THERE will be tall ships, family events and a firework display at Poole’s newest boat show, due to take place in May next year.

Poole Harbour Commissioners are holding Poole Harbour Boat Show at the Poole Quay Boat Haven on May 9 and 10 and are intending to make it a regular event in the boating calendar.

Since announcing the inaugural event they have taken a number of bookings from companies interested in berths as well as those wanting a presence on the quay.

“A number of interesting vessels have been booked, including tall ships and a variety of different family events will take place on both the Saturday and Sunday, including a firework display on Saturday evening,” said chief executive Jim Stewart.

He explained the reasons why the show initially clashed with the annual Sandbanks Boat Show held at Salterns Marina, which has been axed. The organisers cited the new event among the reasons.

“The May dates were selected as the boat show had to be slotted in between other events on the quay and other boat shows, including the Jersey boat show the week before,” he said.

“We therefore decided upon the May 9 and 10 slot. No announcement had been made by Salterns Marina for a 2015 boat show when we decided on these dates,” he said.

“We have approached Salterns and involved them in the organising committee and we are more than happy to collaborate with Salterns on the event.”

He said they saw the show as being a community event, with involvement from the RNLI, sea scouts and charities and were talking to yacht clubs about events to encourage young people onto the water over the weekend.

“Our aim is to make Poole Harbour Boat Show an accessible and fully-inclusive event which puts Poole firmly on the map for quality UK marine activity.”

It was supported by the British Marine Federation and key stakeholders he said, and the intention was for it to grow in advance of Poole hosting European Maritime Day in 2017.