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Boats for sale, take your pick: motor yachts, power boats, tall boats. It is all available at one of the most foremost events for those who enjoy a spot of sailing: the London boat show.  For sailing enthusiasts – a hobby that is seemingly no longer restricted to millionaires – the London boat show, now in its 55th year, represents a chance to see the cream of the crop in the sailing world. Along with the Southampton Boat Show, this is the largest international boat show in Great Britain. Both boat shows are organized by National Boat Shows, a subsidiary of British Marine Federation.

What is immediately apparent is that among boat shows, the London Boat Show holds a special place. Starting in 1954, the London Boat Show was initially based at Olympia, but soon moved to Earls Court Exhibition Centre when organizers realized that the show was attracting an ever increasing group of sailing enthusiasts.  In 2004, the show moved to ExCel Exhibition Centre in the heart of London to accommodate more products that were demanded by attendees. The ExCel, being an on-water location, affords a dedicated marina and hosts a naval ship during the London Boat Show.

Sailing enthusiasts from around the world ogled as luxury yachts with multi-million pound price tags befitting their regal interiors and sophisticated equipment take much of the spotlight. The most expensive boat at this year’s show cost £9.7 million while the cheapest was £549.

Features and attractions at the show included an array of deck games, a tour of the HMS Westminster, a ‘Seaskool’ conducted by the Maritime Coastguard Agency, that taught novices how to get into and enjoy sailing. The Classic Boat event was, as ever, a huge hit among the countless sailing world enthusiasts.

The London Boat Show is the Cannes Film Festival of boat shows: if you love sailing, then this is one international boat show that you cannot miss.