Organisers of MarineEx, Weymouth’s boat show, are hailing the decision to move the show as a success.

The 2010 show will take place at the new Osprey Quay in Portland, instead of its previous home at Weymouth Harbour.

And with stand bookings up 50 per cent on 2009 this decision appears to have been vindicated.

Show organiser for Osprey Marketing John Moyce said: “In some ways it was a difficult decision, in others it was really something that had to be done if the show was going to continue to grow and offer our exhibitors and visitors the event they all wanted.

“Moving to Osprey Quay, the doubt was if the exhibitors would still book and could we get the visitors there. Well the exhibitors have certainly voted with their commitment on stand bookings along with the number of activities we will have both on land and on the water.”

The show takes place on July 3 and 4, coinciding with the first two days of Weymouth and Portland’s Spirit of the Sea festival, and is free to enter.

The main reasons for moving the show were the large free parking area around the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy – home of the 2012 Olympics’ sailing events – and the Portland marina will have a large pontoon available for the show’s Try-A-Boat scheme.

More information on the show, including stand availability, can be found on www.wpmd.co.uk.