La Rochelle’s Grand Pavois
1st European boat show on the water
A star attraction for boat fans!
With 100,000 visitors expected over 6 days, 800 international brands and 750 boats on display (300 of which are on the water), Grand Pavois La Rochelle is in the top 5 international boat shows on the water. With sea trials, world premières, and meet and greets with the professionals, the show created in 1973 by the Grand Pavois Organisation is a main event in the yachting calender and a must-see for all boat fans and professionals working in the field.
In the Minimes district, in La Rochelle’s Port de Plaisance and along its pontoons, boat lovers can be found looking for new developments and exclusive insights, as they are always on the lookout for the latest technology and progress in boating.
But it’s also the ideal place for anyone who dreams of travelling across the sea. If you take a walk along La Rochelle’s Grand Pavois it’s like you have already set sail because you discover the most incredible boats that rock to the lullaby of the halyards and the flapping of the coloured flags in the wind.
Thematic areas
Every year the show offers several thematic areas with the exhibition covering more than 100,000 square metres. Among them, are three areas to expand your nautical knowledge.
The “Heritage and tradition” area is the chance to showcase local boats from Nouvelle-Aquitaine where some of them are classified as historical monuments. They are owned privately, by the community or are exhibited by museums. Every boat is presented alongside an explanatory fact sheet so you can better understand the naval heritage and why we have to protect it.
Since the 2000s, La Rochelle’s Grand Pavois presents all kinds of water sports: dinghy sailing, kayaks, sliding sports, windsurfing, kite-surfing, wake-boarding, paddle-boarding... at the heart of its “Beach” area. Split between the showroom and Plage des Minimes, it offers one or several docks with more than 1500 trials, christenings and demonstrations carried out in a sporting and festive atmosphere.
The “Fishing and Grand Pavois” area is a unique concept in the boat show world. Today it has become a real open forum for discussion between fans, visitors and brands along with their competitors. In this area there is a stage with lots of different things happening, a demonstration pool, a selling area, a gallery of fishing boats and the marina, not to mention one of the main highlights: a fishing tournament!
Head back to the exhibition room by boat!
The sea bus
Leaving from Cours des Dames, the sea bus takes you directly to Port de Plaisance des Minimes. It’s really practical and the sea bus will drop off you at the door of the boat show in 15 minutes!
A country to (re)discover
The guest of honour
Every year in a 750m² hall, Grand Pavois Organisation honours a country with a big exhibition carried out in partnership with the local tourist institutions. A real journey through the tourist, cultural, nautical and gastronomical assets of the country, the show piques your curiosity and transports you to a far away place.