This weekend’s RYA Sailboat and Windsurf Show at Alexandra Palace (1-2 March) has now opened. It promises to be the best yet with over 230 exhibitors including most of the country’s premiere dinghy and windsurfing classes. Spread over three exhibition halls, there’s loads to see and do with attractions for all the family. For information on opening times, tickets and directions, see our preview here 

A brief tour of the main hall this morning revealed many new boats and bits of kit that should keep the keen dinghy sailor enthralled for a good while. One surprise came from spying the sail logo “370” from a distance. Having never heard of such a class, a closer inspection was called for.

To all intents and purposes, the 370 is a scaled-down 420. Designed by Stephen Jones, the 3.8m trapeze dinghy represents an intermediate step between the popular Optimist class and the RYA youth training 420 class, which can often require more weight than the average 11-13 year-old two-man crew can muster.

The new 370 is just one of the new boats to make a debut at the Show. Unlike the London and Southampton Boat Shows, the RYA Sailboat and Windsurf lasts just two days, so if you’ve got a few hours spare this weekend, come and visit us at Alexandra Palace in the Panorama Hall.