The 22nd edition of the Boat Show
boatica Cape Town is Africa's boating exhibition set against the backdrop of the beautiful Mother City. The event features manufacturers and buyers of luxury boats, accessories, and marine equipment, a once-in-a-lifetime Ultimate Yacht Experience, sophisticated exhibiting companies, live on-water activities, and a luxury lifestyle exhibition for a premium shopping experience.
From sailing competitions to SUP racing, dragon boat racing and test sails.
Date: 25 - 27 October 2024
Venue: V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Buy your Tickets: Coming Soon
2023 Facts & Figures
boatica Cape Town celebrated its 21st anniversary this year and drew thousands of visitors from around the world this past weekend. Not even Cape Town’s signature South Easter and the rugby world cup final could keep marine and watersports enthusiasts at bay, with over 3,000 people from ten countries descending on the V&A Waterfront between Friday and Sunday to attend the show, presented by Messe Frankfurt.
Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth and Tourism, Alderman James Vos, says, “boatica proved once again to be a jewel in the City’s illustrious crown of world-class events. I am especially pleased that the exhibition gave a spotlight to Cape Town’s top boat-builders and others who work in and around the industry. boatica allows local manufacturers to connect with clients, exchange ideas with others, and network. In addition to three brand new boat launches, visitors had the opportunity to watch dragon-boat racing and the Great Optimist Race, as well as participate in e-foiling or sailing lessons, and book a luxury cruise aboard a catamaran. With so much on offer, the City of Cape Town is proud to confirm we have agreed to host boatica for three years”. Michael Dehn, Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt South Africa – the show organiser added, “We are delighted that the City has agreed to host the show for three years. As Africa’s premier offering for people to stay on top of cutting-edge marine technology and recreational watersports trends we hope to grow on our current base of 71 exhibitors, and attract several thousand more people to the event year on year.”
The show’s highlights this year were vast and varied – from boat launches to the Great Optimist Race, and the NSRI exhibit to the e-foiling display – the event proved once again there is something for everyone. boatica Cape Town Boat Show 2024 is already scheduled for the weekend of the 25th to the 27th of October, with early bird bookings now available. With the successes of this year in mind, the upcoming event is expected to build upon this foundation and set new benchmarks for excellence within the industry.
We would like to thank all our sponsors and exhibitors who partnered with us to make the 2023 boatica Cape Town Show a success.
Interactive on water experiences
The 20th edition of the boatica Cape Town featured even more live demonstrations, from efoiling, SUP racing, the Ulrimate Yacht Experience boat cruise on the Ocean Princess, and a very energetic dragon boat race across the Marina.
Efoiling Lessons
Some magic was brought to the show when the eFoiling Cape Town school was run from the marina during the event. Giving visitors the opportunity to experience this new sensation! Instructors showed off their skills flying above the water, showing the freedom of flight. Efoils can reach a maximum speed of 55 kmph, have a range of 40km and a maximum duration of 2 hours. This interactive display was a highlight of the show.
The Dragon Boat Race
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Dragon Boat racing is an energetic, colourful and exciting team sport with ancient Chinese cultural traditions. This year we had six teams participating including Mujaji - named after a dragon that is said to look like a great feathered serpent and lives on Table Mountain (Xhosa folklore), Amabelle Belles - part of an international movement of dragon boat racing among breast cancer survivors as well as the Paddlesnappers, Dragon Warriors amongst others.
The Great Optimist Race
The Great Optimist Race in conjunction with boatica Cape Town aimed at raising funds for disadvantaged children across the Western Cape set off on a tricky one-lap course through the V&A Waterfront in front of thousands of spectators. Competitors ranged from celebrities to captains of industry, and medical survivors, all of whom raced for glory in little optimist boats. Representing Ullman Sails was Ha
The Ultimate Yacht Experience
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The Ultimate Yacht Experience was where visitors experienced a 2-hour luxury sail to Camps Bay and back on board a luxurious yacht, with snacks and refreshments available during the cruise.
Catamaran Cruises
See Table Mountain from the incredible perspective that mariners have had for four hundred years! An exciting adventure aboard Waterfront Charters luxury catamaran Enigma: a family friendly adventure that gives perfect views of Cape Town and its spectacular mountains as you cruise across Table Bay. With refreshments on hand from the cash bar and amazing vantage points – it’s an hour of maritime magic!
Adventure Boat Cruises
Waterfront Charters Ocean Safaris are eco-adventures aboard our stunning RIBs (Rigid-hulled Inflatable Boats) – an amazing way to get up close and personal to the wildlife that inhabits the Atlantic as you cruise the coastline under the guidance of our experienced and knowledgeable skippers.
Adventure 1 is a purpose-built RIB; a super-safe vessel with a double-row of seats that holds comfortably across the ocean and lets the sea-spray cool you down as you cruise across the water. Ideal for adventurous kids and adults alike, you’ll get a dolphin’s eye-view of the coastline as you glide along: a full hour’s enjoyment aboard the seagoing version of an all-terrain vehicle, the ocean wildlife surrounding you as well. It’s a must-do Cape Town cruise option! Fun for the whole family.
Sunset Champagne Cruise
See Table Mountain from the incredible perspective that mariners have had for four hundred years! An exciting adventure aboard Waterfront Charters luxury catamaran Enigma: a family friendly adventure that gives perfect views of Cape Town and its spectacular mountains as you cruise across Table Bay. With refreshments on hand from the cash bar and amazing vantage points – it’s an hour of maritime magic!
About the organisers
Messe Frankfurt: Business model for global business
Messe Frankfurt is one of the world’s leading trade fair, congress and event organisers with their own exhibition grounds. For some 800 years, we have been bringing people together at our events, both in Frankfurt and throughout the world. Whether with our trade fairs, congresses or other events, with digital or analogue services – everything we do has always been focused on interaction between people. This is something that we have perfected throughout our long history.
With approximately 2,200 employees at 28 locations, we work virtually around the clock and around the globe to further the interests of our customers. Despite the very difficult conditions in 2021, some 1.4 million visitors (2019: 5.1 million) and more than 30,000 (2019: 99.246) exhibiting companies put their trust in the efficiency of our international network the quality of our events and the digital expertise of Messe Frankfurt.
Messe Frankfurt brings together future trends with new technologies, people with markets, and supply with demand. Where different perspectives and industry sectors come together, we create scope for new collaborations, projects and business models.
Messe Frankfurt South Africa
We are the proud organiser of the following events: South African Festival of Motoring, Automechanika Johannesburg, Futuroad Expo, AERO South Africa, Boatica Cape Town, Solar Power Africa, and Hobby-X.