Thousands of sea lovers from across the UK will be flocking to Conwy on Friday (May 30) for the biggest boat show in Wales.
It’s hoped the three-day All-Wales Boat Show at Conwy Marina will help establish the area as one of the best places in the world to go sailing.
Last year’s show generated £1 million for the regional economy and organisers are confident it will do even better this time.
Sunseeker – whose cruisers have featured prominently in several Bond movie blockbusters – are returning with an even bigger vessel.
A number of boats will be on show, names such as Fairline Wales, Hanse, Jeanneau, Beneteaeu, Robalo, Chapparal, Quicksilver and Bayliner, plus over 100 used boats.
Meanwhile, there will be luxury cars from Rolls Royce, Bentley and McLaren and even a helicopter.
At the other end of the spectrum, there will be coracles and visitors will be challenged to have a go at breaking the world record for paddling a bath-tub and potentially earn themselves a place in the Guinness Book of Records.
Another highlight this year will be a spectacular new type of watersport that’s set to make a big splash in Conwy.
The company that brought flyboarding – already tried by Hollywood stars like Leonardo DeCaprio, Tom Cruise and Vin Diesel – to the UK will be showcasing the adrenalin-fuelled craze for the first time at the All Wales Boat Show.
A flyboard is a type of water jetpack connected by a long hose to a powerful jet-ski through which gallons of water are pumped at high pressure.
Water is shot out through jet nozzles beneath the feet of the rider who can be lifted up to 15 metres in the air. By using two hand jets the rider can change the direction of their flight.
It’s been described as flying like a bird while swimming like a dolphin and more accomplished flyboarders can go on to perform manoeuvres like spins, back-flips and dives.
The manager of Conwy Marina is delighted to be playing host to the largest event that the stunning waterside venue has ever staged.
Jon Roberts believes the All Wales Boat Show will help underline the marina’s position on the UK’s marine leisure industry map.
Jon, who is area manager for Quay Marinas the company that runs both Conwy and Deganwy Marinas, said: “The 2014 All Wales Boat show is going to grow into a huge event.
“Without doubt it will be by far the biggest show of its type we’ve ever hosted at Conwy Marina. It’s on a completely different scale to anything we have had here in the past.
“There are going to be over 100 exhibitors showing off a huge variety of goods and services and we’re expecting people to come flocking here from across a wide area. Down at the Harbour we have the Boat Jumble, a great gateway to the Show.
“We’ll not only have people coming from north and mid Wales, the north west of England and the Midlands but with the kind of attractions on offer we’re also expecting people who usually only go to the big boat shows in the south of England like London and Southampton. A number from Scotland and Ireland – we know that we have to work together we share the Irish Sea
“It’s really going to underline Conwy Marina’s place on the UK map.
“The kind of visitors we’re expecting are not just those who are already into boating and other water leisure pursuits but also those who are probably just interested at the moment and maybe thinking of getting involved.”
He added: “This is the second year of the All Wales Boat Show and the marina has been closely involved in planning things with Davina Carey-Evans, of show organisers Sbarc, right from the start.
“We’ll have a stunning array of craft moored in the marina from real top-end cruisers of the kind costing around a quarter of a million pounds to little hop-on-and-go boats of about 18 feet. There really will be something for everyone,” he explained.
On shore-side at the show for the three days will be a wide and diverse range of exhibitors from the marine leisure industry and related clothing and food businesses.
Also exhibiting will be a range of organisations, including jet-ski clubs, the Welsh Yachting Association and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
The show is being billed as a Celebration of Welsh Coast Life and the aim is to tap into the huge potential of the marine leisure industry which already pumps around £200 million into the Welsh economy every year.
Deputy Minister Ken Skates attended last year and is looking forward to making a return visit to open this year’s show.
He said: “The fact that the inaugural event generated £1 million worth of regional business demonstrates the vast potential of the marine industry in terms of boosting the economy.
“This area in particular has some real advantages which I call the three big Cs – the cost of sailing is less, it has a coastline you would struggle to find better anywhere and the clarity of its water.
“The All-Wales Boat Show is the perfect showcase for all these advantages and I am delighted I have been invited back this year.
“The Welsh Government is determined to see the marine leisure industry grow and that coastal communities benefit from this expanding market.”
For more information go to www.allwalesboatshow.com
