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The model for the North Wales Boat Show came directly from the hugely successful South Wales Boat Show and, like its southern counterpart, it is an opportunity for local boating businesses to take affordable stand space and reach a much wider audience.

In previous years Sports boating has been a major element of North Wales boating and while there were the inevitable sailing boats, traditional craft, kayaks and even a coracle maker, sports boats were the mainstay of the show.

There were several new models on show for the first time there too, not least the new Sealine F34 brought along by Majestic Yachts of Deganwy and taking honours as the biggest boat in show. The new RIB-X, a 7.6 metre boat from the Expert range with a Yamaha F250, was also there and it was sold straight off the stand. It was great to see this kind of ready business confounding the pessimism of the detractors.

Elsewhere, there was a delicious looking MasterCraft X1 in jet black courtesy of Abersoch Boatyard Services. Its colour way unusual for this ski boat brand but it did a great job of blending the slickness and refinement of the watersports lifestyle with the masculine robustness of an action man’s boat – it’s was no surprise to hear that this too had just been sold.

But it was quickly plain that the North Wales show is as much about the friendly atmosphere and the entertainment as it is about the boats. On the water there were kayaks for people to have a paddle and sailing boats courtesy of Swansea Watersports and Plas Menai Watersports Centre. The instructors were being kept busy every minute of every day.

On the other end of the lake, Thundercat rides and personal watercraft experiences were there to satisfy the adrenaline seekers with burn ups round the islands and a conveniently placed race mark. For the younger members of the crowd there was a pirate ship and a huge sandpit to play in and, judging by the smiles on the faces of the kids and the relaxed look of the parents, it worked wonders.

One really stunning piece of kit on show, again for the first time out of the development suite, was the Scubacraft. This amazing invention takes submersibles to a whole new level. A 40-knot plus surface capability was provided by a 165hp jet unit but the machine can then become a James Bond style device and dive to 30 metres, maintaining about three knots underwater for 90 minutes, courtesy of its electric motors and shrouded propellers. Not only did it open up a whole new world but it looked stunning too.

The show went with a bang from the moment the doors opened.

Andy Wyer on the Fletcher stand set something approaching a world record for the quickest sale at a show, having sold a ringo within 30 seconds of the start. And his new Fletcher wakeboard boats looked the business too with their fancy graphics and monster towers. It’s good to see them in a place like this. This is, after all, the closest event to Abersoch, the home of Wakestock (the watersports equivalent of Glastonbury) so it is little wonder that tow boats are so much in evidence.

Whatever your boating preferences, a splash of alternative craft always helps add a little interest. Here, there was a coracle maker at work, showing how these ancient craft are made. He even had one on display that celebrates the Druid roots of these Celtic cockleshell craft. These friendly, regional shows make a great day out for the family and at only
£36.00 for a family ticket they are affordable too.

The event was established in 2008 and ran successfully in August for four years at the Faenol Estate in Bangor attracting over 100 exhibitors and on average 3,500 visitors per day.

The Show is now under new management and their aim is to develop the event to provide a highly professional all encompassing watersports extravaganza with an events and entertainment programme which appeals to not only watersports enthusiasts but also those that wish to get on the water or just watch the action.

The event will therefore not be held in 2012 but will return in August 2013 at its new location in Conwy. Boasting two marinas and a reputation for outstanding watersport amenities, Conwy is also a major tourist attraction in its own right and is therefore able to provide the infrastructure for such an event – corporate hospitality venues, accommodation, eating establishments and plenty of vantage viewing points.

Further details on the 2013 Show will be announced in the Spring so please do visit our website again or you can register below to receive copies of our e-newsletter.

In the meantime though if you have a passion for watersports and would be interested in becoming a business partner please get in touch by calling 0845 123 5438 or emailing enquiries@northwalesboatshow.com