Les Nauticales starts March 15 in La Ciotat

by Veronique Largeau on 12 Mar 2014 Les Nauticales 2014, the in-water boat show, will be held from Saturday 15 - Sunday 23 March 2014 in the Port de Plaisance in La Ciotat.

More than 200 exhibitors are expected on 30,000 sq. metres of exhibition space. 200 boats will be on show in-water, out of the 400 on display in the show. Themed spaces will be available to all visitors, as well as many entertainments. Les Nauticales' aim: To become The Euro-Mediterranean in-water spring show and to show exclusively the new launches presented in the winter shows.

Nauticales 2014: 10 Key Points!

Forty new boats for 2014!
Of the 400 boats on show, Les Nauticales will present forty new boats for 2014, some of which were on display at the last Nautic in Paris (France), and others at the recent Boot in Düsseldorf (Germany). It's a golden opportunity, and one which shows the true strategic positioning of Les Nauticales which, thanks to its choice of date and place, can show so many new launches for the first time in France, in-water. A bonus for enthusiasts looking for the latest innovations, and a real opportunity for professionals and journalists to discover and try out the stars of tomorrow, at sea. The names of some of these new launches? The range of three brand-new Flyer 6 models from Bénéteau, not forgetting the Oceanis 38, the Elan 320, the Bayliners 742 and Element, the new Portofine 28 from Italia Marine, the latest Bavaria Cruisers 37 and 41, the Varianta 37, Jeanneau with the Sun Odyssey 349, the Leader 40, the Merry Fisher 695 and the Cap Camarat 470, the Cap Ferret 522 Open Sport and 572 Day Cruiser, the Chaparral H20 21S, the Eolo 730 from Nadir Marine - not forgetting the Quicksilver Activ 855 Cruiser, Captur 555, 605 and 675 Pilot House - and not forgetting the new Valiant 550 Sport Fishing…

A new equipment and services hall
A new space for Les Nauticales 2014, the Equipment and Services Hall will be located in the 'careening' area of La Ciotat marina. This 900 sq. m hall will bring together the engine manufacturers, electronic brands and retailers, upholsterers, and boat exhibitors who will benefit from being in a covered area, which also opens on to the Bassin des Capucins. This new space will display these important sectors of the sailing industry to their advantage, and will also to enable them to exhibit even if the weather is unsuitable.

One-way traffic flow, plus access to the show from Le Saut Du Loup
While the two entrances - by the La Tasse parking area and from Boulevard Wilson - are available once more, it will also be possible to access the show from the new Saut du Loup esplanade this year. Visitors can use the stairs or the PMR ramp at the end of the esplanade, to reach the nearby La Tasse entrance. Another new idea since 2013, a one-way traffic flow, will be put in place to allow greater visibility for all exhibitors but also, and above all, to allow visitors to see all of Les Nauticales 2014.

Themed Quays
Two basins - Bérouard et Capucins - and several quays are open to visitors at Les Nauticales 2014. In addition, to improve the visibility of boats on show, themed quays have been put in place, to make the most of the exhibitors' in-water displays. This means that visitors can explore a quay reserved for traditional boats and marine heritage on the Bérouard side of the marina. On the Capucins side will be:

- The 100, 200 and 300 areas, reserved for boats new to the show;
- The Quai des Capucins, with multihulls and SNSM and Gendarmerie Maritime boats;
- The Quai Nord, for classic yachts, event boats and boats from the eco-sailing centre.

François Gabart, Patron of Les Nauticales 2014
A truly iconic figure of the new generation of professional skippers, François Gabart will be Les Nauticales patron at the next show. It's a unique opportunity for professionals and visitors to the show, who will have the chance to meet him on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th March, 2014. Let's remember that François has had a meteoric rise: In 2009, he joined the 'Skipper Macif' selection and began by winning the seventh Vendée Globe on January 27th 2013 at 3.19p.m., after 78 days, two hours and 16 minutes, becoming at 29 the youngest-ever winner of the race. He established a new record by carrying out a solo circumnavigation, without any stopovers, in six days less than Michel Desjoyeaux in the 208-2009 event. Remember that François Gabart will be present at the screening of his film 'François Gabart, Deep-Sea Sailor', on Saturday, March 15 at 4p.m. in the Eden Theatre. He will be able to answer viewers' or visitors' questions.

Flyboard lands at Les Nauticales
For the first time, the Flyboard Attitude Association will be present at the show. Thanks to this professional Flyboard school, visitors will find out about this new sport. The principle is simple: the Flyboard is a board connected by a hose to a motor which allows the user to propel himself through the air, as well as under water. Both instinctive and manoeuvrable, it allows you to fly, dive, form patterns ... Demonstrations and thrills guaranteed, in the port every day of the show.

A Classic, Traditional Centre In Full Development
Launched in 2013, this centre is even larger this year. A dozen 'barquettes, 'bettes' and 'mourre de pouar' from Marseilles will be on display at the show, such as the Marie Louise (1899), Petite Emma (1920), Stéphanie (1920), and even the Ciotaden, with the support of the Calfats de l'Escalet, the Pescadous de l'Estaque, the Carènes Association and the PassMer ...

Also on show: La Flaneuse, a unique 18.50 m tartane of the Marseillais coast, with Cap Marseille and Antares from Ciel & Mer, a rigged 20.42 m schooner dating from 1945, which worked as a fishing boat until 1990. On the Bassin des Capucins, classic yachts: Armide, an 18.72 schooner meters dating back to 1938; Hygie, a superb 24 m ketch from 1930; and Jill, a 9 m Nicholson dating back to 1935.

In addition: two other exceptional arrivals with the incredible Alcyon, this amazing replica of a Marseillais Houari of 1871, from the Vaton plan, rebuilt at the Daniel Scotto shipyard. Just imagine: 9.28m bridge length by 23.30m overall length!

And, for the first time in La Ciotat, Palynodie II. This Marconi sloop from 1962 is none other than Gaston Deferre's old boat, ordered from Sparkman & Stephens' New York office. Finally, remember that Festival 1720 will once again be present in the aisles of the show on Sunday, March 16th.

Themed Days
Open for nine days, Les Nauticales will present five themed days during the week. While the weekends will be lively with entertainment for all, topics discussed during the week will be as follows: Monday, March 17: Environment and Sustainable Development Day; Tuesday, March 18: Heritage and Tradition Day; Wednesday, March 19: Youth Day; Thursday, March 20: Economy Day; Friday, March 21, Watersports Day. Find the full programme for these days on the Show internet site.

New: Eco-Sailing Centre
For the first time, an Eco-Sailing Centre will be unveiled at the show. Located on Stand 10 on the Quai Nord, this centre will bring together several revolutionary boats, introducing innovations biased towards the environment, and sustainable development. A space where visitors, pleasure-boaters, professionals, and journalists will be able to appreciate the important step forward which has been achieved in recent years. Look at the many new products, such as: Marine Kart, Torqeedo, BioNautique, SunSeaRider, Bat@lib, Naviwatt, Sole Nostrum ...

So Many Highlights!
It's impossible to list all the highlights of this 2014 Show! Opening ceremony in the presence of M. Eugène Caselli, president of the MPM, on Saturday, March 15 at 11a.m.; screening of 'François Gabart, Deep Sea Sailor', with the skipper available to answer viewers' questions that day; Rock Fishing competition, with 60 participants, over the first weekend: Fly-boarding in the Bassin des Capucins; the strolling players from Festival 1720; conferences and screenings throughout the week; exhibition in the Chapelle des Pénitents Bleus; trials, initiations and demonstrations in the Watersports Space; SNSM rescue operations and a helicopter winching demonstration on the second weekend ... there will be something for all tastes and all interests! Les Nauticales: not to be missed by the little ones, who can even build a boat out of plastic bottles; nor by older people, who can go for a free sail out to sea ... Find the full programme of these highlights on the Show internet site

Event website: click here