The international boat show, Internautica 2015, closed its doors on Sunday, 10 May. More than 15,000 people attended the five-day event this year. The programs and presentations of approximately 150 exhibitors with around 100 boats were displayed on the exhibition grounds.

This year’s jubilee 20th boat show featured a rich and diverse program. On Wednesday, 6 May, the Opening day was initiated with the opening of the “Green Avenue” within the Green Mobility project, and the opening of the ecologically oriented projects “MARLISCO” and “DeFishGear”.

The MARLISCO project is aimed at analysing the problem of marine waste in European seas and subsequently facilitate societal engagement in order to inspire changes in attitudes and behaviour, providing a series of mechanisms to engage key stakeholders with an interest in, or responsibility for, some aspect of reducing the quantity of waste entering the sea.

The Project DeFishGear addresses the wider marine waste issue so as to ultimately provide key strategic input on a regional level. The DeFishGear project will result in a strategy for reducing marine waste pollution in the Adriatic Sea by involving different stakeholders (the fishing industry, researchers, policy-makers, NGOs and the recycling industry). The project emphasises activities involving fishermen as one of the key causes of marine waste and a key partner in the solution thereof.

“The Magical World of Shells” exhibition was prepared by the MEDITERANUM Institute for Revitalization of Mediterranean Culture Piran while the traditional Blue Flag rising at Marina Portorož was organized by DOVES-FEE Slovenia.

Many nautical attractions and premieres were presented at this year’s Internautica, which undoubtedly delighted many boat lovers who visited INTERNAUTICA in the first days of May.

Among the most visited vessels were those from Elan, Cranchi, Ferretti, Pershing, Absolute, Fairline, Jeanneau, Alfastreet, Itama, Riva, Zar, Lagoon, Beneteau, Janneau, Shipman, Lagoon, Neel, Frauscher.

For the first time ever, Elan has prepared a comprehensive presentation of all currently manufactured vessels under the Elan, Impression and Elan Power brands, providing an opportunity to test at least 10 vessels produced by this important Slovenian and global nautical brand.

Visitors were able to become acquainted with the European premiere of the Azuree 33C sailing yacht, produced by the Turkish yard Sirena Marine, Adriatic premiere of the European Power Boat of the Year 2015 winner, Cranchi 43 Eco Trawler LD and the Adriatic premiere of the latest carbon sailing yacht Shipman 59.

Visitors were also able to view several very exclusive yachts of the highest class such as the Pershing, Ferretti 960 Fly Cranchi, Fairline and Absolute, Riva. Even Frauscher’s 747 MIRAGE AIR premiered at this year’s boat show.

This year’s jubilee 20th INTERNAUTICA show also aimed to present the latest innovative technology of the future, namely increasing individual ecological awareness and promoting the use of energy from renewable sources and hybrid systems with reduced fuel consumption and emissions. The Green Avenue 2015 project once again showcased several interesting electric and hybrid vehicles, including vessels and nautical equipment of this type.

On 8 May 2015, the central event site at Marina Portorož was the location of the Exhibitors’ Evening with the Adriatic Boat of the Year 2015 award ceremony. The winners were selected by a ten-member jury. Nominees competed in two key categories: motor boats and sailboats, as well as two special categories: Adriatic Product of the Year and Adriatic Nautical Project of the Year. The Leidi 660 won in the Adriatic Product of the Year category while the SOS Adriatic project won in the Adriatic Nautical Project of the Year category.

With its 20 year-old tradition, the international boat show Internautica has become the meeting point of the Adriatic coast’s nautical tourism and is one of the top European boat shows, also recognized by its IFBSO membership. With its consistent endeavour for quality, Internautica is the central nautical event in Slovenia, as well as in the wider central European region. But Internautica is not merely an exhibition of contemporary nautical industry trends, with its versatile excellence, business orientation and elements as a partial tourism product, it plays an important role in cumulating positive effects on the economy and stimulating regional development, which is why, according to the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor (Honorary Chairman of the International Boat Show Internautica 2015), Internautica and Slovenian tourism have complemented one another for a number of years. He also emphasized that such events represent one step forward for the Slovenian economy, tourism and entrepreneurship, as well as an initiative for new ideas from our top innovators in the maritime field.

The INTERNAUTICA SUP Challenge 2015 was organised for the first time this year, as part of the Boat Show, and will be considered the SUP Cup of Slovenia. Competitions held on Saturday, 9 May were organized in two categories during the day: the INTERNAUTICA Cup for professionals and INTERNAUTICA Starboard Sprint for recreationists and children.

We should also mention the traditional gathering of vintage boats and old-timer cars, which took place from 8 to 10 May in the Bay of Piran. The diverse programme included numerous activities devoted to a comprehensive preservation of our environment.

The INTERNAUTICA 2015 also offered a rich selection of nautical equipment, sports apparel and accessories for leisure time at sea, as well as many exciting social events.