The Boat Show once again brings together sea enthusiasts and consolidates the sector’s good momentum

The Barcelona International Boat Show closes its 59th edition today with a large number of public and professional visitors who, throughout its six days, have once again filled Barcelona’s Port Vell with intense business, leisure and family activity. Thus, the event organised by Fira de Barcelona, with the support of the National Association of Nautical Companies (ANEN), has contributed to the good momentum of the sector, encouraged sailing among lovers of the sea and has promoted the sustainability of this industry.

Once again, the Barcelona Boat Show has underlined its status as the leading event for recreational boating in Spain and one of the most important in Europe with the participation of 184 exhibitors, more than 500 boats and nearly a hundred firsts in an edition which, adapted to the current context, has exceeded initial expectations with a total of 51,236 visitors. Under the slogan ‘The sea awaits you’, the show brought together the major players in the sector; so the Fusta and Spain docks of the Port Vell were the scene of the return to on-site nautical events, as well as a large number of business deals that will be finalised over the coming months.

The chairman of the Boat Show, Luis Conde, stated that “this year’s edition has once again put Barcelona on the national and international nautical map. At such a difficult time, the public and companies have responded and we have succeeded in staging an event that demonstrates the growth of the sector and the eagerness of enthusiasts and lovers of the sea to sail.

For his part, the new director of the event, Josep Antoni Llopart, emphasised that “we are closing an edition with which we wanted to stimulate the ecological transition of the sector and bring nautical sports to new audiences. Its success encourages us to prepare for a very special event in 2022, when the show will celebrate its 60th edition.

The Fira de Barcelona event organised the conference ‘A commitment to the sea’ where various speakers addressed, among other issues, the urgent issue of climate change and the sustainable future of the sea. The third edition of Nautic Tech was also held, which awarded prizes to the most innovative start-ups in the sector.

Among the numerous new vessels presented at this year’s edition were the 100% electric Magonis, developed in Barcelona, the hybrid De Antonio 50 equipped with an electric motor, and the fifteen boats, including sailing and motor boats, nominated for the prestigious European Yacht of the Year award.

Family activities such as boat trips, exhibitions and workshops at the Traditional Marina, as well as a new edition of the Barcelona Paddle Race, completed the wide range of attractions of the 2021 Boat Show.