Southampton Boat Show Returns For 46th Year

12 September 2014, 07:18

110,000 people will be heading to the 46th PSP Southampton Boat Show over the next ten days.

It'll be officially opened in Mayflower Park later this morning (Friday 12 September).

For the past three months, 50 contractors have been building the biggest temporary marina in Europe. More than 330 boats will be on display.

This year there's also a 35 metre high big wheel they've called the 'Boatshow Eye'. It will have family sized capsules to give a spectacular 360 degree panoramic view of the Show and Marina.

Celebrities including Eddie Jordan, Matt Baker and Claudia Winkleman are expected to go along, as well as sailors like Sir Ben Ainslie and Iain Percy.

Disabled Isle of Wight teenager Natasha Lambert will also be honoured at the show, after completing her Sea and Summit Challenge.

The Battle of the Classes Pursuit Race, in association with YachtsandYachting.com, SailRacer and Active Nation, will be a part of the Guinness World record attempt Bart's Bash. The winner of the event will win an RS Tera.

Following the Pursuit Race format, the first race will start at 1pm on 21 September. Competitors will launch from the nearby Southampton Water Activities Centre and will be competing on a course laid just off the boat show marina. Each class will be represented by just two boats so standards will be high with each class competing to show who is best.

The Show runs until 21 September.