The 2008 PSP Southampton Boat Show started with a bang today as sailing legends from the last forty years took to the stage. Well-known faces from Sir Robin Knox-Johnston to Dame Ellen MacArthur and the entire British Olympic team posed for photos and Olympic Gold Medallist Ben Ainslie cut the ribbon to open the show.

Live music from the sixties to today and an accompanying fashion show introduced the show’s highlights, which this year include the Tall Ship Jeannie Johnston, Pete Goss’ Australia-bound lugger Spirit of Mystery – here for the day only -, Mike Golding’s Open 60 Ecover, along with sail and powerboats of all shapes and sizes. Robin Knox Johnston’s Suhaili and Sir Alec Rose’s Lively Lady are also at the show, which began forty years ago.

YBW’s cameras were at the show – see some of the highlights of the first day in our video below…