The RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show opened its doors after a two year, Covid pandemic, shut-down, at its new venue in the Farnborough International Exhibition Centre.
A fresh beginning for the sport with all the signs of a bumper year ahead, with classes reporting sell-out entries for their major events.
With the show extending its reach with a multitude of general watercraft dinghies, and foil and board combinations, the first day crowds looked good, not record beaking, but it might just have stopped the rot!
While the bright, new Exhibition Centre venue was a definite improvement, with more elbow room and greater ease of parking, and without the long-winded trek around London.
Time will tell if the move south is the right one.
A few of the things to look-out for . . . .
RYA Sailing Team members on stage at the Show answering those tricky questions
Glen Truswell’s International Canoe – Sleeping Tiger – winner of the Concours d’Elegance
Another beautifully finished GP14 – 14278 – seems a shame to get it wet!
Hadron H2 with a funky wrap finish
This National 12 class was also decorating their dinghies with some impressive artwork
Flying 15 Jib tracks much further inboard than standard, crew union might need a word !
RS Venture Connect with Sailability Pack
Andy Rice was unable to be there for his Sailjuice Series prizegiving, so they beamed him in anyway
Maverick 4 in 1 – Dinghy, Stand Up Sail, Stand Up Paddle or Windsurf . . . choose your handicap
Laserperformance’s PortStar! Thinked, developed, and totally manufactured in Portugal! (sic)
The Row Boat – A very Scandi take on a traditional pastime, quality guaranteed
West Cornwall Pasty Van was one of the very popular refreshment choices
Wing Foils are the latest board-sail-foil combination to move from the beach to the Open Race circuit . . . can the Olympics be far behind?
Rooster Sacks for when it all gets a little too much . . .
