The City of Cape Town and Messe Frankfurt have confirmed a further three-year sponsorship for the boatica Cape Town Boat Show. It’s a further vote of confidence in the industry’s flagship event which, in what is surely a good omen for brand South Africa, this year coincided with Springbok glory at the Rugby World Cup.
Final attendance figures of the October showpiece were a respectable 3200 visitors despite a blustery south-east gale. But it was never going to be about the numbers this year; Messe Frankfurt is slowly reconfiguring the show and this year was in some ways a precursor of things to come. Stakeholders are convinced that boatica has the potential to grow into an international showpiece, promoting not only the local boating sector but the entire regional blue economy.
“Despite facing inclement weather, the event managed to maintain its appeal, drawing in a diverse audience and showcasing the robustness of the boating industry,” Messe Frankfurt said in a closing press release. “With the successes of this year in mind, the upcoming event is expected to build upon this foundation and set new benchmarks for excellence within the industry.”
Highlights of this year’s show, the 21st edition, included multiple new boat launches, notably a new locally-produced sports fishing boat and Boating World’s latest Azimut Fly 60; another 25-boat Great Optimist Race, featuring a stellar performance from SABBEX’s own sailing experts; and the ever-popular Dragon Boat Race with six enthusiastic teams.