Extreme adventurer Mike Horn has shared his enthusiasm at opening this year’s Paris Boat Show next weekend.
As previously noted on Afloat.ie, nearly 170,000 visitors are expected to meet the 650 exhibitors spread over two halls at Porte de Versailles for this year’s Salon Nautique International de Paris, which runs from Saturday 3 to Saturday 10 December.
Speaking ahead of the expo, South African-born, Swiss-based explorer says: “After 25 years exploring all corners of the globe during my various adventures, I still prefer navigating the planet’s oceans as my means of transport.
“Sailing has taken me to places I had only dreamed about and awakened a sensitivity for the environments I have ventured into. These two passions have led to the birth of INOCEL.”
This state-of-the-art high power, high performance hydrogen fuel cell is aimed at accelerating the transition to greener propulsion and Horn sits on its board of directors. He says it represents “a new technological solution to continue my adventures and those of others in a more responsible and respectful way towards our planet”.
Horn adds: “We cannot stop what we are doing, but we can change the way in which we do it. I am therefore delighted to be the patron of this year's Paris Boat Show. A place where we can get together and create our dreams of tomorrow.”
Organisers of Nautic 2022 have also shared more details on what to expect across the event’s massive exhibition space.
Hall 1 will feature 700 craft, from sailing boats and motor boats to dinghies, windsurfers and engine manufacturers. It also includes the maritime and river rental area, regions and destinations (Occitanie, Corsica, Brittany, Normandy, Nouvelle Aquitaine, Spain, the Canaries, Tunisia, and more), and banking, insurance and services sectors, including boating licences.
The main hall will also be the host of numerous world premieres, not limited to RM Yachts’ flagship RM 1390, and Rosewest’s Cape Cod 767 Lounge.
Next door at Hall 2.2 will group all the equipment, from the most traditional to the latest innovations: fittings, electronics, fishing, energy, sails, paints and varnishes, decoration and the craft industry. The Galerie Marchande is also located in this hall where clothing and accessories are on offer at attractive prices.
Once again this year, in conjunction with the Swimming Pool and Spa Professionals Federation, a space dedicated to swimming pools, saunas, spas and shelters will round out the range of nautical products and services.
A key date for the Nautic 2022 itinerary is Wednesday 7 December which will see the awards for Motor Boat of the Year and Yacht of the Year on the Nautic stage at 4.30pm CET, in partnership with Editions Larivière.
And that’s not to mention the show-closing presentation prizes for the winners of the 2022 Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe.
For much more see the official Paris Boat Show website.