National Boat Shows (NBS) today unveiled exciting plans for the Main Stage – Powered by Fairline at the 55th London International Boat Show – London’s largest Boat Show – taking place from 9-18 January 2009.
Following the huge success at the 2008 Show, the Main Stage – Powered by Fairline is set to be the jewel in the Show’s crown, playing host to an engaging schedule of marine themed entertainment, catwalk fashions, seminars and activities each day.
Hot on the heels of 2008’s popular ‘Sea Queen Stage Show’, the eagerly anticipated sequel, ‘A Mermaid’s Tale’, will offer a visual feast of world class live performance, set to a high energy musical score which is sure to capture the imagination of audiences of all ages.
The underwater spectacular, which features mermaids and other mythical sea creatures, reaches an impressive crescendo with the Russian Bar performance; an extreme acrobatics act combined with stunning choreography - a sight simply not to be missed!
The spotlight will continue to shine on the stage as models regularly take to the Show’s catwalk to strut their stuff, demonstrating the latest designs in marine leisure and developments in offshore clothing. The runway will see top names and brands in the industry; including Henri Lloyd, Helly Hansen, Musto, RRD and Gill. New to the Show this year and adding a touch of sparkle to events will be luxury swimwear featuring Elisabeth Hurley Beach, and evening wear brands which will be showcased daily on the stage.
None of the Show’s spectacle will be lost as Britain’s favourite boating legends ‘tread the boards’ offering inspirational accounts of their personal experiences. Those interested in getting up close and personal with the likes of Dame Ellen MacArthur and Sir Keith Mills should check out the stage schedule on arrival at the Show.
Not forgetting the recent return from Beijing of our water based Olympic heroes, the Show’s daily ‘Going for Gold’ seminars will offer an insight into the mechanics behind making a successful team. Representatives from Skandia Team GBR will also be taking to the stage to offer a sneak preview of their preparations for London 2012.
The highs and lows of these heroes will be reflected in The Review – an engaging, retrospective film capturing all the excitement, activity and drama from the boating world in 2008. Packed full of clips, images and anecdotes this fast paced and punchy montage is sure to capture the imagination of visitors and create a real buzz around the stage area. A mixture of live presentation and interviews, video footage and celebrity interviews will take visitors on a journey covering all facets of boating from the year gone by.
Inspiring sailors and boating enthusiasts of the future, ‘Life as a…’ is a daily feature intended to give a flavour of the breadth of exciting, challenging and not to mention vital occupations that fall under the marine industry banner. Show visitors will learn what Life is like… for a range of water based occupations from coastguard helicopter pilots to RNLI crew members, the river police, yachting instructors and even a Royal Navy captain. We’ll also be hearing from those behind the scenes, including a representative from Fairline.
A revolving schedule of fun for all the family on the stage includes: SeaSkool in association with the MCA – a friendly and accessible introduction to the boating and marine industry; MCA’s educational Sailing Close To The Wind show and the announcement of NBS’ much coveted Design A Sail competition are all sure to keep kids engaged.
Andrew Williams, Managing Director of National Boat Shows, comments: “We know the Main Stage – Powered by Fairline is a huge draw for our visitors and one which provides a great focal point for the Show. It’s also a fantastic platform for our exhibitors providing them with a vehicle to announce their latest product launches and company news to an engaged and captive audience. We’re confident that the thought and planning that has gone into this year’s programme of activities will contribute to an enhanced visitor experience leaving them enthused and eager to learn more about the boating and marine industry.”
Supporting the Main Stage and with an enhanced stand, Fairline Boats – recent winner of a Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2008 – will again have a significant presence at the Show this year with strong lifestyle representation.
Emma Hamilton, Events, Retail and PR Management for Fairline comments, “The Main Stage – Powered by Fairline featured at both Southampton and last year’s London Shows with great success and we are delighted to continue our support and be associated with the feature at the London International Boat Show 2009. We are also exhibiting with our stand in the South Hall and will be bringing the latest models from the Fairline range, including the Squadron 70 which will be making her debut at the Show.”
Visit www.londonboatshow.com for the latest news on all the Show’s features and attractions. Visitors can use the website to book tickets online, or they can call the ticket hotline 0870 060 0246.