The boating and water sports industry has given a positive verdict on the recently concluded boot Düsseldorf 2024 international boat show.

Despite facing difficult conditions such as winter weather and strikes, the event still managed to attract 214,000 visitors from 120 countries. According to the CEO & President of Messe Düsseldorf, Wolfram Diener, the event was a success and exceeded expectations.

Since the demise of the London Show, Boot Düsseldorf is now established among the Irish trade as the focal point of new boat sales business for the winter months and this year's edition appeared to deliver again.

Irish yacht broker Gerry Salmon of MGM Boats, who was elected Irish Marine Federation Chairman during the show, said, "Dusseldorf is the place to demonstrate all the latest new models we have coming for 2024 to our existing clients and an opportunity to meet new customers too". 

The trade fair saw an increase in both the proportion of trade visitors and international customers.

"We are very pleased with the outcome of the show and the pulse is definitely back in the European market", Salmon told Afloat.

The Irish Marine Federation board members at Boot Dusseldorf 2024 (from left to right) Porick Murray of Pontoons Ireland, James Kirwan of BJ Marine, Ian O'Meara of Viking Marine, newly elected chairman Gerry Salmon of MGM Boats, Paal Janson of Dun Laoghaire Marine, Damien Offer of Malahide Marina, Jonathan O'Connor Moneley of Carlingford Marina and Cronan O'Donnell of POD Marine

Likewise, Wicklow broker James Kirwan of BJ Marine expressed his satisfaction with his attendance: "We have confirmed orders on both our sail and power boat ranges from Beneteau. We also have clients currently weighing up very aggressive offers for new boats with excellent availability and stronger show deals than we have seen in many years".

The event is the only water sports fair in the world that attracts people from all continents.

"Our Northman and Princess Yachts displays also had steady flows of Irish visitors, which shows an appetite for, and curiosity of, new products remains strong in Irish boaters. Boot goes from strength to strength and Irish marine businesses play a big part in the success story. We’ll be back in 2025!" Kirwan said.

The majority of visitors were interested in sailing yachts, followed by powerboat fans, divers, charterers, and surfers. Boating apparel and travel were also in high demand, with boatwear and nautical tourism proving to be popular. 

Exhibitors at the event were also pleased with the outcome. Sea Ray spokesperson Hans Roeland said, "One look at our stand says more than a thousand words! It was packed! We did excellent business and gained new customers throughout the boot 2024 trade fair. We were able to get visitors interested in our stand and conclude many deals." Hanjo Runde, CEO of HanseYachts, echoed the positive sentiment and stated that they were overwhelmed by the rush of over 10,000 visitors to their sailing and motor yachts. 

The success of boot Düsseldorf 2024 proves that the event has an excellent international standing in the industry. The trade fair provided a unique platform for networking, and visitors were extremely positive about the show program. The event ended on a high note, and the next boot Düsseldorf is scheduled to take place from 18 to 26 January 2025.

This month's boot Dusseldorf will be special for French Manufacturer Dufour, who will celebrate its 60th anniversary and the World Première of the Dufour 44.

“The launch of the new Dufour 44 is very exciting and follows the very successful launch of the Dufour 41 last year. Both the 41 and 44 are amazing boats because of their performance and volume. Their modern and aggressive styling is a sign that they mean business,' says Irish agent Hugh Mockler of Crosshaven Boatyard.

"They are head turners and would certainly be easy to handle in Irish waters by a couple", Mockler says about the new marques.

boot Düsseldorf 2024 runs from 20-28 January and is one of the largest marine events in the world, with over 2,000 exhibitors across 17 halls.

Dufour will have three models on display at Boot Dusseldorf: 41, 44, and 530. Hugh Mockler will be on hand at the last weekend of the show from Friday to Sunday to show you around.

For more information, contact Hugh Mockler at Crosshaven Boatyard.

Candela’s C-8 electric foiling boat has been named the European Powerboat of the Year 2023 at the European Powerboat Awards, also known as the ‘Oscars of the boat industry’.

The award presented at boot Düsseldorf last weekend recognises the C-8’s outstanding performance and innovation in the industry.

The Candela C-8 won the electric boat category thanks to its cutting-edge hydrofoil technology, which allows the boat to fly on water using only a fraction of the energy conventional boats need.

With a range of 50-plus nautical miles at 22 knots, the C-8 has two to three times the range of conventional electric boats and matches the performance of fossil fuel-powered speedboats.

Its active hydrofoil system ensures a smooth ride, while its onboard computer automatically adjusts for side winds and waves, providing a more comfortable boating experience.

The real game-changer lies in the C-8’s energy efficiency, according to its Stockholm-based manufacturer. With 80% lower energy consumption than conventional vessels and an almost non-existent wake, the C-8 causes minimal disturbance to marine life, Candela says.

In a recently announced partnership, Candela’s electric outboard engines will use batteries from electric premium car maker Polestar, which will allow the C-8 to achieve an even longer range, further pushing the boundaries of what is possible with electric boats.

“We’re committed to revolutionising the boating industry by creating electric boats that are not only more sustainable and environmentally friendly, but also outperform traditional fossil fuel-powered boats, thus accelerating the transition to sustainable boating,” says Mikael Mahlberg, Candela’s head of communications. “Winning the European Powerboat of the Year 2023 award is an important recognition for our work.”

The Candela C-8 is on display at boot Düsseldorf which closes today, Sunday 29 January. For more information visit candela.com.

This past weekend at boot Düsseldorf was a big one for Dun Laoghaire-based agents MGM Boats, with the world premiere of Jeanneau’s new DB/37 and the launch of the electric Delphia 10 Lounge — as well as the reveal of the new flagship of Prestige’s M-Line in the M8.

Following the M48, the first in the M-Line that was launched last year, the multihull M8 promises an unprecedented experience: to live in perfect harmony with the sea on smooth, serene cruises, more respectful of the environment with a reduced fuel consumption.

The M8 also aims to redefine the onboard experience with a living area of more than 270 sq m “unequalled in its category” and twin hulls ensuring natural stability and excellent seaworthiness.

The M8 is being touted as ‘a true villa on the sea’, to which this artist’s impression of the interior can testify | Credit: Prestige Yachts

“The M8, flagship of the M-Line by Prestige, represents the quintessence of our savoir-faire in terms of design, elegance, and fit and finish,” says Erwin Bamps, vice president of Prestige.

“I would like to underscore the unique character of Prestige, the only Franco-Italian yacht builder in the world, today, combining the French mastery of serial production and Italian heritage in large yacht construction.”

While remaining faithful to Prestige’s identity, the M8 features a distinctive hull, designed from the start uniquely for a motor yacht.

Living is easy onboard the M8, its creators promise | Credit: Prestige Yachts

The result is a multihull that is less wide but taller than a sailing catamaran, offering unequalled surface area and dimensions, which Prestige says is never before seen in existing monohulls and multihulls on the market.

“The M8 is a true villa on the sea,” says its designer, Camillo Garroni. “The layout, living spaces, ease of movement and safety on board have been designed to optimise the experience of the owners and their family.”

Discover new horizons, get closer to nature and reconnect with yourself and others in a spacious, refined, bright environment with the M8 from Prestige. There’s more on the Prestige website — and if you’re at boot Düsseldorf this week, meet the team from MGM Boats for details.

Jeanneau expands its DB Yachts line with the new DB/37, which had its world premiere at boot Düsselforf on Saturday 21 January.

Benefiting from all the savoir-faire and creativity of Jeanneau, the DB/37 is available in inboard and outboard versions and features a streamlined silhouette designed by Camillo Garroni, with a distinctive personality.

This new model perfectly represents the DB Yachts line, upholding the core principles that made the DB/43 a success.

The deck plan privileges exterior space and easy movement on board, and while at anchor, side terraces can extend the cockpit toward the sea.

Faithful to the promise of the DB Yachts line, “More than you expect”, the DB/37 seduces all those adept at cruising with private living spaces and a refined interior, unique aboard a day boat.

Inviting and protective, the DB/37 is designed for you to fully benefit from the sea, to experience and share unforgettable moments. A true party boat, with an optimal interior layout, she also offers the possibility of extended stays onboard — and all of this with the stylish allure of elegant lines.

Jeanneau is display the inboard version of the new DB/37 until next Sunday 29 January in Hall 5 at Stand C19. Irish agents for Jeanneau, MGM Boats in Dun Laoghaire, will be on hand throughout the show for more details.

boot Düsseldorf organisers have confirmed earlier media reports that the world biggest indoor boat show will not take place next month or indeed at any time in 2022.

Due to the spread of the omicron virus variant, further restrictions have been in place in Germany since 28 December, including on events. Following the meeting of the Minister Presidents of the federal states on the pandemic situation on 21 December 2021, North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) banned the holding of large events with spectators in January. This also affects boot Düsseldorf, which as a supra-regional leisure fair may not take place in 2022 due to the measures decided by the state government.

NRW Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann explains: "We have to continue to be very careful at the moment. The omicron variant is spreading in a dynamic we don't yet know. But we have to act today. That is why we had already banned large football matches and sporting events with spectators in the current Covid Protection Ordinance. It is only logical that no large public fairs with many visitors from different regions and countries from all over the world take place in January either."

North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry of Health: No large public fairs possible in January

Düsseldorf's Lord Mayor, Dr Stephan Keller, also supports the state's decision: "Of course we had hoped that the pandemic situation in January would allow the boot to be held under strict hygiene conditions. But in the end, it is only consistent to do without large public fairs such as boot in order to contain the spread of the omicron variant. Even before the country's ban, I agreed with the management of Messe Düsseldorf not to take an unjustifiable risk and to cancel boot if necessary."

From the trade fair side, there is also a complete understanding for the decision of the politicians in view of the current pandemic situation and the challenges in the coming weeks.

Wolfram N. Diener, CEO of Messe Düsseldorf: "The pandemic must be overcome as quickly as possible so that the trade fair industry can once again work with planning security for exhibitors and visitors. It is therefore with a heavy heart that we have to say goodbye to holding boot in January 2022. However, the decision of the state government is also in line with the wishes of many exhibitors who are very worried about participating in boot during the omicron wave. I ask all those involved for their understanding and support so that we can get back to work together in full force in 2023. The heartfelt thanks of the entire boot Düsseldorf team go to all exhibitors, associations and partners who have stood by our side to date. I am sure that together we will head for a successful boot 2023, after hopefully surviving the crisis."

The other fairs planned for spring 2022 in Düsseldorf are not affected by this decision. Unlike boot, these are trade fairs attended exclusively by people for professional reasons. Messe Düsseldorf considers each event individually and, in addition to the infection, the travel and the legal situation, also takes into account the specific requirements of the respective trade fairs and their sectors.

The next boot Düsseldorf will open its doors again from 21 to 29 January 2023.

For the second year in succession, the giant German Boat Show boot Düsseldorf has been forced to cancel due to mounting Covid-19 infections and new regulations announced by the German government, according to media reports.

The trade fair management company stuck it out to run boot until the very end - despite numerous exhibitor cancellations -  but it appears now the government has provided clarity.

News of the 2022 cancellation first broke internationally on IBI, the UK-based boating industry website on Wednesday evening (December 30th) even though there is still no official confirmation from boot Düsseldorf's website at 8 am on Thursday morning. The website continues to show the 53rd International Boat Show as scheduled to run from January 22 until January 30th.

While the reports may be of no surprise to many as the pandemic deepens, the closure comes after a month of international trade rumours over the viability of staging the world's biggest indoor boat show.

German website Yacht said in an article on Wednesday "The decisions taken at the federal-state conference before Christmas to contain the Omicron variant and the implementation of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in its Corona ordinance make an international trade fair like boot impossible. As the state government just announced, boot will again not take place in January 2022"

Doubts were initially expressed in the autumn then again in early December when the Omicron variant forced several key manufacturers to pull out, one of the first being Danish manufacturer X-Yachts.

Exhibition organisers, however, were insisting the show would go ahead as late as the Christmas Break with Messe Düsseldorf CEO Wolfram Diener saying: "We have a responsibility towards our exhibitors". The German Transport Minister was announced as the VIP to open the show as late as December 20th. 

With almost 250,000 visitors, boot Düsseldorf is the world's largest boat and water sports fair and every year in January the “meeting place" for the entire industry. Around 2,000 exhibitors present their interesting new products, attractive further developments and maritime equipment. 

boot Düsseldorf has become popular with Irish boating fans in recent years due to Brexit, the convenience of direct flights from Ireland plus the demise of the much loved London boat show.

boot Düsseldorf will present across 13 exhibition halls from 22 to 30 January 2022. These are Halls 4 to 6 with, among others, the entire Brunswick Group, all manufacturers of outboard motors, X-Shore, XO-Boats, Princess, Sunseeker, Sirena, Frauscher, Say and ZAR Formenti. Hall 7a with the exhibitors of superyachts, 7 with maritime art, 8b with surfing - for wingfoiling and wingsurfing the 65m pool has been deepened once again and large wind machines provide a powerful breeze for surfing. Here, market leaders such as Starboard, Gunsails, Goya and Gaastra are among the exhibitors on course. Halls 9 and 10 are almost complete with accessories and equipment exhibitors, including Capelli and Bukh Bremen.

In Hall 9, boot Düsseldorf and the European Boating Industry (EBI) will kick off a new stage at the fair in the boot sustainability forum - blue innovation dock (bid). The bid brings together companies, visionaries, investors and politicians to make the industry fit for the future. Sustainability and innovation are to be particularly promoted in this way. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), for example, is participating in bid with a high-level political panel on the development of sustainable coastal and marine tourism. This will focus on the expansion of new and existing destinations for maritime and inland tourism, as well as government support for marinas and other boating infrastructure.

Halls 11 and 12 are the diving and equipment centre of boot, with its highlight, the new diving tower in Hall 12. Here, among others, bts, the specialists for recreational diving, and Padi, the world's largest training network for diving, provide advice. Destination Seaside in Halls 13 and 14 is all about tourism on and around the water, with Kiriacoulis, Argos, Cosmos Yachting, Navigare and Kuhnle Hausboote among the exhibitors with their extensive booking programmes. ADAC, the German automobilist club, and the German Caravaning Industry Association (CIVD) will be showing interesting holiday combinations on the subject of water sports and caravanning.

Due to the cancellations of exhibitors from the sailboat manufacturer sector, Hall 15 is the home of the sailors for boot 2022. 40 exhibitors will present themselves here, including Bavaria, Elan, Saare, Greenboats, Haber Yachts, Imexus, Swallow Yachts as well as Aquacraft. All German class associations will be on board and many dinghy manufacturers will use boot 2022 to present their range of sports boats. The focal point and industry meeting point in Hall 15 is the sailing centre with an attractive stage program covering all aspects of international sailing. In addition, sailors will find a wide range of technical and maritime accessories and equipment in Halls 9, 10 and 11.

The sale of visitor tickets for boot 2022 has started well. Petros Michelidakis: "A look at our ticket shop shows that the international interest in boot 2022 is high. Visitors from a total of 60 countries have bought tickets for boot so far. 22 per cent of the purchases (2020: 28 per cent, final status at the time of the fair) come from interested parties from abroad. This is a very good figure for the current situation and clearly shows that visitors have started their travel plans in December. I am pleased to be able to offer all water sports enthusiasts a special boot here in Düsseldorf with many, attractive hands-on activities, committed exhibitors and a highly interesting stage programme."

Boot Düsseldorf is to go ahead as planned the German organiser has confirmed today despite some exhibitors cancelling their participation. 

The organiser stated today that boot Düsseldorf will take place from 22 to 30 January 2022 with Messe Düsseldorf CEO Wolfram Diener saying: "We have a responsibility towards our exhibitors".

He said he had decided to hold boot 2022 as planned after consultations with the exhibiting branches and consistent implementation of the current Covid Protection Ordinance of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Messe Düsseldorf CEO Wolfram Diener

The confirmation comes as Danish manufacturer X-Yachts indicated it will not participate.

It is one of a number of well-known shipyards, especially in the sailing boat segment, that have dropped out over the past few weeks.

German magazine Yacht reports the entire Hanseyachts group with Hanse, Dehler, Moody, Fjord and Sealine are not attending. Y Yachts / Michael Schmidt Yachtbau and Oyster have also decided not to come to Düsseldorf.

According to YACHT information, numerous leading brands from France and Italy will also stay away. These include the Beneteau Group, the largest single exhibitor at the fair (Lagoon, Excess, Beneteau, Jeanneau, Prestige etc.) and the second-largest manufacturer, Fountaine Pajot / Dufour. Solaris, Grand Soleil, Pardo, Italia Yachts and Nautor Swan will also be missing.

The organisers say only visitors who comply with the vaccinated or recovered regulation may enter the fairgrounds during boot. In addition, wearing a particle filtering half or medical mask is compulsory in all halls. The latest air exchange regulators also ensure a regular supply of fresh air in the exhibition halls.

Messe Düsseldorf CEO Wolfram Diener: "Messe Düsseldorf has a responsibility towards both the exhibitors and the large water sports community to hold boot 2022. Since we already updated our access regulations a fortnight ago with regard to the vaccinated or recovered regulations, we are fully on track with boot 2022 even under the new regulations in the current Covid Protection Ordinance. With our tried and tested hygiene concept 'PROTaction', we will offer all participants a safe trade fair. The approval from the water sports industry for boot 2022 is good. We will be able to put on another boot in 2022 to kick off the new season."

X-Yachts has pulled out of exhibiting at next month’s boot Düsseldorf 2022, citing the “tense situation” around COVID-19 in Europe.

In a statement, the Danish performance yachtmaker said: “boot Düsseldorf is one of the world's largest boat shows, and X-Yachts is usually strongly represented at the show.

“At boot Düsseldorf 2022 we were looking forward to the world premiere of the New X4³ and also for the first time to display the X-Power.

“But — in respect of the tense situation with Covid-19 — we have made the decision not to display at the 2022 show.

“Of course, the consideration for the safety of guests and employees has our first priority, and instead of boot we are working on a number of exciting activities during the spring of 2022. We will come back with more info about this later.”