Økonomiske krisetider til tross:

Optimistiske toner fra Hamburg

Optimistiske toner fra Hamburg

Båtutstillingen i Hamburg er nettopp avsluttet, og den ble besøkt av over 100 000 tilskuere. Og i skyggen av de dystre, økonomiske tidene mediene beskriver, ble utstillingen en positiv opplevelse, skal vi tro utstillerne.

Med 100 000 besøkende var besøkstallet bare litt lavere enn i 2007, da 105 000 så utstillingen i Hamburg. I alt var det 800 utstillere fordelt i 11 utstillingshaller, og i vannet lå det tilsammen 50 større seil- og motorbåter.

– Selgere av utstyr rapporterte om godt salg. Båtimportører og båtbyggere sa det samme og forventet mange interessante oppfølgingsmøter med kjøpelystne kunder. Lysten til å være på vannet har på ingen måte blitt redusert med den økonomiske krisen, sier utstillingsarrangøren i en pressemelding.

HVA DE MENER. Arrangøren har innhentet en rekke utsagn fra flere seilbåtforhandlere, som sier følgende:

Michael Schmidt, HanseYacht AG: «It went better than we had expected. There is a clear trend towards more interest in smaller boats again.»

Jonn Minners, Tempo Yachtvertrieb (Delphia and Jeanneau): «We had fewer visitors, but those who came were the right ones. We made yacht sales and are expecting good follow-up business.»

Thomas Nielsen, Yachtsport Eckernförde (Dufour): «It is already evident that planned yacht purchases are being postponed. But the situation is not as bad as you read every day in the newspapers. In fact, I believe that some people came to hanseboot with the idea of ‘now I’m going to indulge myself’.»

Ulrich Schürg, Blue Yachting (Harmony and Feeling): «We are delighted at the great interest in our sailing yachts. Things went very well, especially in the hanseboot harbour. Sailors are evidently not being deterred by the financial crisis. People who have been planning over a long time to buy a yacht are doing it now.»

Rainer Kürten, North Yachting (Arcona and Malö): «I am almost euphoric about the way hanseboot has gone. The new Arcona 430 is doing particularly well with us.»

Christoph Barth, X-Yachts Deutschland: «It went much better than expected, and we were even able to close some deals at the fair. We always find the relevant visitors for us at hanseboot. 2007 was a very good year, and if we did not quite come up to that level this time, it is still okay.»

John Welding, Nautor’s Swan Germany (Swan and Finngulf): «At present many customers are finding it hard to make a decision. But we had a lot of good talks, and hope to do good follow-up business.»

Magnus Rassy, Halberg Rassy Yachts: «2007 was a very good year, and can hardly be repeated. We sell throughout the year, and hanseboot mainly serves for making new contacts. With our new HR 372 we are addressing a completely new clientele that is interest in sporting boats, and it is attracting a great deal of interest.»

Torsten Bergheim, BM Yachting (Bénéteau): «Purchase interest is significantly higher than expected. The clientele is very much at the high end, and we are mostly getting very serious inquiries. Customers are refusing to be deterred, and are willing to spend money. Especially in the sector above 40 foot.»

Christian Brandt, ONSAIL (dinghies and skiffs): «It is good that the class associations and the dealers are now under one roof at last, in Hall B5. Many have noticed that it is possible to have a lot of fun without spending too much money, and that they do not need a big yacht to do that.»