Fort Lauderdale Show Preview

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is all about glamour on water. This astounding billion-dollar presentation is many things to many people, and because it covers so much yachting real estate, it pays to work out beforehand those exhibits that ought not to be missed. The majority of the superyacht exhibits and stands  are located around Bahia Mar and it is here on the Face Docks that the large yachts are on display, with the tents immediately behind.

Though there are fewer new superyachts this year than last, which saw over 30 making their debut, it is proving to be an exemplary showcase for brokerage yachts, and what better way to choose a second-hand superyacht than having have them lined up in one spot ready to view? It is this aspect of the show that we always find so exciting – brokers bustle and in some cases hustle, but there is a real sense at this show of activity. Yachts suddenly become adorned with an enormous ‘Sold’ sign, proving that business really does get done.

Then there are the tents into which the yacht designers, builders and sundry suppliers pack their displays. Here we enjoy catching up with superyacht professionals we seldom see exhibiting in Europe – designers such as Michael Kirschstein, and Ward Setzer, whose discovery-style yacht designs pull at our heart strings trying to tempt us back to sea as full-time crew. Another favourite of ours is the gentle Bahamian Patrick Knowles whose extraordinary interior designs have made him so much in demand. It’ll be interesting to see what he has done with Destination FOXHARB’R Too.

But there is so much else to see and experience among the many hundreds of other exhibits that go to make this the most glamorous of the world’s yacht shows.