on 28 May 2019
The Hamburg ancora Yacht Festival (May 24-26) in Germany attracted 17,000 visitors, and showcased a record 200 yachts
The Hamburg ancora Yacht Festival in the 5-star ancora Marina in Neustadt/Holstein was the ideal start to the watersports season. Germany’s biggest in-water boat show ran from May 24-26, 2019, showcasing 200 sailing and motor yachts at the boardwalks. There were 100 pagoda tents erected on shore, where visitors could try and buy maritime equipment.
The programme was rounded off with practical workshops and first-rate presentations, attracting some 17,000 visitors to the yacht festival. The setting was perfect, with wind, clouds, a blue to light-grey sky, lots of sunshine and just a few spots of rain on the last day. Most importantly, the atmosphere remained upbeat among exhibitors and visitors.
(Photo: Hamburg ancora Yacht Festival)
“Our new concept worked really well,” said Heiko Zimmermann, Project Director Hamburg ancora Yacht Festival. “This was a high-quality sustainable event for the industry, with lots of expert inputs in the form of exclusive workshops and presentations. The new features proved appealing – the mobile boardwalk linking the two sides of the harbour basin and the promenade with the adjacent hall forecourt. The exhibition hall has also become well established. I am delighted that we were able to present 200 yachts this time, that is more than ever before.”
North German manufacturers and dealers presented the best in European sailing and motor yacht building at the boardwalks and jetties, with a wide range of vessels in various price and size categories. The flags flying there on the three days of the 10th In-Water Boat Show included Azimut, Bavaria, Cranchi, Dehler, Ferretti, Jeanneau, Princess, Sunseeker, Hallberg-Rassy and HanseYachts (to name just a few).
The Za boardwalk was opened for the first time, providing a showcase for aluminium boats among others. Great interest was also aroused by catamarans such as Lagoon, Nautitec Open and Derubis 39 Fly, a compact motor catamaran with hybrid propulsion, with length overall of just 11.90 metres and beam width of 4.50 metres. These twin-hulled vessels are becoming especially popular on the Baltic Sea.
Expert presentations by prominent watersport professionals, activity workshops, and seminars with practical relevance – the Hamburg ancora Yacht Festival gave useful tips and insights in a whole range of yachting subjects. The most popular items included the motor seminar by Richard Jeske, Well Sailing, which was fully booked well before the start of the In-Water Boat Show; and the cruise sailing seminar by Baltic Sea expert Sönke Roever.
Events in the exhibition hall included advice by experts from Peter Wrede on osmosis prevention; a presentation by sailing instructor Olli Ochse on “Sail trimming made easy”; and a demonstration by BIS Electronics GmbH showing vital equipment for on-board use of the internet. Charter specialist Urs Rothacher gave information for the first time on how to take time out when sailing a catamaran.
At the beach area of the Yacht Festival there were opportunities for anyone interested to try stand-up paddle surfing or electric surfboards. Youngsters could sail an Optimist under the guidance of Hamburg sailing club RHE, or take a trip round the harbour basin in a motorised inflatable dinghy.
The refit projects by Delius Klasing Verlag in the BOATFIT area attracted a lot of interest. This was the first time after a refit phase of nearly three years that the Dehlya 25 of Yacht was on show again in its element at the Hamburg ancora Yacht Festival – it was christened on site with the name “Willy”. Boote magazine presented the motor boat Conquest 1950CC, where boating experts gave advice and ideas for its restoration.
The next Hamburg ancora Yacht Festival will be held from June 5-7, 2020.