So what is Posidonia? You mean the exhibition? Thousands of footsore technical managers looking for something new to make the boss happy... Or the other venues? Yachts, top-of-the-line hotels, clubs, private homes where the booze flows, the shipowners schmooze and the deals get done.

Pedigree: It seems to have been going for ever — but actually Posidonia started in 1969 and, no matter how bad the market, it gets bigger every time.