Beneteau forecasts strong sales ahead

12:58 AM Wed 4 Feb 2009 GMT

'Winning its category for this year’s European Boat of the Year Awards, the Beneteau Oceanus 31.' .

Despite worldwide trends and a forecast drop in its marine sales of 40% for 2009, the B?n?teau Group has stated that its solid financial position will allow it to weather the crisis, predicting double-digit growth in 2010.

These forecasts follow encouraging signs at the recent Paris Boat Show, where B?n?teau noticed a change in behaviour of its French customers following the caution of September, October and November 2008. The show reported 260,000 visitors, a drop of five per cent on last year's levels.

Boats represent 81% of B?n?teau's sales and leisure homes 19%. The group is represented in 50 countries and employs 6,000 people across 24 production sites.
The brand celebrated a win in the 2009 European Yacht of the Year and the 2009 European Powerboat of the Year awards, which were announced on the opening weekend of this year's D?sseldorf International Boat Show in Germany, January 17-25.

The boats were judged by a panel of journalists from some of Europe's leading sail and motorboat magazines and were evaluated on sailing performance, comfort, construction quality, value for money, design and outstanding technical features.

New for this year's European Yacht of the Year award was the classification of boats according to purpose and concept rather than hull length alone.

This year's European Yacht of the Year winners are:
Best Family Cruiser: B?n?teau's Oc?anis 31
Best Performance Cruiser: Arcona 430
Best Luxury Cruiser: X-Yachts' XC 45
Best Special Yacht: Saffier 26

More at www.boot.de/cipp/md_boot/custom/pub/content,lang,2/oid,21643/ticket,g_u_e_s_t/~/European_Yacht_of_the_Year_2009.html