2008 - The Year of the sail...

The title of my last post was "memories are made of this" and the last year has been one of the most memorable for me. We started Yachting TV in January 2007 and from that month onward it feels as though we haven't stopped for a moment. We've sailed some lovely parts of the UK coast with Tom, looked at some great boats under the watchful eye of James, and Tracey has been out and about meeting loads of people working in every sector of the marine industry.

This year looks like it's going to be another memorable one too. We'll still be doing our usual items but they'll be some surprises too.

Back to this year and January is the month of the London ExCel Boat Show, however, this year it is the second London show. So what has been the Earls Court effect? Feedback from ECBS (Earls Court Boast Show, I can't keep typing that!) was good, there was a friendly atmosphere and the venue looked great. I wasn't there myself (as I was mid-Atlantic at the time) but Tracey filed a report for us which will be in the next episode. James Brooke, who organised the show promised many more visitors than actually turned up, but it's not clear whether he just had his numbers wrong or the boating fraternity had already made up their mind which show to go to. The ExCel Boat Show visitor numbers were down by 2% from last year and they are claiming very positive feedback too. Does it all matter to the general boating public? I think boat shows are the perfect place for all of us to share our passion, get jealous looking at the big boats but then feel please when you chat with someone who has the same boat and can share tips.

If I had to choose just one boat show in the year, it would be Southampton every time. You can't beat seeing all those boats on the pontoons with full masts up and they actually move when you get on board. The downside may be the weather but we're sailors aren't we? Surely a bit of rain won't put us off? Luckily we all have a breather now until September, and I'm sure most of the marine companies deserve a rest too, so let's hope we have a great sailing season with some fine weather to make the most of the fantastic opportunities we have here in the UK and foreign destinations on our doorstep.

So let's get on with it...ready, steady....hold on can I see some rain heading our way?

Steve