Organisers went to great lengths to demonstrate the leading role of this show, not just in Germany, but throughout Europe. They do it with a big and spendy ad campaign and also with some impressive numbers: All of the 17 halls are filled with 1650 exhibitors from 50 different countries, who live and breathe water sports. More than 50 new yachts will be shown to the public for the first time.

Dusseldorf Boat Show

Many first-timers
The list of premieres includes high-end boats like Bavaria’s new flagship, the Cruiser 56, the X-33 by X-Yachts, which replaces the legendary X-99 and the new Dehler 38. But there also will be some completely new concepts on exhibit, such as the Saffier Se 33, a kind of Grand Tourismo yacht. It will be interesting to see if the show can meet the high expectations that were set in the run-up. Not surprisingly, show director Götz-Ulf Jungmichel is optimistic. “In difficult economic times we stayed a good course by strengthening our position internationally, meeting important goals and setting the tone for the future.”

A packed program and many sailing celebrities
Another indicator for the importance of boot is the number of celebrated sailors converging here. There’s Alain Thébault of l`Hydroptère-fame, the hydrofoiling trimaran that now chases long-distance records. Another one is Jörg Riechers, the German skipper of Team Mare, the Open40, which developed into one of the top contenders in this class that’s long been dominated by the French. Then there’s Roland Gäbler, the multihull veteran, a multiple world and European champion in the Tornado class, who plans to divulge how he and wife Nahid are going to pursue an Olympic medal in the new Nacra 17 class. Here’s a list of presentations in the show program.

A fixture in Düsseldorf is the Bluewater Seminar, which will be held by Judith and Sönke Roever during the show’s first weekend. A few tickets are still available. More under www.hippopotamus.de.

Finally, YACHT’s booth B 22 in Hall 16 again will be a hub of activities. Stop by for a chat, to get answers to your reader-service questions or to attend one of the many seminars.