Every winter boat shows occur through-out the US as anxious boaters awaiting warmer weather strive to beat cabin fever by attending shows in places like Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and others. The same mentality shows in Europe, however, it’s on a much grander scale.

Every January for the past 40 years, Boot Dusseldorf, held in the city from which it takes its name in Germany, has brought tens of thousands of excited boaters, manufacturers, dealers, and anyone who loves to be on the water together. Not only is Boot Dusseldorf the worlds largest boat show, it is also the largest in-doors boat show. With almost 900,000 square feet of hall space spread across 19 exhibition halls the site is visible from space. It is served by its own train station, police force, hardware store and grocery store. A truly international yacht show, dealers and boat buyers attend from across the globe to see the newest and best that Europe has to offer.

David Walters Yachts was represented by Erik Haaland of our Mid-Atlantic office in Annapolis. In addition to his duties as a yacht broker with DWY he is also the Sales Director for Italia Yachts in the United States. Italia Yachts is the world’s premier builder of performance cruising yachts based in Chioggia, Venezia. They produce yachts from 34’-54’ through two lines, Sport and Bellissima. Sport yachts include three designs, a 9.98m 34’, 11.98m 39’, and 14.98m 50’. The Sport yachts are designed to be performance oriented with sailing gear arranged for a racing crew. The 9.98 and 11.98 are multiple ORC World Champion winners, and the new 14.98 will be launched later this Spring.

The Bellissima line encompasses all models, with deck layouts setup for crewed or doubled handed use and strikingly beautiful interiors. Yachts sized 12.98m 43’ and up are full blue water capable of cross ocean travel.

On display at Boot Dusseldorf was the Italia 11.98 Bellissima with the new Carbon interior. This design was launched a year ago in Venice and has made a strong entrance to the market with several already on the water and more than a dozen on order. Just two months after launching an 11.98 Sport won the title of 2019 ORC World Champion in Croatia. The 11.98 Bellissima with Carbon interior is marketed towards the discerning yachtsman who is looking for a top quality design with show stopping looks and performance. Easy to utilize for coastal cruising or club racing, the 11.98 has set the bench mark in modern design and has already won or been nominated for many top level awards.

In further attendance at Italia Yachts in Dusseldorf were representatives worldwide from Australia, Britain, France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Finland, Spain and Portugal. Italia Yachts has been met with increasing success worldwide in the past year with expansion into markets in the Americas and Pacific with several yachts on order for those areas. The brand is becoming increasingly visible in major yachting markets and with the investments being made worldwide Italia Yachts future is certain to be bright.

In the America’s the brand is growing with multiple yachts on the US East Coast and further deliveries being made this season to the US and Puerto Rico. Italia Yachts will be represented by David Walters Yachts at the Spring and Fall sailboat shows in Annapolis. Italia Yachts plans to participate in the 2020 ORC/IRC Worlds in Newport with an 11.98 and two 9.98’s, along with participation in the Newport to Bermuda race with Artemis, an Annapolis based 13.98.

For more information or to arrange a sea-trial on the Annapolis based 9.98 and 13.98 please contact Erik Haaland at (410) 279-3027 or erik@DavidWaltersYachts.com