An unstable market prevented the success of the first edition
The French Nautical Industries Federation (FIN) has officially announced the abandonment of Nautic en Seine, an afloat boat show scheduled to take place on the banks of the Seine in April 2025. As a reminder, the organization had already postponed the event, which was initially scheduled for October 2024. Exhibitors were quite enthusiastic when the Autumn 2023 show was launched, but the current economic climate has shuffled the cards.
This new show was intended to replace the Nautic de Paris, held until 2022 at the Porte de Versailles. Conceived as a meeting place for nautical destinations and the ecological transition, it was to feature some 230 boats. Given its location, the departmental nautical park on the Ile de Monsieur and Port Legrand in Boulogne Billancourt, it would certainly have welcomed many small boats, mainly motorboats. Exhibitors had also pointed out the difficulty of access for the trucks carrying the various units, as well as access to any parking lots.
Despite rigorous preparation and solid partnerships, FIN decided that the economic and commercial context was not conducive to the success of this first edition.
The small motorboat segment has been facing sales difficulties for several years. This slowdown, combined with wider economic uncertainties, has weakened the project. According to Fabrice Lacoume, President of FIN's Boat Show Commission, "the pre-marketing phase launched in recent months does not allow us to continue the development of this new show with confidence."
A decision taken by FIN
FIN recognized that the risks associated with holding this show were too high in the current context. Jean-Paul Chapeleau, President of FIN, emphasized: "Our responsibility is to guarantee that a certain level of risk is not crossed, including for the professional federation."
Despite this decision, FIN remains committed to its mission of supporting the French boating industry, and assures us that it will consider other formats or events to meet the expectations of professionals and yachtsmen alike.
Acknowledgements and outlook
La FIN would like to thank its partners, in particular the Hauts-de-Seine departmental council, the town of Boulogne and Haropa Port, for their support in preparing this project. This postponement marks a pause in Paris's ambitions, but not a definitive renunciation of future initiatives in the region.
In the meantime, the nautical sector will have to continue reinventing itself to adapt to today's economic and environmental challenges. The idea is to find new ideas to reinvent a new concept.
