The release goes on to say the show saw an 18% increase in visitor attendance over last year, with 41,300 attending. Exhibitors, however, seem to suggest the attendance was again lower than hoped for.

But Mr Brooke insists: ‘Many millions of pounds worth of business has been done over five days under one roof and the show has provided a successful trading platform for its exhibitors – you couldn’t ask for better than that right now.’

This has been perfectly timed and exhibitors have been creating leads that will help them realise their trading expectations into 2009, Mr Brooke added.

Next year’s show dates were announced on the first day of the show as 25 to 29 November, 2009.

Among the sales reported are Imperial Motor Yachts, specialists in sourcing some of the finest motor yachts in the world, including Avantgarde Yachts, Johnson and van der Valk, which says it had an extremely lucrative week.

Michael Miller, the company's managing director, said at the close of business: ‘We are delighted, particularly with the fact we've had a cold client who has come on the stand and enquired about our range of Dutch bespoke motoryachts. He has signed a letter of intent, pre-Christmas, to finalise his specification on his 19m van der Valk.’

Hartley Laminates, which produces the Osprey, Gul, Wayfarer, Wanderer, Supernova and the Optimist says it’s the fastest growing boatbuilder in the UK and sold eight boats today.

Scorpion RIBs MD Patrick Byrne says he is quietly confident that sales of two boats will be finalised in the next few weeks.

Paul Bertie, MD of Cowes-based Ocean World said: ‘We’ve picked up about 25 new customers which is far and away the best return we’ve had this year whilst exhibiting at a show, and we’ll definitely be back next year. We're really happy.’

See the January issue of BB for our show review by Peter Poland.