At 1100 on Friday 19th September record breaking sailor and engineer Jazz Turner will open the new Wooden Boat Stage (Stand A012) at the Southampton International Boat Show.
Jazz will be joined by Will Reed (Boat Building Academy), Colin Henwood (Wooden Boatbuilder’s Trade Association) and Belinda Joslin (Women In Boat Building) and together they will speak about how the stage came about and how the wooden boat industry is working together to be more accessible.
Located beside the main entrance of the show in the new Explore Boating area, the Wooden Boat Stage will bring the art of boatbuilding to life, showcasing the amazing people and skills in the UK, demonstrating the viability of wood as a sustainable material for the future, as well as showcasing some of the incredible history and heritage of UK wooden boats.
Jazz Turner – breaking records and building boats
In June 2025 Jazz set the record as the first wheelchair user to complete a solo, non-stop and unassisted circumnavigation of the UK and Ireland, completing her journey in 28 days.
Jazz Turner’s journey into sailing began when she was 13 and her route into the marine industry began through building her own Farr 3.7 and repairing wooden Fireball dinghies that she went on to race nationally and internationally. Now 27, she has a degree in Mechanical Engineering and is pursuing a career in the sailing industry full time as both an athlete and a coach. For the past four years Jazz has represented GB at an international level in the RS Venture Connect and is currently ranked first in the world.
“It’s an honour to be invited to open the Wooden Boat Stage. It still takes me by surprise whenever anyone is interested in my story. It’s great to be able to share more about my background, in particular how wooden boats gave me an affordable entry into the sport that has since taken me on to compete internationally.Without wooden boats I wouldn’t be where I am today.” Jazz Turner
“We’re delighted that Jazz is our guest of honour and will cut the ribbon to open the first ever Wooden Boat Stage. Her story has inspired so many people – not just her sailing achievements, but her can-do attitude to fixing and adapting her boat ‘Fear’ so it works for her and she can fulfil her dreams. Jazz is looking for her next boat to race around the world and we want to help her find a boat – loaned or gifted – that she can update and race in the 2026 WorldStar Race, a solo, non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation of the globe.” Belinda Joslin, Founder Women in Boatbuilding
In addition to the Wooden Boat Stage opening ceremony Jazz Turner will also be available to meet visitors and journalists at 1300 on both Saturday 20th September and Saturday 27th September on the Women in Boatbuilding stand (A020). She will also present on the Wooden Boat Stage on Sunday 28th September at 1400 “‘From building wooden Fireballs to breaking records – hear from Marine Engineer Jazz Turner about her life so far, and what comes next”.
New Wooden Boat Stage – A012
The Wooden Boat Stage is a collaboration between the Wooden Boatbuilders’ Trade Association, the Boat Building Academy, and Women in Boatbuilding. The programme includes a vibrant programme of panel discussions, talks and interviews alongside live demonstrations of carving, steam bending, paddle making, epoxy work, model-making, riveting, caulking and splicing with modern ropes.
The Wooden Boat stage (Stand A012) will be officially opened at 1100 on Friday 19th September with short talks from:
● Jazz Turner – her journey from building wooden dinghies to her search for a boat and funding for the next ambitious project
● Colin Henwood (Chair, Wooden Boatbuilders’ Trade Association)
● Will Reed (Director, Boat Building Academy)
● Belinda Joslin, (Founder, Women in Boatbuilding)
The full Wooden Boat Stage schedule can be found on the Southampton Boat Show website: www.southamptonboatshow.com/the-wooden-boat-stage/
