boot Düsseldorf on Tour: shooting Content in Croatia

Pacing the bags, grabbing the cameras, and off to the island of Krk!

In May, we left the exhibition halls behind and travelled to where water sports really come to life: the island of Krk on the Croatian Adriatic coast.

Why Croatia of all places?

An Bord des Segelbootes © Messe Düsseldorf

We wanted to show what water sports feel like, not just what they look like. And where better to do that than where turquoise-blue water meets picturesque bays? Marina Punat on Krk was the perfect spot for our first content project outside Düsseldorf. Kvarner Bay is a paradise for anyone who wants to get out on the water: not too crowded, perfect conditions for beginners and pros alike, and best of all? The season runs from April to November. No need to brave the crowds in the height of summer!

For us, it was the perfect opportunity to capture genuine emotions: the wind in the sails, the glistening waves, the feeling of freedom on the water. That’s exactly what we want to bring to life at boot Düsseldorf. Because once you’ve experienced what water sports feel like, you’ll always come back to the water.

Out and about with the pros

For this project, we had two experienced partners by our side: Julian Kircher and his team from In2theblue (you might recognise them from hall 15?) and Marina Punat (hall 14, Destinations & Boat Life). Both have been loyal exhibitors at our event for years and have not only shown us their spots, but also shared their enthusiasm for water sports with us.

What makes this special? It shows that we don’t just come together once a year at the trade fair, but that we’re genuinely working together to inspire more people to embrace life on the water.

Three days, three kinds of water sports

Our program was packed: sailing, motorboating, diving. We wanted everything to feel authentic and, above all, to show beginners just how accessible water sports are.

Sailing: the wind in your hair, a sense of freedom

The first sailing trips to Kvarner Bay were impressive. Whether you’re 20 or 60, whether you’ve sailed before or not: when you’re on a boat with others, feeling the wind and watching the coastline glide past, you immediately understand why people are so fascinated by this feeling. The In2theblue crew showed us that learning to sail doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s simply fun.

A motorboat trip across the Adriatic Sea

Then the Hydra 460 came into the picture. This motorboat from the Slovenian manufacturer Roto Nautica had just made its debut at boot 2026, and we were given the chance to test it. This little speedster is robust, easy to maintain and great fun on the water. Perfect for anyone who likes things a bit faster.

Diving into another world

Diving was also on the agenda. We went underwater with Hang-Loose-Diving and Stephan Wybrecht. For some of us, it was the first time, and it’s quite an experience to suddenly find yourself floating in a completely different world. The diving school in Punat offers everything from try dives to full courses, in both German and English.

Who was actually there?

Our content team consisted of Angelina Kalke and Leonie Venus, both members of the social media team at markenzeichen in Düsseldorf. Angelina had already tried out various water sports over the past year, from diving and sailing to windsurfing, SUP and pump foiling. Leonie, on the other hand, was a complete beginner: she’d first tried her hand at surfing, diving and sailing at the boot boat show and was so enthusiastic that she spontaneously agreed to take part in the shoot in Croatia.

Professional support was provided by the Mhoch4 film crew – Florian Linke, Viviann Banh and Joel Notthoff – who filmed everything using professional equipment.

Jörg Müller-Dünow was also there. The managing director of markenzeichen is a passionate sailor and says: “Nothing beats sailing – it’s a wonderful sport for both body and soul.” In the videos, he shares his experience with the newcomers. And who organised the whole thing? Our press officer Tania Vellen and online coordinator Stefan Schölzel made sure everything ran smoothly.

Why we did this

Petros Michelidakis, Director of boot Düsseldorf, sums it up: “A big thank you goes to the In2theblue team, who have inspired us with a wealth of sporting input and brilliant ideas, and of course to Renata Marević, who provided the perfect venue in the form of Marina Punat. Both are closely linked to boot Düsseldorf and are an excellent example of how we can shape the future of water sports together.”

That’s exactly what it’s all about: we don’t just want to be a boat show, but part of the community. And sometimes that simply means packing our bags and heading to where water sports really take place.

What’s coming next

The Reels and videos we filmed in Croatia will be posted on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube this summer. We want to show just how easy it can be to get started in water sports and how much fun it is to simply head out onto the water.

If this has sparked your interest in sailing, diving or motorboating, the Croatian Adriatic coast is the perfect place to start. And if you need even more inspiration or want to chat to the pros, why not pop along to the next boot Düsseldorf? See you on the water!

Further information:

In2theblue
Sailing courses, skipper training, regattas, yacht charter and much more in Punat, Croatia.
www.in2theblue.com

Marina Punat
The oldest marina on the eastern Adriatic coast, with over 800 berths and a dry dock for more than 400 boats. Croatia’s most award-winning marina.
www.marina-punat.hr

Hang-Loose-Diving
Diving school in Punat offering taster dives, courses and guided dives in German and English.
www.hang-loose-diving.de