Britain’s largest boat show kicks off this weekend with 1,000 boats on display in an area the size of 25 football pitches. A temporary marina has been constructed for the Southampton show, which runs until next Sunday, to provide berths for 300 of the boats, including new launches from big British brands isuch as Sunseeker, Princess and Northshore.

Sunseeker, the Dorset-based builder of luxury motor yachts, will unveil the latest in its Predator range of high-performance models at the show. At 126ft long, the Predator 130 is the largest in the range, with room for 10 guests and eight crew. Despite weighing almost 145 tons, it has a healthy top speed of 28 knots (32mph), thanks to twin engines producing a combined 7,000bhp. It will be the most expensive boat on sale at show, priced from £11m.

Princess will show its 78 and 78V motor yachts, priced from about £2.8m and £2.2m respectively. The 78 is designed for leisurely cruising, with room for eight guests, plus a crew of two, and a master bedroom complete with an en suite bathroom and walk-in wardrobe. The V78, which is also 78ft in length, is the sportier version for those who would prefer to blast rather than cruise around the Mediterranean. It offers improved handling and faster cornering, courtesy of a V-shaped hull that cuts more easily through the water, and the flybridge has been removed to reduce weight and improve aerodynamics. Also expect new launches from British marques Sealine and Fairline.

For those who prefer wind power, Northshore Yachts, based in Chichester, will debut its £517,000 Southerly 49, a powerful and sleek sailing yacht designed primary for fast ocean sailing, yet simple enough to be sailed by just two people and with a swinging keel to ease its passage through shallow waters. Discovery Yachts of Southampton will unveil a stunning 67ft ocean-going sailing yacht and Jeanneau, the French boat builder, will launch three new models, including the Sun Odyssey 57 DS, its 58ft flagship costing about £500,000.

The show is expected to attract 122,000 visitors by the end of its 10-day run. Also on display will be Ellen MacArthur’s Scarlet Oyster yacht, Dame Katie Miller’s bluQube, in which the 22-year-old recently completed the Ostar 2009 single-handed transatlantic race (the youngest female sailor ever to do so) and Jolie Brise, a 96-year-old sailing yacht and the last to carry the Royal Mail.

For more information go to www.southamptonboatshow.com