A new name (and logo) to give it a hipper look, 1,200 stands, 1,400 brands and some prices that’ll make you sea sick!

This year’s boat show is trying to update its image, get new wind in its sails if you will. It has to be said that it’s something rather special on the Paris calendar: it’s not every day that one can see 1,400 boats in Paris (600 powered, 500 sailboats) and 300 new products!

The 150,000 m² of exhibition space are divided into three themes: sailing and tourism (Hall 1), Single hulled vessels (Halls 2.2, 3, 5 et 6) and Equipment (Hall 2.1). These means that the fair fills all but one hall of the giant Porte de Versailles site. It’s enormous!

photo by Bertrand Duperrin used under cc licence

At the boat show you’ll be able to see:

– Canal Nautic, a TV channel made especially for the show, with over 40 TVs and four giant screens. Expect boat show news, on-scene reports and special programmes about the wonderful world of the sea.
– Welcome Abord (Bienvenue à bord), a new information area hosted by “Nautic coaches”. These trained advisers will be able to answer questions and help the visitor to find what he/she is looking for: how to enrol at a sailing school, how to finance a new purchase, or tips about sailing over the winter.
– Nautic Scène, an area where you can catch up with the latest maritime news, meet skippers and sailing celebrities, watch fashion shows, take part in debates (erm, in French), watch press conferences, films…

PLUS The Sporting Village (all the latest sporting news), La Brasserie de la Mer (posh food), Le Spot (training and tryout pool for you to test the Wake Box, City Wave and Indoor Kite. One for the ‘kids’), The Renan Bridge with its photo exhibition, TheNautic Concept Boat with all the latest kit and gadgets, The Traditiond Village (craftsmen and traditional manufacture), Little Sailors (Les Moussaillons) (kids area with sailing-related activities), The Business Centre, The Nautic Book Award whose prize goes to the best sailing-related book of the year, The Equipment Show Room with all this year’s new products… Lots of stuff to do and see!

There are also some linked events, like nauticOFILM, a digital film contest with twenty entrants in four categories. By voting you could win a trip for two to Brazil, a training course on a prestigious ship or… your weight in oysters!

We think that you would do well to check out the interactive map of the show to help plan your visit.

Here’s all the essential information for Nautic -The 2008 Paris Boat Show

When: 6th -14th December 2008
Where: Parc des Expositions de la Porte de Versailles, 75015 Paris. Métro Porte de Versailles (line 12), tramway ligne T3, station Porte de Versailles, bus n°s 39 & 80
Opening hours: 10am – 7pm, late night opening on Friday 12th December until 10pm
Entrance fee : adults 13 €, free for children under 16 and students under 26 as long as they pre-register and show official identification
More info: on the official site (but currently French only)

Bigger map here