M
ore than 110,000 people
flocked to Britain’s biggest
boating festival – less than last
year’s footfall of more than
112,000 people across 10 days,
although exhibitors reported
increased sales.
Many companies reported an
increase on last year’s figures at
the 2015 Southampton Boat Show,
including multi-million pound
deals. Some serious marine
business was conducted, with
contracts between the marine
divisions of companies such
as Rolls-Royce and Sunseeker
International being signed. A total
of 23 boats made their world debut
and more than 330 sailboats and
powerboats were exhibited at the
purpose-built marina. The Red
Arrows provided visitors with a
show-stopping display on the first
weekend, and celebrity guests
included Sir Robin Knox-Johnston,
Olympian Annie Lush and F
presenter Suzi Perry.
Murray Ellis, managing director
of British Marine Boat Shows, said:
‘Our attractions have been very
popular this year with over 18,
Greece and
Turkey: the
Migrant
Situation
N
oonsite.com has
published some useful
advice from the RCC Pilotage
Foundation to cruisers sailing
in the waters between Greece
and Turkey.
There are roughly 2.5 million
refugees from Syria in Turkey,
and many of these have
travelled to the Aegean coast
hoping to be able to cross to
Greece and then to Europe. The
Area Commander of the Turkish
Coastguard says: ‘Attempts to
exit Turkey and enter Greece
without going through the
proper channels is an illegal
activity. If any vessel takes on
board any such person then that
vessel is itself acting illegally.
Great care is therefore needed
by any vessel which is in the
vicinity of vessels which may
have migrants aboard. There is
nightly traffic of migrants trying
to get to Greece from Turkey.’
There is a greatly increased
level of activity by the Turkish
Coastguard and the Turkish
Navy in the channels between
Turkey and the Greek Islands.
Small craft are liable to be
stopped and inspected;
foreign-registered recreational
yachts tend to be recognised as
such and left alone, maybe
subject to a radio check. The
easiest way to report an incident
may be to phone a marina and
pass the buck to them. Mobile
phone coverage is excellent
throughout Turkey, and marinas
normally answer and have
English speakers readily
available. Alternatively, the
quickest way may be to phone
158, which would be connected
directly to the coastguard.
It is no longer possible to slip
between Greece and Turkey
without formally clearing out and
in, which can be expensive and
time-consuming. It is best to stay
on one side or the other until you
have to cross over. In Turkey,
where regulations are more
strictly applied than in Greece,
yacht owners clearing in or out
are expected to use a registered
agent, with concomitant
additional costs. It is suggested
that Didim is avoided as a port of
entry: there are no officials on
site, it is slow and expensive.Second annual Bart’s Bash
Visitor numbers down but sales up
at the 2015 Southampton Boat Show
The Red Arrows’ show-stopping display at the 2015 Southampton Boat Show
visits to our tall ship, the Earl of
Pembroke, 5,300 rides on the
Honda Boat Show Eye and
over 27,000 visitors to the show’s
very own aquarium.’
The PBO Project Boat Hantu Biru
was one of the show feature boats,
with visitors lining up to enter a
prize draw competition to win the
fully-restored Snapdragon 23yacht. Jean Louis Caillerie travelled
to Southampton from Brittany just
to see the PBO Project Boat. He
said: ‘I came across the Channel
just to see her. I think it’s the last
time to see the boat as a free boat,
owned by the magazine. I think it
was a very good project.’
You can still enter the competition
at http://www.pbo.co.uk/winhantubiru.Freddie Simpson, with Olympians Iain Percy and Anthony Nossiter,
having completed his second Bart’s Bash at his father’s sailing centre
T
housands of people took
to the water in boats of all
designs to take part in Bart’s
Bash, the global sailing event
in aid of the Andrew Simpson
Sailing Foundation (ASSF).
The second annual Bart’s Bash
on 20 September saw sailors of
all abilities joining big-name stars
including Iain Percy, Tom Slingsby,
Sir Ben Ainslie and Freddie Loof,
who all took part in the inaugural
event in 2014. Bart’s Bash wasconceived as a participation event
in memory of Andrew ‘Bart’
Simpson. It officially became the
largest sailing race in the world,
raising more than £360,000 for the
ASSF, which aims to use sailing to
transform the lives of young
people globally. This year, 12,
participants have so far taken part
in the event at 470 venues in 62
countries, raising £60,435 (and
counting) for the charity.
■ http://www.bartsbash.comStorm-struck
Dominica
appeal
T
he Dominica Marine
Association is appealing
for help from the yachting
community following a storm that
killed at least 11 people and
caused widespread devastation.
Tropical storm Erika struck
Dominica in the Caribbean on 27
August. Hubert Winston, president
of the Dominica Marine Association,
said the storm caused ‘widespread
catastrophic damage and death’.
Sailors interested in bringing in
supplies such as nappies, baby
formula, baby bottles, bottled water,
non-perishable food, dry food,
school supplies, battery-operated
lamps, batteries, personal hygiene
goods etc should notify the
Dominica Marine Association
before entering port (Roseau or
Portsmouth) so all customs duties
can be waived once you arrive.
Monetary donations can be made
to: http://www.youcaring.com/the-people-
directly-affected-by-tropical-storm-
erika-423803.onEditionBart’s Bash Facebook pageNews
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