What the Southampton Boat 2025 Show Taught Me
I went to this year’s Southampton Boat Show on what I called a research trip. A friend of mine had previously bought a boat from one of the exhibiting brands, so we were lucky enough to have complimentary tickets and a private viewing of their latest model set to launch in 2026. Not a bad way to start a Friday.
After wandering around the docks for a while, admiring everything from sailing dinghies to super yachts, I realised what I really wanted wasn’t just to look at boats, it was to meet people. I was there to connect with potential partners and suppliers who might be able to help with Loop, if only to provide insights that I didn’t already know.
Throughout the day, I had some fantastic conversations with everyone from sailmakers to navigation system vendors. But one of my most enjoyable was with the team at the SailGP stand. I’ve followed the series online for a while and had planned to attend the Portsmouth event earlier this year, but as often happens… life got in the way. Speaking with the SailGP representatives (part salesperson, part hype-man) was a real highlight.
They walked me through the development process of their racing yachts, from early design to full-scale engineering, there was even a virtual reality headset to test out what it’s like to be the helmsman. To be honest watching it online, I hadn’t quite appreciated how much R&D goes into these boats. Every curve, every angle, every material choice is tested and refined in the pursuit of marginal gains. It’s pretty much the equivalent of Formula 1, only wetter.
Later in the afternoon, I climbed aboard the winning yacht from this year’s Clipper Round the World Race, a 40,000 nautical mile marathon that’s as grueling as it sounds. The crew were incredibly generous with their time, answering all my questions and talking about life during the race. Rather like the SailGP yachts, it didn’t take long to see that this yacht was built for speed and endurance, not comfort. There was no luxury in sight, just raw, purposeful design. Every element existed to perform a single task, nothing more.
That moment stuck with me as the day passed.
On the water, reliability and performance aren’t just desirable, they’re everything. Appearance and comfort come second.
As I thought about Loop and the materials we’re testing, the titanium tri-glides, the recycled sailcloth, the marine-grade thread that Kelsey suggested, it all started to make sense. The best design, whether for yachts or watch straps, starts with purpose. Every component needs to earn its place.
That’s what the Southampton Boat Show really taught me: craftsmanship is about intent, not excess. Build it strong, build it smart, and let beauty follow function.
