Yachting and Boating World forums: Southampton Boat Show 2006

A Plea For Help

Southampton Boat Show 2006 - Pleasure and Disappointment

I have just returned from a day at the Southampton Boat Show 2006 on Wednesday, 20th September 2006. The weather was very kind and the exhibitors surpassed their previous show appearances with many very interesting new products and boats to look at and tempt you. I think that this years show was even better than before and the exhibitors should be commended.

Having spent some time in the various arenas and made some purchases, some of the larger of which had been left at the various stands for later collection, I proceeded to the marina area to look at the boats afloat.

It was about 2.00 pm on Wednesday afternoon that I reached the Peters/Opal Marine exhibits of Island Packet Yachts. I first went on board the smallest of the Island Packets on display, a very interesting 30 something foot boat. I then went to the larger 40 something foot pilot house version, a truly sumptuous boat indeed. I dutifully left me old and tatty but very comfortable deck shoes on the 'sugar scoop' bathing platform and proceeded to the centre cockpit. I left the to carrier bags that I was carrying with their purchases inside at the cockpit combing where other people had also left carrier bags, and proceeded blow deck to marvel at the space and luxury of the boats interior. After a chat with the very friendly and helpful Peters/Opal Marine people on board about Island Packet Yachts and Chichester Marina I went back on deck. My old and tatty but very comfortable deck shoes were exactly where I had left them but my Kelvin Hughes carrier bag containing a 2007 Almanac and my RNLI carrier bag containing Christmas Cards and a Calendar had gone.

The Peters/Opal Marine people were very concerned and very helpful and offered to contact me by mobile phone if my purchases were returned to their boat.

I went to the Show Organisers Office and the Show Security Office adjacent to the Holiday Inn in case anyone had handed these carrier bags in, perhaps realising that they had picked them up by mistake. My purchases were nowhere to be seen. In sharp contrast to the very friendly and helpful Peters/Opal Marine people, the Show Organisers and Show Security could not have cared less. I asked if a Tannoy message asking if anyone had picked these up by mistake might be broadcast and was told that the Tannoy was for emergencies only. As I left the Show Organisers Office and the Show Security Office I was greeted by a trivial promotional broadcast over the Tannoy. Some emergency use only!!!

My congratulations go to the show exhibitors for a job very well done but my disappointment at the show organisers and security left me with a very low feeling as I left the show on Wednesday evening.

Should anyone reading this letter realise that they have picked up my Kelvin Hughes carrier bag containing a 2007 Almanac and my RNLI carrier bag containing Christmas Cards and a Calendar by mistake, if they would text of call 07899 867723 and leave a contact number I will call them back. I am very happy to pay the postage costs to have these items returned to me.

Kind Regards and Safe Sailing

Geoff