Sensational Comeback for Palma International Boat Show - With Royal Approval

PALMA DE MALLORCA, Spain - May 6, 2013 - PRLog -- Final figures will show that in the region of 37,000 visitors attended the 30th edition of the Palma International Boat Show which came to a close yesterday, Sunday 5 May.  Amongst them was the King’s only son, Crown Prince Felipe, the first time in 30 years that a member of the Spanish royal family has attended.

A keen sailor, even competing in the 1992 Olympics as part of the Spanish sailing team, Crown Prince Felipe paid a surprise visit to the Show to present the Marcial Sanchez-Barcaiztegui Award, the first of its kind to recognise those who promote sailing.  Sanchez-Barcaiztegui was one of the most respected and loved personalities in the sailing world and played a fundamental role in the promotion of the sport throughout Spain.  Having paid tribute, Prince Felipe spent more than an hour walking around the Boat Show, greeting both exhibitors and the public.

Director of the Palma International Boat Show, Chema Sans, was delighted at the event’s success, “This was a completely different Show from 2011.  Most notably, it has grown a lot, the number of exhibitors was up 25% and the sea-based exhibition area up 76%, largely due to the crucial addition of a Superyacht Brokerage & Charter Show – a venture that makes a good deal of sense for the Balearics.  Last year Monaco reported a record attendance of 33,000, we know for sure that we have beaten this figure and certainly had many more sailing superyachts on display.  In total 47 superyachts over 24 metres lined the quayside of Moll Vell marina and, based on this year’s runaway success, I envisage this expanding to 65 or more for 2014.”

Chema continued, “All the exhibitors I have spoken with seemed to be happy having gathered quality contacts and conducted serious business.  Those promoting smaller craft may not have sold ten boats at the Show, as could have been the case a decade ago, but have had their expectations exceeded considering the difficult economic environment.  Many are already thinking about next year, discussing their stand and berthing requirements.  And, with the all-new eight million euro Moll Vell due to be complete and open for business by spring 2014, the Show can only build in importance and quality.”  

For the 30th edition, public and private sector worked together to remodel the Show into a nautical week with TapaMar gastronomy, the Gaastra PalmaVela regatta and Maremostra Ocean Film Festival running alongside the more traditional boats, accessories and services.  The intention was to promote the Islands, in particular Palma, and confirm their strategic importance in tourism and yachting – giving impetus to the economy and job creation.  

Speaking exclusively to nautical channel NTVE.TV, Jose Ramon Bauza, President of the Balearic Islands who declared the Show open on 1 May, said, “It is absolutely necessary for our economy, because now we want to improve our economy, we want to give opportunity for unemployed people and we want to be very proud of our industry in this nautical sector because they say we are the best all over the world.”

Quotes from members of the Balearic Yacht Brokers Association formed to organise the inaugural Palma Superyacht Brokerage & Charter Show:

Jochen Brill, Dahm International:  “I am really pleased that we created the Balearic Yacht Brokers Association and staged this superyacht-specific Show.  It’s good that Palma has understood the potential of this important sector of the industry.  I have been 32 years in the business and we have never had so many big boats at this Show nor such serious buyers.  We will be very happy to do it again next year.”

Marc Haendle, Ocean Independence:  “The reaction has been good.  We have welcomed a lot of serious customers, people we didn’t expect, including some famous faces, international celebrities who have houses here on the Island – this is exactly the calculation behind the idea to create this Superyacht Brokerage & Charter Show.  They know that with six famous companies involved, six good companies, when we stage an event it will be worth attending.  For Ocean Independence we received a good offer on one of our yachts and we believe the Show was held at the right time in the right place.  We love Mallorca and are happy to support it.”        

Arne Ploch, Camper & Nicholsons:  “For the first time the Boat Show represents what yachting actually is in Mallorca - an industry that makes its living from the larger yachts.  We had a unique amount of sailing superyachts and, as the Show was organised by an association of half a dozen brokers, we worked hard to achieve the aim we wanted – to sell boats.  We welcomed owners, clients and received two offers on one boat.  Everyone is in a very positive mood and this is certainly the beginning of something much bigger in Palma.  Next year we will bring more boats and expect more clients.  It is now a question of working hard to establish the Show on the nautical calendar.”

Giulio Riggio, Fraser Yachts:  “The Show worked up to a crescendo from day one to day five and, thanks to nice weather and superb organisation, it met our expectations.  We spoke with a range of good potential clients, not just from the Island but also German, English, Swedish, Finnish and Russian clients who love to stay in Mallorca and combine land-based pleasure with their passion for yachting.  The main aim at a Show is to create a good impression of our yachts and our Company, the business comes later, we must put it all together to earn the results, but certainly by working together with the Balearic Yacht Brokers Association we have more power in these pressured economic times.  One thing that must come to an end is the ridiculous matriculation tax issue, it must be put on the table and resolved.  Of the 47 yachts on show, only six were for charter due to matriculation tax.  Prospects for 30 or 40 metre boats say if they can’t charter their boat in Spain, they will take it elsewhere, I heard this every one of the five days of the Show.  The Balearics and Spain are losing valuable charter business and giving it on a plate to Italy and the like.”

Jamie Small, Burgess Yachts and OceanStyle by Burgess:  “We’ve been pleasantly surprised by the number of qualified clients and yacht owners that visited the nine yachts we had on display at the Show.  We received clients from across Europe and one from the United States that resulted in a positive viewing.  We are excited about next year where the Show will be bigger, better and the new Moll Vell marina up and running.  There is no reason why it shouldn’t become the premier pre-season show in Europe.”

For more information on the Show visit www.boatshowpalma.com.  

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