The status as of 17. 12.
If the world's largest water sports exhibition can take place as planned, it will bring some changes due to the pandemic. Firstly, the 2G rule will apply to visitors, or even 2G-plus if necessary. This means that anyone wishing to enter the exhibition centre must be fully vaccinated or recovered; for 2G-plus, a daily coronavirus test is also required. There will therefore be test centres in front of two of the entrances.
Due to the cancellation of numerous well-known shipyards, sailors in particular will have to adjust to a change in hall occupancy. Halls 16 and 17 will remain closed. The range of sailing yachts and dinghies will instead be limited exclusively to Hall 15, where Bavaria and Elan are among the best-known exhibitors; according to the trade fair management, Greenboats, Haber Yachts, Imexus and Swallow Yachts will also be represented with boats. As before, there will be a varied stage programme in the Sailing Center, alternating between specialist presentations and interviews with prominent sportsmen and women.
In Halls 9, 10 and 11, boot offers a comprehensive overview of the entire range of nautical equipment - from outboards to built-in engines, sails, on-board electronics and maritime clothing. You will find a presentation of the new boats for 2022 in YACHT 3/2022.
Message from 8.12.
The hygiene concept is in place and the state has approved the major event, the trade fair management emphasised in its announcement on 8 December. In it, it names some big names as exhibitors: Bavaria, Hallberg-Rassy and the motorboat brands Princess and Sunseeker. However: The number of well-known shipyards, particularly in the sailing boat segment, has visibly eroded in recent weeks.
First Dragonfly cancelled, followed by X-Yachts, the entire Hanseyachts Group with Hanse, Dehler, Moody, Fjord and Sealine. Oyster also decided not to come to Düsseldorf, as did Y Yachts/Michael Schmidt Yachtbau. And that was just the beginning.
According to YACHT information, numerous leading brands from France and Italy will also be staying away. These include the Beneteau Group, the largest single exhibitor at the show (Lagoon, Excess, Beneteau, Jeanneau, Prestige etc.) and the second-largest manufacturer Fountaine Pajot/Dufour. Solaris, Grand Soleil, Pardo, Italia Yachts and Nautor Swan are also likely to be missing.
The shipyards had endeavoured to find an amicable solution in recent weeks. They favoured postponing the event by a further year to 2023, citing the financial risk of being stuck with their transport costs and stand construction costs in the event of a late cancellation due to the pandemic. On the other hand, complex coronavirus conditions would have to be met: Access restrictions, registrations, disinfection - with foreseeably significantly lower visitor numbers.
For its part, Messe Düsseldorf argues that the pandemic situation in North Rhine-Westphalia and Düsseldorf is currently comparatively low and under control, pointing to its responsibility towards the entire industry.
However, it was obviously not possible to find a compromise solution. As a result, the majority of the large shipyards are missing and with them the new products that play a key role in making boot so attractive. An unprecedented event - and not a good scenario for the remaining exhibitors. Nevertheless, the trade fair management is confident. It writes in its press release:
"The non-participation of some luxury, sailing yacht and motorboat manufacturers is regrettable and objectively incomprehensible for Messe Düsseldorf",it says. However, with global market leaders such as Princess and Sunseeker for luxury yachts, Bavaria Yachtbau for sailing and motor boats and Hallberg-Rassy for sailing boats, the company has created a"A full pound in the scales"and offer visitors a great boat show with a wide range of products.
The letter also specifies the conditions under which the boot 2022 will take place:
"In line with the regulations that apply to the retail trade, only visitors who comply with the 2G regulation - vaccinated or recovered - are allowed to enter the exhibition centre during boot. In addition, wearing an FFP2 or medical mask is mandatory in all halls."
Wolfram Diener, the new trade fair boss, is quoted as saying:
"Messe Düsseldorf has a responsibility to both the exhibitors and the large water sports community to organise boot 2022. With our tried-and-tested 'PROTaction' hygiene concept, we will be able to offer everyone involved a safe trade fair."
Of course, this only applies for the time being. If the Omikron variant worsens the infection situation, a general cancellation of the trade fair is still conceivable. However, this decision will not be made by the organisers, but by the new federal and state governments in North Rhine-Westphalia.
