Goode had a hand in a lot of the features seen at last year’s show and personally took over Anchor Watch to make it far and away the most popular attraction. He's a familiar name – and face – in the marine industry, best known for editing Sailing Today, a freelance job he relinquished recently.

And he brings one massive benefit to the show; a passion for - and a huge knowledge of - all things concerning boats and the sea.

He went to sea under sail at the age of 12 and was a Merchant Navy navigation officer for many years. He’s a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation, a senior RYA Yachtmaster Examiner and known in just about every sailing club in the UK, which will be an enormous advantage when trying to attract all those enthusiasts back to the LBS.

He also runs the renowned Southern Sailing School as a way of life with the love of the sea being the common denominator for all concerned.

Above all, Goode will bring as sense of urgency to the Egham operation. The 2008 LBS is going to be - quite simply - the most important thing the British Marine Federation (BMF) and NBS have ever done for this industry.

Goode agrees, telling BB 'With the clock ticking towards the August 10th deadline for all expressions of interest, I'd be very grateful if organisations wishing to support or participate in any of the features would get in touch with me as soon as possible.'

All suggestions will receive prompt, courteous and serious consideration, he added, assuring us he looks forward to working closely with everyone who comes aboard. 'Together we can promptly begin driving the features forward, so they make a major contribution to LBS 2008 being one of the best shows ever.'

Now that's the kind of stuff I've been waiting to hear out of Egham since the launch of the ECBS.

This feature gives a brief outline of the features currently scheduled for the 2008 show. NBS is offering opportunities for companies to be involved with these features. Involvement can include financial support for a feature, to ‘value in kind opportunities’ such as supplying products and/or staff and participatory content. Of course, any combination of financial/in kind support will be considered.

So, to discuss commercial sponsorship and media partnership opportunities please contact the NBS interim commercial director Adrian Danson – email adanson@britishmarine.co.uk or call him on 01784 223617.

To discuss value in kind opportunities, such as supplying products and/or staff and participatory content, contact John Goode: email john@southern.co.uk or call him on 01489 580836.

NBS wants expressions of interest by August 10 2007.

Daily Mail
National promotion - media valuation £1m
For the past two years, the Daily Mail has been the formal media partner for the London Boat Show. An exchange of benefits between NBS and Associated Newspapers (Daily Mail) has resulted in a £1m promotion in support of the show including £400,000 spent on TV advertising.

At the centre of this promotion is a significant prize, typically involving an overseas property valued at approx £200K and a boat (power for the last two years) with a retail value of approx £125-150,000.

Main Feature
Located: centre of North Hall
Dimensions: 35m wide x 32m deep
Investment in this feature will be significant. An impressive multi-purpose stage, theatre and entertainment facility is being constructed for a continuous schedule of entertainment, fashion, seminars and experiences to run throughout each day.

State-of-the-art technology and an experienced production team will make the 2008 show an event to remember. This centrally located attraction could be ‘opened up’ to cover big-audience events and private evening functions but equally ‘contracted’ to accommodate more intimate, lecture-orientated presentations to smaller gatherings.

Anchor Watch
Located: centre of North Hall
Dimensions: 27.5m wide x 8m deep
Back by popular demand, the Masterclass on practical anchoring will repeat the crowd-pulling demonstrations that went down extremely well with everyone from beginners to experienced sailors alike.

Manned by very experienced and entertaining instructors – and supplemented with a free colourful information guide outlining the techniques shown – this eye-catching, educational feature cleverly simulates how to overcome the most frequently encountered anchoring problems – both in our own tidal waters and the increasingly crowded town-quay anchorages of the Mediterranean.

The highly visible raised structure could also, between the five-times-daily demonstrations, double-up as a setting for other promotional activities.

Start Boating
Located: east end of North Hall
Dimensions: 31.5m wide x 15.5m deep
A hospitable, salesman-free arena for anyone seeking impartial advice on how to take up boating at its many different levels and contrasting lifestyles.

Non-commercial organisations that will be invited to participate should not only aim to enthuse and educate enquiring visitors about a particular aspect of boating, but also grasp the opportunity to attract as many of their own members as possible to this unique, mid-winter meeting place provided by the show.

The very nature of this feature means that it should provide impartial sources of initial advice for those who want to become involved in boating, or move up a level within it.

For those thinking about buying their first boat, there will be owner associations (similar to the Westerlys in 2007) which will concentrate on craft at the more affordable pre-owned end of the market. In addition there will be lower priced new product to encourage entry level boating.

Those manning the stands will be carefully briefed on their role to ensure that there’s no overlap with other organisations appearing on this feature – or with those exhibiting commercially elsewhere at the show.

Deck Games
Located: east of North Hall
Dimensions: 22m wide x 13.5m deep
Deck Games is back by popular demand – but bigger and better. To encourage young people of all age groups to participate in boating by providing a range of stimulating activities that are both fun and educational. It’s particularly important to attract those parents who might otherwise avoid a boat show trip because they’re worried that within an hour their children will get bored. There will also be a few deckchairs available for whacked out parents.

Younger people in particular love group games, entering competitions and winning prizes – and collecting any sort of freebies that are going. No matter how small; wristbands, badges, posters, etc, are considered real trophies.

Therefore the more prizes and/or certificates that can be provided by the industry the better.

Older boys and girls tend to relish more individual or small-group challenges that contain an element of adventure and (perceived) risk – or a technical difficulty that can be overcome in front of their parents or siblings.

Classic Boat
Located: North Hall
The full NBS document on the website - www.nationalboatshows.co.uk/londonopportunities.htm - indicates the sort of content that would most suit this ever-popular feature. The feature is set to be approximately 25% larger than last year to accommodate the anticipated increased interest generated by the inclusion of the much-publicised Cutty Sark restoration project. This should not only help to draw in more classic boat aficionados, but also more visitors from other sectors of the boating community and the general public.

Because of the often more vocational lifestyle of those displaying their much-cherished boats, or the traditional skills they are passionate about, overt commercialism should be avoided.

The aim is to create the ambience of a friendly working boatyard, where those taking part might be doing so for the love of it – and where the audience can watch, learn and, most importantly, talk to enthusiastic craftsmen about their work.

Prime feature: Supporting the Cutty Sark restoration project The Cutty Sark Trust will be working on selected artefacts from the main conservation project throughout the show, bringing back to life original parts of this famous tea clipper that was badly damaged by fire in May. A chance to see a mix of cutting-edge science and time-honoured craftsmanship – supported by regular presentations on the Main Feature’s big screens that will bring visitors up to date on the progress of the restoration – both at the show and at Greenwich, her world heritage home.

Watersports Zone
Located: South Hall
Watersports exhibitors and related products will be consolidated in a brand new area of the show in the South Hall. A vibrant, fun and interactive focal point will be surrounded by the exhibitors in this section enhancing the lifestyle offering provided by this important sector of the industry.

A Sports Bar, entertainment, big screen action and simulators are what we have in mind for this area, but we are encouraging organisations to participate and influence what promises to be a popular new area of the show.

Others
The Guinness Bar: this inherently linked attraction, which now serves wines and spirits as well as Guinness, is now available for partners and sponsors. Be part of this show centrepiece.

Remember – you must submit your expressions of interest by August 10 2007. More information on the NBS website at www.nationalboatshows.co.uk/londonopportunities.htm