img6701One of Europe's premier boatshows, and a showcase for many boats making their world debuts, opens this Friday in Southampton England. The Southampton Boat Show has an array of attractions catering to boaters of all ages.

Complete show information is at www.southamptonboatshow.com. Boats.com will debut its European version at the show, we'll have regular updates and features on new boats and products throughout the two weeks of the show.

Some of the highlights include a collection of the James Bond Boats, a whitewater rapid ride, the boats.com "Try A Boat" demos, an adventure park area for children, a sailing simulator, and of course hundreds of boats and products, many of which will be making their world and/or European debut.

World's First Laser Simulator


Visitors will be able to sail at Southampton without even getting wet with this exciting Laser Simulator. The hull of the Olympic Laser single hander is mounted on a power driven articulated frame and linked to a plasma screen by a powerful computer. Jump on and in seconds you're off across the start line, hiking out Laser style, without touching a drop of water (unless you break into a sweat from the exertion). The Laser simulator gathers feedback via sensors connected to the tiller and mainsheet to provide instant control responses to hiking, tacking, gybing and sail trimming. View your progress sailing a virtual course on the plasma display screen.

Wind speed can be controlled and the power turned down to allow beginners to learn the basics without being thrown out of the boat. With coaching commentary from Olympic coaches visitors can learn the top boat handling skills of the stars.

There will be hot competition too. Sailors of all ages and sizes will be taking their best shot at beating the best time, including Olympic Gold medallist Ben Ainslie. Daily prizes to be won include the best male and best female in youth and adult categories.

World Debut for New Bavarias


Bavaria 32

Bavaria 32



Opal Marine will debut three new Bavaria's at the Southampton show - the Bavaria 32, Bavaria 44 and the 47 Aft Cockpit. The 32 and 44 are world premieres, the 47 makes its UK debut.

The Bavaria 32 is the smallest boat in the Bavaria line and will certainly appeal to families who've wanted Bavaria's trademark workmanship, safety and strength, but whose budgets and needs didn't fit the larger models.

And Jeanneau Has a New 32 Footer...


Another world debut will be Jeanneau's new Sun Odyssey 32, a spacious cruiser designed by Philippe Briand.

Son of a Beach Ball


Following on the enormous success of the 40.7 (both in regards to sales numbers and race results), Beneteau has turned again to the same design house -- Farr Yacht Design -- to create the new First 36.7 racer-cruiser. UK Sailors will get their first look at this new design this weekend, US sailors will see the boat in Annapolis.

J109 Makes UK Debut


J109

J109



JBoats' new J109 Racer-Cruiser will be unveiled by Hamble based Tangent Yachting. The first Jboat to be initially built in Europe, the boat made its world debut at La Rochelle earlier this month.

Another Competitive Forty Footer


Grand Soleil Yachts will show it's new Grand Soleil 40 for the first time in the UK. Built by Cantiere del Pardo in Italy in a newly expanded facility, the 40 is available in two hull construction configurations. The first boats were built on a female-mould with multiaxial glassfiber fabrics, hand laminated with vinylesther resins for the first coats. The 40 is now also available in a SCRIMP version, a patented resin infusion moulding technique developed by TPI Composites.

New Flagship for X-Yachts


The X-Yachts line, already thirteen models strong, has a new flagship in the X-73, which will sail in UK waters for the first time this week. This is the Danish builders first foray into the rarified atmosphere of maxi-yachts, but it's vast experience in both racing and cruising yachts, and the numerous awards they have won, bode well for this powerful yacht. The boat features twin engines and three wheel positions (twin cockpit and one pilothouse).

Prize Winning Hanse Yachts on Display


Hanse 311

Hanse 311



Hanse Yachts will be showing the new Hanse 311 for the first time at Southampton Boat Show, together with the Hanse 371 and the budget priced Hanse 301.

The Hanse 311 won the top award in the 30-33' category at the Boat of the Year awards at the Dusseldorf Boat Show, while the Hanse 371 and the 301 have both won the top prize in their categories in previous years.

Hunter US / Legend Debut Two New Models


The first Legend yachts built in the UK to a European specification will be making their debut at Southampton when Opal Marine launches the new bilge keeled Legend 306 and Legend 326. These yachts have been developed in response to a growing demand for a more European version of the designs, says Opal.

Bilge keels have been identified as an important factor for the European market and, as a result, boats built at the new Luhrs Marine manufacturing facility in Portland will be offered with a bilge keel option.

Changes to the US specification include a sail drive engine to replace the US shaft drive, and a teak cockpit option has been introduced along with a choice of hull colors.

New Three-Man Keelboat from Laser


Laser is making a move into the world of sports boat sailing. A new and exciting 21ft Laser prototype will be making appearances on the water at the Show.

The design team at Laser has selected Tony Castro, successful sports boat designer, to produce this three-man keelboat. The concept of the design is to produce a fast and exhilarating three-man keelboat with mainsail jib and asymmetric gennaker which will look and feel like a proper yacht. Stability is provided by a 290kg keel, with a clean uncluttered cockpit that gives the three crew members enthusiastic racing in comfort, without the aches of highly physical sailing.

The design team has not forgotten the option to cruise around estuaries and coastlines with the family onboard and this boat can be towed behind the average family minivan or light truck.

As with all Laser products, the new "sports boat" will be sailed as a class, to strict one design rules, but will also measure to the Sports boat rule for handicap regatta sailing. The finished product will be ready to tow away and race in early 2002, for approximately £12,000 ($18,000).