Internautica - International Boat Show

The Opening Day of Internautica 2013 hosted Conference on Developmental Opportunities Arising from Cross-Border Cooperation between Slovenia and Croatia. Denis Hrelja presented Boat Service Providers' Group, which operates within the Croatian Chamber of Economy.  The second speaker, Marin Žužul, Minister Counsellor with the Croatian Embassy in Slovenia, explained the Croatian strategy for the development of boating tourism. Finally, Jasna Softič, representative of the Municipality of Piran, shared experience with the project 365 Days of Riviera.

With its 18 years of tradition, this is the leading boating event in the Adriatic, continually following the intense path of development, growth trend, excellence and high quality; thus Internautica has reached international recognition.

In order to attract more visitors and ensure a successful event and, consequently, better business results for exhibitors, organizers decided to carry out this year's Internautica during two consecutive long weekends. Thus, accompanied by the pleasant spring atmosphere, visitors will have more time to view the interesting event and exhibition program, as well as various supporting activities and events, which also offer a number of opportunities to make new business connections or new friends.

As all years before, Internautica's main program remains the exhibition of boats and equipment for leisure time at sea. This year's show will, as usual, feature sports equipment and special nautical accessories.

Among this year's novelties is most certainly Pferschy Primo, motor boat of the Hungarian shipyard Pferschy, which will be exhibited on sea and land. Pferschy Primo stands for the ideal combination of luxurious comfort, dynamics and modern shape for those, who love style.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to admire the new Bavaria Vision 42 sailing boat with the innovative Parasailor sail. The boat prides on elegant design, comfortable and bright interior, flat and smooth deck. This boat is especially interesting for sailors, who appreciate and enjoy careless cruising. Other Bavaria shipyard's novelties on display are: Bavaria Cruiser 33 and Bavaria Sport 35 HT, designed by BMW Group Designworks USA, which created an entirely new image of the Bavaria Sport models.

This year's Internautica will also feature Dufour Grand Large 335 sailing boat, intended for longer cruises. She prides on surprising organization and comfort for its size. Open cockpit provides space and comfort, usually reserved for the big ones.

The Slovenian manufacturer Elan will exhibit the new Elan 400 sailing boat, created in collaboration with the Humphreys Yachts design studio, of completely new, modern design and elaborate interior design concept. She is characterized by extremely sport lines and a high dose of elegance and comfort.

Visitors will be able to see the Xp 44 sailing boat up close. The boat joins the latest technology of building and the simplicity of sailing. X performance sailing boats join the best of cruising and racing, namely pleasure and comfort.

Alfastreet Marine will have a Slovenian premiere at Internautica, with Energy 18 and Energy 23cs, made of the highest quality materials, featuring recognizable design, useful solutions and excellent sailing characteristics. The boats will be equipped with electric, diesel and petrol engines.

Apart from the mentioned presentations and novelties, the exhibition site will also have exhibited larger boats of the following manufacturers: Cantiere Nautico Cranchi, Aqua Royal, Delphia, Dominator, Ferretti, Galeon, Jeanneau, Linssen, Mochi Craft, Nautica Salpa, Pershing, Seaway, Wybac, Wim van der Valk and other important names from the nautical field.

This year's event will feature three exhibitions of three different authors. The first exhibition on display is The Magical World of Shells, by Mediteranum Institute for revitalization of Mediterranean culture, Piran. Furthermore, the visitors will also have the opportunity to admire two photography exhibitions: Lighthouses.XIX by Mitja Zupančič and Underwater Photography Exhibition and Presentation of Ecological Investigations in the Port of Koper Aquatorium by Tihomir Makovec.

Internautica 2013 will also host the Florjančič brothers, the best Slovenian jet-ski freestyle competitors. RNF (Rok and Nac Florjančič) Freestyle Team is a professional jet-ski team that participates at the most prestigious freestyle championships in Slovenia, Europe, Asia and USA, and prides on it professionalism and progressiveness. Rok and Nac, jet-ski World Champions of 2012, will inspire Internautica's visitors with their impressive stunts three times per day, in the aquatorium in front of Marina Portorož.

As is customary, this year's boat show will continue with the Internautica Ecology Day tradition, marked with Blue Flag Rising, which has been taken place at Internautica since its very beginning, in collaboration with the society DOVES – FEE Slovenia. Moreover, they will stage a presentation of the Eco-School project and numerous other activities that will most certainly increase visitors' interest and rise environmental awareness.

Within the Opening Day activities, the organizers will carry out a conference on developmental opportunities arising from cross-border cooperation between Slovenia and Croatia, regarding the approaching Croatia's accession to the EU.

Marin Žužul, representative of Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Slovenia will present the importance of formalization of the European status of Croatian ports, as well as changes and novelties for sailors in Croatia after its accession to the EU. Among conference speakers are also Denis Hrelja representative of Croatian Chamber of Commerce, Silvano Brečević, Head of Expert Group in the Maritime Field of Croatia, Robert Cetina, President of Expert Group in the Maritime Field of Croatia and Jasna Softič representative of Municipality of Piran, who will share her experience on the recently concluded project 365 Days of Riviera.

17th of May is will be the day of the traditional regatta for the Internautica Cup, a race featuring representatives of the Slovenian media. The regatta will be sailed on sailing boats of class J-24, by the ISAF 013-2016 rules.

Once again, Internautica will present its visitors the multipurpose battleship Triglav. Apart from defence tasks of monitoring Slovenian waters and ensuring waterway safety, Triglav also enables collaboration in performing sea and coast protection and rescue tasks in Slovenia's coastal belt. Furthermore, the ship enables collaboration in education and training of members of the Slovenian Army, as well as maritime students, thus she naturally deserves special presentation at the greatest Adriatic boat show.

On Saturday, 11th of May, under the auspices of Internautica 2013, organized by Old-timer Boat Association Piran, the renewed Piran pier will host a display of old-timer vessels and vehicles from the previous century.

This year, for the first time, in collaboration with MORE magazine and Navtika plus, Internautica is organizing the »Adriatic Boat of the Year 2013« competition. The competition includes all boats that have been manufactured and presented in the Adriatic region, from 1 January 2012 till 1 April 2013. The ten members of the Slovenian-Croatian jury of experts will choose winners in groups Motor Boats and Sailing Boats, and they will award the three special category winners, namely Adriatic Product of the Year, Adriatic Personality of the Year and Adriatic Nautical Project of the Year.

All Internautica 2013 visitors will have an opportunity to participate in the draw for impressive prizes. The grand prize of this year's prize game is Volkswagen UP!, provided by the company Autodelta. Other prizes include two dinghies, bicycle, skis, wakeboards, sports clothing etc. The First Draw will take place on Sunday, 12th of May, at 6 p.m., while the Final Draw, which will also reveal the winner of the grand prize, will be carried out on Sunday, 19th of May, together with the boat show Closing ceremony.

Honorary chairmen of the international boat show Internautica 2013 are: Mr Borut Pahor, President of the Republic of Slovenia, and Dr Peter Bossman, Mayor of the Municipality of Piran.

Beauties of Maritime Heritage and Past Times

On Saturday, the 11th of May, under the auspices of Internautica 2013, the Piran pier will host a display of old-timer beauties.

Enviable attraction, original beauty and respectable age still attract the cautious eye and work like a magnet to every observer. Pasara, Batana, Leut, Gajeta, Bracera, Kuter oldtimers with colourful sails will enliven the Slovenian sea, while the neat old-timer cars will add their mark on the solid ground. Be it old-timer boat and car enthusiasts or everyone else, the view of a beautiful boat and attractive old-timer car can make one’s day better.

Old-timer boat and car owners invest much effort in restoration and maintenance of their gems. This can last even a few years and include a considerable portion of time and resources, so that they can showcase their cars or boats with pride.

Old-timer Boat Association Piran began with old-timer boat meetings as early as the mid-seventies of the twentieth century. Small boats and a modest number of participants grew through years into a larger event. Big boats also sailed along. The circle of maritime heritage and skill enthusiasts grows from year to year and shapes their, not only local, but also international position. As every year, the 2013 meeting will also feature friend-associations from Croatia and Italy.

The good atmosphere for all participants of the meeting is also influenced by the beautiful town Piran. A town with the Maritime Museum, Aquarium, Diving Museum, Seashell Museum, numerous galleries and bars offers the visitors of the regatta a variety of pleasures. The boats, on the other hand, are guarded by the embrace of the Piran harbour. Beautiful and impressive sails only add to the charm.

The rich heritage is preserved owing to persistent old-timer boat and car lovers, who have been doing everything necessary to keep the old-timer spirit alive.