2024 Arcachon Boat Show

It's the must-see event of Spring: for its ninth edition, the Arcachon Boat Show has once again pulled out all the stops with two film stars, the Français and the Phoenix, a host of events (sea rescue simulations with helicopter rescue, sailing initiation, regattas, diving baptisms, etc.), a fascinating exhibition on the ports of yesteryear, and 180 exhibitors and 460 boats spread over 30,000 m².

More than 60,000 visitors came to have fun and learn about the maritime heritage of the bassin d'Arcachon. The BA2E and EDF Innovations durables booths also provided an opportunity to find out more about the local start-ups offering innovative and sustainable solutions in the field of maritime decarbonisation.

Here is a brief, non-exhaustive overview of the 2024 edition:

We were able to visit the Ibaïa Boats 'Houseboat': made of wood, it is also 100% energy self-sufficient and has zero polluting emissions. 25m² of solar panels on the roof provide enough power for the electric propulsion and all the energy on board. It's enough to make you want to give up everything to live on an eco-friendly houseboat! It's a shame they're not allowed in the ports of the Bassin d'Arcachon!

In the EDF Sustainable Innovations booth, we discovered the Bordeaux-based start-up Maloric, whose 100% autonomous marine traction wings are capable of reducing the fuel consumption of ships by 20%. Aimed primarily at the fishing industry, this product is designed to meet the growing challenges facing the sector (high fuel costs, increasingly remote fishing grounds, attractiveness, safety, etc.).

Next up was Weenav, a start-up run by another team of young enthusiasts, offering customised high-power, 100% electric or hybrid motorisation solutions.

And finally, we met up with LibertyKite by Beyond the Sea, the traction kite designed by yachtsman Yves Parlier's team for boats from 4 to 20 metres in length.

Like every year, the BA2E economic agency booth showcased the most innovative companies of the bassin d'Arcachon. Among them was Oceneo, which recycles neoprene wetsuits collected from surfing and diving schools into sunglasses and accessories.

Another new exhibitor, Actua Cores, offers its amateur and professional customers the chance to build their own custom surfboards using DIY shape kits.

Finally, we rounded off our tour of exciting start-ups with EcoNautik (ex-H2YAM), which has developed a technology for the simple, cost-effective conversion of marine combustion engines to hydrogen or biofuels and efuels.

And because to invent the future of boating, we need to know about its past, we went to see the "Evolution of the ports of yesteryear - fishing, oyster farming, boating" exhibition organised by the Conservatoire Patrimonial du bassin d'Arcachon – 29 fascinating panels retracing the history of the ports of Arcachon, La Teste-de-Buch and Lège-Cap-Ferret.