Finns go boating a lot and every seventh Finn owns a boat. Boats in different size classes are presented at the Exhibition. Boats from use for the cottage, for day trips, and for traveling to luxury yachts are on display. At the Exhibition in addition to boats there are a lot of boating items and equipment, motors, electronics, navigation devices, docks, dry docks, travel destinations, harbours, as well as fishing equipment and water sports equipment. Over 300 businesses will participate in the event. Last year, the show attracted over 71,000 visitors.

Magnificent boats for many uses

Over half the boats are Finnish. Finnish boat brands that are presenting new boats for the 2018 model year: Alutroll, AMT, Axopar, Buster, Falcon, Faster, Grandezza, Marino, Nord Star, Silver, Suvi, Suomi, and Targa. The most noteworthy world premier presentations of boats are Targa 27.2, Nord Star 42 Patrol, Falcon BR 5, Falcon BR 8 and Buster Phantom Cabin. Falcon is a completely new brand launched this year.

This year many aluminium-hull boats will be introduced at the Boat Show, and the number of over 10-meter cruisers will be higher than in many years. The largest boat at the Exhibition this year is the British Sunseeker Predator 50. Other over 40 footers are Ferretti 450, Galeon 470, Grandezza 40, Nord Star 42 and 49, Princess V40, as well as Targa 46. The Italian beauty Riva Iseo will also be seen at the Exhibition. The Exhibition's three sailboats will be on display at the Sailboat Harbour: Swan 50, Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 319 and Hanse 388. In addition new foiling boats will be found there. Nacra 20 FCS, Nacra 17, Nacra 15 and the Moth that can be sailed solo.

The most expensive boat of the Exhibition is the ClubSwan 50 at nearly 1.4 million euros. One of the most exciting new products is probably the Galeon 470, which has a completely new solution - the boat's sides open over the water as terraces.

Finnish boats are appreciated

Finnish boats are extremely appreciated. Many of the boats being shown at the Boat 18 Exhibition have won prizes around the world. Bella 620 C just won the European Powerboat of the Year 2018 under 25 foot category. Finnmaster Husky R5 was chosen as the year's best first boat at the Best of Boats Award 2017 competition. There were a total of six finalists from Finland - a record number. The finalists were AMT 175 BR, Faster 625 SC and Finnmaster Husky R5 in the Best for Beginners class, Bella 620 C in the Best for Family class, and Alucat W8 and Silver Shark BRX in fishing boats. ClubSwan 50 is the European Boat of the Year 2018 Winner.

Every year the Boats of the Fair in the 2018 Boat Show are chosen in the Open, Excursion and Cabin Cruiser boat classes. The finalists will be publicized on 9.2 at the 10 AM news conference and the winners on Wednesday 14.2 at noon at the Sailing Harbour. The Boats of the Fair will be chosen by a panel comprised of Finnish boating magazine reporters and boating experts.

Wooden boat makers and the Mahogany Yachting Society

The theme of the Mahogany Yachting Society ry MYS is Classic Boats during different time periods. Classic certificates will be distributed to the owners of the boats present at the section on Saturday 10.2. In addition lectures will be heard about the 5.5 m Scotuoliza boat and about the restoration of the salon boat Boniton.

The oldest boat at the MYS section is RAN, the 1935 Chris-Craft Triple Cockpit that served with distinction during the Continuation War on Lake Ladoga as a communication boat for officers. FESTINA LENTE is a recreational yacht built in 1938 at the Rosqvist shipyard in Muurame and represents the best of 1920-30. JUBILEE is a prototype of the Chris-Craft Riviera built in 1949. Chris-Craft Holiday SHIRLEY is a ski boat type and represents a 1960s sport and water skiing boat. KIKE was built at the now 90-year-old Heinlahti shipyard in 1960 for the owner of Apu magazine, Olli Lyytikäinen, a newly restored super fast sports boat with a V8 engine. The sail boat of the section is 5.5 class sailboat SCOTUOLIZA IV built by the Vatori shipyard in Jollas for Prince Aga Khan in 1965.

The wooden boat makers' section in Hall 7 offers fine wooden boats for the public to admire. On display are both new and restored older boats as well as a couple of examples of boats that are under construction. A total of six workshops and eight boats are present - including sailboats, motor boats, and rowboats.

More programming than ever and a new Fishing boat basin

There is the possibility of trying different sports in the New Wave area's pool, which is 40 metres long, 15 metres wide and 90 cm deep. There is a comfortable patio with dressing rooms by the pool. One can watch the international wakeboarding competition and other water activities from the jetties built around the pool. Visitors will have an opportunity to try wakeboarding, SUP boarding and canoeing. Free diving and jet skiing will be presented as new sports. Close to the New Wave pool there will be a diving pool that visitors can dive with diving trainers.

Interest in fishing has grown year after year at the Boat Show. The second hub of the Fishing Hall, alongside the Giant Rapala Guaranteed Fish Pool, will be a new Fishing boat pool where exhibitions on fishing boat technology and fishing from boats will be presented. Finnish guides on fishing and the host of the Boat Show, Mikko "Peltsi" Peltola, will offer the audience their very best tips. Real fish will be swimming in the colossal 22 000-litre aquarium and visitors can watch how they react to various fishing styles and lures. Performing at the fishing area are some of our country's first class fishing guides, among others. Ari Paataja, Mika "Haukikoira" Vornanen, Peter Lahti, Jani Ollikainen and Toni Pohjalainen. In addition the following can be seen on the benches: Team Humminbird Finland captain Sami Karhu, Rapala Pro Guides Markku Tiusanen, Tero Ruoho, Timo Koikkalainen and Mikko Seppänen, fishing personality Jani Himanko, fishing guide Kari Lossi andJarno "Vekkuli" Vähämäki as well as real estate agent Heli Nikula who looks at fishing from a woman's perspective.

At the Sailboat Harbor stories can be heard from the seas of the world from, among others, airline captain and solo sailor Ari Huusela who will tell about his plans for the upcoming Vendée Globe 2020 sailing competition and adventurer Kari "Ruffe" Nurmi will tell about his sail around the Baltic Sea the length of crossing the Atlantic. Editor-in-Chief Jan Sjölund of Venemestari Magazine, will present the most exciting new motor launches of the fair.

The Boat Master's Shipyard is where boats are restored and Boat Show visitors can get advice on boat repairs.

The Finnish Sailing and Boating Association organises events every day at the Together on the waters area. This includes activities relating to national teams, day cruising, boat safety inspections, and getting started with boating. There are activities for children and young people at the area as well as the new Boater's Swap Market where you can recycle boating gear and equipment in good condition.

Clean Baltic Sea theme program is available daily at the Clean Baltic Sea Café in the Messukeskus' lower gallery. John Nurminen's Foundation provides the program.

The 2018 Boat Show's program can be found at the event's website www.venemessut.fi

New opening hours, Trade Day becomes history

The admission procedures for the 2018 Boat Show have been altered slightly since last year. The first Friday of the event, 9 February, is no longer a Trade Day aimed at professionals only; instead, everyone is welcome to the opening day. The Helsinki Boat Show is open on weekdays 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and on weekends 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tickets at the entrance cost €19/€12. When you buy in advance before the Boat Show's opening day from the online store at http://shop.messukeskus.com tickets cost €16/€10.

Messukeskus Helsinki organises the largest boating event in Northern Europe, the Helsinki International Boat Show 2018, commissioned by the Finnish Marine Industries Federation Finnboat, 9-18 February 2018 at the Messukeskus in Helsinki. This will be the 49th year that the Boat Show is organised. In 2018, the Boat Show will highlight the activities of the John Nurminen Foundation by choosing ‘Clean Baltic' as its theme. The Boat Show's main partner is Volvo Car Finland Oy Ab.

The Helsinki International Boat Show 2018 supports the protection of the Baltic Sea www.puhdasitameri.fi #cleanbaltic

Opening hours:Fri 9 Feb 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Sat-Sun 10-11 Feb 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Mon-Fri 12-16 Feb 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Sat-Sun 17-18 Feb 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

www.venemessut.fi #boatshow

Further information: Teija Armanto, Communications Officer, tel. +358 (0)50 376 0804, teija.armanto@messukeskus.com

Pictures for the media: http://mediabank.messukeskus.com