A MAGNIFICENT COMEBACK AND LOT OF INOVATIONS
Including The New blue innovation dock
boot Düsseldorf
©THE FINEGUIDE Int / F. Glz 2023
With nearly 237,000 visitors from over 100 countries and more than 1,500 exhibitors from 68 nations on 220,000 square metres in 16 exhibition halls, boot Düsseldorf reports back with impressive figures. The pandemic-related, forced 3-year break could not do the Düsseldorf water sports event any harm. Instead, the entire international industry was once again drawn to the Rhenish metropolis from 21 to 29 January.
boot Düsseldorf
General View
©THE FINEGUIDE Int / F. Glz 2023
“Despite the difficult general conditions, boot 2023 has written a success story. We would not have dreamt of this outcome. boot has finally reached calm waters and is once again firmly anchored in its Düsseldorf home port. The successful comeback has demonstrated that trade fairs ‘made in Düsseldorf’ have an international appeal,”
reported President and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf Wolfram Diener.
- boot Düsseldorf BRABUS Marine ©THE FINEGUIDE Int / F. Glz 2023
- boot Düsseldorf SACS- PIRELLI ©THE FINEGUIDE Int / F. Glz 2023
Both for powerboats, luxury yachts, sailing boats and for diving equipment, trend sports and holiday regions the global players and dream destinations were “on the starting line”.
boot Düsseldorf
AZIMUT YACHTS
©THE FINEGUIDE Int / F. Glz 2023
boot Director Petros Michelidakis is delighted:
“The visits paid to exhibitors were incredibly good, viewing appointments on the boats completely booked up and the companies reported a large number of boat and accessory sales. The halls were also buzzing with diving and trend sports. Our crew has done its utmost, set sails perfectly and ‘sailed’ boot 2023 to the top of the international water sports trade fairs again. We are pleased that boot was once again able to offer the economy this marketplace and to present itself successfully despite the difficult current economic situation.”
boot Düsseldorf
Sirena Yachts
©THE FINEGUIDE Int / F. Glz 2023
Alongside visitors from all over Germany, especially experts from the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, France, UK, Turkiye and Spain used the trade fair to find out about the latest innovations in the sector. Numerous manufacturers and prospective buyers from the USA, South America and Asia made the trip to Düsseldorf again and enriched the industry get-together with innovative products, inspirations and in-depth knowledge transfer.
boot Düsseldorf
SAY CARBON YACHTS
©THE FINEGUIDE Int / F. Glz 2023
After the nine trade fair days, the international exhibitors were also highly satisfied as Robert Marx, President of boot and General Manager of Marx-Technik, declared:
“What the Düsseldorf trade fair organisers got off the ground here, smoothly following on from pre-pandemic times, is just great. With boot 2023 the trade fair company has shown that it has embraced the future and can also successfully navigate in rough seas. A big thanks goes to the Düsseldorf crew with its skipper Wolfram Diener. You have really done a great job.”
boot Düsseldorf
SUNSEEKER YACHTS
©THE FINEGUIDE Int / F. Glz 2023
Speaking on behalf of the German Marine Federation e.V. Managing Director Karsten Stahlhut summed up the situation in the industry:
“Due to the on-going crises since 2020 and two cancelled boot shows all of us started the trade fair with mixed feelings. Overall, however, for most, expectations were not only met, but exceeded in every respect. A strong boot in January is always an indication for a good year. I am convinced it will prove better than we thought only a few weeks ago.”
boot Düsseldorf
CAPOFORTE Boats
©THE FINEGUIDE Int / F. Glz 2023
Attracting a lot of attention was the new sustainability forum ‘blue innovation dock’ at boot 2023. Here industry, policy-makers and international associations met for high-level dialogue and exchange.
boot Düsseldorf
Princess Yachts
©THE FINEGUIDE Int / F. Glz 2023
Philip Easthill, Secretary General of the Association of the European Boating Industry from Brussels, summed up the 9-day programme very positively:
“The ‘blue innovation dock’ has come to stay. It proved a big success for the trade fair and opened a fascinating new perspective for the boating industry for a sustainable future. The presence of over 110 high-calibre speakers ranging from CEOs to political decision-makers emphasises the importance of sustainability for water sports. The industry has already made great strides in the development of sustainable materials, propulsion systems and marinas and we will be able to support them intensively in the future with the blue innovation dock.”
boot Düsseldorf
JENNEAU SAILING
©THE FINEGUIDE Int / F. Glz 2023
The world’s largest water sports trade fair – boot Düsseldorf -was once again the most important hub for exchange of the industry The trends and, above all, innovations for the 2023 season were presented in 16 exhibition halls. Water sports enthusiasts found everything their hearts desire: sailing yachts and boats, luxury yachts and motorboats, equipment for diving, surfing and paddle sports as well as dream destinations presented at the “Destination Seaside”
boot Düsseldorf 2023
© Messe Düsseldorf/ctillmann – boot Düsseldorf
The blue innovation dock
In addition to the exhibitors’ innovations, goals and developments from the international water sports, community and European politics were discussed with top-class speakers. Each of the nine days at the brand-new blue innovation dock (bid) in Hall 10 had a different important theme for the industry.
Global market leaders on board: international sponsors supported the blue innovation dock
boot Düsseldorf
Beneteau Yachts
©THE FINEGUIDE Int / F. Glz 2023
One of the most sustainable developments in the industry comes from the French Benetau Group. As a Performance Partner of the Sustainability Forum, the company presented its latest development: The sailing yacht First 44 and the Delphia Line. In luxury yacht building, San Lorenzo as Project Partner is at the forefront with its sustainability strategy. Specially established “Sustainability Divisions” develop current guidelines on how sustainability can also be applied to luxury yachts.
boot Düsseldorf
San Lorenzo Yachts
©THE FINEGUIDE Int / F. Glz 2020
In addition, other yacht, boat and engine manufacturers as well as charter companies were pool partners of the bid.
“We have a total of twelve active supporters of the bid on board. I am very pleased that the cooperation with European Boating Industry as content partner has been so fruitful in such a short time and that we have been able to win over the expertise of European politics and internationally active companies,”
explained Petros Michelidakis.
boot Düsseldorf
BAVARIA YACHTS
©THE FINEGUIDE Int / F. Glz 2023
As pool partners, the following companies supported boot 2023 in the bid: Azimut, Bavaria, Brunswick, DMarin, ePropulsion, Fabiani Yachts, Greenline, Princess, Sunreef and Torqeedo.
blue innovation dock
©Messe Düsseldorf/ctillmann – boot Düsseldorf 2023
Topics at The blue innovation dock
On Day one, as a kick-off to the Forum, a Leaders Dialogue with high-ranking politicians under the headline “Business meets Politics”. The path to zero emissions and the strengthening of #MadeInEurope was the focus of the discussion, as well as a CEO panel on nautical tourism.
On day two of the bid, the organisers set panellists a challenging task. It revolved around sustainable propulsion in boating and the presentation of the study commissioned by boot and executed by EBI, “How is the path to the green transition evaluated by consumers and industry”.
Day three – Promoting start-ups. Here, the focus was on funding innovations and start-up disruption. They were also invited to pitch their products on stage at the bid in front of key investors and market players. Afterwards, the EU’s BlueInvest initiative made a presentation and European Commissioner for Budget Johannes Hahn, gave a keynote about the topic.
Day Four – The “fuels of the future” – The development and integration of alternative fuels, from biodiesel to e-Fuels But, what infrastructure is needed in European marinas for these fuels and charging infrastructure to be rapidly put in place? Representatives of the European Commission, European Parliament, and providers of this infrastructure discussed about this topics.
Fifth Day – And what happens to old boats at their end-of-life? And what about their environmentally friendly disposal? These were questions that speakers discussed. The hotly anticipated EU roadmap for end-of-life of recreational boats was also launched by the European Commission and European Boating Industry. In order to tackle this issue in the future, easily recyclable materials should be implemented in boat-building and, above all, sustainable composite materials should be used.
Day Six – Sustainability in nautical tourism – both for the transition pathway of charter and marina sector, as well as the perspective of the wider water sports branches. All of these have an expectation of their own green transition and that of the boating industry.
Day Seven – Digital innovations that can support the implementation of sustainability. The programme was supplemented by a panel discussing how innovative boat design can lead to more sustainability in boatbuilding, through life cycle assessment, hydrofoils and other exciting new approaches.
Day Eight – However, the bid was not only a forum for industry and politics. The NGOs – the non-governmental organisations –were in focus. They have shed light on their experiences with the industry and discuss whether enough is being done for active marine, climate, and nature protection.
On the last day of boot 2023, sailors and boaters joined the discussions on the bid. Representatives of the industry and international associations discussed what needs to be done on the subject of sustainability a key to see whether consumers and manufacturers have the same approach.
International Dive Award
©Messe Düsseldorf/ctillmann – boot Düsseldorf 2023
First International Dive Award
On Friday, 27 January, the traditional diving day at boot Düsseldorf, the trade fair, together with the well-known diving media VDSTsporttaucher, TAUCHEN, divemaster, taucher.net and WETNOTES, presented the first dive award live at the trade fair. While the award was announced online last year, the winners were now celebrated live on site at boot 2023 in Düsseldorf in Diving Hall 12 by an enthusiastic audience.
Marine Divers
Dive Center
©Messe Düsseldorf/ctillmann – boot Düsseldorf 2023
In each of the five categories “Personality”, “Climate”, “Product”, “Destination”, “Innovation” – all topics that have a great feedback in the diving community – three nominees had been up for election.
Nina Zschiesche from WETNOTES presented the award in the category “Innovation”. She awarded O’Dive by Azoth and emphasised that the French company Azoth Systems had developed an innovation with O’Dive that for the first time enabled divers to personalise their diving practice. To do this, gas microbubbles that form in divers’ venous systems after diving are taken into account. After each dive and the subsequent measurements, O’Dive calculates a dive quality index that ranges from 0 to 100 per cent. In this way, the diver can easily control his training himself.
Dr. Angela Stevenson received the award for the category “Climate” from diving veteran Dr. Friedrich Naglschmid – editor of divemaster. In his laudation for the Kiel researcher from the Geomar Helmholtz Centre, he emphasised the importance of this topic. All those who had been nominated in this category would work for the community because they would ensure that our earth and the oceans are protected and preserved.
With the “Kreidesee Hemmoor” diving centre (Hall 12/A31.19), the jury awarded a prize to a site in Hemmoor in northern Germany that is close to nature but also accessible to city dwellers. Editor-in-chief of TAUCHEN magazine Alexander Kassler is responsible for the “Destination” category and gave the laudatory speech for the winner. He described the area as the top diving lake in Germany with a diving centre – suitable for sport to tech diving, very good infrastructure and several entry points. In addition, it is easy to reach from the northern German metropolises.
In the “Product” category, an innovation driver in the industry was pleased to win. The US equipment giant Garmin (Hall 12/A31.2) received the award for its newly developed dive computer Descent Mk2i. Armin Süss, Editor-in-Chief of taucher.net, emphasised in his laudation that Garmin combines the range of diving and multi-sport functions as well as smart features in a high-quality design. The dive computer combines all the important functions that such a device can currently have. These range from different dive modes to detailed performance statistics, safety and tracking functions as well as an integrated music playback mode and contactless payment. It also has a very long battery life and pre-installed sports apps.
Dr. Florian Huber won the “Personality” category and received his award from the editor-in-chief of VDSTsporttaucher (Hall 12/B67), Dietmar Fuchs. In his laudation, he described the 47-year-old Huber as an enthusiastic wreck and history researcher: whether a Stone Age settlement, a medieval well or a modern shipwreck, underwater archaeologist Dr. Florian Huber is one of the best-known divers in Germany. His expeditions and excavations have taken him to over 100 countries. Huber is not only a scientist with heart and soul, but also an author and presenter. With his numerous appearances on television and radio as well as lectures to children and adults, he inspires the general public for diving time and again. He transports people into the mystical and fascinating underwater world.
“Innovation Yachts” win “ocean tribute” Award 2023 of the Prince Albert II Foundation, the German Ocean Foundation and boot Düsseldorf.
Photo: (from left to right): Hannes Jaenicke, Wolfram Diener, Norbert and Marion Sedlacek, Professor Dr. Alexander Liegl, Hans-Peter Walpurgis (Seabob), Petros Michelidakis, H.E. Lorenzo Ravano (Ambassador of the Principality of Monaco), Frank Schweikert (Deutsche Meeresstitung) and presenter Dirk Steffens.©Messe Düsseldorf/ctillmann – boot Düsseldorf 2023
“Ocean Tribute” Award 2023
boot Düsseldorf unites the entire water sports community and also shines with its supporting program and accompanying events as a large family reunion and indispensable venue for exchange of ideas with personal conversations and live encounters. At the glamorous blue motion night in Hall 6 on Monday evening, January 23, the Innovation Yachts company was presented with the “ocean tribute” Award 2023. The Prince Albert II Foundation, boot Düsseldorf and the German Ocean Foundation support people, institutions, associations, research institutions and projects in their commitment to marine conservation and have been presenting the €20,000 prize annually at boot Düsseldorf since 2018.
“The “ocean tribute” award as a marine conservation prize is particularly close to all our hearts. The cleanliness of oceans and waters is more topical than ever and the protection of our seas is of enormous importance to each and every one of us,”
says Frank Schweikert, Chairman of the German Ocean Foundation.
The Innovation Yachts shipyard has designed and manufactured the world’s first fully recyclable and sustainable composite catamaran for series production. The IY LBV35 is the first model in a new series of sustainable and fully recyclable boats and is electrically powered by solar energy as well as Hydrogenator. As an optional feature, this catamaran has a “marine cleaning system”, which means that it can lower the trampoline in front when sailing to collect floating garbage. In addition, the company also guarantees to buy back all building materials (vulcanized fiber, balsa wood (FSC) & organic epoxy resin) to the customer in case of damage or at the end of the product life cycle.
Laudator Hannes Jaenicke announced the result from the jury and the public vote. The popular German actor has been involved in marine and species protection for many years and has often appeared in public with his concerns at boot in Düsseldorf.
A jury of experts from science and research as well as representatives of foundations and boot Düsseldorf screened the applicants for this year’s “ocean tribute” award and selected five particularly committed projects. The jury placed particular emphasis on the practical effectiveness of the project, the involvement of as many people as possible in the initiative, and networking with other ocean activists.
“With the announcement of the “ocean tribute” award, boot has taken the right path. For many years, we have supported projects and activists who have taken up the cause of protecting the waters. So the announcement of an award was only the logical continuation of our work. Especially as we have competent companions and experts on board in the form of our partners from Monaco and the German Marine Foundation,”
explained boot head Petros Michelidakis.
“In doing so, we have made the United Nations’ sustainability specification our guiding principle: the goal is to preserve oceans, seas and marine resources in terms of sustainable development or to restore what has been destroyed. The public presentation of the award is very close to our hearts. It has become a permanent fixture in the ranks of actions for marine conservation – as long as waters and marine habitats are in danger, we will continue to work to protect them.”
The award was presented to Norbert and Marion Sedlacek of Innovation Yachts by Hannes Jaenicke, Prof. Dr. Alexander Liegl, Chairman of the Foundation Prince Albert II of Monaco e.V., and boot Director Petros Michelidakis. Meeting.
boot Düsseldorf
X SORE Boats
©THE FINEGUIDE Int / F. Glz 2023
boot Düsseldorf has been the home port and driving engine for international water sports for 54 years now. From 21 to 29 January 2023 boot Düsseldorf presented all facets of boating with all top-notch brands on board. Both yachtsmen and powerboaters found a comprehensive line-up here ranging from small entry-price boats and dinghies to luxury yachts. Also in focus at boot were diving, surfing, SUP and angling. Due to the exhibitors’ innovative and technically sophisticated products boot is the international innovations platform of its industry kicking off the new water sports season every year in January. The extensive tourism ranges for holidays and sports on, by and in the water presented at the “Destination Seaside” attracted all those wishing to spend their leisure time by the seaside, riverside and lakes. Attractive stage programmes with interesting interview partners from the sector, the latest trending sports offered and a high-calibre blend of workshops and meetings both for leisure sportspeople and experts made this trade fair unique the world over. All this and more made boot Düsseldorf the No.1 destination for both family watersports fans and international experts again in 2023.
boot Düsseldorf
©THE FINEGUIDE Int / F. Glz 2023
boot Düsseldorf 2023
