The Earls Court Boat Show tells me it has hundreds of very shy exhibitors who refuse to allow their names to be known in case NBS takes action against them at the Southampton Boat Show. Hmmm…

Planning for landside and marina is complete and the contracts are out. So there’s no reason to be shy, is there? And whatever the perception, there are one or two laws that prevent NBS acting unfairly in its dealings with exhibitors.

So it’s got to be time for the ECBS exhibitors to come out in the open so we can make a few points to them. We can offer up Andy Williams’ list of testimonials – see them for yourself by clicking the link at the foot of this comment - and we can point out to these ECBS exhibitors that without Sunseeker, Fairline, Princess, Sealine and the other big names, Earls Court won’t be a boat show.

OK, it may do quite well for its first year, because there will always be the gawp factor. Just as there was for the first ExCeL show. But just as the ExCeL show didn’t come up to expectations, so the Earls Court Boat Show without the boats won’t be much of an attraction.

Year two for the ECBS could see an even more extraordinary crash in attendance than ExCeL.

So why, I hear you ask (ECBS exhibitors, that is), should I trust NBS to get it right at ExCeL next time? I have to say that is a hard one to answer honestly.

And I can’t offer any promises.

But I have spent a lot of time talking with Alan Morgan, Peter Methven, Rob Stevens and Andy Williams about ExCeL. And I can tell you they have an understanding of what has to be done that was not apparent in those who went before – if you get my drift.

They’ve already made a start - this year’s show was a huge step in the right direction. And – let’s face it – the ECBS has put a bomb under them. But bomb or no bomb, while the ECBS may have the location, it can’t offer visitors a boat show without the boats.

Click here to see the companies NOT exhibiting at the Earls Court Boat Show.