Southampton International Boat Show’s First-Ever Community Day Delights Crowds
- Closing day played host to first ever Community Day for local Southampton residents
- Local families descended on Mayflower Park for the 52nd show
- Great Southampton Boat Race took place with teams racing cardboard creations
Southampton International Boat Show ended in style this weekend with the first ever Community Day, organised for local residents to enjoy the marine-based festivities on their doorstep.
Community Day also played host to the first ever Great Southampton Boat Race where all were challenged to build boats out of recycled materials, with Onyx Bars paddling their craft to victory and becoming the inaugural champions.
Local families joined in the Community Treasure Hunt and had the exciting opportunity to explore and discover their inner Captain Hook on the Morgenster, a 100-year-old Tall Ship that looks like a pirate ship!
Organisers British Marine launched Community Day to ensure local people were able to get involved with, and benefit from Britain’s biggest festival of boating.
Councillor Daniel Fitzhenry, Leader of Southampton City Council said: “The Southampton International Boat Show is one of the biggest dates in our events calendar, so it was fantastic to see such a great turnout at the very first Community Day and to launch the new Great Southampton Boat Race.
“Bringing our communities and more local people from our city to the show is our objective, really showing the benefits of water activity and how the show can benefit everyone. This was our first Community Day and we are working with British Marine to expand on this offer for next year so more of our children and young people can benefit from our great Southampton International Boat Show.”
Those living within the SO14 and SO19 postcodes were able to purchase discounted tickets and senior citizens went free ensuring the celebration of all things in, on and around the water remained accessible to all.
Dates for the 53rd Southampton international Boat Show in 2022 have been confirmed for 16 – 25th September.
