(pictures: Venice Boat Show and yards)

The show spotlights the Italian and international yachting industry. With 30 new shipyards and 15 world premieres appearing, 240 boats are due to be exhibited in water within a 50,000sqm basin, stretching approximately 2.8km in length, across more than 1,100m of docks, facilitated by a significant infrastructural effort within the Venice Arsenale complex. The show also encompasses 30,000sqm of external exhibition areas and factory buildings dating back to the 1500s.

“The Venice Boat Show is not merely a trade fair; it’s an opportunity for knowledge exchange, networking, and a focus on sustainability,” said Luigi Brugnaro, the mayor of Venice.

“We delve into discussions about the sea and its conservation, the importance of water as the source of life, and the preservation of nature. Moreover, the Show serves as a grand celebration of rowing and traditional sailing, paying homage to our heritage and reminding us that each of us possesses a spirit akin to Marco Polo’s.”

Sessa C38

Of the 216 Italian exhibitors, 50 are Venetian, including some traditional shipbuilding craftsmanship from the Venice lagoon. International exhibitors come from the UK, Croatia, Slovenia, Poland, Spain, France, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

From Italy’s motoryacht yards, Absolute shows four models, including the new 52 Fly. Azimut Benetti moors its new Azimut Seadeck 6 (said to reduce emissions by 40 per cent with average use over a year). Sessa Marine shows its new Sessa C38, as well as C48 and C44 models.

Contemporary Italian brand Evo Yachts makes its first appearance at the show.  Ferretti Group present the new Custom Line Navetta 38, and Riva Infinito 90. Sanlorenzo Yachts exhibits the Sanlorenzo SD96 and two BlueGame models: the BG42 and 54 – under an art installation by Lorenzo Quinn in a basin. 

BlueGame BG42 and BG54 models and a Sanlorenzo SD96

Silent Yachts presents recent solar-powered electric motoryachts. Wider Yachts premieres its 28m Wider Cat 92. Sacs Tecnorib shows a range of high-end speedboats. Solaris Yachts is to show a range of sailing and motor yachts. Itacatamarans brings sailing cats from Italy. 

Overseas motoryacht showings include Axopar, Beneteau, Green Line, Nimbus, Prestige, Saxdor, and Sunseeker. The sailing segment has shown to be growing, including important Italian and international shipyards among both monohulls and catamarans. 

Jeanneau’s Yacht 65

Non-Italian monohull and catamaran sailing boat models are seen from the likes of Arcona, Bavaria, Beneteau, Elan, Grand Soleil, Hallberg-Rassy, Jeanneau, Lagoon, Nautor Swan, Pegasus, Pogo and Salona. 

Nautor Swan 58

“The Venice Boat Show has always had a significant focus on electric and hybrid propulsion systems,” said Alberto Bozzo, commercial director of the show.

“In 2024, more than 50 green boats will be present. Major innovations come from segments adopting these propulsion systems, with increasingly larger hulls and greater ranges, and from the introduction of hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion systems, which we will showcase extensively. 

“We will also see the new frontiers of charging technologies on display, including the use of photovoltaic solar panels and ‘mother’ boats that recharge smaller vessels.”
salonenautico.venezia.it