To date some 26 marine leisure craft have booked berths at this, the first and long awaited boat show to be held in Portsmouth. The event has also attracted yachting companies from Portsmouth, Southampton and other marine leisure areas and marinas along the south coast.

The promoters, County Exhibitions, expect to attract visitors from all over the south of England and London.

Whilst it is hoped to make this boat show an annual event, with dates for 2007 already marked in on the calendar, County Exhibitions stress it is in no way an attempt by to be a substitute for, or take over from, the well established Southampton Boat Show.

"We believe that the ever rising costs of attending national boat shows held over 10 days or more are becoming prohibitive and the two to three-day provincial boat show is the way forward, " said Graham Kinnersley, managing director of County Exhibitions.