Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Geoff Holt MBE, Mike Golding OBE, Tom Cunliffe, Monty Halls, Pip Hare, the Maclean Brothers, Jazz Turner and world powerboat champion Shelley Jory-Leigh are among the leading names taking to the stage at Southampton International Boat Show 2026.
Across more than 110 scheduled talks, panel discussions, demonstrations and workshops, the show’s Boating Stage and expanded Wooden Boat Stage will give visitors direct access to some of the most experienced, adventurous and innovative people working on and around the water.
Taking place at Mayflower Park from 18 to 27 September, the programme will cover a wide variety of topics, including ocean racing, accessible boating, marine technology, environmental responsibility, traditional craftsmanship and practical routes into boat ownership.
Jasmine Hill, Event Director of Southampton International Boat Show, said: “We’ve designed the programme to give experienced boaters genuine depth, help newcomers find their route onto the water and allow every visitor to get closer to the people, ideas and craftsmanship shaping the marine sector.
“The two stages offer a genuine celebration of a vibrant and evolving industry, reflecting the strength of its community and the confidence shaping its future.”
Adventures, innovation and practical advice on the Boating Stage
One of the headline appearances will come from legendary sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who will share stories from a lifetime of racing around the world. From becoming the first person to complete a solo, non-stop circumnavigation to establishing the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, his session will explore the adventures that have defined an extraordinary sailing career.
Renowned sailor, writer and broadcaster Tom Cunliffe will present The View from the Backstay – Confessions of a Yachtmaster Examiner on 25 and 26 September. Drawing on a seafaring career that has taken him from Brazil and Greenland to the Caribbean and Russia, he will reveal how his early adventures led to his becoming a Yachtmaster Examiner, sharing entertaining stories from an era before electronic navigation.
Geoff Holt MBE will present Accessible Oceans, challenging the marine industry to consider how inclusive design, improved customer experiences and practical innovation can welcome more people onto the water.
Mike Golding OBE will join the Royal Yachting Association for a live careers panel, followed by the RYA Yachtmaster of the Year Awards. The session will explore the opportunities opened by marine qualifications.
The headline talk schedule continues with further prominent names from the world of sailing and adventure including marine biologist, explorer and broadcaster Monty Halls on Monday 21 September; adventurer and sailor Jazz Turner on Thursday 24 September; and professional offshore sailor and Vendée Globe skipper Pip Hare on Saturday 26 September.
Visitors will also be able to hear from the RNLI’s engineering team about the technology and innovation supporting the future of lifesaving, while marine biologist Dr Daniel Moore will reveal how human activity is affecting deep-sea shark populations and how the boating community can contribute to scientific research.
Powerboat racing will also feature strongly. Joe Sturdy and Ben King will take visitors behind the scenes of Team Brady and the E1 electric raceboat series, while six-time world champion Miles Jennings will look back over the history of the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes Marathon Race during his 50th consecutive year of powerboat racing.
British World Powerboat Champion Shelley Jory-Leigh will also host an informal Q&A with Andark Diving & Watersports founder Andy Goddard and managing director Miriam Goddard, celebrating the company’s 50th anniversary. The session will see Shelley introduce her history with Andark as she leads the conversation with Mike and Miriam to explore how the family-run business has evolved over five decades, the challenges and successes that have shaped its journey and its ambitions for the future.
The stage will also host the Young Journalist of the Year Award, Superyacht UK Young Designer Competition Awards and The Yacht Harbour Association’s Marina of the Year Awards.
Craftsmanship brought to life on the Wooden Boat Stage
Following its successful debut in 2025, the expanded Wooden Boat Stage will once again be led by the Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis, the Wooden Boatbuilders’ Trade Association and Women in Boat Building. Together, the three organisations will celebrate the people, techniques and stories behind wooden boatbuilding through live demonstrations, workshops, interviews and expert panels.
Traditional skills will be demonstrated throughout the show, including steam-bending with Woodbridge Boatyard, wooden sign carving with the Boat Building Academy, paddle-making with master boatbuilder Colin Henwood and ropework workshops with Sue Pennison.
Visitors will also be able to watch demonstrations covering traditional deck laying, sailmaking, figurehead sculpture, marquetry, epoxy application, hand-tool techniques and half-model yacht making.
Spirit Yachts representatives Adrian Gooderman, Brenden George and Tom Smith will explore the techniques used in modern wooden yacht construction and take visitors behind the development of the Spirit P50.
Among the programme’s featured speakers, award-winning boatbuilder Stephen Dennett will explore how traditional yards can thrive in a modern world, while Bob Sykes of stage sponsor Sykes Timber will discuss responsible timber sourcing and the management of the materials on which the industry relies. Travelling from Port Townsend in the United States, Wooden Boat Festival director Barb Trailer will also share news from one of the world’s leading celebrations of wooden boatbuilding ahead of its 50th festival in 2027.
Practical panels will help visitors explore different ways to enjoy and support wooden boats. Simon Crawford of Marineware will lead a discussion offering professional maintenance advice, while National Historic Ships UK Director Hannah Cunliffe will chair a session examining alternative ownership models for historic vessels and the challenges faced by their custodians. A further panel will show how visitors can experience wooden-boat adventures in the UK and overseas without owning a boat themselves.
The future of the profession will be another important focus. Boat Building Academy Director Will Reed will demonstrate how to make a wooden trug using traditional hand tools in just one hour, while tutor Mike Broome will present the craft of half-model yacht making. Tutors, students and young people already working in boatyards will also share advice about training, apprenticeships and routes into a practical career.
New for 2026, the Wooden Boat Stage Afloat will extend the experience into the marina, allowing visitors to step aboard a curated collection of historic and classic vessels. Highlights will include the restored J Class tender Gelyce, Hannah Stowe’s 1907 gaff cutter Larry and Dunkirk veteran Guide of Dunkirk, connecting the stories discussed on stage with the boats themselves.
Beyond the main talk schedule, The Shipyard will host the Maclean Brothers on Thursday 24 September, who will take part in a talk followed by a book signing. The session will give visitors the opportunity to meet the three brothers as they share insights from their 139-day experience of rowing across the Pacific Ocean.
The full programmes for each stage, including session dates and timings, are available here:
www.southamptonboatshow.com/the-boating-stage
www.southamptonboatshow.com/the-wooden-boat-stage
