For five days, from 23 to 27 September, Friedrichshafen was once again the hub of the water sports industry. Interboot, which has been a fixture in the calendars of sailors, motorboat enthusiasts and the maritime industry for decades, presented its 65th edition with an expanded concept – and deliberately set new priorities in the process.
A focus on sailing for beginners
Particularly noteworthy from a sailor’s perspective: for the first time, the special exhibition ‘My First Boat’ was expanded to include sailing boats. This is a clear signal from the trade fair that it aims to specifically target the next generation of sailors and create easy access to the sport of sailing. The programme was complemented by a new E-Boat Area, which caters to the growing interest in electric propulsion, as well as a refit centre dedicated to boat maintenance and refurbishment.
Klaus Wellmann, the trade fair’s managing director, believes the event is on the right track: “Interboot brings together people and companies who share a common passion. From Friedrichshafen, boats and new ideas find their way to international water sports destinations. It is this combination of an industry gathering and an experience for the public that defines the event.”
Exhibitors: Quality over quantity
Visitor numbers were slightly lower than last year – yet many exhibitors rated the quality of the discussions as high. Günter Ambrosi, sales manager at Sunbeam Watersports, reports a great response to the swivel keel variant they brought along – a topic in particularly high demand given the current water levels on Lake Constance. “We are very pleased with how the trade fair went. The audience was very interested,” said Ambrosi.
Richard Mathias Furrer, managing director of Nautica’s Services, also draws a positive conclusion despite the modest visitor numbers: “The ratio of visitors to genuine prospective customers was quite good.” For many exhibitors, Interboot therefore appears to be less a mass event and more a platform for targeted customer contacts and follow-up discussions.
Active experiences on Messe-See
Alongside the exhibition, the focus this year was once again on hands-on experiences. On the exhibition lake and in the Interboot harbour, there were plenty of opportunities to try out various water sports for yourself. Olympian Alina Kornelli, appearing for the first time as an instructor at Interboot, delighted visitors with her pump foil course on the Messe-See: “I was really surprised by the great response. The participants were motivated, brave and, in the end, everyone was happy.”
Interboot 2027 will take place in Friedrichshafen from 22 to 26 September.
