Southport Wooden Boat Show

The 3nd Annual Southport Wooden Boat Show, sponsored by the SWBS Committee, in conjunction with Downtown Southport, Inc., will be held on Saturday, September 29, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

As with last year's show, boats will be displayed in and around the historic Old Yacht Basin in Southport, North Carolina. Visitors will be able to meet and talk with builders and owners of wooden boats, and to vote for their favorite boat entrant for the People's Choice Award. A team of judges will also award three other prizes: Best Powered Boat, Best Non-Powered Boat - Row/Paddle, Best Non-Powered Boat - Sail. An awards ceremony and dinner for boat exhibitors and vendors and their guests will be held at 5:00pm.

The very popular Nauti-kids events will return to this year’s show, where the little sailors will be able to build (with or without help) their own boats and test their sea-worthiness. Once again there will be face painting, tattoos, and knot tying skills. New to this year’s show will be the “Turtle Man”, Randy Gallagher. Seeing Randy’s turtles is an awesome treat for kids and parents alike.

More boats, both in and out of the water, and more nautical/ maritime Arts and Crafts vendors are expected at this year’s show, which has been growing every year. Nautical and maritime demonstrations are planned along the waterfront, and the model boat exhibit will return to the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport. A new collectors’ quality poster is being designed for the show, which will be available for sale prior to the show at the Southport Visitors Center, at the Ricky Evans Gallery, and at the NC Maritime Museum at Southport, as will the special edition T-shirt for this year’s show. Both will be available at the show from the Ship’s Store tent. Once again, a signed and framed original poster will be up for raffle, with tickets available from any SWBS staff member, and at the Ship’s Store tent.

Musical entertainment will be another new addition to this year’s show and will be provided by the very talented 4-person group Gaelstorm. With an extensive play list, the group specializes in Irish folk music. They have been performing together for over 9 years throughout the Carolinas.

One of the most exciting events of this year’s SWBS will be the Southport Wooden Boat Show Seafood Chowder Cook-off, headed up by Southport’s own Chef Patrick Kelly and sponsored by Brunswick Catch and Cap’n Pete’s Restaurant. Up to twelve teams will compete for cash prizes and the title of SWBS Chowder Champion for 2012. The tasting and voting period will occur from 11:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m., and the new champion will be announced at 3:00 p.m.