So goodbye then London Boat Show. You were once a force to be reckoned with, an eagerly awaited post-Christmas splurge that kept the dank, short days of January at bay. You hauled us out of our festive torpor with a fresh wave of parties, aisle after aisle of glistening new boats, and so many launches you needed a stunt double to attend them all.
The marine industry, like most, has moved on from those days, and the gradual demise of the London Show might well have happened no matter what was done when it moved to a Docklands venue. The UK industry has trended upmarket and consolidated, and the focus has become more international.
Today, the best and most successful shows are the on-water exhibitions such as at Cannes or…
