Salon Nautique in Paris 2003

Filling 100,000 m2 of exhibition space, the Salon Nautique de Paris will be hosting a
thousand exhibitors from 5 - 15 December. They will be coming to Paris to unveil
before the worldwide public for the first time their latest innovations. Among the 1,200
boats on display there will be close to 300 new models. A particularly dynamic
showcase for the French industry, the coming Salon Nautique will enable this year's
visitors to explore not only the trends for 2004, but also offers with regard to tourism,
leisure, services, and equipment.

The Salon Nautique International de Paris is evolving to make visiting the show easier and ensure better coherence in the way the sections are distributed. The area for Canoes and Kayaks is joining the Surf Sports Village. An activity pool 250 m2 supervised by the clubs of the Languedoc-Roussillon regional sailing league (Ligue Régionale de Voile du Languedoc-Roussillon) will enable children to try windsurfing, canoeing, and light-craft sailing rigs in Hall 1. The PWC, cruising schools, and the Arcade will be up in Hall 2.2. Diving and beach craft will be located in Hall 2.3, and the clothing area will occupy the Hall 2.1 along with fittings and equipment.

During this 43rd show, the visitors will be discovering Spanish Galicia, the region of honour. The Languedoc-Roussillon region will be hoisting sails at the Surf Sports Village. Vagabond, the first sailboat to successful circumnavigate the Arctic by linking the two mythic passages: Northeast and Northwest, in a single season will be exhibited in the nave of Hall 1. Traditional Boatbuilding will host Micromégas 3, the prahu built by the Berque brothers, and the Salon Nautique/Le Point Literary Prize will be awarded for the second consecutive year. The Forum des Navigateurs, the Espace Courses (Racing) and Children's Beach Club, a fun and educational area intended for children round off the areas holding special activities and events.

Windsurfing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, kitesurfing will be gathered together at the Surf Sports Village near the section for canoes and kayaks. A giant activity pool 250 m2 run by the clubs of the regional sailing league will give children demonstrations and the chance to get a taste of windsurfing, sailing and canoeing, and race radio-operated boats.

Special exhibit: Vagabond

Vagabond is an expedition sailing ship designed to sail through the icy arctic waters. For three years now its captain, Eric Brossier, has turned it into a one of a kind logistic support unit, an itinerant base camp for scientists, sportsmen and artists fascinated by the polar regions. On 31st August 2002, Eric Brossier and his crew accomplished the feat of crossing - without wintering, with a reduced crew, and without the help of icebreakers - the Northeast passage.

In July 2003, as soon as the ice permits, Vagabond will make a dash for the Northwest passage that links the Bering straits to Greenland, via Alaska and Canada. In addition to becoming the first sailing ship to circle the Arctic by linking the two mythic passages, Vagabond will contribute to the search for the Terror and the Erebus, the two ships lost during Sir John Franklin's expedition. Vagabond will complete its voyage at Saint-Quay-Portrieux, its home port, in October 2003.

The Surf Sports Village

Beginners, speed buffs, or enthusiasts keen on pottering about in the water... the surf sports attract close to 9 million men and women in France. At the Surf Sports Village, the visitors will be able to discover everything that is new in windsurfing, kitesurfing, surfing, wakeboarding... and meet the greatest names in surf sports. People like Antoine Albeau, multiple Champion of France, Robert Teriitehau, Xavier Huart, Bjorn Dunkerbeck, Robby Naish, Patrice Belbeoch, as well as the new guard like Yannick Anton, Colin Sifferlen, Bertrand Fleury, and Yann Calvez, the 2002 Wake Champion of France. Visitors will be able to watch these champions in action on a giant screen, participate in numerous games and contests, attend DJ sets, and more... As for the children, they will be invited to tack for the first time windsurfing in the Surf Sports Village activity pool run by the Languedoc Roussillon Region and the clubs of the Ligue de Voile.

Espace Yachts

The luxury boat area, Espace Yachts, has been expanded. It will now be located in both Halls 1 and 3. These two areas - one for luxury sailing yachts and one for luxury motor yachts - will be run by national and international shipyards. Their architects will present vessels of such generous dimension they are not authorised to enter the Salon Nautique exhibition hall. Scale models of these monohulls and catamarans, both sail and motor, will be on display).

The "Innovations 2003 Competition"

Organised by the Salon Nautique International de Paris, in collaboration with the French Nautical Industries Federation (FIN) and the magazine International Boat Industry (IBI), the 'Innovations' competition pays tribute to technological or ecological innovations, and instruments of communication which enable you to optimise navigation at sea, or new services that favour the enjoyment of recreational water activities. The competition will give an award to the show's three most innovative products.

Show Information

Place: Paris Expo-Porte de Versailles

Open to the public Saturday December 6 to Monday December 15 from 10 AM to 6 PM
Late evening: Friday December 12 until 10 PM.
On Monday December 15 the show closes at 5 PM.

Tickets for the General public are 10 Euros
Reductions: 5 Euros for groups of 10 or more persons, and children 7 to 16 years old
Children under 7 are admitted free.

See http://www.salonnautiqueparis.com