Early-bird bookings open for British Motor Yacht Show 2025
Before the dust has even settled on what organisers are calling a ‘resounding success’, bookings for next year’s British Motor Yacht Show have already opened with the dates revealed as 15 – 18 May.
“We are proud to have hosted our largest show to date, welcoming so many British and international boat brands to Swanwick Marina,” says Graham Bristowe, marina manager at Premier Marinas Swanwick.
This year saw over 80 boats from more than 50 brands, led by the show’s partners Fairline, Sunseeker and Princess Motor Yachts. The show saw the British premiere of the Axopar XC 29 and the Pardo GT 52, alongside Candela, sustainably made Virtue Yachts, Spanish boatbuilder Rodman, adventure boat brand XO Crossover, and Italian yacht brand Sanlorenzo UK.
“It was wonderful to see the marina bustling with serious motor boat enthusiasts engaging with exhibitors and enjoying the vibrant atmosphere,” says Bristowe.
James Barke, MD of Boats.co.uk, representing Fairline Yachts at the show with Approved Boats, says this year’s show was incredibly successful. “We’ve received fantastic feedback and sales from customers especially on the new Fairline Squadron 58 and Targa 40.”
Sunseeker‘s London group sales director, Christopher Head, felt it was a privilege to showcase seven vessels at the show. And he says he met several new customers. “The enthusiasm and interest from attendees was wonderful to witness.”
Event organisers, Fairline, Premier Marinas, Princess Motor Yachts and Sunseeker are now promoting the opportunity for exhibitors to secure early bird booking prices.
“The British Motor Yacht Show continues to go from strength to strength,” says Roger Lipman of Princess Motor Yacht Sales.
You wonder how long it will be before some of the big boys pull out of Southampton Boat Show?
With a dwindling number of small boat builders going to SBS, a desire to promote add on activities such as late opening and club nights to attract the masses and bolster numbers the question has to be asked – has BM and the event lost its way and forgotten main purpose of supporting the marine trade.
With only one event a year, the significant staffing cost all year round it must becoming harder to justify the wage bill. No other event either employs as many full time staff or runs an event over such a protracted period. In difficult trading conditions the stark reality is that two weeks of standing around at Southampton is not a cost effective option for many