Spain. Barcelona Boat Show’s Gran via Exhibition Centre filled for the first time

Boat show news: The International Boat Show of Barcelona continues to grow and the 2006 show, from the 4th to the 12th of November, will occupy all 5 pavilions of Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Vía exhibition centre for the first time. At the same time the Port Vell On-Water Show will feature 231 large boats. In addition to an increase in all parameters, the 45th Boat Show of Barcelona is hosting the first ever BCN Dive, dedicated to the underwater world, which will take place from the 4th to the 7th of November. The guest star of this event will be the prestigious photographer David Doubilet, contributor of the National Geographic Magazine, to show visitors his pictures of sea beds. This year’s Boat Show is the biggest ever with 110,000 square metres net between the two venues, a 10% increase, and 624 exhibitors from the sports and recreational boating sector from 32 countries. Compared to 2005, there is a 17% increase in booked space in the Gran Vía exhibition centre, while In Port Vell, the space is expected to practically the same (40,000 m2), between the land marquees and the space occupied by the on-water boats. The Gran Vía exhibition centre will house about 1,800 boats and will feature all sports and recreational boating segments, occupying all 5 pavilions (2 more than the previous year) and the outdoor areas. Number 1 will exhibit accessories, canoes and kayaks, charters, sail boats, fun beach, sports marinas, sails, windsurfing, nautical schools and shopping area. Number 2 will showcase inflatable boats and fishing cruisers, as well as launches, engines, jet skis, fishing and tugs. Pavilions 3 and 4 will be reserved for electronics and motor boats: and, lastly, number 5 will house the underwater sector in the first BCN Dive. The outdoor areas between the pavilions will exhibit all types of boats. Spectacular boats in Port Vell The 6th Port Vell On-Water Show, which will be installed in La Fusta and Espanya docks, will provide the setting for 231 sailboats, motorboats and catamarans of over 12-metres in length. The boats on the water are generally larger and the average length will be 20 metres in the case of motor yachts and 17 metres for sailboats. The Barcelona Boat Show’s On-Water Show has become one of the most outstanding in Europe with the presence of spectacular boats and the representation of the leading national and international shipyards. The owners of the yachts exhibited in the On-Water Show will be housed in the two docks, in their respective marquees, to attend to visitors interested in the boats. The Bosch i Alsina dock in Port Vell will be the base of operations of the Boat Show Sailing Pro Am, which is organising a race on the 4th and 5th of November. 6 spaces and 2 swimming pools for activities The Gran Via venue of the Boat Show will also set the scene for many activities which, in addition to the events organised by exhibitors at their stands including new product presentations, will be held in 6 separate areas featuring product presentations, training courses, professional meets, awards ceremonies, workshops, contests, race announcements, etc. The 6 areas, which will be spread over all pavilions, are: Sea Space and Fun Beach, (pavilion 1), the Innovation Space and Fishing Space (pavilion 2), the Traditional Marine Space (outdoor areas between pavilions 2 and 3) and the BCN Dive Space (pavilion 5). The Fun Beach will provide a casual beach-like atmosphere for surfing and windsurfing exhibitors to attract enthusiasts and organise activities designed for young people. This lively area will house a 15×15-metre swimming pool for sailing and rowing demonstrations. The BCNDive Space, which will house underwater activities, will provide another swimming pool for diving demonstrations, product presentations and initiation for children. The Fishing Space will be a meeting point for fans, where the Mediterranean Federation for Responsible Fishing will hold all types of activities. There will also be two fishing simulators one a stand up type and the other fitted with a combat seat, both connected to screens which will show pictures of the different fishing moments. Innovation and yacht design In this year’s show, the organisers will increase the space dedicated to young boat designers and feature more projects related to innovation as an element to boost sports and recreational boating. 20 exhibitors will participate in the Young Designers Island, which represents design schools and companies dedicated to this field. Innovamar and Madrid Diseño de Yates will again be participating in this year’s Boat Show, which will also host the SNB-MDY Awards for Technological Innovation and Yacht Design, the 6 finalists of which have already been announced: 3 in the marketed projects category and 3 in the conceptual projects category. It has been announced that Valencia will be the Boat Show’s guest Autonomous Community. The list of activities also includes the presentation of various boat races and competitions, making this edition one of the most dynamic ones, as well as the underwater photography exhibition and the conference by David Doubilet in BCN Dive, Nautical Tourism workshops, the presentation of a report by Turespaña and activities related to the environment. Another highlight will be the Al Invest Business Meet, promoted by the European Commission’s Al-Invest III programme, the objective of which is to bring together European and Latin American companies to promote business, alliances, trade agreements, technology transfer and joint product development. A space for traditional boats Making its debut at this year’s Boat Show is the Traditional Marine Space which will house historic boats, institutions and companies which oversee the recovery of maritime and river heritage. The area will be set up in the outdoor spaces of the Gran Vía exhibition centre and visitors will be able to see Mediterranean boats fitted with lateen sails, rowing boats, Galician dornas (dories) and also larger boats, such as the “barques de mitjana”, pailebotes (schooners) and even steam boats. To liven up the area, there will be small traditional shipbuilders and performances by traditional music groups who will play and sing sailor songs. Prestigious racers and sailors will also be present at the Barcelona Boat Show, including various Olympic competitors, such as the sisters Mónica and Sandra Azón, Gustavo Martínez Doreste and Toni Rivas who will be the skippers of the Pro Am race. The Azón and Graciela Pisonero sisters’ Azonteam stand will feature a virtual light sailing simulator. The sailing world will be promoted with outstanding races such as the Barcelona World Race, which will set out from Barcelona’s Port Vell, coinciding with the 2007 Boat Show. In addition to the Pro Am, the first Boat Show-Mapfre race for the Optimist Class (children up to the age of 15) will set sail from Centre Municipal de Vela in Barcelona’s Olympic Port on the 11th of November. From the 4th to the 12th of November, there will be a free shuttle bus service for visitors from plaza de España, Barcelona airport and Port Vell to the Gran Vía exhibition centre, operating from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The International Boat Show of Barcelona is a trade show of Fira de Barcelona, the leading organiser of industrial and professional exhibitions in Spain and one of the most important in Europe in the number of events.