This was driven by a record attendance on press and preview day and one of the largest attended second Saturdays in recent years.

'The success of this year’s show demonstrates a positive feeling in the industry,' said NBS chairman Alan Morgan. 'The exhibits are essentially the stars of the show and we’ve had some truly amazing products this year, from a canoe worth £200 right up to the £11m Tri-deck Sunseeker yacht.'

Morgan also highlighted that next year's 40th show would have a title sponsor in PSP, the Fareham-based freight company with which it had a bit of a spat a few weeks ago. The problems have all been solved and PSP becomes the first title sponsor of the SBS. The three-year contract was agreed last week between NBS managing director Andrew Williams and PSP managing director Frank Dixie. The show will be known as the PSP Southampton Boat Show.

ITV Meridian has also agreed a three year extension to its contract.

This year's show was opened by Sir Keith Mills and Mike Sanderson of the GB America's Cup challenger, Team Origin. Following them, the show played host to HRH The Princess Royal, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Dame Ellen MacArthur, Ben Ainslie MBE, Mike Golding OBE, Dee Caffari MBE, Paul Daniels, Debbie McGee, Nigel Mansell, Alan Titchmarsh, Simon Gregson and Sue Cleaver.

Highlights of the show included the celebration of the 2008 Beijing Games in the show’s Chinese Quarter. The giant TV screen was also put to good use to broadcast the Rugby World Cup to SBS exhibitors after hours in a programme of events set up by NBS MD Andrew Williams, organised by Assorti Ltd and sponsored by Boating Business. The programme included the BB Karting Challenge - won by Sea Sure - and the Honda Rideout, for which Honda supplied 18 new bikes from Fireblades to Gold Wings via Hornets. A group of 30 riders - many on their own machines - rode through the New Forest for a meal at the New Forest Inn at Lyndhurst before blasting back along the M27 to the show.

Rumours that some silly speeds were recorded are, of course, entirely untrue...

Throughout the show, the British Marine Federation (BMF) worked hard behind the scenes, bringing in notables such as Lord Drayson, the government minister responsible for the marine industry, staging the first board meeting of the Association of Marina Industries outside the US and running free seminars on subjects that included rejection of boats.

Many exhibitors reported good sales from the increased attendance, with many smaller boat retailers reporting record sales. Bray Marine reported a terrific show: 'It’s been quite a landmark show for us with not only sales exceeding our objectives, but we are particularly pleased with how this show promotes our industry,' said Bray's Dominic Smulders.

'We've had yet another outstanding show at Southampton, working with the BMF and NBS. Sales have exceeded objectives and the number of generated leads indicates there is more to come,' said Fairline MD Derek Carter.

Lombard Marine Finance said the show was interesting because the demand for financing between powerboats and sailboats was almost evenly matched. 'In previous years we've seen a swing towards more enquiries for the powerboat sector, often as high as 70-30,' said head of marine finance Ian Braham. 'However this year our enquiries are 50-50. The average advance is in the region of £115,000, which means the average spend on a vessel is around £180,000. This reflects the show trends that the higher end vessels are continuing to be popular.'

'The show continues to get better and better,' said Sunseeker MD Robert Braithwaite. 'It's a hugely important and successful worldwide show.'

'This year has been fantastic, with 21 Elan sailboats sold at the show compared to six sold last year,' said Julian Gowing MD of Premier Yacht Sales. 'We’ve experienced very strong sales and have been more active than before with customers contracting at the show.'