Apart from showcasing the biggest and most varied commercial offering of sporting and recreational sailing in Spain, the next edition of the Barcelona International Boat Show, held from 15 to 19 October in the Port Vell, will give visitors the chance to dive into an ocean of new experiences.
The list of things to do at this year’s show is exhaustive including: Surfing the waters in Barcelona harbour or trying out the latest aquatic gadgets, trips in canoes, dinghies or sailboats to experience the thrill of sailing, scuba-diving for beginners, recreational fishing, paddle-boarding sessions, a parade of boats out to sea, regattas, concerts, gastronomic tasting sessions, prize draws, workshops, conferences and product launches.
“The show aims to convey our passion for the sea and nautical pursuits, offering dozens of activities that will generate unique experiences for our visitors,” explained the show’s director, Jordi Freixas. “It’s going to be a very interactive event with a programme of exciting, one-off activities which will thrill every possible audience, from beginners through to experienced sailors, with something for every age group.” In this respect, one of the standout new features this year will be the installation of a wave generator for surfing in the Port Vell harbour.
Sailboats and motorboats will once again be the stars of the event, which is held on the Fusta and España wharves of the Port Vell. As well as the floating exhibition area, visitors will find all kinds of nautical products and services on land, ranging from electronics and engines to paints, sails, trailers, fishing gear, boat charters and marinas, as well as an extensive range of small boats and dinghies.
Organised annually by Fira de Barcelona, the show enjoys the support and collaboration of ANEN (Spanish Nautical Business Association) in its capacity as the senior representative of the nautical business and industrial sector at national level, and as an advisory body for promoting and developing the sector within the framework of the event.
According to ANEN’s records, 2,289 recreational boats were registered in Spain in the first six months of the year, 14.91% up on the same period in 2013 when there were 1,992 new registrations. This is enough to give the Spanish nautical leisure sector a cautiously optimistic outlook after many years of depressed sales.
