Attendance up at RYA Volvo Dinghy Show
Olympic gold medallist Paul Goodison signs autographs for the visitors - photo: RYA
DINGHY SHOW: The RYA Volvo Dinghy Show, in association with Yachts and Yachting and Suzuki, attracted 9,000 dinghy enthusiasts - 2% up on last year’s figures, says the RYA.
The visitors came to Alexandra Palace in London, arriving from across the country and as far afield as India and America.
‘The halls were jam packed on Saturday, but attendance was down a bit on Sunday,’ commented show manager Paul Bayliss. ‘But with sunshine and good wind Sunday it was a great day to go sailing.’
Being the only show in the world dedicated to dinghy sailing the Alexandra Palace show is a must for all dinghy sailors and enthusiasts. Throughout the weekend visitors had the chance to check out new boats, redesigned boats, kit, gear, books and much more, as well as pick up some top tips from some of the very best dinghy sailing and windsurfing experts around.
Visitors also had the chance to mingle and get up close and personal with some of the sport’s elite sailors including double Olympic gold medallist Sarah Gosling, Team Volvo for life sailors Olympic gold medallist Paul Goodison, Paralympian Helena Lucas and RS:X windsurfing champion Nick Dempsey, as well as Skandia Team GBR’s Penny Clark and Vendée Globe skipper Mike Golding.
‘This has been the best dinghy show I have seen yet. I’ve loved it. Some brilliant boats and a great buzz,’ commented Mark Jardine, editor of Yachts and Yachting Online.
Main stage talks attracted big crowds as did the more hands-on coaching sessions where visitors got to experience everything from rolling around on a fitness ball to improve core stability, to the always popular rig tuning session.
Younger visitors whizzed around the show collecting diamonds in the Diamond Treasure Hunt and built some great racers in the Holt Blow Boat Challenge.
One of the show’s younger visitors, Gabe, 10 from West Lancs Yacht Club said: ‘The whole show was all good! I had lots of fun doing the treasure hunt. I hope mum brings us back next year.’
The show was also a great success for the exhibiting sailing clubs, associations and retailers.
‘We had a wide range of visitors to our stand and not just dinghy sailors. It was great to have people showing interest in our club was well as meeting the other local clubs exhibiting at the show. We have had some very good discussions with like-minded people, including trade and possible sponsors,’ explained Meryl Deane, Chichester Yacht Club, Dinghy Committee.
‘The show was been an outstanding success,’ said Allen Brothers’ MD Kim Allen. ‘We’ve had great visitor quantities and have had lots of fun as well.’
‘We’ve been delighted with the number of people visiting the show this year and helping us make the show’s 60th birthday a huge success,’ said Mr Bayliss. ‘Thanks to title sponsor Volvo and supporting sponsors Yachts & Yachting and Suzuki. We’re now looking to 2012 when we hope to make the show even bigger and better.’
Images for this article - click to enlarge
Unless otherwise stated, all images copyright © Mercator Media 2012. This does not exclude the owner's assertion of copyright over the material.
