Trade fairs: Beneteau considers far-reaching cancellation of boot Düsseldorf

The Beneteau Group, which includes Jeanneau, Lagoon, Excess, Prestige and several other leading international brands, has not yet officially announced the move. However, as YACHT online has learned from several independent sources, the decision was made today: the industry leader will not be attending boot Düsseldorf, which was recently postponed from January to the end of April, with all its brands and a large programme as usual. Even a complete cancellation is on the cards.

It is not just a symbolic loss: with the extensive withdrawal, the trade fair is missing several dozen important yachts in one fell swoop, including a number of premieres, as well as several thousand square metres of sold space. This is because the Beneteau Group is also the largest exhibitor at boot Düsseldorf in terms of the sum of its individual stands. It will hardly be possible to compensate for their partial absence.

Numerous well-known shipyards, including Oyster, X-Yachts and Hanseyachts, had already decided against a trade fair presence on the Rhine due to the coronavirus. According to YACHT, Nautor's Swan, Grand Soleil, Solaris and others are also still questioning whether boot will take place.

It is quite possible that this will not be the case, especially as the alternative date is not particularly favourable for outfitters, sailmakers and boat builders anyway due to the delivery season, which is in full swing in mid/end April.

As Beneteau representatives told YACHT, the new date makes participation more difficult. Many dealers objected that they had neither enough boats nor enough staff to make boot Düsseldorf possible in mid-April.

Nevertheless, some manufacturers have recently confirmed their bookings, including Hallberg-Rassy from Sweden and Saffier Yachts from Holland, who intend to stick with boot despite the postponement.

The project manager of the boat, Petros Michelidakis, only learnt of the Beneteau Group's plans to withdraw this afternoon through YACHT. He was extremely surprised, especially as the Vice President of Beneteau Gianguido Girotti, who also holds a seat on the Messerat, has so far "always assured us that he is in favour of the postponement from January to April". Michelidakis was therefore confident that he could still influence the decision. "The last word has not yet been spoken," he said.

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Editor's note: In the original version, it was initially reported that the Beneteau Group would be withdrawing completely. However, this information was toned down slightly following further statements from the company. There is now talk of a "very extensive reduction" of the original trade fair programme.