Boat show sunk by lack of water

Published on Friday 8 July 2005 01:49

A TOP-class annual boat show has been postponed until next spring because the organisers believed the event did not involve enough water.

The Scottish Boat Show, now in its third year, would not have provided sufficient opportunities to mess about in boats, they said.

British Waterways, which runs the event at the Falkirk Wheel Millennium Link, in Stirlingshire, put back the event in order to create a "first-class" show for 2006.

The event, which began in 2003, and is established on the international calendar, should have taken place next month.

But following a consultation on the results of a survey of boat owners in the UK, British Waterways (BW) decided to call it off because it lacked water-borne activities.

The survey had revealed that visitors to boat shows liked to mess about in boats. And the respondents added that the greatest influence on their decision to buy a boat was based on their initial experiences "on the water".

A BW spokesman said: "With this in mind, and considering the key aim of the Scottish Boat Show is to introduce the public to the delights of boating, we are now looking at an event [in 2006] that will allow visitors to get on to the water."

He confirmed: "To ensure the show continues to build on its reputation as a top-class boating event, a decision has now been taken to reschedule the show, originally planned for August, to a date in spring 2006.

"This will allow an appropriate period of time to prepare a first-class event."

The event opened with a bang in 2003, attracting nearly 30,000 people, but last year visitor numbers were down at the show, which presented yachts, powerboats, "indestructible" and "unsinkable" craft, fibre- glass motorboats, wooden boats, coastal and canal cruisers, and canoes.

Since it began, the Scottish Boat Show has prided itself on providing one of the best events of its kind in Europe for canal, inshore and offshore sailors.

A source close to the event said: "It was felt that it was time for a rethink on what the show was supposed to be all about.

"The primary job of the show is to raise awareness of the opportunities on the water and the best way to do that is, of course, by getting people on to the water.

"The planning process [for next year] will try to address that issue by changing the thrust of the show. By postponing this year, it allows a change in format and more directly involved waterborne pursuits."

Richard Millar, the service and business development manager at British Waterways Scotland, said: "The newly re-opened lowland canals are proving hugely popular with visitors, although there is still considerable work to be done to introduce the public to the delights of inland boating.

"There may be fewer boats on the lowland waterways than on the English canals, but the number is growing all the time and I have no doubt that the redesigned boat show will help raise awareness of the fantastic boating opportunities.

"I believe that as interest levels continue, the true potential of the waterways will be realised through the creation of a range of related business opportunities to support this increased activity."

A spokeswoman for the Royal Yacht Association said: "We have always supported the event and found it a valuable experience. We're disappointed, but look forward to next year."