Ellen to open London boat show from Sydney

Along with Keith Mills and an Olympic troupe

Ellen MacArthur will officially co-open the Schroders London Boat Show on Thursday, 8 January 2004 on the same day that she will be launching the new 75ft B&Q trimaran in Sydney, Australia. MacArthur will co-open the show from Sydney while Keith Mills, CEO of London 2012 and Olympians will be on site to open the show at ExCel in London’s docklands.

The show opening at 11.00am will happen live via a satellite link and it will prove to be a record breaking day. "The show has been such an important part of my life and of my career from the time we first exhibited Iduna in 1996," says MacArthur. "It holds many, many memories for me and it is not only a fantastic place to see all the latest boats but also a place to catch up with friends, see sponsors and partners."

The 2004 Schroders London Boat Show being held for the first time at Excel in the Docklands will be the show's 50th anniversary. MacArthur's new trimaran, built with the sole objective to break solo speed sailing records, will be christened simultaneously as the Schroders London Boat Show opens.

"The Schroders London Boat Show at its new venue at ExCel in the Docklands will be an event I will be sorry to miss but I am excited about opening the show all the way from Sydney at the same time as we launch the new trimaran. This will be the 50th anniversary of the London Boat Show and it is a huge event for everyone who makes a living out of being on the water or as a hobby. I may not be there in person but via BT communications technology we will be there in pictures and sound!"