The Tullett Prebon London Boat Show 2011

The 54th London Boat Show opens at the Royal Victora Dock, ExCel centre from 7th-16th January. Attracting over 102,000 visitors in 2010, The London Boat Show, listed in Debrett's social season, is one of the UK's largest trade shows, alongside the Southampton Boat Show, with over 500 exhibitors, around 1,000 vessels and featuring organisations such as the RNLI and the Royal Navy.

The newly expanded 15m ceiling height, dry marina boardwalk will offer superyacht charter lovers and boat owners, alike, the unique opportunity to see a stunning display of the latest major luxury models from leading international boat builders such as Sunseeker, Beneteau, Fairline, Greenline, Jeanneau, Oyster and Princess Yachts International, many of which are star performers in the Dream Marine yacht charter portfolio.

This year's show also presents a dazzling array of water-based attractions from surfing, water skiing, diving and jet skiing to swimwear catwalk shows, deck games, acrobatics and theatrical shows.

Expert advice will be available from leaders in their field on all aspects of ocean sailing and offshore racing such as Mike Golding, Britain's most successful solo offshore sailor, the power boat racer Shelley Jory-Leigh, Olympic sailor Mark Covell, extreme powerboat adventurer Alan Priddy and sailing master John Goode. Other key interest areas include classic vessel restoration, maritime photography and the used sail and power boat market.

Among the highlights from the many new attractions at this year's show will be the Design a Sail competition and a 70m x 24m Watersports Action Pool, where spectators are invited to try stand-up paddle boarding, wakeboarding, windsurfing, dinghy sailing, canoeing and kayaking, and model yacht racing.

Interactivity is a key theme, from the Cruising Chute Trainer where you can learn to set, trim and gybe and the Outdoor Heroes Theatre with guests including Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Ray Mears and Ben Fogle to the The Family Area offering table football and Wii games.

Foremost of course, is the opportunity to step aboard the magnificent line up of luxury superyachts, such as the 105 ft ‘Princess 32M', a powerful 10 berth, 4/5 ensuite stateroom, flybridge cruising yacht, and the biggest ever boat to be lifted out of the Thames and moved into the ExCeL Centre.

Other superb examples of yacht charter design craft can be found on board the 20m, 6 berth / 3 cabin Oyster 655, the Sotto Vento, or the 15m, 11 berth / 5 cabin Beneteau Oceanis Family 50.

Amongst the featured Jeanneau range is the 2011 version Sun Odyssey 409, 41ft LOA, with 3 cabin /2 head option layout, which has already been nominated by 11 different countries for the prestigious 2010/2011 European Yacht of the Year Award. Fairline, one of the show sponsors, will be showing their Squadron and Targa boats, including the Targa 38, a 40 ft, 6 berth, 2 cabin motor superyacht.

Whether you're looking for a special skippered yacht charter cruise, seeking advice on buying or selling a boat or simply want to indulge your favourite pastime sport, the Tullett Prebon sponsored London Boat Show 2011, offers an unmissable ten day opportunity for both amateur and professional sailing devotees, alike.

By Chris Yates