“The largest Mediterranean show for used boats”: 30th edition of Nautiques in Port Camargue

Cette année, près de 45 000 visiteurs et 250 exposants étaient attendus. Midi Libre – Pierre Meuriot

This event brings together sea and boating lovers every year as the summer season approaches.

The 30th edition of the Nautiques de Port Camargue, which took place from March 29 to April 1, once again confirmed its status as an unmissable event for boating enthusiasts. Despite the challenges posed by the vagaries of the weather, this flagship event attracted a diverse audience, eager to discover sailboats, motorboats, inflatables, kayaks and even sea scooters.

The largest trade fair in the Mediterranean

Les Nautiques de Port Camargue is above all a great celebration of the sea and yachting which attracts a varied audience every year. Since 1995, this great adventure has allowed individuals and professionals to exhibit their boats for several days, on land or afloat. "The four days Easter holidays were impacted by bad weather but today (Monday April 1, Editor's note), there are really a lot of people" , says Hervé, logistics manager at the show.

With its three kilometers of stroll along the port, the show offered an impressive spectacle, featuring around 450 boats. "It’is the largest show in the Mediterranean for used boats", says Fabrice, a regular exhibitor specializing in fishing.  As for the prices of the boats exhibited, they covered a wide range, ranging from a few thousand euros for entry-level models to several hundred thousand euros for luxury vessels.

"The market has completely changed"

Over the years, the pleasure boat market has undergone certain changes. "In the past, people came to a show and left with a boat. Today, there is no longer a reflection even if there are still some favorites", observes Hervé. Between regular customers and new buyers, the market demand for pleasure boats is also evolving. "People are more inclined towards large units than small boats&quot ;, explains Anaïs, exhibitor.

Despite the difficulties encountered after the Covid crisis, with problems of shortage of materials and delivery times, the market seems to be gradually regaining stability. However, new challenges are looming, particularly with a certain reluctance on the part of banks to finance this type of investment.

Nautical equipment, products and services

Beyond the immense choice of units on display, the secret of the Nautiques de Port Camargue also lies in a rich program of events and stands set up for each edition by the organizers . In the heart of the port, the space entitled "the art of living in a marina" has aroused keen interest, highlighting elegant layouts, inspiring decoration ideas such as the greening of docks or pontoon equipment, and innovative mobility solutions for modern boaters . In short, the show is a real event where people come with family or friends to have fun and get information and dream of escape as the sunny days approach.