TV star David Dimbleby reveals why he's an Old Gaffer at heart plus much more
There have been product
launches galore on the third day of the London Boat Show 2013.
This year’s show is all
in one area at the ExCel centre, instead of being spread across two
halls.
Big events and
launches that have been happening today include a live link with the
Vendee Globe sailor Mike Golding on the Musto stand and David
Dimbleby’s celebrity presence at the Old Gaffers Association (OGA) stand.
The OGA has launched a year of national sailing events in celebration of its 50th anniversary.
The television star,
who has been an ‘Old Gaffer’ for 35 years, said: ‘The gaff rig is
obviously not the most efficient, fastest, the most modern or up to
date kind of sailing with all the latest gadgets.
“But there’s something
much more profound about the aesthetics, people like the sheer
pleasure of the look of the gaff, which is infinitely superior to any
other boat.
“It’s the look of the
boat and the feel of it.
‘But the secondary thing, what brought me to
join – at a boat show very like this – is I had a growing family
and I wanted to take them sailing.’
He added: ‘The size of
the boat and complexity of sailing it means no child on board need
get sick because they’re all too busy, which is great.’
The OGA presented Mr Dimbleby with a smock top emblazened with their anniversary logo and his 28ft boat’s name ‘Rocket’.
Cartoonist and the OGA’s last surviving founder member Mike Peyton also made a guest appearance.
Today the public have been bustling
through the doors once again, after a busy opening on Saturday and then a quieter day yesterday.
In the luxury brands
areas, the Flying Fish Hovercraft unveiled its new Platinum Black
model with glittering silver and black bodywork.
The vessel, which will
set you back £17,200, excluding VAT, can travel over water, sandy
beaches, mudflats and ice but has been designed specifically as a
superyacht tender.
Talking of superyachts,
Sunseeker International has held the world debut of its new Predator
68 luxury cruiser and smaller yet still impressive San Remo model.
Joining to the newest
additions to the Sunseeker range is the 115 Sport Yacht, outside on
the water.
Other big launch events included Hempel’s new
product launch of SilicOne silicone fouling release, while Versadock International held the international launch of a revoluntionary dry sailing system for sport
boats and sailing boats.
And the Royal Yachting Association’s (RYA) Active Marina, in conjunction with Which Marina?, have been inviting members of the public to take part in workshops and find out more about the scheme.
A total of 47 marinas across the country have signed up to be Active Marina members and to offer their customers the chance to take part in refresher courses on all aspects of boating, group cruises and social events.
Among the new additions
to the London Boat Show 2013 is Sussex Yacht Boatyard, which is exhibiting at its
very first boat show.
One of the partners
Matt Hoben said: ‘It’s quite a big deal for us.
‘We’ve just opened a
new boatyard, Newhaven Boatyard, as part of the regeneration of
Newhaven.
‘We’re quite a new
business which is why we’re here, trying to show people what we do.’
There are a number of
new boats at the show that didn’t get into Practical Boat Owner’s
previous issue.
For example the Cornish
Crabber’s new Adventure range has Bermudan rigs rather than gaff
rigs.
The Adventure 22 has
got a new deck as well, plus the offer of an outboard engine.
We’ll feature a full round up in the next edition of PBO.
Don’t forget you can
find PBO’s stand at C162, where we have subscription show offers and gifts.
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