A BOAT show which buoys up the local economy to the tune of millions of pounds will be sailing back to Conwy in 2017.
ALL WALES BOAT SHOW, Pictured at Conwy Marina are Jon Roberts, Davina Carey-Evans and Julia Bartholomew.
The glittering All Wales Boat Show is heading back to Conwy Quays Marina for its fourth event next year, bringing with it a fleet of waterborne attractions and activities.
The prestigious event will showcase an array of craft for sale ranging from the smallest rowing boats to £1 million super yachts.
And organiser Davina Carey-Evans says the show, being held over the weekend of June 9-11, promises to be bigger and better than ever thanks to the strong support she’s had from a new group of sailing and water sports enthusiasts in putting it all together.
Davina, whose event management company Sbarc is once again the guiding force behind the show, which is taking a break this year after being held in Pwllheli last year.
It’s estimated the show creates a £2.5 million economic bonanza for the region.
Davina said: “We are holding the show to reflect the ongoing growth in the marine leisure sector and by staging the next event in 2017 we are giving ourselves more time which is allowing us to secure more support, space, sponsors and exhibitors.
“Because of its prime position on the coast it’s also the gateway to the waterborne leisure market across a wide area of Wales, the north west of England, the Isle of Man, Ireland and Scotland.
“The show has a proud record of generating millions of pounds for the economy of North Wales and the next boat show in 2017 will be no exception.
“We are building on the many thousands of previous and new visitors that come to the show from Wales and across the border in England.
“The display of boats is growing every year and this time we’ll have over 100 boats on the water to show and delight our visitors.
“We will also have all things connected with water in the way of marine equipment, marine conservation, marine heritage, water safety and so much more.
“Exhibitors already come from across the UK and Ireland for the event.
“The next show will also be about fun, out in the quay, the town and throughout the weekend we’ll have plenty of entertainment, watersport displays, challenges and have-a-go sessions where the public get the chance to try out some of these fabulous activities for themselves, we’re putting out a call out to all suppliers to register their interest at [email protected]
Davina added: “What has provided a fantastic boost for this show next year is the support we’ve had right from the start of planning process from the newly-formed Conwy Sailing and Watersports Group which covers a wide range of organisations in the sector.
“They have been working hard on our behalf with local tourism bodies and business enterprises to help bring back the show to Conwy by taking a major role in its organisation.
“This has been really beneficial in terms of guiding what we do and helping us to grow, so I’d like to say how grateful I am for this.”
Julia Bartholomew, chair of the Conwy Sailing and Watersports Group, said: “At our meeting late last year we resolved to get back the show and do all we could to help with its organisation.
“We represent many organisations such as paddle boarding, jet ski-ing, sail and powerboating as well as organisations such as the RNLI and the Sea Cadets with which we have put the organisers in touch.
Another key backer of the 2017 All Wales Boat Show is Jon Roberts, area manager for Quay Marinas Ltd, operators of Conwy Quays and Deganwy Quay Marinas.
He said: “Conwy Quay Marina and Conwy River are the base for around 1,200 vessels already generating £5 million for the local economy
“So it’s the perfect location for the show which we are delighted to be playing host because of the diversity of attractions it will offer, giving us the opportunity to open our doors and show the World how North Wales is the tourism hidden gem for marine leisure plus of course the return on investment it will put into the economy of Wales.”
