47th Barcelona International Boat Show (8th-16th November)

From small boats, launches, sailboats and inflatables, to motor boats, yachts and super yachts as well as electronics and accessories. The Barcelona International Boat Show features 600 companies from 19 countries with all sailing options. It will occupy five pavilions in Gran Via, showcases around 2,000 boats and increases its exhibition space in Port Vell, reasserting its leadership among the three most important shows in Europe.

From the 8th to the 16th of November, the 47th Barcelona International Boat Show is showing the sector's entire range of products in its two venues. This year, there are 600 direct exhibitors, 22% of them foreign. The most represented countries are Spain, followed by France, Italy, Portugal, Germany and the United Kingdom.

The two exhibition spaces add up to 101,000 m2 and exhibit around 2000 boats of all types and models. Pavilions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 in the Gran Via Exhibition Centre host the traditional sectors divided into large theme areas, housing companies of the same speciality and their corresponding activities.

The On-Water Show is the biggest to date since, for the first time, it occupies three docks instead of two, and increases the number of large boats from 220 (last year) to 270. Sailboats, motor boats and catamarans are moored in the Barcelona, Espanya and La Fusta docks, the latter having been occupied, last year, by the boats which competed in the Barcelona World Race. Among the largest boats in the Port Vell exhibition, visitors are able to see over 50 super yachts in the Barcelona and España docks.

The Boat Show's Innovation Area in the Gran Via Exhibition Centre is housing value added R&D&I products. With the collaboration of the Innovamar Foundation, a group of companies is showcasing their innovations and research lines with application in sailing.

In association with Ingenium, the Innovation Area is also housing yacht design studios and engineering companies, which exhibits the work of companies engaged in this type of activity, The Innovamar Foundation installed a Permanent Office to Attend to Innovative Companies, which provides information and advice on applying for subsidies, administration procedures and presenting technological projects.

The Gran Via Exhibition Centre is also providing the setting for the Traditional Marina Area, for the third year running, where boats such as llauts, dornas (dories) and gamelas are featured, together with institutions which are concerned with their preservation. Workshops by mestres d'aixa (shore carpenters) and master sail makers, are pution on demonstrations of how to build and repair traditional wooden boats and sails. This area is also seting the scene for musical performances and, in the cultural chapter, a conference and exhibition on former marine offerings.

Another lively space is the Fun Beach Area. Aimed at young people, it provides the setting for exhibitors of surfing, windsurfing, flysurfing, wakeboarding, canoes and kayaks, light sailing and scuba diving. It houses a 15x15-metre swimming pool for beginners' sailing, clinics for sailing fans and demonstrations of radio controlled naval model boats.

Announcements of championships and regattas, such as the Ruta de la Sal, Christmas Race and Ports of Andalusia, are also on the agenda, as well as the Catalan Sailing Federation awards and the Seminar entitled "Present and future of the Spain's boating sector and sports marinas".

For the second year running, there is a helicopter service connecting the two venues. It is available throughout the show and will connect the Gran Via heliport with Port Vell's Barcelona dock. The España and Barcelona docks are also linked by free transport in classic sail boats.

The Gran Via exhibition centre has two entrances; one from the Europa foyer (Avenida Joan Carles I and Calle Ciències) and the other between pavilions 4 and 6 (Calle Botànica). A free shuttle bus service is connecting Gran Via to Port Vell and the airport. The Ferrocarriles de la Generalitat de Catalunya also link Plaza de España to the Gran Via Exhibition Centre.

Tickets cost 13 euros and entrance is free of charge to children under 12. Opening hours sre from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Thursday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at weekends.

Source: Barcelona International Boat Show