So the show has what NBS says is a full-sized Turkish harbour - "there are 17 boats in the pool, " emphasised Gower - complete with its own lighthouse.

The buildings have been built by Turkish craftsmen and there's a cafe, a market with real traders selling (and giving away) items. And there's a stage, where there will be traditional Turkish dancing.

Show sponsors, Schroders, have a stand overlooking the pool and Volvo has its stand right alongside as official car sponsor.

Then there's the Turkish Tourist Board stand, masquerading as the Turkish Ministry Building, and First Choice, Sunsail's parent company. Sunsail is giving away £200,000's worth of Turkish holidays to be won through competitions.

Gower told BB NBS is hoping for more visitors than last year.

"Our final audited figure for last year was 155,000, " he said.

"We want a buoyant show, one that will end on a high for this final nostalgic year, " It won't be for want of trying.

The media spend for this show is - at £500,000 - double that of last year's show.

The money will be spent in national newspapers, national radio, specialist press and a large outdoor campaign - using those enormous 48 sheet posters - and Tube cards.

On top of that, Gower said the NBS agency, Fishburn Hedges, is focussing on the nostalgic look and has negotiated an 8pp supplement to run in The Telegraph on the first Saturday, January 4.

The Sunsail connection has also brought lots of coverage in the lifestyle/sporty/active press.

Sunsail's holiday competitions will run in The Telegraph supplement and online.

The online side has been handled by FRESH01, the agency that developed the integrated brand identity campaign for last year's Southampton Boat Show.

FRESH01 created the frontend design for the Schroders London Boat Show 2003 (www.londonboatshow.net).

The site was built by FRESH01 industry partners, Thames Information Services Limited (TISL).

Part of FRESH01's creative assignment was to develop a comprehensive brand identity programme across a number of different marketing channels to increase public awareness and, ultimately, to entice boating enthusiasts to the last show to be held in Earls Court FRESH01 says this included extending the brand to advertisements, banners, brochures and posters.

During the show, many different stations will be broadcasting from the on-site radio studio.

Members of the GBR Challenge squad are set to open the show and more racing stars will be around the show - Ben Ainslie and Shirley Robertson will be there, plus Ellen MacArthur and others.

Other notables attending include HRH The Princess Royal, DTI minister Alan Johnson, Debra Veal and, apparently, a chap called Bear Grylls.

Bear is English - really! - and lays claim to being the youngest man to climb Everest. He will be attempting a record breaking trip across the Atlantic via the Arctic next year.

The Sea Vision initiative will be launched on press day, January 2. This is a project designed to increase public awareness of the UK marine world, from the Navy, through the Merchant Navy and commercial marine to the leisure industry.

It is headed by the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sir Alan West KCB DSC. So he, too, will be a notable at the show.

The winner of the Concept Boat competition will also be announced during the show - at 11.00 on Monday the 6th, to be precise, on stand 66A, where there will be working models and full-sized prototypes on show.

And, as this is the last Earls Court Boat Show, NBS has organised a farewell party for the final Saturday. The party will be around the harbour feature and it will be admission by exhibitor's pass only.