VISITORS to this year’s Poole Harbour Boat Show will be able to try free activities such as kayaking, paddle boarding and dinghy sailing thanks to a new partnership with Rockley Watersports.

The show, in association with Sunseeker International, runs from June 7-9 and is organised by Poole Harbour Commissioners.

It drew 32,000 visitors last year and is billed as the biggest free boat show on the south coast.

Show marketing manager Tracy Payne said: “We are feeling incredibly lucky to have Rockley Watersports on board. The Boat Show prides itself on not just being a ‘free to attend’ show but also providing a diverse and fun mix of free activities for visitors to trial and experience. The Boat Show’s theme is about getting people ‘on the water’, particularly younger people, and our partnership with Rockley very much helps to achieve this objective.“Rockley will be providing ‘on the water’ taster sessions, including kayaks, paddle boards and dinghies. There will be so much for kids to do and Rockley’s involvement provides an extra element to the show. Their activities will be located at the east end of the show, opposite the Thistle Hotel.”

Rockley Watersports managing director Pip Woods said: “The Poole Harbour Boat Show is a fabulous event which we are very supportive of. We are very keen that children and adults have the opportunity to experience water activities, develop new skills, challenge themselves and potentially develop a passion for a new sport – always under the supervision of our fully qualified Royal Yachting Association Instructors. Whilst being a great day out for families, the show also perfectly showcases all that Rockley can offer to youngsters and adults.”

Poole-based Rockley Watersports also has bases in the Midlands and France.