The annual boat show opened on Saturday morning in this German city located on the banks of the River Rhine. Over the years this show has established itself as the largest, best organized and best attended boat show in the world.
The show is spread over 17 separate halls, displaying from sailing dinghies and 70 feet long yachts, to sailing equipment, electronics, marine engines , clothing and books, as well stands of scores charter companies and representatives from sailing destinations from all over the world.
Once again, Cornell Sailing has a stand in hall 14, which is reserved to cruising associations, sailing schools and yacht clubs.
Jimmy Cornell with Andrea Loh, German representative of Barbados Tourism Marketing, and Klaus Hympendahl of Cornell Sailing Events.
The stand is sponsored by Barbados and its focus on Barbados 50, our special transatlantic event celebrating the 50th anniversary of Barbados Independence.
To mark the opening of the show, Andrea Loh, the German representative of Barbados Tourism Marketing offered a rum punch party that was held at the end of the annual bluewater seminar attended by over 200 sailors. This highly successful seminar is organized by Sönke Röver, of the Cornell Sailing Events team.
Andrea Loh of Barbados Tourism Marketing, the host of the party, took everyone by surprise by ordering a huge birthday cake to mark this special occasion in the history of Barbados. As organiser of the event, the honour of cutting the cake befell on Jimmy Cornell, with Andrea Loh and Sönke Röver lending a helping hand.
Among the guests were also representatives of some of the marinas along the route or Barbados 50 which will start on 31 July from London and on the way to the Canary Islands will call at ports in Spain and Portugal. Sampling the excellent rum punch, in the centre Mel Symes of Marina Lanzarote and on her left Lorena Cenamor Fandino of Marina La Coruña.
The show continues to Sunday 31 January.
