Sea thrills and spills at the Boat Festival

Boats, fishing rigs, wakeboard demonstrations, jetski rides and yacht racing will be on offer on Tauranga's waterfront as part of the second annual Boat Expo and Water Festival.

The event - to be held on Tauranga's Strand Waterfront from November 2-4 - will see plenty of action throughout the weekend. And event manager Allison Stewart is expecting a big turnout.

"We were just thrilled to bits we had over 4000 last year. It was really well attended. It was great," she says.

The original intention was to to be hold the Expo every two years but last year's success prompted organisers to make it an annual event.

Stewart says the aim is to make it a real family event. There will be interactive fun plus the chance to view some very impressive boats. You can learn about fishing equipment and how to bait a hook or simply admire the extensive range of watercraft.

The Expo is organised by the Tauranga Marine Industry Association and chairman Brian Kent says punters will be able to wander through the site, which is located right on the Tauranga Harbour.

"Showcasing the beautiful Tauranga Harbour and having fun on the water is what this Expo is all about," he says. "We encourage people to take the opportunity for a free jet-ski rides and to try out the paddleboards and kayaks; a ride in the amphibious Sealegs craft is a real treat."

The Bath Tub Boys will run scheduled races and there will be demonstrations from wake boarders and water-skiers.

The Tauranga Yacht Club will be racing just off the harbour's edge.

Go to www.boatexpo.co.nz for more details.