Everything that’s fit to float
The 2019 Helsinki International Boat Show, the largest event of its kind in northern Europe, opens the boating season with more than 500 models on display. This year, there is a particularly wide selection of new aluminium boats and day cruisers. Perennial favourites complement the new models. Well over half the boats are Finnish. The 2019 Helsinki International Boat Show will be held from 8 to 17 February 2018 at Messukeskus Helsinki.
The Boat Show offers seven halls filled with interesting things to see and experience, and to buy. In addition to the boats themselves, the Boat Show features boating tackle and watersports accessories. The fishing theme has steadily increased in importance over the years. More than 300 companies are participating, and the number of visitors at this annual event has typically been between 60,000 and 70,000.
Boats in all classes
Well over half of the boats featured at the Boat Show are Finnish. New models are being presented by Finnish boat makers Alucat, Alutroll, AMT, Aquador, Bella, Cross, Falcon, Finnmaster, Grandezza, Nord Star, Sargo, Silver, Suvi, Targa, Terhi and Yamarin. The most interesting new Finnish boats are the Alucat W10, the AMT 190 BRf and 210 DC, the Cross 62 BR, the Falcon C 7, the Finnmaster P6, the Nord Star Sport 25, the Silver Hawk BR, the Silver Tiger Brz/DCz, the Yamarin 63 BR and the Yamarin 88 DC.
There are many other prominent new models, such as the Anytec A30, the Marex 360 Cabriolet Cruiser, the Askeladden P79 Weekend and the Jeanneau Merry Fisher 895 Marlin, and the particularly interesting Brabus Shadow 500 from Germany.
The largest boat at the Boat Show is the Pershing 5X from Italy. A Sunseeker Predator 50 is also on display. Two sailboats are presented at the Boat Show, the Beneteau Oceanis 38.1. and the Hanse 388. These can be found at the Marina along with foiling sailboats. The class associations of the Finnish Sailing and Boating Federation present their racing boats in hall 4, where racing speedboats may also be found in the Race WKND! zone.
The best new models will be awarded prizes on Wednesday 13 February at 12.00: Open Boat of the Show, Cabin Boat of the Show and Cruiser of the Show. The finalists in these categories will be announced on the opening day of the Boat Show, 8 February, at 10.00. The boats at the Boat Show provide a representative cross-section of the hottest new products. There are presentations of them at the programme venue ‘Totalveneen Messi’ in hall 6.
Fishing boats at the New Wave basin
The New Wave basin offers a closer look at fishing boats and their electronics systems. Fishing guides and fishing experts will be at the basin to talk about how these can be used in fishing. Attractions at the New Wave basin: the Tracker Pro Guide V-175 with Combo Garmin electronics, an authentic spinning boat customised from Kalle Paavola’s Buster XL, a Buster Cabin equipped for trolling, a Buster M, a North Silver 585 Fish spinning boat, a Lund 1900 Tyee from Haukikoira, a Lund Pro V 2075 and an Alucat W8 spinning catamaran.
The basin will also house a Sea-Doo Fish Pro jet ski and a Buster S.
Oldest boat from the 1930s
Each year, the Mahogany Yachting Society brings refurbished boats to the Boat Show and shares their stories. This year, the classic boats stand (7d141) features a barrel back style Chris Craft Runabout launched last year. The boat is made of sapele mahogany and has a 5-litre Mercruiser V8 engine.
UTÖ 20 DC is the first prototype DC UTÖ built by B-H Johansson in 1966. The boat has been refurbished to its original condition and is the first UTÖ open boat to be featured at the Boat Show. The boat was used as a tender in Hiittinen. The Saga windscreen boat is a mahogany beauty in the spirit of the 1960s, designed and built by Erkki Lönnqvist, master boatwright at the Kuggom wood boat school. The boat has been given a new bottom after 50 years of service. Lightning is a light boat made of mahogany, its courses each consisting of a single plank; a 1960s classic as good as new. The boat is still raced regularly. This stand also boasts the oldest boat in the Boat Show, a dinghy built at Turun Veneveistämö [Turku boat wharf] in the 1930s.
At the classic boats stand, boatbuilding instructor Esko Mattson from the Kuggom wood boat school shares information about courses in this field and encourages visitors to refurbish old boats. The Nisse Häggblom Outboard Museum, with a fine collection of old outboard motors, is also here. Certificates for new boats accepted into the register of classic boats will be handed out at the stand on Saturday 9 February at 14.00. Senior Researcher Hannu Matikka from the Finnish Heritage Agency will attend the ceremony.
Guest Marina of the year, Boating Achievement of the Year, Save the Baltic Sea and boat prizes
Several prizes are awarded at the Boat Show. The Guest Marina of the Year prize is published on the opening day, 8 February, and the Save the Baltic Sea prize is given out on Friday 15 February at 15.00. Both prizes are given out by the Finnish Fair Foundation. The Guest Marina of the Year prize is given out jointly with the Finnish Sailing and Boating Federation. The Boating Achievement of the Year prize, presented by the Finnish Boating Journalists’ Association will be awarded on 8 February at 10.00. Also, best of show prizes will be given out on Wednesday 13 February at 12.00.
Plenty on the programme
The Boat Show has programme venues for fishing, sailing, motorboating, boat maintenance and refurbishment, and watersports. Visitors can watch and try out watersports at the New Wave basin, where demonstrations and small-scale competitions are also held. Visitors can also try out stand-up paddleboarding in a shallow basin where only their feet will get wet. There is a new programme venue this year, called ‘Totalveneen Messi’ [Total Boat Galley], which offers up-to-date information on motorboating and motor boats. Fishing events can be found at the New Wave basin, on the Lowrance Live Stage and at the Rapala Kalatakuu giant aquarium. Sailors’ yarns can be heard at the Marina, and boat refurbishment will be featured at the Boatmaster’s Wharf. The fishing zone at the Boat Zone is hosted by Mikko ‘Peltsi’ Peltola, the entertainer at the New Wave basin is Aleksi ‘Alex’ Halen, and the host at the Marina is Tuuli Petäjä-Sirén.
The home port of the Finnish Sailing and Boating Federation has an ‘Yhdessä vesille’ [Together on the water] campaign basin and kids’ playground, a training and inspection stand and a flea market for second-hand boating accessories in good condition.
The 2019 Helsinki International Boat Show is held from Friday to Sunday, 8 to 17 February 2019, at Messukeskus Helsinki , Expo and Convention Centre. This is the largest boating event in northern Europe, organised by Messukeskus Helsinki on commission from the Finnish Marine Industries Federation Finnboat. The 2019 Helsinki International Boat Show highlights the activities of the Baltic Sea Action Group. This year sees a further increase in Baltic Sea themed material at the Show. The headline sponsor of the Boat Show is Mercedes-Benz.
Opening hours (for the general public)
Fri 8 Feb 11.00–19.00
Sat–Sun 9–10 Feb 10.00–18.00
Mon–Fri 11–15 Feb 11.00–19.00
Sat–Sun 16–17 Feb 10.00–18.00
This year, children under the age of 15 enter free from Monday to Thursday, 11–14 February. Children under the age of 12 are only admitted in the company of an adult.
Save money by buying your tickets in advance athttp://shop.messukeskus.com
Tickets at the entrance: adults EUR 19, children (aged 7–15) and concessions EUR 12. Purchased in advance: EUR 16 / EUR 10.
Group tickets (minimum 10 persons in group): EUR 12 per person at the entrance and EUR 10 per person purchased in advance.
From Monday to Thursday (11–14 Feb) children under 15 enter for free. Children under the age of 12 are only admitted in the company of an adult.
www.venemessut.fi #boatshow
Photos of the Boat Showhttp://mediabank.messukeskus.com
