Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

The show, offering a sponsored £20,000 5 metre Suzuki powered ASIS RIB as a special show prize, included a bustling tented village full of all manner of products that overlooked a packed event marina of some 80 plus boats. With the well publicised challenges facing the London International Boat Show, plus with the demise of the Sail, Power and Watersports Show at Earl’s Court in 2010, all eyes were on RIBEX 2009 to see not only whether the show would signal any economic recovery for the marine trade in general, but also just how the RIB market, which has been experiencing uninterrupted growth now for the last ten years, might now truly be faring during this time of recession. So, with the RIB industry’s first opportunity to make a reply, it was with much satisfaction to learn of the level of quality leads as well as crucial sales that were made over the course of the three day show. One boat builder claimed the show was the saving of his business. Others like Sebastian Freeman of Saltern’s Marine Sales, stated with regard to the launch of the Zodiac N-ZO, “the level of serious enquiries across all our products surprised us with 4 demos booked on the new Zodiac N-ZO this week alone following the show”. Will Marrs of Golden Arrow Marine stated, “we are absolutely delighted to have shown the new Caudwell Drive at RIBEX 2009. The show is already in next year’s diary as far as we are concerned.” Patrick Byrnes of Scorpion RIBs stated, “this year’s RIBEX was one of the best and certainly bucked the expectations in the financial atmosphere”. Other plaudits included Alan Stewart of Sea PR, who said that, “in 25 years as a seasoned marketing man I’ve covered, exhibited and attended more events than had hot dinners - and I have to say that this was the most enjoyable that I’ve yet experienced”. Like many other exhibitors at this year’s show, market leaders such as UK RIB supplier, MRL, with their Italian RIB brand, ‘Stingher’, reported selling three boats at the show. Simon McLoughlin of C-Fury RIBs confirm his company attracted a grand total of 60 firm leads over the launch of their new prototype at RIBEX 2009. In fact the show was chosen by no less than ten different companies for the purpose of making European or World launch debuts and was at a genuine state of sell-out 3 weeks prior to show time. Based upon the success of this international RIB show, and despite the global decline in event sponsorship generally, Suzuki Marine have signed another three year sponsorship deal with show organisers, RIB Exhibitions Ltd. (Further details of this important agreement to follow in forthcoming release.) RIBEX dates for next year at the Cowes Yacht Haven site, are confirmed for the  7th, 8th, 9th of May 2010.  www.ribexhibitions.co.uk