Second Silesian WIND and WATER Boat Show in Katowice behind us!

Between 10 and 12 November, in  Katowice took place the second edition of the Silesian WIND and WATER Boat Show. The most beautiful yachts, luxurious motorboats, the fastest jet skis, modern sailing and motor boating equipment were presented at the International Congress Centre, located in the very heart of Katowice. Nearly 200 exhibitors presented their offer and about 100 yachts and boats were exhibited at the fair.

This year in Katowice, every amateur of water sports could find something for himself. Visitors could compare presented units, choose products especially tailored for their needs, order sails, buy oilskins, outboard engines, ropes or state-of-the-art navigation devices.

At the fair were presented the latest national and international trends. Amateurs of sailing tourism could admire two state-of-the-art sailing yachts - Antila 24.4, nominated in the competition Yacht of the Year 2018 in Poland of the magazine “Żagle”, and Maxus evo 24.

The smallest yacht of this year's fair in Katowice was the sailboat Mini 230, probably the smallest race yacht in the world - designed for children and adults, as well as disabled sailors sailing solo.

Motor boat enthusiasts were keen to stop at the stand with the most recent double catamaran Topcat K4X. Interesting proposals were exhibited at the stand of tourist yachts importers from French, German, Slovenian and Italian shipyards.

The latest power-driven constructions were presented by Parker, a company that rapidly has gained markets around the world. At the stand of the Delphia Yachts Shipyard, guests could admire the Yacht of the Year 2017 in Poland, the Nautica 1150 Voyage for low-speed and glide sailing.

Balt Yacht, one of the largest Polish manufacturers, presented  spectacular big houseboat Sun Camper and Titan 818 gathering the crowds of enthusiasts . Furthermore, Eskapader, debuting at the Second Silesian WIND and WATER Boat Show, demonstrated a small open-air motorboat Escapade 600 Open.

This year's Silesian WIND and Water Boat Show created also great opportunity to get acquainted with the wide offer of companies from the kayak industry. In the rowing sector, Kajakowo.net, Olimp, Kano, Aquamarina (apart from kayaks also offering SUP boards, sailboats, pumped platforms and lots of other accessories), or the Ukrainian company Ordana Sport.

The guests of the fair could find a comprehensive offer of yachts insurance companies dealing with a wide range of boat services. A rich offer of charter companies collecting orders for next year's cruises both in the near and far corners of the world met with great interest and appreciation among visitors and exhibitors of the fair. Exhibitors also presented an impressive and rich content offer of nautical and motorboat trainings, maneuvering courses and training voyages.

Visitors could also find rubber dinghy, RIBs, water scooters, nautical accessories, motors, ropes, sails, safety and rescue equipment, navigational instruments and yacht electronics at the fair. Additionally, manufacturers and distributors of sailing and sportswear presented their new products.  Tourist regions associated with active water recreation, hiking trails, marinas, yacht clubs and places with attractive water area for watersports actively promoted their interesting offer during the fair.

Fair meetings

This year's fair, apart from a rich exhibition offer, was accompanied by an interesting program of meetings with well-known sailors. The guest of this year's event was a doyen of Polish ocean sailing, Captain Krzysztof Baranowski. About a new project - a two-year voyage around the world and a start in sailing classics within the framework of the Poland 100 Program, talked the most distinguished Polish sailor and vice president of the Polish Sailing Association Mateusz Kusznierewicz.

About the Great Sailor Battle of Gotland told Krystian Szypka, the organizer of the Baltic Recluse Regatta. The guests of the fair also got a chance to meet the leading athletes of the Polish National Team, which in 2020 will represent our country at the Olympics in Tokyo.

The last day of the fair was dominated by conversations with distinguished guests about their participation in the most famous, thereby most difficult sea and ocean races. Jacek Siwek spoke about participation in the Rolex Middle Sea Race and Fastnet Race.

The meeting with Captain Joanna Pajkowska, who, in conversation with the editor in Chief of "Żagle", not only talked about this year's start in the TwoSTAR regatta but also about sailing plans for the future. Worth mentioning are also Silesian accents. The organizers of the Polish Match Tour series, Maciej Cylupa from MT Partners, talked about the most important sailing events in the region.

Award of the monthly “Żagle”

On Saturday during the fair, we met the winners of  "Gwóźdź Targów", a prestigious award granted for over a quarter of a century to products distinguished at the WIND and WATER Boat Show with innovation, design, quality of work, functionality and other interesting features.

This prestigious prize of WIND and WATER Boat Show was awarded at the exhibition organized in Warsaw, but since 2016 it also receive the best products exhibited in Katowice. Waldemar Heflich (Chairman), Dominik Życki (Secretary) and Mariusz Główka and Adrian Skubis awarded Gwóźdź Targów in three categories:

Sailing Yacht - Antila 24.4 submitted by Antila Yachts

Motor Yacht - Cobrey 33 HT submitted by Multiyachts

Rigging and Equipment - Mobile Toilet, chemical toilet cleaner submitted  by Agachem

Marine Industry Forum

The second Silesian WIND and WATER Boat Show was accompanied by Marine Industry Forum in Katowice, the first such B2B event in Poland that took place between November 10 and 11, 2017 at the International Congress Centre in Katowice. It gathered numerous representatives of the yacht industry at the International Congress Centre offering total floor surface area of 34 899m2 for the visitors, speakers and exhibitors participating at the event. The technological forum created a unique opportunity for participants from all over the world to get acquainted with the latest technologies and innovative finishing materials, scientific research carried out by Polish and foreign universities and research institutes, as well as latest technological  innovations presented in the Startup Zone. The organizer of the Marine Industry Forum is Murator EXPO, in close partnership with POLBOAT, the Polish Chamber of Marine Industry and Water Sports.

Co-organizer of the 2nd Silesian WIND and WATER Fair was the City of Katowice, Partner was the Magazine ”Żagle” and the Sponsor Henri Lloyd, the world-famous manufacturer of sailors and athletes clothing. The exhibition was organized by Yacht EXPO and the executive organizer was Murator EXPO.