Boat Show

International Multihull Show - The unmissable get-together for multihull fans

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The International Multihull Show will be opening its doors on the western side of the port (between the beach and the technical area) at La Grande-Motte, from April 12 to 16.

Article published on 31/03/2023

By Mark Bernie, Dick Sawyer, Emmanuel van Deth & Kim Wellington

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published inn°189may / june

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If there’s one show you shouldn’t miss, this is one! The International Multihull Show is a must-attend event for all those who like to sail on two or three hulls, and it’s currently the only nautical gathering of new boats exclusively reserved for multihulls. Builders, equipment manufacturers and all service providers involved in the multihull market will all (or almost all) be attending this show at La Grande-Motte in the South of France. As for the Multihulls World team, we’ll all be there in force!

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For 13 years now, this boat show, inaugurated in Lorient on France’s Atlantic coast, has been the most important meeting place for multihulls in the nautical calendar. First of all, because it is unique: with nearly 70 cruising catamarans and trimarans expected this year, this show is the only opportunity in the world to discover both new boats (with several making their World, European or French premieres) and the majority of the ranges of the main multihull manufacturers. The event has remained on a human scale – the availability of the builders, in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, with easy access thanks to a footbridge joining the show area with the eastern part of the port, and there’s plenty of parking space.
At the outset, the idea of the organizers of the “Salon International du Multicoque”, which became the International Multihull Show a little over three years ago, was to alternate between the French Atlantic coast - where the world’s two largest boat builders, Lagoon and Fountaine Pajot, are based - and the Mediterranean coast, where there is also a concentration of shipyards including Catana/Bali and Outremer/Gunboat. In the end, by attracting a clientele that has become truly international, the South of France has won out for good. So it’s in La Grande-Motte, only six miles from Montpellier airport, that everything is happening. The chances of enjoying five dry and sunny days in late April are better on the Languedoc shores, compared to the Brittany weather – and all the better, because the 15,000 visitors expected to attend will be spending most of their time outside. Make no mistake, the IMS is an outdoor show, with multihulls afloat! Many of them have already been reserved by our team for their first test sails.

Multihulls World will of course have its own stand, where we will be waiting for you to chat about sailing we’ve done, and share our experiences, and of course to present you our news - social media, videos etc. Multihulls World, a long-standing partner of the show, will be awarding the Multihull of the Year prizes on April 12, day two of the show. For the winning multihulls that are present at the show, victory will be clearly visible on their guardwires or on their hulls!

Fred Morvan and Philippe Michel were the founders of the Multihull Show, which became the IMS in 2020, with the aim of increasing the international dimension of the show. The first edition was held in 2010 in Lorient, Brittany, and then in 2011 in La Grande-Motte, a city that has hosted every edition since.

IMS practical

Dates: from Wednesday 12 to Sunday 16 April 2023
Open to the public from 10 am to 7 pm, except on the Sunday (closing at 6 pm)
Location: La Grande-Motte, 20 km (12 mi) from Montpellier (South of France)
Access: Montpellier International Airport - Montpellier train station
Price: 10 euros a day or 30 euros for a 5-day pass - Free for children under 16 and students
Accommodation: www.lagrandemotte.com

This article was published in the issue 189. To read the full article, purchase this issue or subscribe from $3/month.