We found something interesting to do in early January. Attend the boat show. However, the one we recommend is the one held at Earl’s Court in London.
You could easily loose the King Dome show there. There was a large room with all sorts of huge power boats, and a row of sailboats 23 to 40 feet, with 1/4 length masts.
Then the main room!! Everything from 8 foot dinghies to 45 foot yachts, all with their masts stepped and sails hoisted. Full keel, drop keel, twin keel, inflatable, foldable, and in the very middle a tank with a couple of dozen boats afloat! One of the smaller boats was a 45 foot narrow boat, and nearby was a Broads sailing yacht which has a balanced mast for easy lowering at bridges, and a pop-top the length of the cabin. And on around, larger and larger boats, mostly sail.
Even the dinghies had sailing rigs. We were really tempted by a six foot eight inch tender which folded to 20 x 4 1/2 inches x 7 feet, and fit into a bag, complete with all parts of sailing rig. It would solve the problem of a shore boat.
Under the edges of the balcony were hire bases listing charters all over the world. Modern and traditional Dutch boats, and boats for the canals of England, and France, sailing boats in Scotland and Australia. Sailing schools all over Great Britain.
In pavilions along the balcony were outboards, and fittings, and sailing clothes. Everything you could want, all under one roof.
Jean Gosse