Held in ABP's Lowestoft docks, with the indoor exhibits in the large and nowadays less than fully utilised fish market, the event clearly demonstrated the port authority's renewed commitment to the leisure sector, as seen also in its recently opened Lowestoft Haven Marina. Lowestoft is above all a harbour town and the port is in its heart, both geographically and spiritually.

Full marks to ABP for recognising that yachting is going to be an important and enduring part of its future.

In the splendid Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club, where a reception for exhibitors was held on that gloomy Saturday evening, there was a tangible buzz of support and positive thinking about the show and its prospects and a common theme was that the show seemed to have a strong family atmosphere.

Bernie Lake of Walton Marine which has recently added Brundall Bay Marina to its stable of premium inland boating facilities, summarised the comments of many in emailing organiser Graham T Kinnersley: "Congratulations and well done. It was much better than we thought it would be and well worth the effort of going. We hope you will do it again next year."

Jonathan Richardson, the Broads Authority's navigation projects officer, and a Lowe-stoft resident, was similarly enthusiastic. " We felt that the Lowestoft show was very appropriate and worked really well for us."

The 2005 show is set to take place over the weekend of May 7 and 8, again in the ABP port.