BOOT DÜSSELDORF 2024

Mid-winter on the banks of the Rhine might seem like an incongruous time and place for a boat show, but boot Düsseldorf, held for 10 days every January, remains the world's largest, housed snugly in 17 vast halls.

Two of these are dedicated to sailing boats alone; there's another hall for charter and marinas; two more for kit, clothing and equipment; another for beach sports; another for diving; and then a few halls for motor boats, from inflatable tenders to flamingo pedalos and all the way up to superyachts. It's little wonder that the show is a mecca for sailors from all over the world. Oh, and the old town's cobbled streets, with their traditional beer cellars and excellent food - not least the obligatory pork knuckle - make for a thoroughly enjoyable weekend on the Continent.

ALL SHAPES AND SIZES

At least a dozen new boats I’d not seen before were at the show, and we’ll be having a look aboard over the next few pages. Some of the boats on show have been previewed in YM before, while others were totally new. Things were undoubtedly quieter than in the post-Covid boom, but new models across the full range of sizes proved there’s still life in the market.

Boot Düsseldorf is a useful bellwether as to current trends and it’s clear that many yards continue to pursue the top end of the market, as demonstrated by the HallbergRassy 69, Arcona 50, Xc47 and the Moody DS48. In the mid-section of the market, high-volume hulls and ever-fuller bow sections remain the order of the day, with the Dufour 44, Beneteau Oceanis 37.1 and Jeanneau’s Sun Odyssey 350 all new for this year.

There’s a healthy amount of innovation happening among smaller cruising yachts too – an area largely ignored by the big brands, leaving space for smaller yards and innovative ideas, including Saffier’s sporty SE 24 Lite, Sunbeam’s ultra-modern 29.1, the Flaar 24, and Swallow Yacht’s surprisingly affordable Bay Cruiser 21, as well as a couple of more left-field ultra-stylish weekenders.