2011 China (Shanghai) International Boat Show

A Success No Matter How You Measure It

While some were at the China (Shanghai) International Boat Show Charity Regatta at Dianshan Lake others, notably exhibitors were still working away at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre in downtown Shanghai but all reports suggest a busy show.

The audited number of unique visitors to the China (Shanghai) International Boat Show was 21,077 from over 70 countries. The visitor numbers are monitored and audited by an independent company to avoid the accusation of number massaging.

The show does appear to have reached capacity at its current site with getting around from hall to hall requiring more weaving past others than at any show before so it is fortuitous that from 2012 the show will be sited at the former World Expo site across in Pudong where it will benefit from the massive infrastructure and transportation investment that Shanghai City Government made for the Expo.

In addition the new site is right besides the Huangpu River bringing with it boundless opportunities for on the water display and demonstration.

So the 2011 China (Shanghai) International Boat Show is the end of an era perhaps and next year the Show completes its journey from humble beginnings in an underground car park to one of the finest venues anywhere in the world.

Beneteau launched their new Sense 50 to China on the Saturday afternoon of the show, draping the yacht in a huge red cloth only to remove it symbolically at 4pm on the Friday of the show. Symbolically for the Shanghai Show as well as the world's largest sailing yacht builder choosing to launch their new model here rather than any other Chinese Show sends a very clear message to the industry.

Like any Boat Show there were the bemused, the families on the day out but the number of deep conversations on various stands with pen paper and brochures spread around were much in evidence. "It was definitely worth coming, we have 2 very solid leads that I don't think I would have got otherwise" said one sailing yacht dealer. "It is our first proper visit", said another but then went on to say "But we had to be here".

Despite actively searching for negative comments none were forthcoming about the levels of interest. David Winter of Red Dragon described the show in one word "Terrific" They sold 2 of their 5.9's and had huge foreign interest in their new Sunday 23.

So what about the hard figures for the show?

There were over 400 exhibitors from more than 20 countries with over 300 real boats and a further 100+ model boats; Turnover was up threefold to an incredible RMB 1Bn, that is almost USD150m; On the first day Ferretti sold a 62' at RMB29m; Cruisers sold their 36' on display at RMB3m; Brunswick 2 x declarations of intent for RMB3m each; Azimut sold 1 x 68', and 1 x 105' for a total of RMB103m plus 4 x letters of intent being signed.

Jeanneau sold a 60 footer at RMB15.5m and Beneteau sold both their exhibits with Princess adding a RMB7m yacht; Fairline signed 2 letters of intent for a total of RMB51m and Sunseeker took 3 orders totaling RMB100m and they didn't even have a boat n the site; Sea Stella took orders for a 38', a 46' and a 63' flybridge totaling RMB16.1m and Choisi 4 letters of intent for RMB30m in total; Sunbird sold 8 boats for a total of RMB40m while Ranscraft visiting Shanghai for the first time sold 6 boats from RMB700,000 to RMB1m plus a staggering 18 letters of intent; Ocean Alexander signed an amazing 12 letters of intent on an RMB8m yacht and Double Happiness sold 1 x RMB24m and 4 x RMB5m; As previously reported the evening before the show started this looked to be Shanghai's biggest, best and busiest Boat Show ever.

The above figures prove that this was no statement of hype, it does appear that people in China who want to buy a boat come to the China (Shanghai) International Boat Show; In addition to the show proper, the other activities were equally well received and attended.

The Charity regatta raised several thousand RMB for 'Hands on Shanghai' a charity benefiting migrant workers children. This was a combined effort by CIBS, Team Four Dragons, Shanghai Boat & Yacht Club, Shanghai Yacht Club and Shanghai Model Boat Sailing Club and in addition to assisting with hands on Shanghai's fundraising also gave their beneficiaries an experience they otherwise would have not had access to; The two 'Try a Sailboat' Open Days at Dianshan Lake and at Real Sailing's Site at JianShanWei had approaching 200 people getting out on the water for the first time, who knows perhaps future customers at a Shanghai Boat Show.

At the show itself tens of people, mainly kids had fun at the radio sailing in the temporary pool provided just for the show.

Finally the Friday evening of the show saw the Gala Dinner for the Asian Marine and Boating Awards sponsored by Agile Real Estate. 16 Awards were made in 14 categories, the culmination of almost 4 months by the team of judges where every winner won for one simple reason - they received more voted than any other nominee.

So The China (Shanghai) International Boat Show is over for another year. Next year, 2012 sees a new venue with records from this year that will be hard to break but with an on the water site adjacent to the venue don't bet against it.

The details of CIBS 2012

Date:

April 19th-22nd, 2012

Venue:

Shanghai Expo Exhibition & Convention Center,

No.1099 Guozhan Road; No.850 Bocheng Road

Shanghai,

China.

For further information visit:

or contact - Ms Cindy Chen - T: +86 21 6437 1178 ex 389 or email

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