This year’s Paris Boat Show has been cancelled in the wake of new coronavirus restrictions in France which would have limited the event to just 1,000 visitors.

The Salon Nautique International de Paris, which is scheduled for December each year, usually hosts more than 200,000 people and over 800 exhibitors — among the regulars being Irish dealers MGM Boats and BJ Marine — at the Porte de Versailles.

Plans has been in place to adapt the 2020 edition to abide by previous rules which limited such exhibitions to 5,000 people and mandated social distancing protocols.

Similar measures were put in place at Europe’s first post-COVID indoor boat show, INTERBOOT at Friedrichshafen in Germany this week, where visitor and exhibitor numbers were reportedly down.

However, with the latestrestrictions those plans are no longer possible, according to organisers the Fédération des Industries Nautiques (FIN).

“The new measures hasten our decision and leave us no choice,” said FIN president Yves Lyon-Caen. “The consequences will be serious, especially for all SMEs for which trade shows are key moments for their turnover.

“The autumn and winter shows are real places of business where 70% of annual orders are processed. They are essential landmarks in our economic ecosystem.

“We will do everything in our power to continue to provide the best possible assistance to all companies in the French nautical sector to get through this new ordeal and to prepare for the future for 2021.”

The FIN says it will soon announce a digital replacement for this year’s Paris Boat Show under the heading ‘tourism, territories nautical destinations and innovation’.

Meanwhile, a free online boat show hosted by Bateaux.com is set to open from Thursday 8 October at boatshow.fr

Details for next year's course of the La Solitaire du Figaro race were revealed at the Paris Boat Show yesterday. The race will comprise four French towns and Dun Laoghaire will be the only foreign port of call when the boats are expected to arrive on 10 August.

In spite of Dublin airport weather delays a National YC contingent headed by Commodore Peter Ryan made it to Paris in time for the announcement.

Following several days for rest, the fleet shall once again set sail on 7 August for the second leg, of 470 nautical miles, that will take the Figaro Bénéteau 2 towards Dún Laoghaire. After leaving the Bay of Seine, a 40-mile or so run, the first obstacle will be the passage of the Barfleur point. The course remains inshore, as the single-handed sailors will sail along the Cotentin to the cape of the Hague, before heading towards the Channel Islands.

It will be compulsory to leave the islands of Aurigny, Herm and Guernsey to starboard. The skippers will then take on a long crossing of the English Channel, 120 nautical miles to Land's End. The last third of the course is a sail up almost full north over 190 nautical miles to reach Dún Laoghaire.

The Dublin Bay harbour is set to be a discovery for the visiting sailors and where the National Yacht Club are to be the host venue. After a few days rest and recuperation, the fleet then will set sail on 14 August to The Vendée and Les Sables d'Olonne. This third leg is long at 475 nautical miles with boats expected on 17 August.

Four days later and the final leg departs on 21 August with the boats setting a course for Dieppe, to arrive on 24 August. On the following day the Normandy port will also be hosting a closing regatta. For more information www.lasolitaire.com

Preparing for La Solitaire du Figaro here