Hanseboot 2013

A few impressions from 2013’s Hanseboot – Northern Germany’s biggest boat show. I visited on the opening day. The layout was a little different this year. They did not open the big “A” halls. It felt a little deserted 2012 because of the space compared to the booths and boats on show last year. So they decided to pack it in the smaller “B” halls and use ground and first floor instead. It felt even smaller, but it’s been said it had the same size. Well, all the same to me. Unfortunately Seascape wasn’t there so I had no chance to get another glimpse. I visited mainly for shopping and not to visit the swimming camper vans, anyways.

I had to go and see the new Varianta 37 though. She premiered that day and Hanse Yachts made a special price for the first 11 people buying the boat. The first one only had to pay 77.777€. With each sell, the price goes up a little to finally 89.131€ – the standard price. First one was actually gone right at 10:00 am. When I visited around 2:00 pm, four boats had been sold. Nice marketing idea Hanse.

I overheard a funny story in Variantas saloon. An older couple was arguing about the boat.

She: I like this boat, it’s so nice and spacious, we should buy it.
He: I wanna get a smaller boat. If we’d buy this one, we could keep the current one. Finally it’s me putting up all the sails – you don’t do anything.
Salesman: Did you consider an electronic winch.
He: Of course we have one. The first day I couldn’t even figure out how to use it.
Must be really hard to press this one button 😉
Salesman: Then you should take a look at the Winner 900.
He: This is exactly the boat I want.
She: It’s far too small for me, I need something bigger.
He: But you don’t do anything but sitting around!

I bet they have a lot of fun and love on their trips.

Oliver Ochse introducing kids to sailing

I spend the rest of the day – they time I wasn’t shopping – with more solid people like Oliver Ochse – a friend and professional sailing teacher, Stefan Bolz from Neptun Sails, Stephan Boden and his famous dog Polly (Digger Hamburg) and Eric Raabe from SeaPilot. Really nice people and good refreshing talks. It’s just interesting how most of the other exhibitors focus on a target group 50+, selling camper vans that can also sail. Attracting young people still does not seem in focus at all. Wander what they will do, once 50+ has died?

Well, I got mostly everything I came for, got my insure questions answered, met new nice people and managed all that in one day. Thank you Hanseboot – we will see each other again next year!