Ancora Yacht Festival: Fewer guests in Neustadt, but a good atmosphere

State Secretary Julia Carstens opened the 17th edition of the in-water trade fair this year in perfect spring weather. A total of 170 exhibitors came to the Ancora Yacht Festival to present their new products in the harbour basin. However, the original target of 18,000 guests could not be reached.

Unique event

The goal of attracting 18,000 visitors to the ancora Marina was optimistic anyway, given the declining figures of the past two years. As a result, the downward trend continued this year. However, organiser Heiko Zimmermann emphasised the importance of the trade fair in providing impetus and creating new perspectives for the industry, as well as the good mood among the exhibitors.

In fact, the in-water format enables the direct comparison of yachts in the water, which is rarely possible for sailors outside of specialised trade fairs. Due to its size and Baltic Sea location, the Ancora Yacht Festival remains unique in Germany. The challenge for the organisers remains to maintain the relevance of the trade fair for the water sports world.

Conclusion of the exhibitors

Many exhibitors drew a positive balance. They praised the good organisation of the trade fair, the high level of visitor interest and the relaxed atmosphere in Neustadt. Niels Nielsen from Yachtsport Eckernförde emphasised the value of the location: "The ancora Yacht Festival is an important trade fair for us. The location offers the ideal atmosphere for presenting boats in a relaxed atmosphere." Björn Rump from Sailtec also added: "Visitor interest was particularly high on Saturday. Sunday was a little quieter - but that also left time for the important networking that traditionally works particularly well in Neustadt."

Focus on cruising yachts and trade fair debuts

This year, the shipyards presented numerous new products in the marina. This included the Linjett 36which celebrated its world première at the Ancora Yacht Festival. The Swede is consistently designed for single-handed sailing thanks to a line guide inside the coaming directly to the helmsman. The hull was manufactured using the vacuum infusion process with a foam core. A fixed bowsprit is also part of the standard equipment.

The Bavaria Voyager 45 is based on a Farr design and is optimised for charter operations. In addition, the Pure 42 and the Dragonfly 36 Performance two winners of the European Yacht of the Year 2026-awards in the water. Special attention was paid to the new launches of the Hallberg-Rassy 370 and the Sun Odyssey 415. The multihull segment is also growing steadily. From the handy Bali Catsmart about the Fountaine Pajot 41 up to the established cruising catamarans Lagoon 51 or the Excess 14.

Practice and safety on the quay

Round 100 exhibitors presented technical accessories in the tents around the harbour basin. The lecture programme included over 90 presentations on topics such as refit and on-board electrics. The DGzRS was represented by the rescue cruiser "Bremen" and provided information about safety at sea. Visitors were also able to try out various water sports directly on the beach. The next Ancora Yacht Festival in Neustadt is planned for 28 to 30 May 2027.

Many exhibitors are likely to return in 2027, as the response was very positive. For Torsten Schmidt from the Sirius shipyard, the advance advertising paid off, attracting international customers to the jetties. He emphasised that the trade fair has established itself as a fixed date: "We particularly appreciate the relaxed atmosphere and the opportunity to present yachts in peace and quiet and view them directly - this is exactly the format the industry needs."

New exhibitors were also impressed by the concept. Carsten Rettig was represented in the exhibition hall for the first time with the boat portal Yachtino and recorded good traffic for the used boat offers: "Our expectations were clearly exceeded." Despite the generally tense market situation, the offer met with customers with purchasing power. Jan Spengler from broker MSP welcomed a high-quality trade audience and summarised: "We were able to achieve concrete deals and are already looking forward to next year."

The most interesting models of the Ancora Yacht Festival:

• Voyager 45
• Pure 42
• Dragonfly 36
• Hallberg-Rassy 370
• Sun Odyssey 415
• Bali Catsmart
• Fountaine Pajot 41
• Lagoon 51
• Excess 14
• Linjett 36