With four months to go, the International Boat Show of Barcelona is preparing a very special edition with an attractive programme of activities on occasion of its 50th anniversary. The “Trofeo Salón Náutico Ciudad de Barcelona-Semana Catalana de Vela”, a commemorative exhibition, and a book on the history of the show and the sector will be some of this year’s new features.
Barcelona Boat Show 2011 prepares for its 50th Anniversary
The next edition, which will take place from the 5th to the 13th of November, will be held in its usual venues: the Gran Via exhibition centre, which will house the majority of exhibitors and Port Vell, where the On-Water exhibition will take place.
Alongside the commercial exhibition, which encompasses all types of products and services related to sports and recreational boating, the show will also host a wide range of attractive activities on occasion of its 50th anniversary. “We want to make Barcelona vibrate and breathe a nautical atmosphere and explain to the public that boating does not only give fans great satisfaction, but is also a sector that creates employment and wealth for the country”, said the president of the Organising Committee, Luis Conde.
One of the main initiatives is the “Trofeo Salón Náutico Ciudad de Barcelona-Semana Catalana de Vela” (City of Barcelona Boat Show-Catalan Sailing Week Trophy), a spectacular event on the Barcelona coast, in which around 1,000 vessels are expected to participate with the aim of bringing the sailing world to the general public. All disciplines will be represented, such as the optimist class-for the youngest navigators – cruisers, light sail and kitesurf. The contest, which will be held during the weekends, is organised by the Catalan Sailing Federation.
The history of the Boat Show in an exhibition
Other proposals include the publication of a book, which synthesises the five decades of the show and of the sector in Spain, and an exhibition on the subject, which will include pictures of the posters that have advertised the show since its foundation.
Riva motorboats in the port
Another activity will be the exhibition of about thirty classic Riva boats, built by this famous Italian shipyard in the 50s and 60s. Visitors to Barcelona port will also be able to see these emblematic boats sailing along the Barcelona coast. This event is organised with the collaboration of the Riva Historic Society and will take place during the last weekend of the show.
This edition will feature a commemorative stamp
Another of this year’s surprises will be the issue of a stamp on the opening day to commemorate its 50th edition. A special sub-post office will be set up where the official postmark will be applied; a special envelope will also be created for the event, The Boat Show will also coin a commemorative 50th anniversary medal, which will complete a unique world collection. Dedicated on this occasion to the Spanish Armada, the Barcelona Maritime Museum has been commissioned to design the coin, which reproduces the Buque de Proyección Estratégica (Strategic Projection Vessel) “Juan Carlos I”. Collectors will be able to acquire the coin in the show’s offices.
50th Anniversary Gala
With the aim of celebrating this long journey with the sector’s main agents, the show is holding a Commemorative Gala on opening night in the Palau Nacional de Catalunya, which will include a tribute to exhibitors that have been participating in the show since the beginning.
The Barcelona Boat Show, the first edition of which dates back to 1963, is one of the oldest in the Europe, founder member of the International Federation of Boat Show Organisers (IFBSO) and, currently, an international benchmark. With the “Creu de Sant Jordi”, the Placa de Oro al Mérito Turístico and the Medalla de Oro al Mérito Deportivo, among other public recognitions, the event still has the main objectives it had when it began: to promote the industry and encourage interest in nautical sports and navigation. Organised by Fira de Barcelona and held annually, the show has the backing of the Asociación Nacional de Empresas Náuticas, ANEN, and of the sector’s leading organisations.
Five theme areas
This year’s show will maintain its five traditional theme areas located in Gran Via (Espai del Mar, Fun Beach, Marina Tradicional, Espai del Pescador and Espai Innovació), with numerous activities for professionals and the general public, such as fishing simulators, sea initiations, announcements of regattas, seminars, talks by navigators, etc.
Village in Port Vell
After the success of the last two years, the organisers will again set up a Village in Port Vell, with the sponsorship of Codorniu, featuring a restaurant and terrace café. The aim is to provide business persons, sportspersons and guests from the nautical world with a meeting place.
