Two New Zealand foiling brands, Vessev and Armstrong Foils, are bringing their latest electric vessels and performance boards to boot Düsseldorf, running from 17 to 25 January. The show is the world's largest yacht and watersports show, drawing more than 200,000 visitors and upwards of 1,500 exhibitors from 67 nations. Boatbuilders, marine technology companies, watersports brands, retailers, and international media all converge on the event each year.
Vessev, the Auckland-based marine technology company, has a stand in Hall 4 at D02, listed under Electric Boats and Solar Boats. The company designs and builds its electric hydrofoiling vessels entirely in-house, with efficiency, ride comfort, and commercial reliability at the centre of its development philosophy. Visitors to the stand can view three exhibits: the original Vessev concept, the award-winning VS-9 electric hydrofoiling catamaran, and the recently revealed VS-9 Skye.
CEO and co-founder Eric Laakmann will be present at the show alongside Josh Trout from Vessev's US team. "Boot is the biggest show in the world and we're excited to connect with our supporters and customers at the event," Laakmann says.
The nine-metre VS-9 lifts clear of the water on carbon fibre foils, cutting drag and reducing energy consumption by up to 90 percent compared with comparable displacement boats. Retractable foils and a minimal wake signature mean the vessel can operate in shallow or environmentally sensitive locations, and Vessev positions it for tourism, premium water transport, and waterfront operations. The VS-9 Skye, launched in December 2025, takes the platform in a leisure direction, pairing simplified operation with a social deck layout and the convenience of charging from standard shore power.
Armstrong Foils is exhibiting in a different corner of the show, occupying stand D41 in Hall 17 under Surfboards and Accessories. The New Zealand foiling brand is no stranger to boot Düsseldorf, and this year's return brings riders, distributors, and team members to the stand, along with pool demonstrations running throughout the week.
Scarlett Liu from Armstrong's management team describes what attendees can expect. "We're excited to be attending Boot Düsseldorf again in 2026. It's always a great event for us, bringing the global watersports community together in one place and giving us the perfect excuse to talk foiling, share our latest gear, and catch up face to face with retailers, both established and new across the watersports industry. We'll have members of the Armstrong team on site alongside some of our riders and distributors, with the team showcasing gear on the pool throughout the event. We're looking forward to a full week of in-depth gear discussions, on-water demonstrations, and building new connections."
Two boards sit at the heart of Armstrong's display. The Midlength FG Board occupies the space between prone, wing, and downwind designs, with a shape built around glide, stability, and easy foil release. That combination makes it a natural fit for light conditions and riders who want versatility without swapping equipment.
The second board is the Austin Tovey Mid Board, developed with multidisciplinary foiler Austin Tovey. The compact shape targets high-performance wake, tow, kite, and pump foiling, with considered volume placement and a carbon stringer system intended to sharpen rigidity, responsiveness, and recovery when the riding gets aggressive.
Vessev and Armstrong represent only part of a broader New Zealand foiling landscape that continues to develop across the marine sector.
