UK debuts and award winners at this year's South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show

With the backdrop of MDL’s flagship Ocean Village Marina, this year’s South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show, 21-23 April, is hosting the UK and show debuts of an exclusive selection of global power and sail brands. 

Presented by exclusive UK dealer, boatpoint, the Quarken 27 T Top V2 Onyx will be making its UK debut in the show’s marina. Powered by a Yamaha 300hp outboard, this latest iteration in the Quarken 27 fleet will be on show alongside the multi-award winning Quarken 27 T Top, which recently scooped the Motorboat of the Year Award in the Sportsboats & RIBs category.

An evolution of the Arcona 435, which won European Yacht of the Year in the Performance Cruiser category in 2019, the Arcona 435 Mk II with electric propulsion will make her UK show premiere at the three-day event in April. Powered by Oceanvolt, this 45ft performance cruiser yacht will be on display with the Arcona 385 on marina berths 15 and 16. 

“The South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show is the ideal venue for us to display the Arcona 435 Mk II with electric propulsion for the first time to UK customers,” says Simon Rosier, Director of SE Yachts, the UK dealers for Swedish Arcona Yachts.

“We have seen a significant increase in demand for electric propulsion in recent years, so we’re delighted to have the opportunity to showcase this innovation to serious buyers at the start of the sailing season. We are looking forward to a great show.”

Designed for cruising with the family, the new Dufour 37 is also making her UK debut. Benefitting from the very latest evolution of hull shapes offering everything you would expect of a 37ft yacht, at just 35ft of hull length. The prominent hull chines work together with the keel to create a yacht that sails flatter, offering greater comfort and performance on every point of sail.

“We’ve attended the SCBS since its inception in 2019,” says Chris Warwick form Universal Yachting, UK distributor for Dufour Yachts. “It offers a great opportunity to show our yachts to a wider audience at a time of year when people are making plans for the coming season. 

“It allows potential owners the chance to explore our range with less of the hustle and bustle of a larger boat show, and there’s more time available for buyers to speak with the brokers, ensuring a much better experience for people to make informed decisions on a potential purchase.”

Universal Yachting will also be showcasing its recent acquisition, Collective Spirit. This unique sailing yacht was built using over 1200 donated wooden items to celebrate the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, and the show will be her first public appearance in many years.

Why have one hull when you can have two, or even three? The Nautitech 44 Open and the Corsair 880 Trimaran are both making their UK debuts at the South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show. 

Awarded the Best Multihull gong at this year’s European Yacht of the Year awards, the Nautitech 44 Open is aimed at bluewater cruisers and features twin helm stations. This distinctive feature of Nautitech Catamarans offers both function and safety by being fully integrated in the overall boat design.

An ideal family holiday cruiser for up to five people, the Corsair 880 is a fully specified trimaran with a performance to satisfy the hardiest sailor but light enough to be towed by the average family vehicle. An aft cabin, enclosed heads with a shower, along with full standing headroom in the main cabin, gives the interior a light airy and spacious feel. 

Show debuts

From New Zealand’s leading producer of high-performance rigid inflatable boats, the Protector 380 Targa and Protector Chase 330 are both making their South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show debut, having been introduced to the UK market last year. 

Presented by Ancasta International Yacht Sales, the 40ft Protector 380 Targa is an extremely capable and comfortable bluewater performer while the 34ft 7in high-performance centre console Protector Chase 330 has found popular application at the world’s largest sailing events, with capacity for 12 people and plenty of room for kit. 

Both the UK sole dealer for the Windy 32 Grand Zonda RS and the boat itself are making their show debuts at this year’s show in Southampton. Powered by single Volvo Penta D6 440, the Windy 32 Grand Zonda RS is capable of sustained high-speed cruising, combining superb wave tackling abilities with excellent handling and control.

The quality in the construction and fittings is self-evident, from the quality finish in the two-berth cabin, galley area and separate toilet compartment, to the plush cockpit seats and sunbed.

“We’re delighted to be exhibiting at the South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show for the first time and introducing the striking and sporty Windy 32 Grand Zonda RS,“ says Emily Greenslade from Poole based Saltwater Solutions. 

“The show is at an ideal time to meet potential owners, and those ready to buy for the beginning of the boating season. We’re looking forward to welcoming them on board.”

Award winners

This year’s show line-up of stunning power and sail brands includes many award winners, including the J/45, Beneteau Oceanis 30.1 and the Swift Trawler 41.

Designed and built by life-long bluewater sailors and equally suitable for racing and cruising, the J/45 has been awarded Cruising World’s 2023 Boat of the Year in the ‘Best Performance Cruiser’ category and Sailing World’s 2023 Boat of the Year Award in the ‘Best Crossover’ category, as well as being heralded as one of SAIL Magazine’s top 10 boats for 2023.

A winner of the European Yacht of the Year in the Family Cruiser Category, the Beneteau Oceanis 30.1 will be on display in the marina for the duration of the show. She’s easy to handle, spacious and affordable. Sailors have the choice of either a tiller on double rudders for a more exciting sailing experience, or double steering wheel for space and comfort.

The double steering wheel layout results in a wonderfully large cockpit, comfortably seating six on two large benches either side of the large fold-away table.

Following a 24-hour test, Motorboat & Yachting named the Swift Trawler 41 'The best Swift Trawler yet’ and she has all the award-winning features of the successful range. 

Available to view in the show’s marina, the Swift Trawler 41’s hull has been designed for optimum fuel consumption and efficiency, while the spacious aft galley layout links seamlessly with the cockpit which has a sliding bench for ease of access to the swim platform. With three cabins, up to seven can sleep comfortably on this innovative family cruiser. 

Tickets to the South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show are free and can be booked via https://www.mdlmarinas.co.uk/events/boat-show-tickets/. Appointments to view specific boats or meet with the individual exhibitors can also be arranged via a booking portal on the website.