Boot Düsseldorf picks up speed

Germany’s major yachting and watersport show, boot 2012, will be taking place in Düsseldorf between 21 January and 29 January 2012.

1600 exhibitors from over 50 countries will be presenting their innovations for the coming season in 17 Düsseldorf exhibition halls from 21 to 29 January 2012 – from fishing rods right through to luxurious large yachts. Stand space is in great demand and the number of exhibitors is likely to exceed last year’s figures. Assessing the situation Goetz-Ulf Jungmichel, director of boot Düsseldorf, said: “The international yachting and watersports industry places great trust in boot as the central, European marketplace for the industry – not least due to the differing pace of growth on European markets. In Germany and northern Europe the economic recovery after the years of crisis is most noticeable. International exhibitors want to capitalise on this.”

Messe Düsseldorf expects some 650 foreign participations at boot 2012. This means more than one in three exhibitors will come from abroad. The biggest exhibiting nation will be the Netherlands with 150 shipyards, fitters and service providers, followed by Italy (60), France (50), Austria (35) and the United Kingdom, with 30 participants.

Boats and yachts will also be in the limelight at boot Düsseldorf in 2012. An unrivalled international array of boats with 1700 types of all sizes spreads over 11 exhibition halls.

Halls 16 and 17 will feature a range of sailing boats and yachts presented by 150 exhibitors. Particularly positive is the trend in the small yet refined special segment of catamarans and trimarans which were given their own separate, dedicated platform in Hall 15 last year. The concept went down so well that many exhibitors have decided to extend their presentations at boot 2012; i.e. they now wish to bring their boats rather than information stands to Düsseldorf. 15 suppliers in Hall 15 will be covering all aspects of the popular multi-hull sailing.

The Big Five

The demand for exhibition space for sports boats and power boats up to 60 feet long is at the previous year’s level. 250 shipyards, dealers and importers are guaranteed to present a representative overview of power boating in a total of six exhibition halls. Clearly increasing in appeal is Exhibition Hall 4 as the centre of the ‘Big Five’ in power-boat building: Bavaria, Bénéteau, Jeanneau, Galeon and Nimbus. This hall was extensively refurbished in 2011 and fitted with new entrance concourses that not only make for a bright, friendly atmosphere but also improve visitor guidance and, hence, create more movement in the hall.

A presentation of Dutch steel-hull yachts comes care of ‘Holland Boats & Yachts’ in Hall 5.

Comfortable and luxurious yachts showcased indoors will also remain a hallmark of boot Düsseldorf in 2012. Hall 6 awaits visitors with around 40 large yachts as well as highend boats and tender boats. Up to 30 yachts will be travelling to Düsseldorf by waterway where they will make a ‘shore excursion’ to boot with the help of ‘Big Willi’, the lift, and heavy towing equipment.

From Fairline, Ferretti and San Lorenzo to Princess or Riva – the ‘who’s who’ of the world’s luxury yachts will be represented in Hall 6.

Virtual presences

However, what is equally apparent here is that no sustainable recovery for yachts beyond 60 feet is in sight as yet. They are not available in pre-crisis quantities as exhibits. Specifically, Italian shipyards, which dominate this market, are still navigating in troubled economic waters and some are looking for better value-for-money options for participating at boot. Messe Düsseldorf has responded to this request and offered the affected exhibitors the option of image stands. As a complement, computer-aided applications including so-called ‘augmented reality’ are to be used to enhance such exhibits as yacht scale-models or images with virtual yacht animations via smartphone cameras or webcams.

For high-calibre customers in this sector the ‘Blue Motion Lounge’ in Hall 6 will be revived. This business and shopping area combines excellent catering with comfortable rooms for meetings and negotiations with customers as well as exclusive boutiques for browsing to visitors. There is a separate entrance area for VIPs.

Still extremely well received is Düsseldorf’s Superyacht Show in Hall 7a boasting over 100 international participants. Here plans and scale models of yacht projects and the associated services are presented at information stands including such joint participations as Deutsche Yachten, Superyacht France and Holland Yachting Group.

Classic and traditional boats or replicas are centre stage at the Classic Show in Hall 15.

The hotspot for yachtsmen is the ‘Sailing Centre’ in Hall 17 where yachting stars inform visitors about their current projects and sports ambitions. Globetrotters share their experiences while experts provide tips revolving around sports and boats. Visitors can take a look at the various yacht classes, from Optimists to Starboats, and gather useful information on their sailing characteristics from the relevant class associations.

Want to be kept right up to date about boot Düsseldorf and its sector? The Internet portal boat-duesseldorf.com keeps visitors and watersports fans informed. n

Visit: www.boat-duesseldorf.com

French shipbuilder OCEA is exhibiting at boot 2012 in Hall 07A. OCEA is recognised as a pioneer in aluminum shipbuilding and enjoys a strong and reliable reputation in the professional shipbuilding sector. With four production sites located along the French Atlantic Coast, OCEA Shipbuilding delivers annually 10 to 15 vessels, up to 60m long, ranging from Fast Patrol Boats and Passenger Vessels to Motor Yachts. Professional knowledge combined with its aluminum expertise has enabled OCEA to conceive two ranges of yachts: OCEA Commuter and OCEA Classic. These yachts constitute real value-added products, with excellent stability underway and at anchor, great ease to manoeuvre, speed of 10 to 20 knots, low fuel consumption, transatlantic ranges and low maintenance. Impelled by care for the sea and its preservation, OCEA is strongly committed to designing environmentally-friendly yachts.

Visit: www.ocea-yacht.fr