Its all systems go for Sail, Power and Watersports Show

In the wake of the Chancellor’s VAT reduction announcement on Monday, James Brooke, the Managing Director of the Sail, Power & Watersports Show which opens today Wednesday 26th November, is confident that this is absolutely the right move as far as his Show exhibitors are concerned and exhibitors have, in turn, been quick to praise the move.

Mike Williams of marine engine distributor E.P. Barrus said, “In my opinion it’s a small amount but if it encourages purchases at the Show I will be more than happy. Any small advantage to making a sale in the current climate is welcome.”

Gary Piercey of Gibbs Marine said, “Every little helps. With high value products such as ours, 2.5% is a great saving making this an even better time to buy. So a further £1200 saving on a £40k boat is more than welcome.”

Paul Heys of Key Yachting commented, “As Hamble-based importers of high quality yachts, the Darling discount will give an amazing boost to our Show. On the Grand Soleil 54, this relates to a saving of an amazing £12,500 which covers a great deal of electronics on board or indeed 12-month berthing on the French Riviera.”

The Show is being opened today by Katie Derham, the ITV newsreader and presenter, and she will be joined on stage by some well-known names from the world of sail, power and watersports.

James Brooke has been out on the floor checking out the exhibits including a 60ft whale, the Show’s largest exhibit! James was persuaded to carry out the full Pinocchio style 'walk through' tour and ended up at the 'bow'.

The whale, caught by a Norwegian fisherman in the 1950s, is now an interactive 'hands on' walkthrough exhibit and is expected to attract huge attention when the show opens at 10:00.

“We have a really great show lined up for the visitors,” says James Brooke. “The amazing collection of boats and general watersports kit for people to see is astonishing and it’s all under one roof in central London. It’s been really exciting watching the show emerge from nothing as Earls Court has turned from a massive empty space into a thriving maritime scene over the past few days.”

The Sail, Power & Watersports Show at Earls Court runs from Wednesday 26th November until Sunday 30 November.

Show opening times:

Wed 26 November - Thurs 27 November, 10:00 - 21:00hrs Fri 28 November - Sat 29 November, 10:00 - 19:00hrs Sun 30 November, 10:00 - 18:00hrs

Number of days to build up & dismantle the Show

• Build up takes 7 days/Break Down takes 3 days
• The Pool is filled first with water & boats and the remainder of boats & stands are brought in on a size basis…largest and heaviest first.

• Sail: Bavaria 47 / Power: Trader 42

• Sail: Bavaria 47 = £148,500 inc. VAT
• Power: Trader 42 = £363,000 inc. VAT

• 60ft Jonah the Whale – interactive; real, not stuffed!

• 6ft Tadpole from Heyland Marine

• YAK from Heyland Marine at £299 inc. VAT (oars & rollocks)

• The pool can be dropped to the following levels: 1.486metres, 2.083metres, 2.845metres and the deep end section only can go down to 4.064metres below floor level

• It takes 3 days and 4 nights to fill the pool and 24 hours to empty (slower if there is rainfall!)

• 2,250,000 gallons or 10,125,000 litres

• The pool was first used in 1937 when Earls Court opened for a swimming spectacular starring Johnny Weissmuller as ‘Tarzan’. It has also been used as a basement floor for the Motor Show, a giant bath and a floating restaurant.

• On average we can get 30 boats on the Pool but this obviously depends on the size of them - or as many as we can fit into 59.436 x 28.956 metres of space – this year we have 24 boats ranging from powerboats to sail ranging from 6ft to 47ft.

• 50,000*
  *There were around 35,000 visitors in 2007

For all the latest news and Show details log on to www.earlscourt2008.com