacket in one. Neale was allowed to set one off on the stand (see photo). 36 double-D springs to mind but joking aside this is revolutionary and potentially life-saving bit of kit. Another new product that caught my eye was the Aqua Glide. It’s an inflatable sailboat, windsurfer and towable toy in one. It packs away neatly into a tender-size bag, it looks like great fun and definitely worth a look but perhaps better suited for use in a hotter climate.
