The London International Boat Show celebrates its 55th year 9th - 18th January 2009

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The London International Boat Show returns to ExCeL from 9-18 January 2009, celebrating 55 years of bringing the best of boating to the nation’s capital.

Come along and enjoy the thrill of being onboard one of the hundreds of fascinating boats on display, from historic replica vessels to the latest in marine technology. With over 500 exhibitors showcasing power and sail boats, dinghies, deck equipment, charter holidays, sailing courses and more, the Show will welcome over 130,000 people and promises to offer something for enthusiasts and first time visitors alike.

The Main Stage – Powered by Fairline
Following last year’s success The Main Stage - Powered by Fairline will return to the 2009 Show. Visitors will be dazzled by theatrical shows, marine inspired catwalk collections, engaging seminars and much more running throughout each day.

A Mermaid’s Tale
The sequel to last year’s star attraction of the Sea Queen Stage Show will once again provide the main draw to the stage, amazing visitors with a stunning ‘underwater’ show. An aerial display, extreme acrobatics, dance and music will all tell the magical and highly memorable ‘A Mermaid’s Tale’. The Show builds towards the finale with a breath-taking Russian Bar performance: an extreme acrobatics act combined with stunning choreography in which two men propel the female flyer seven metres up into the air.

Fashion Shows
The latest designs in marine leisure and developments in offshore clothing will feature from some of the top names and brands in the industry including: Henri Lloyd, Helly Hansen, Musto, Gill and Quba. To add a touch of sparkle to the Show, luxury swimwear and evening brands will also be showcased.

Boating Heroes
Get up close and personal with some of Britain’s boating heroes. This show will give an overview of the sailing experiences of some of our more high profile boating personalities as well as those that simply have an inspirational story to tell. Confirmed to date are Dame Ellen MacArthur, Sir Keith Mills, Geoff Holt, Katie Miller, Dave Brooks and Adrian Flanagan.

Life As A…
Life as a… is intended to give a flavour of the day-to-day experiences of people employed within the marine industry. Examples range from a day in the life of a coastguard helicopter pilot, RNLI crew member, river police officer, through to a Royal Navy captain and even a yachting instructor.

The Review 2008
The Review will look back at the past 12 months in the boating calendar, including all facets of boating in the UK. This fast paced, punchy show will be a mixture of live presentation and interviews, video footage and celebrity appearances and interviews capturing the excitement and drama on the water in 2008.

SeaSkool
The Show is keen to encourage visitors of all ages to get involved in boating and SeaSkool is specifically aimed at school children and their families. Engaging visuals and live demonstrations will provide an educational yet fun introduction to the boating and marine industry.

Holiday Show
The plethora of fantastic boating holidays on the market will be brought to life with the Holiday Show feature; an interactive show covering inland, coastal and international holiday options that promises to be inspirational, exciting and educational.

Design a Sail
For the more creative types, don’t miss the winning designs from the Design a Sail competition create a wave of colour on a selection of Topper dinghies. This new initiative from National Boat Shows (NBS) will come to a climax at the Show with the successful sails hoisted high on display and the overall winner announced on The Main Stage – Powered by Fairline.

Photographic Competition – in association with All at Sea
Similarly, the successful entrants of our nationwide photography search - chosen for their ability to capture a fantastic boating occasion - will be collated to form an attractive exhibition and the overall winner will be announced.

Celebrating our Heroes
It has been a truly exceptional year for our boating heroes and this feature at the Show will reflect just that. There will be an in depth look at our water based Olympians, including a review of the mechanics necessary to create a successful team as well as looking ahead towards 2012 and the opportunities for continued success.

Deck Games - in association with Yachts & Yachting
Get active! Test your marine skills against friends and family in the ever popular interactive Deck Games zone. This year the feature will return with a splash of difference, literally! Be sure not to miss the brand new indoor pool.

Colour to your hearts content with International Paints or get active with Micro Magic with their on-water model yacht racing. On display will be a fleet of ‘Micro Magic’ radio controlled yachts that will compete throughout the week in match races and regattas. Outside of this the yachts will be available throughout the 10 days of the Show for you to enjoy.

Compete against each other with the Water Rowers UK in our interactive games area. On display will be the ‘new’ Oartec the unique rowing machine that takes you from land to water. Or, for additional information on how to get involved in one of the oldest and most diverse sports in the world, speak to one of our experts from the Amateur Rowing Association.

Classic Boat - in association with Classic Boat, Old Pulteney and International Paints
Ever popular with visitors, the area will provide an opportunity to experience the atmosphere of a friendly working boatyard; watch, learn and talk to experts about classic boats and find out about the traditional skills involved in their restoration.

The boats on display this year include a gorgeous four-berth gaff rigged cutter, a pretty little trailer-sailing ketch, and a majestically sleek Thames launch. Look over the shoulders of renowned marine artists as they paint these beautiful boats on display.

The Classic Boat feature will once again be supporting the ‘Cutty Sark’ conservation project. See how selected artefacts from the famous tea clipper ‘Cutty Sark’ that were badly damaged by fire in 2006 are being brought back to life using a mix of cutting-edge science and time-honoured skills.

Come On Board
Following its launch at last year’s Show in London, the successful Come on Board initiative will return in January. Come on Board is a scheme designed to enhance the overall visitor experience, and encourages people to interact more with exhibitors who are willing and eager to offer expert advice and introduce visitors to their Show offering.

All exhibitors taking part in the Come on Board scheme will visibly display the logo, indicating to visitors they can find out more about their products or climb aboard their boats at the Show.

Marina on the Royal Victoria Dock
The Royal Victoria Dock will feature some of the largest exhibitor boats in production which cannot physically fit through the doors of the ExCeL building, as well as a dedicated outside exhibition space featuring a number of inland craft. As with last year, manufacturers from the inland waterway industry will be showcasing both narrow and wide-beam boats at the west end of the dock.

Navy Vessel
Since 2004, when the Show moved to ExCeL in London’s Docklands, the Royal Navy has worked closely with National Boat Shows to bring a number of frigates and destroyers to the Show. The popularity of these Royal Navy vessels is demonstrated every year with approximately 25,000 visitors climbing aboard and exploring the ship throughout the 10 days of the Show.

Sailing Regatta
The London International Boat Show sailing regatta entertains crowds throughout the Show on the Royal Victoria Dock. Thundercat demonstrations and the Yachts & Yachting Battle of the Classes: Pursuits Race is just some of the action not to be missed.

Bars & Restaurants
When you need to take the weight off your feet and take in the Show at a more leisurely pace head over to one of the numerous hospitality areas for a bit of light refreshment.

Enjoy a Guinness at the Black & White Bar, now serving a selection of drinks, or our special Clubs & Associations Bar as well as the popular Sunseeker Champagne Bar.

Kid’s Discovery Trail
For the family discover the World of Water and get active with the Kid’s Discovery Trail: a fantastic map that will help you navigate the Show in a fun way!

Tickets
To book tickets simply call the ticket hotline on 0844 209 0333 or book online at www.londonboatshow.com. Also visit the website for the latest information on features and attractions, confirmed exhibitors and product launches that will be taking place at the Show as well as all the information you’ll need to plan your day out.

Kids Go Free
Visitors can once again make the most of the successful ‘Kids Go Free’ promotion, where children aged 15 or under get free admission – provided they are with a paying adult.

Great value for money – the Combi-Ticket
Visitors can also enjoy great value for money if they want to spend two full days at the London International Boat Show. Available via the ticket hotline or on the door, this great “combination” ticket deal gives visitors the freedom to spend longer exploring London’s largest annual Show. The combi-ticket deal costs just £20 in advance or £25 on the door.

Upgrade your ticket and come and see us on Press & Public Day
The anticipation this year is high as the Show promises a number of international launches from some very big names. You'll also be first to see a number of innovative new products from across the globe through our hundreds of exhibiting companies. In addition to the launches, also watch the Show’s Official Opening at 11am.

Discount tickets and more information:

To buy tickets for 20% off for the London show in January , simply call the ticket hotline on 0844 209 0333 or book online at www.londonboatshow.com

armed with the quote ‘BSO’ to claim your discount!

Also visit the website for the latest updates on features and attractions, confirmed exhibitors, product launches that will be taking place at the Show and all the information you’ll need to plan your day.