Thierry Barot: the Shanghai Boat show is huge!

From the 10th to the 13th of April 2008, the Longtze Premier team was present during the 13th annual Shanghai Boat Show. Thierry Barot, recently returning to Qingdao, comes back from four intense days.

What does the Shanghai Boat show look like today, in comparison to previous shows you have seen?

Today the Shanghai Boat Show is a huge event. There were 400 exhibitors; people from all around the world, it was very impressive. When I came two years ago, there were only 40 exhibitors. In two years, the Boat Show has become much bigger, much more professional, the Chinese products have developed a great deal. I saw some very beautiful boats with quality design everywhere; it is nothing like what I experienced before, the advancement is incredible.

What was the  reaction to Longtze's presence here at the boat show?

We displayed a, yellow, Longtze Premier, noticeable from a distance. We had a wonderful welcome, a lot of people, and excellent contacts from Australia, Koreans, and people from all over Europe. From the Chinese perspective, the boat evoked a lot of curiosity, and even pride because we are firmly installed in China.  We are in the middle of all of it; and it has been very positive. We have also had a lot of compliments on the part of professional nautical people on the choice of  our design, the materials used, and the value added by the America’s Cup. The boat answers to a true need, it performs, is easy, fast, and is a nice looking boat!

What is your next plan now?

The Longtze Premiers will participate in two important regattas in Korea, on the West Coast of Seoul, starting on the 8th of May, the other during June, where the Olympic sailing regattas had taken place.  In the meantime, the boats, which will compete in the «Grand Prix Navale», from the 8th through the 11th of May, and will be getting their first exposure to European waters.