Boat show organisers insist industry is resilient

The Southampton International Boat Show is staged on a site on the city's waterfront

The marine and watersports industry remains "resilient" despite economic challenges, the organisers of the Southampton Boat Show have said.

The 10-day annual trade show began on Friday and is expected to attract more than 100,000 attendees, with more than 500 boats and watercraft on show.

As well as buying opportunities, the show, now in its 56th year, has a range of events and activities encouraging people to get involved in sailing and watersports.

Lesley Robinson, chief executive of organisers British Marine, said the industry was facing rising costs but "nobody really wants to put prices on to our customers".

The boat show features some of the world's most expensive luxury craft

The show takes place on Southampton's waterfront, with a purpose-built marina and more than 600 marine brands selling products and services.

The priciest boat on sale at the show is a £9m luxury yacht built by Sunseeker in Poole, Dorset.

But even this end of the market has felt the pinch of political and economic uncertainties - the company announced redundancies in June, citing a softening in global demand.

Despite this, Sunseeker chief operating officer Steve Timms said the company was starting to see signs of recovery.

"Last week we were exhibiting in Cannes boat show. We had a lot of footfall coming through the door and we're starting to see new orders coming through.

"The early indicators are that things are starting to improve, which is positive for us and positive for our industry," he said.

British Marine's Lesley Robinson said the industry was facing rising costs

Ms Robinson admitted it was "tough out there at the moment" for boat builders and the wider leisure marine industry.

"Everybody's got rising costs, from employment through to material costs.

"However, we've got a really resilient industry. People are making operational efficiencies to help because nobody really wants to put prices onto our customers.

"So it's very important for our exhibitors over the next 10 days to have a really good show."

The landing craft has been wrapped in pride colours

The show also includes activities such as paddleboarding, kayaking and dinghy sailing.

Round-the-world sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Olympian Hannah Mills and adventurer Aldo Kane are among the guest speakers.

Among the attractions is a military landing craft which served in the Falklands.

It has been wrapped in pride colours to mark 25 years since the ban on gay people serving in the military was lifted.

Hannah Prowse of Portsmouth Historic Quarter said "It's about honouring all of those who served for the first time and accepting that there were gay people serving in the Falklands campaign who haven't been treated with the same dignity and equality that their compatriots were."