04/10/2021 at 10:50 PM CEST

Barcelona Saló Náutic Jordi Xammar, bronze medalist in class 470, will pay next Wednesday, October 13, from 5.30 pm, a well-deserved tribute to the three Catalan sailors who took part in the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer; Florian Trittel, graduate of Nacra 17 and Cristina Pujol, who participated in ILCA6. In addition to this recognition, the Saló will host on October 17 the eighth edition of the Barcelona Paddle Race, the most important open-sea kayaking event in Catalonia.

The competition organized by the Fira de Barcelona in collaboration with the National Association of Nautical Companies (ANEN) resumes its activity after a year of absence due to the health crisis derived from the Covid 19 pandemic. And it does it to celebrate its 59th edition, which for the first time will last six days, from October 12 to 17.

Far from being weighed down by the crisis, the nautical sector has strengthened, with an increase in registrations of 13% compared to 2019 and around 70% compared to 2020, according to the Secretary General of ANEN, Carlos Sanlorenzo. “This crisis was asymmetric and did not affect the nautical sector; on the contrary, it benefited him ”, declared the president of Saló, Luis Conde., which called the sector a safe leisure option in the face of the pandemic.

So much so that the registrations for this 59th edition exceed all expectations, as explained by the new event director, Josep Antoni Llopart, and that the number of visitors could exceed 55,000 for the 2019 edition.

Under the motto “The sea awaits you”, the Saló Náutic de Barcelona will bring together over 14,650 square meters divided between the Moll de la Fusta and the Moll de España more than 180 exhibitors and 500 boats, including 176 in the floating exhibition, the largest that can currently be assembled in Spain. The confirmed presence of 15 of the candidates for the best European boat of the year and 97 new products in boats, engines, navigators and accessories focused on the ecological transition of the sector stands out.

The Saló reinforces the commitment to sustainability

In line with the last two editions, the Saló Nàutic de Barcelona reinforces its commitment to sustainable development. Thus, the conference space ‘Espai Mar’ will host the conference “A commitment by the sea” in which experts in the field will address issues such as climate change or the impact of nautical activity on the marine environment and the main solutions for the present and the future.

The professional part of the event will be completed by the celebration of the third edition of the ‘Nautic Tech International Forum, on October 14, dedicated to the promotion of the five most innovative startups and in which the European Commissioner in charge of the environment will participate, oceans and fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevicius.

The Saló Náutic de Barcelona also consolidates its leisure offer with the presence of the Catalan Sailing Federation, this edition of more will carry out various activities to promote the practice of this sport and with the area of ​​’Traditional Marina, which in this edition will have an exhibition on Juan Sebastián Elcano and will have the participation of the Albaola de Pasaia association, which builds ships recovering trades, techniques and traditional tools.