Win tickets

News of this year's Southampton Boat Show and a special competition for Daily Sail readers

This year's Southampton Boat Show, in association with ITV Meridian, promises everything you've come to expect from this world-class event and of course a little bit more. Brimming with exciting features, the Show combines old favourites with a whole host of new attractions to entice boating enthusiasts and novices alike it runs from 16-25 September* at the Mayflower Park in Southampton.

Five readers of TheDailySail can win a pair of tickets each by answerng the following question:

In what year did Sir Francis Chichester complete his record breaking round-the-world voyage in Gipsy Moth IV?

Answers - with your full name and postal address on an email to: members@thedailysail.com

Winners will be drawn on Thursday 15th September at 9am.

For those not lucky enough to win you can call 0870 060 0246 to book your tickets in advance or visit http://www.southamptonboatshow.com

The biggest new addition to this year's show is Southampton's first ever beach. Tonnes of golden sand will be shipped in to the Show, making Southampton's very own dedicated beach. Positioned in the extended Solent Park area, the beach will play host to sandcastle competitions, fashion shows and beach parties.

For the second year running the Hydropool Marina has been expanded allowing more boats than ever before to be exhibited on the water. Southampton's famous pontoons will now extend westwards across the show with a third walkway providing direct access to Solent Park, which will now also house the popular Sunseeker stand.

Also new this year:

The Waterside property exhibition** to be held within the De Vere Hotel with an exclusive entrance from the show. A first for the Boat Show this will focus on waterside living in the UK and abroad and will be included in the price of the Show ticket.

Kids will have the opportunity to meet some of the contestants from the hit children's reality TV show, Splash Camp. A roller-coaster ride of triumph, failure and team spirit, Splash Camp sees an all girl team take on an all-boy team in challenges including waterskiing, windsurfing, kayaking and rafting.

The historic Gipsy Moth IV made maritime history in 1966-67 when Sir Francis Chichester, her intrepid skipper and adventurer, completed the fastest solo circumnavigation in a small vessel, sailing from Plymouth to Sydney and back via Cape Horn in just 274 days (226 days actual sailing time). 2007 marks the 40th anniversary of Sir Francis Chichester's record breaking attempt in Gipsy Moth IV and she will be the Show's guest boat moored on the marina until Thursday 22 September when she will depart on her voyage around the world.

'The Green Blue' project will be part of the British Marine Federation's stand and is aimed at raising awareness of the environment and what boaters can do to protect their environment.

All Boating enthusiasts will love the Classic Boat feature, complete with a 50ft semi-built pilot cutter and step-by-step guidelines on classic boat building techniques such as corking. Staff will be on hand to offer advice.

Solent Hall will play host to the Southampton City Maritime Museum, charting the history of Southampton as a maritime centre and displaying historical local artefacts.

And back by popular demand:

The ever popular Try-a-Boat will be in the Hydropool Marina where visitors will be able to try out a range of boats.

Two America's Cup yachts*** will be at the Show once again providing visitors the opportunity to take the helm of one of these famous yachts.

The Andark Diving Try-a-dive will be returning for all those who want to try diving but have never had the opportunity to try.

The Concept Boat stand will include shortlisted entries from this year's competition. The 2006 competition criteria will also be announced.

*16 September is press and preview day, public are also welcome to attend on
this day.

**The Waterside Property show is running for the first four days only.

*** America's Cup experience tickets are not included in the ticket price and
are available from £60