| Organised by Fira de Barcelona in partnership with the National Association of Nautical Companies (ANEN in its Spanish initials), the Barcelona Boat Show sets sail towards its most professional facet with the holding of the first Nautic Tech International Investment Forum, a competition involving 35 national and international startups linked to the nautical industry, and the second edition of the Professional Meetings sessions, a series of meetings to promote business contacts among professionals within the nautical sector.
In addition, the Boat Show will display more than 120 new products related to boats, engines and electronics, revealing how the world’s leading major brands are committing to the incorporation of technology to increase the performances of their sailing boats, yachts, speedboats and engines. These new products include a dozen models nominated for Best European Boat of the Year. Thus, the docks, El Moll d’Espanya and El Moll de la Fusta at Port Vell will host one of the largest floating exhibitions in recent years and the very best currently on offer in Spain. Meanwhile, on land, small vessels and rigid inflatable boats will be on display, as well as the latest products related to electronics, engines, paints, sails, trailers, charters and nautical services. More on offer, more innovation Brands such as Astondoa, Hanse, Solaris, Dufour, Jeanneau, Bénéteau, Sunseeker, Azimut, Bayliner, De Antonio Yachts, Pardo Yachts, Prestige and Quicksilver will attend a Show set to reflect the improved situation within the sector. In 2018 there will be 275 display cases and more than 700 vessels (171 in the water), occupying more than 25,400 square metres of net surface area, 8% bigger than last year. In addition, there will be a brokerage space for second-hand boats between 18 and 30 metres in length. Luis Conde, the show’s chairman, believes that “the innovation and commitment to supporting young entrepreneurs demonstrate that the Barcelona Boat Show is the nautical sector’s best commercial and promotional platform in Spain and one of the most important in Europe. I hope that the volume of business generated this year within the framework of the event contributes to the reactivation the sector is currently undergoing”. In this regard, Carlos Sanlorenzo, General Secretary of the National Association of Nautical Companies (ANEN), explains that “the 2018 nautical season has remained positive, with a 4.3% increase in recreational boat registrations until August”. He highlights the economic impact and multiplying effect of recreational sailing, which “contributes 12,000 million euros to Spain’s total effective production and generates 82,345 jobs in terms of direct and indirect employment”. Sailing Fans An extensive programme of activities and experiences to promote sailing will be another of the great attractions of this year’s Boat Show. Thus, Fira de Barcelona’s Show launches a new slogan, “Fans of the sea”, seeking to target new audiences. Director Jordi Freixas states that “year after year, it shows that it is one of the best instruments in the sector for increasing the number of enthusiasts”. In addition, the Barcelona Boat Show will attach particular importance to sport-related and light sailing as a result of the partnership with the Barcelona Oceanic Navigation Foundation (FNOB in its Spanish initials) and the Catalan Sailing Federation (FCV in its Catalan initials). The Show will feature 12 light sailing, initiation and oceanic boats in the water and on land, and a promotional space (“Sailing Fans”) at El Moll de la Fusta. It will also offer various experiences to enable visitors to enjoy the sea. Thus, in the Fun Beach Area there will be a testing area for light sailing, kayak and paddle surfing sessions, while there will be a further Barcelona SUP Festival, a meeting place for paddle surfers who will perform this activity in the Port Vell’s waters, and the second Barcelona Paddle Race, an open-sea competition departing from the show venue and finishing in Badalona. Together with the above, the Traditional Marina area hosting an exhibition of classic boats with workshops and activities for the whole family and the Noche de la Náutica (The Nautical Evening), with live music, fashion shows and tastings, will complement the attractive schedule of activities. Similarly, the show will reinforce its gastronomy-related proposals, once again providing the wide range of products on offer in the OneOcean Club and Nautic Food Plaza areas. |
