Southampton Boat Show - Friday and Sat 11th/12th Sept

Sharon from Churchouse had a problem. Simon was going to be at Goodwood, result of a present earlier in the year and she needed help on the stand. After my time at the London Boat Show earlier in the year I was keen to see the difference between the two shows so duly arrived on Friday morning at Gate A to be presented with my pass and start trying to help sell the dream.

The stand was right by the entrance, which appeared to be both good and not so good...sure people came in and wandered around the first area we were in, but  then they moved moved onto see the rest of the show and by the time they came back many must have been 'boated out'.

That didn't deter a steady stream of visitors over the two days I was there. The weather smiled upon us and the Red Arrows gave a great display. There were some very encouraging enquiries about boats and orders places for covers and other essentials.

Drascombe by Churchouse stand at Southampton

The overriding impression I got was the affection that the Drascombe range, particularly the Lugger, are held in by so many people. So many people came up who had had one, still have one, plan to downsize back to one, grandparents had one, father had one.... the stories went on.

I met the author Sam Llewellyn who dropped by to see Sharon, as well as Catherine Jackson and Jonathon Savill from the new magazine Classic Sailor .

Classic Sailor - a new magazine - wish them well

I had a good look around the new Cornish Shrimper 21, shown round by Ian, the owner of a 21 sail number 007. It looks a lovely boat and I was amazed at how roomy and spacious it was, in spite of a relatively small increase in size from the Shrimper 19. Resoling the kids plimsolls will have to go on hold to afford the asking price though...nice to dream. The other nice thing was to discover he was a reader of this blog,  so cheers Ian...enjoy your boat...

Dining out was an experience especially with Chris and Fiona from Jeckells sails when we visited TGI's with Sharon...but for her sake we won't go there.....

Glad I did the early days...handed over to Stewart Brown for Sunday,  .. and Simon is back for the rest of the week but looking at the weather not sure it's going to be much fun, but hope the sales pick up and the cheque books come out.