BOATS 2020 Cancelled

[Sticky Fingers]

Maybe the end for SIBS. If I were the organiser I’d be looking for somewhere else to host the show in future years, To cancel at this 11th hour is a disgrace.

Yes. But the organisers might be the villains. MDL OV show and SIBS-Lite both bailed at the last minute. The terms allowed a small rebate (?18%) if cancelled. So the exhbitors have spend 10000's on fees plus untold internal costs, and lost it all. Show organisers cash in regardless.

Shameful.

Or maybe I have that wrong, if the organisers read this please chip in. But I smell a rat.

 

[lionelz]

Surely they don't have any choice ? It's the new guidance from the government, don't the rules come in from Monday so pointless having a show for one day. But either way I am sure everyone will be losing money including the show organisers.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

..DELETED>>

 

[Sticky Fingers]

... But either way I am sure everyone will be losing money including the show organisers.

No. They keep the fees paid. That was my point.

 

[prv]

It’s true that the “News” section of the comics always used to be full of stuff that had happened ages ago, been thoroughly discussed here, and then forgotten. But even were that not the case, it’s hard to see how a printed publication is supposed to inform you of a cancellation mere hours before the scheduled opening.

Pete

 

[lionelz]

No. They keep the fees paid. That was my point.

But surely they have had expenses as well (I am not saying they should keep the money either)

 

[lionelz]

Southampton's BOATS2020 cancelled over virus fears hours before gates open

Looks like it wasn't the boat people organisers that cancelled it

 

[HissyFit]

It's a shame there isn't a sailing publication where you could read about news like this. I don't know, maybe a publishing house with 3-4 monthly yachting and boating magazines with an online presence. The only one I can find appears to be a long-running advertisement for a youtube channel.

To be fair, all British boating journalists are currently tucked up in bed. It's only us insomniacs that know about this. Scratch that. They had since yesterday evening, so they had plenty of time to actually use the news section for this news.

 

[BlueChip]

It is on the BBC News home page - Southampton's BOATS2020 cancelled over virus fears hours before gates open

 

[HissyFit]

It is on the BBC News home page - Southampton's BOATS2020 cancelled over virus fears hours before gates open

And that was only posted three hours ago. Admittedly, the cancellation of a boat show is hardly stop press news, but still a five hour delay between the cancellation and it getting reported... I don't know... everyone will have to make up their own mind about that.

 

[DJE]

It was on the BBC TV evening news.

Aired at 18:30 yesterday on South Today.

 

[Little Dorrit]

The rule of 6 will prove to be the ruin of many similar events I fear. Should have had it in Wales and made it an event for under 6 year olds.

 

[matt1]

Very disappointing for all those who have put effort and financial resources into trying to make something of this. I particularly feel for the Ocean Village show as to me that looked to be very well risk managed. Since it was appointment only, and many of the boats will have come from Hamble, maybe they can shift all the boats back to the Hamble marinas and keep most of their appointments there.

 

[Tomahawk]

Council workers at their best. To cancel an event hours before it is supposed to start

I suspect a few exhibitors may well go bankrupt from the expence incurred and losses.. but the people who have inflicted that on others will simply walk away from the consequences all the while saynig they are following proceedure.

 

[Tintin]

The more I think about this the more outraged I am. To do this the night before. Stands built. Staff in hotels etc is disgraceful. A week before fine. The politicians don’t pay for this the small businesses that were brave enough to exhibit do

Err, have you noticed there is this thing called Covid that's killing people?

 

[sarabande]

I am amazed that people should think that an exception be made for a boat show. There are numerous businesses around the country that are having to shut because of the new Covid rules, and I would expect that Boat2020 organisers and exhibitors, who have made serious financial commitments to the show, would have done the due diligence actions and taken precautions against cancellation. What about horse racing, other sports, hospitality, entertainment, etc ?

It's not as if the second wave has not been predicted for ages.

If you want to blame someone, blame the country where the disease originated. Or would you be happy to accept that anyone who contracts Covid at a boat show over the next ten days can hold the government or MDL responsible ?

 

[RivalRedwing]

I get the issue of exhibitors likely to be out of pocket but do we really want this to be the yotty equivalent of the Cheltenham Festival. I know its different in many ways, but I also know the spin that the red tops will put on it...

I see I am mirroring sarabande...

 

[Stemar]

TBH, with the big increases in CV infections, I don't think anybody had any real choice. Ok, there's a case to be made that it could have been done sooner and, certainly an argument about fees, but anyone with half a brain would have known that there was always a risk that it would be cancelled at short notice. I haven't been to a boat show for a few years - too much temptation to spend money on stuff I don't need, but my recollection of the crowds suggests that social distancing's out the window.

 

[DJE]

Very disappointing for all those who have put effort and financial resources into trying to make something of this. I particularly feel for the Ocean Village show as to me that looked to be very well risk managed. Since it was appointment only, and many of the boats will have come from Hamble, maybe they can shift all the boats back to the Hamble marinas and keep most of their appointments there.

Looks like that is what is happening.

 

[duncan99210]

On the topic of fees, don’t the rules about frustrated contracts come into play? If the show can‘t go ahead for whatever reason, then the terms and conditions become null and void as the contract can’t be completed and refunds are due? I know that holiday accommodation providers whose normal t&c stated no refunds were forced to give full refunds via the small claims court when Covid prevented people from taking up booking. (And yes, I know that decisions in the Small Claims Court do not establish legal precedent but it’s an indication that a claim would probably succeed.)