Boat Show Update
Seminar Series Success at St. Petersburg Power and Sailboat Show
This past November’s St. Petersburg Power and Sailboat Show boasted 33 speakers offering 66 seminars spread over the show’s four days. The seminars, designed by Sail America, aimed to appeal to both sail and power enthusiasts and created reasons for people to attend for multiple days, thereby making the show a destination weekend.
This year’s speakers included Jen French who won the silver medal with her sailing partner at the Paralympics games in London this summer. Seminar attendees enjoyed holding the weighty medallion during her presentation. Blue Water Sailing’s George Day packed the house with a presentation on sailing the Bahamas and, proving the popularity of destination topics, Bob Williams wowed the crowd with a Cruising the Florida Keys talk. Chris Fleming attracted a big crowd on Sunday afternoon with Rules of the Road and Admiralty Law. Several attendees came to the show to learn new skills, so topics that included night navigation, anchoring, chart reading, and sail handling always attracted solid attendance.
Blue Water Sailing sponsored this seminar series.
Strictly Sail Miami
A recent issue of Soundings Trade Only reports that exhibitors at Progressive Insurance Strictly Sail Miami, February 14–18, 2013, were optimistic this year. Though attendee numbers remained about the same as last year, exhibitors reported increased sales, upbeat customers, and a “buying” crowd.
The show featured the latest and the greatest from boat builders across the globe. Many attendees came to shop and test sail some of the newest sailboat designs, and visit nearly 200 booths featuring sailing gear, accessories, and hardware from the industry’s top suppliers, along with the latest charter information.
The Progressive Insurance Strictly Sail Miami featured a selection of boats both in the water and on land and ranging in sizes from 6 to almost 100 feet, for sailors of every age, sailing ability, taste and budget.
Visitors could experience the thrill of sailing under the supervision and direction of an experienced ASA certified captain through the Discover Sailing program, located on the floating dock at the end of Pier B at Miamarina. These 90-minute lessons taught non-sailors the pleasure and joy of the sport while remaining in a controlled environment. More experienced sailors chose a course more suited to their skill level.
A major attraction was the Sailing Maker Sailing Simulator to get a feel for the water on a virtual sailboat ride. Qualified instructors showed how a boat reacts to wind and waves. Designed and built by a nuclear physicist, the simulator recreates the actual movement of a boat under sail. It’s a unique training platform for sailors of all abilities—whether you’re a new boater who wants to learn how to sail and or an experienced sailor who wants to practice under different sailing conditions.
South West International Boat Show
March 21–24, 2013, in South Shore Harbour, Texas
The South West International Boat Show Seminar Series is shaping up nicely and gaining momentum. The seminars, which span the four day show, cover topics including yacht design, boat buying, improving seamanship, and where to sail. The seminar series, sponsored by Blue Water Sailing, serves two important functions. First, boater education is an important component to attracting and retaining sailors and sailors tend to be eager learners. Secondly, the high-quality seminar program helps drive traffic to the show. The greater Houston area sports a large sailing community and the show and the seminars are unique to an underserved market. If you would like to be a part of shaping the sailing scene in the Texas, please contact Patty Lawrence, p.lawrence@fuse.net or 513-583-5080.
Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show
April 25–28, 2013, in Annapolis, Maryland
The second running of the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show comes to Annapolis, Maryland, April 25–28, 2013. Ego Alley and surrounding docks will fill with sailboats, both new and brokered. Catamarans, monohulls, inflatables, daysailors, and paddleboats will compliment nearly 150 maritime exhibitors on City Dock. The expanded footprint will accommodate an even more impressive array of products and entertainment than in the show’s first year, which welcomed visitors from over 30 states and around the globe.
Building on the success of the US Sailboat Show, which remains the largest in-water show of new sailboats in the world, the Spring Sailboat Show will feature Cruisers University, a four-day educational event designed to introduce and train students for life aboard a cruising boat. Classes will be held in the Annapolis Waterfront Marriott and the Annapolis Rec Center.
Cruisers University has developed into one of the most well respected educational forums for people considering life aboard a cruising boat. As a feature of the spring events the past two years, Cruisers University has welcomed cruisers or future live aboard boaters from around the country. High profile subject matter experts are assembled to present well over 100 hours of education on much of what you’ll need to know before you leave the dock. Concentrated courses are available on Diesel Maintenance, Weather Forecasting, and a new comprehensive program for Cruising Women. One-, three-, and four-day tuition options are available with over fifty elective classes to choose from, giving each participant a customized learning experience.
The Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show will include over 2,000 feet of floating docks accommodating over 60 new and brokerage sailboats, both mono and multihull.
A complete description of the curriculum, lists of meals, evening social events, and boat show features is available on the United States Yacht Shows website: www.usboat.com. Phone: 410-268-8828.
Save the Dates
Strictly Sail Pacific Boat Show
April 12–15, 2013, in Oakland, California
Online tickets are now available at www.StrictlySailPacific.com.
US Sailboat Show
October 10–14, 2013, Annapolis, Maryland
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