PESCARA – Three days dedicated to lovers of the sea, sailing and water sports, scheduled from 3 to 5 May at the Marina di Pescara tourist port where “Sottocosta”, the Middle Adriatic Boat Show, will be staged. Boats and vessels on land and in water, marine engines, electronics, nautical accessories, fishing, sports, diving, nautical design, beach fashion and much more: these are the ingredients of the event which is spread over an exhibition area of 4 thousand meters squares, indoors and outdoors, and which, thanks to the many activities planned, is able to involve a heterogeneous audience, from beginners to the most experienced, without forgetting children who will be able to count on workshops, games and incredible experiences. Just as there will be no shortage of meetings, presentations and debates, in the presence of personalities from the world of the sea such as Andrea Mura, Vuitton Cup winning sailor and just returned from the Global Solo Challenge, which saw him sail solo around the world.
The event, which this year reaches its tenth edition and is promoted by the Chieti Pescara Chamber of Commerce and the Marina di Pescara tourist port, with the technical collaboration of Assonautica Pescara Chieti, will also be able to count on important patronage for the 2024 edition. In fact, since 2022, Sottocosta has obtained the patronage of Confindustria Nautica, becoming part of the network of territorial events that enhance the nautical supply chain in the area, giving impetus to the development of the maritime economy, just as the patronage of Enit and those of Assonat, Assonautica Italiana, the Port System Authority of the Central Adriatic Sea and the Regional Council of Abruzzo are confirmed.
Among this year’s innovations, from an exhibition point of view, Sottocosta will be able to count on the possibility of seeing and testing boats directly at sea, on the presence of shipyards, on an increase in exhibition space and on a significant number of boats present. Furthermore, for its tenth edition, the Show will see a greater number of exhibitors than in the past, thanks to the presence of new companies that have decided to come on board, with the involvement of 13 Italian regions, from Sicily to Piedmont. There are around 200 brands represented which will range from boats, dinghies, SUPs, marine engines, electric motors, nautical accessories, nautical clothing, nautical publishing, charters and boat holidays, diving equipment, electronics. And also nautical design, floating docks, swimming pools for yachts, articles for sport fishing, as well as the participation of law enforcement and rescue forces, associations, federations and nautical clubs.
But Sottocosta is not just an exhibition fair. In fact, over the three days there will be a rich program of events which will be divided into three sections: the appointments in the Becci exhibition pavilion; the activities that will be promoted externally, including events at sea; the activities that will be held in the stands, organized by the exhibitors themselves.
The first section includes focus areas for in-depth analysis and discussion with the major players in the nautical sector, dedicated to the nautical sector and more generally to the economy of the sea and the environment, such as the conference dedicated to “Opportunities and development of tourism and pleasure boating in the Middle Adriatic, towards the birth of the Abruzzo nautical system”, the one on uniformed sea professions, organized by the Navy and aimed mainly at students, or the one on “Ethics for environmental awareness in the journalistic profession. The Pescasseroli paper” created in collaboration with the Journalists’ Association. Also this year, the PalaBecci will host the Salon of ideas and innovation in the nautical sector, the format conceived and curated by the architect Claudia Ciccotti which also includes three awards: the “Lifetime Achievement Award”, the ” Donna del mare” and the “International Nautical Design Award”, aimed at students and professionals and now in its seventh edition.
The dive into the blue world will continue outside the pavilion with many activities promoted by the Show, such as the inevitable appointment with the release of turtles into the sea, organized by the Cetacean Studies Centre, the “Baptism of the Sea” for newbies, guaranteed by members of Assonautica Pescara Chieti, or the aperitif on the boat, to enjoy a glass of wine with the magic of the sunset. Furthermore, from this year the Show will become increasingly inclusive thanks to the “Sailing for All” project which will allow people with disabilities, in particular deaf or blind people, to experience the thrill of sailing. The initiative, promoted by Assonautica in collaboration with the ASD Di Nautica, will see exceptional witnesses in Sottocosta such as the “Helmsmen stragglers” and Alessandro Gaoso of the “Homerus” project, a precursor of inclusive sailing in Italy.
There will also be dozens of activities promoted by the exhibitors, ranging from diving and fishing simulators to the design of your own boat, passing through mini fly fishing courses, life-saving maneuvers, trips out to sea on vintage boats, live wrapping or water tests of boats and dinghies. And for the little ones: shell workshops, sailing simulations, book readings, fishing in the pool, fun activities and much more. Furthermore, there will be no shortage of recreational moments such as the party organized for the 10th anniversary of Sottocosta or the fashion show dedicated to beachwear.
«Our country, for clear geographical reasons», comments the president of the Chieti Pescara Chamber of Commerce, Gennaro Strever, «draws a high growth potential from the sea economy, by virtue not only of the economic development it fuels in the coastal areas, but also in the more internal ones, thanks to the strong dependencies that are established between the sectors of the blue economy and the other economic sectors. The strength of its multiplicative effect is found in the movement of goods and passengers by sea, acquiring an important role also from the point of view of the shipbuilding and sporting activities supply chain, as well as accommodation and catering services. It is, therefore, important that the Chamber of Commerce continues to invest in this exhibition which grows year after year. My special thanks also go to the Navy for having organized a morning available to the kids on sea professions and to the Order of Journalists for choosing Sottocosta as the place for sector training”.
«Confindustria Nautica, through the patronage of initiatives such as “Sottocosta”, the Middle Adriatic Boat Show, which this year celebrates its tenth edition», adds Piero Formenti, vice-president of Confindustria Nautica, «intends to support the growth potential of Blue Economy in our country. These events represent an opportunity to highlight the positive economic and social impact that boating generates on the area. The task of the national trade association is to represent and promote the entire recreational boating supply chain at a national and international level and to enhance initiatives aimed at the development of the pleasure boating sector and the diffusion of maritime culture”.
«Sottocosta is one of the three most important nautical events on the Adriatic Sea and every year we try to introduce new features and expand the Show, also thanks to the important partnerships consolidated over the last ten years, such as the one with Confindustria nautica, which sees Sottocosta among the main Italian sector events”, he recalls Gianni Taucci, president of the Marina di Pescara. «The Boat Show was created precisely to bring anyone closer to the possibility of experiencing the sea. But above all it is an opportunity to give everyone the chance to live an experience, both towards the sea and from the sea towards the interior. Tourist ports, in fact, are increasingly taking on an important role which is that of access from the sea to make the territory live.”
«Assonautica Pescara Chieti, since its conception», comments the president Francesco Di Filippo, «confirms its collaboration for the organization of Sottocosta as a moment of promotion and development of the sector and of support for nautical operators. Events such as the Middle Adriatic Boat Show are very important because they allow the knowledge of a different way of enjoying the sea not only from the beach, but in a certainly more engaging and experiential way, and the birth of a passion for boating. Furthermore, knowledge of sea sports and sailing sports increases. Precisely to encourage this knowledge, Assonautica Pescara Chieti during Sottocosta, organizes with the collaboration of its members, the “Baptism of the sea”: boat trips for beginners who can book this opportunity at the Assonautica stand”.
Entrance to the event is free. To stay informed about the event you can follow the social pages (Facebook and Instagram) of the event @SottocostaPescara and visit the website www.sottocostapescara.it.
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