One thing is for sure: if the public flocks to the ECBS, the UK leisure marine industry – and the British Marine Federation (BMF) will never be the same again.

The NBS target for the 2008 Collins Stewart London Boat at ExCeL (LBS) was announced as 140,000. That was in the face of 130,000 this year and persistent falling attendance since the very first ExCeL show in 2004.

If the ECBS draws appreciative crowds, it’s unlikely they will go back for another show a month later. So that always optimistic 140k looks beyond reach.

If the ECBS is a success, ExCeL could attract as little as 100,000. That would mean around 80,000 paying guests at most.

On the up side, the US fall shows have seen increased attendances and the Southampton Boat Show also saw an increase. So we’re back to the same ‘your guess is as good as anyone’s’.

The ECBS was always going to be a thorn in the side of The Egham Establishment. But MD James Brooke has always insisted the ECBS is not a direct competitor to the LBS. He also insists he can see no reason for the two shows not to run happily together in London.

Well, Mr Brooke, how about because the industry can’t afford to pay to go to two shows? It has a great deal of trouble paying for the two existing shows and there are many who would prefer the UK to have just one boat show a year.

So could the two shows sit happily alongside each other? Only if they are so completely different they attract largely differing audiences.
And Brooke has always told us his show would not be a boat show. He is on record as telling me he rued the day they called it the ECBS. So from being launched as the Earls Court Boat Show it went to ‘a maritime event’ before settling into its launch face of being ‘a Christmas event’.

Who knows? Maybe the two shows will be different enough to exist together.

But as Brooke has made much of appealing to the traditionalist Earls Court boat show visitor – with the Cowes sponsorship and Honda F4 dalliances – that crowd will arrive at Earls Court expecting to walk into that blaze of boat show glitter of years past.

And if Brooke is right, that’s precisely what they won’t be getting. Maybe they’ll get glitz. But it isn’t going to be boat show glitz.

Undoubtedly the ECBS was hurt by the federation’s video of Movers and Shakers and Top Chaps in General all lending their weight to ExCeL. And I will be surprised if there are many back-door Big Name boats at the show. But this could be as much down to the ECBS’s bad salesmanship, or plain lack of knowledge of the industry. After all, their first sales calls should have been to David King and Robert Glen. But it’s my understanding this was not the case.

And I was astonished to hear from James Barke that Essex Boatyards had not been called to exhibit.

The Earls Court Boat Show
According to James Brooke, the Whyte & Mackay Earls Court Boat Show is set to be the biggest UK consumer launch in 2007.

‘We have constantly reviewed our progress with regards to the content of the show and the amount of exhibitors that have committed,’ he said. ‘Our focus has always been, and will continue to be, on delivering a show based on what we have been told visitors want to see.’

With the exhibitors’ interests in mind, says Brooke, it makes sense for us to create a busy trading platform upon which our exhibitors can maximise their revenue.

And sounding a warning to Egham, Brooke says: ‘We will shortly be announcing dates for the next five years and we are delighted that Whyte & Mackay have shared our vision and extended their sponsorship agreement to five years.’
So the ECBS is here to stay for a while at least...

The venue
Since were last there in 2003, Earls Court has had some £20m spent on it. It’s now fully air conditioned, so those boat show colds ought to be a thing of the past. It has a ramp up to the first floor to help exhibitors get product and stands up there, so it’s a pity there aren’t any exhibitors up there.

It has a lot of restaurants and bar facilities, the latter being, of course, the Whyte & Mackay stock in trade. The company will be hosting a range of bars throughout the show including the Dalmore Single Highland Malt Whisky bar in the luxury area. 

On the food front, there’s now a 220-seater Pizza Express restaurant (and takeaway Pizza-to-Go facility). Dash's menu offers a range of hearty sandwiches to hot hand-held snacks like traditional pasties, pies, melts, Mediterranean tarts, canapés and a range of handmade cakes.

Crussh is (it says here) the most exciting fresh juice and smoothie concept in the UK that hits the spot by meeting the growing demand for fast healthy food on-the-go. DP Cappuccino serves a premium quality range of drinks including cappuccino, latte, mocha, hot chocolate and a variety of teas, accompanied by an extensive range of fresh pastries and sandwiches.

Taste Italia offers the discerning exhibition visitor a new experience at Earls Court (!).

The Cafe Bar serves a variety of hot and cold refreshments and an extensive food menu to eat in and take away.

The Lounge Bar is situated above Taste Italia and offers the customer a wide range of food and drink as well as a relaxing modern environment.

On top of all this, I understand the first floor in EC1 will be open with drinks and snacks available for those who want to sit and take it easy for a while.

Features
The Powerboat Village, created by Steve Curtis MBE, is a display of historic and record-breaking powerboats alongside other classic and cutting-edge boats. In addition to this display there will be boats from the Honda Formula 4-stroke series.

The Hall of Fame, in association with the National Maritime Museum, celebrates British marine achievements over the past century.

In addition there are lots of ‘History of’ features, from The History of Deck Equipment, The History of Self-Steering Systems, The History of Sailing Clothes, The History of Survival, The History of Cape Horn, The History of Windsurfing, The History of Round the World Sailing, The History of Powerboats, The History of Search & Rescue and The History of Amphibious Vehicles.

Then we have the 25th Anniversary of the Falklands War, Hall of Fame inductees and Sir Francis Chichester’s Gipsy Moth IV, which will be a central attraction.

The Inland Waterways feature will conjure up the atmosphere of a summer’s day on the river bank with a range of inland waterway boats.

The Guinness Bar - will it be the same, we wonder? Model Yacht Racing , Classic Yacht display, The Whyte & Mackay Earls Court Boat Show Marine Photography Competition.

The Dalmore Zone will provide a glamorous area to soak up the style of superyachts and luxurious products. The Andark Diving Experience, The Yacht Charter Guide Village, the Ice-skating Rink, the Cowes Community and Rowing.

There will also be Live Musical Entertainment & Fashion Show. And The Wakeboard Pool Gap.

Charity

The show supports The Prince’s Trust through ticket sales with 50p from each ticket sold going straight to the youth charity. The show has been taking part in events in the sailing calendar all year and has been joined by young people from The Prince’s Trust Get Into Maritime Course. Prince’s Trust ambassadors Gabby and Kenny Logan have also been involved.

The show will continue to support young people in their desire to become involved in the boat industry over the coming years.

The show will also be supporting a team taking part in the Woodvale Challenge Atlantic Rowing Race in aid of Breast Cancer Care, with 10p from every ticket sale going to Lin Griesel and Rachel Smith’s chosen charity. 

The show is also supporting Sail 4 Cancer, which has produced in partnership with Kos Pictures (who will also be displaying her exhibition) a one-off A2 sailing calendar that will be sold exclusively at the show with all profits benefiting Sail 4 Cancer.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

Additional Interest

Michael Perham will display and auction his Tide 28ft yacht, Cheeky Monkey to raise funds for his quest to become the youngest person to sail around the world.

Hilary Lister made history by becoming the first ever quadriplegic to sail solo across the English Channel in 2005. She will be presenting her modified Artemis 20 at the show and also promoting her 2008 Round Britain attempt. She will also be presenting the Even Keel Charity as a global charity that will provide the opportunity of sailing to disabled individuals and children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Exhibitors and new products

For a full exhibitor list, go to www.earlscourtboatshow.com/exhibitor.aspx  At the time of writing there were 319 names on the list.

Abersoch Land & Sea the sole UK importer of Cranchi Powerboats will be exhibiting four of the stylish Italian motorboat range. Ahoy Ltd has a brand New 18ft Trailer Sailor Trimaran, made by Virus Boats in France.

BoatQuays Mariah Boats UK is offering visitors the chance to win a Mariah SX18 bow rider. They will have to answer three competition questions and deliver their entry to the BoatQuays Mariah Boats UK stand, 2D40. The lucky winner will be drawn at the end of the nine-day event.
Boyd Boats Ltd will be presenting the award winning Rocna Anchor Range from New Zealand.

Cobalt Boats is showcasing a range of four new sport boats brand new to the UK. Craig Cohoon  will showcase a range of 2008 products including wakeboarding and water-ski kit.

Delphia Yachts will showcase its award-winning yachts and the brand new Delphia 26. Delphia has been nominated for European Yacht of the year 2008.

First Class Nautical will showcase the Admiral’s Tender motor launch.

Hans Christian will showcase its yachts at a UK boat show for the first time in 10 years. Designed for blue water cruising, the yachts are based on Dutch sailing yachts of the 16th century, with canoe stern and bowsprit. Hockley Marine will be showcasing its new range of RIBs and rigid boats. They are soon to become exclusive UK dealers for a range of Capelli boats and will also be showcasing this range.

Marathon Leisure will showcase the new Waveline which is capable of planing at low speeds. Marine Jets Europe will launch the EuroJet 48: an all-aluminium 4.8m high performance jet boat seen for the very first time at the show. MiniCat is a unique sailing craft that is a small and light collapsible catamaran with inflatable floats. Fully portable, it fits into a single bag and is easily carried by one adult.

Pearl Motor Yachts has formed a partnership with Bentley UK that will showcase both brands on stand 2C40.
The flagship Pearl 60 will take pride of place alongside three Bentleys: the Continental GT, Continental GTC and the new Brooklands.
‘Having the opportunity to sample two luxury British brands on a single stand will no doubt prove an irresistible lure for visitors to the show,’ said Iain Smallridge, managing director of Pearl Motor Yachts.

Performance Cruising will showcase the Telstar 28 Trimaran – the first time this has been seen in the UK. The Telstar can be folded to either 14’ or 8’6” – perfect for a standard-sized slip or for trailing. Performance Cruising will also be bringing a Gimini 105 MC. Power Traveller offers solar powered potable power for gadgets. Propspeed has the UK launch of Propspeed anti fouling system from New Zealand. Prosser Marine based in Glasgow, will bring premier US-built Cruisers Yachts - the first time they have been exhibited in London.

Rigiflex is showcasing a range of unsinkable plastic boats.

Sartech Engineering is showing its range of EPRIBs and PLBs to the public for the first time.
‘It’s great to exhibit at this iconic venue and with Christmas on the horizon the timing of the show could not be better. In true festive spirit, we will host a ‘win your money back’ competition for anyone purchasing an EPIRB or PLB from us during the show.

Smart Sail will be exhibiting its new Catalina 350. South Eastern Marine has self righting life rafts. Sunvil Sailing runs yachting holidays off Lefkas in the Greek Ionian Sea with a choice of accommodation either on board a boat or shore-based in a hotel, villa or apartment.

Vizual Marine will display the Artemis 20; a performance keelboat to be sailed by both able bodied and disabled sailors with both the standard mode and the seated mode with joystick steering.

West Quay Marine will launch US Cobia Boats. Westline will showcase a new range of powerboats including their new W34 with 24° deep-V hulls, superb sea keeping and Swedish build quality.

Press & Preview day  
Friday 30th November     12pm – 7pm