Weather Won’t Stop The Dreamer!

Although threatened by Hurricane Sandy, this years Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show was a HUGE success.   How do you know?  By the billions of dollars’ worth of yachts and accessories that arrived and the happy faces of the brokers making the sales.  By the lines of people waiting to board buses to be taken to the docks of every boating lovers dream.  By the hordes of people crowding the “Iguana Boat” booth, yammering on about how modern it is.  And by the exhausted expressions at 7pm, as people trudge to their cars after a day filled with over stimulation, much the same way a young child sleeps on the ride home from Disney.

Although Hurricane Sandy delivered powerful swells and more than a bluster of wind to Florida’s coast, thousands of spectators braved the elements to get a glimpse into the lifestyles of the rich and famous.  With over 3 million square feet of land and water showroom space, more than 100,000 people roamed the show, dreaming of their future while undoubtedly clutching lotto tickets in the pockets of their vineyard vines pants.

Some of the more memorable yachts on display held multiple smaller boats, helicopters, full gyms, movie theaters and of course master suites more luxurious and expensive than most peoples entire homes.  The largest boat on display was “Cakewalk”- A mega yacht built by Derecktor.  Not only was it the largest yacht at the show at 281 feet and 2,998 tons, it is also the largest yacht built in the US in 80 years.   To learn more about this yacht, visit: http://www.my-cakewalk.com/.

Other impressive showings were the Ocean Alexander 120, designed by Evan K. Marshall, which was brought down from Canada the old fashioned way- by cruising the way she was meant to be cruised (http://www.yachtsmagazine.com/ocean-alexander-120-to-boldly-go/).   Another Evan K. Marshall design, Lady Linda- built by Trinity, gave an impressive showing at 186 feet with a cruising speed of 18 knots (http://www.iyc.com/sales/145-Trinity-Lady-Linda).  The 140’ mega yacht, Just Enough, includes a water slide, swimming pool and spa- perfect for the ladies on board.  With a cruising speed of 12 knots, this 2012 build comfortable sleeps 11 with an 8 man crew (http://www.oceanindependence.com/index.php/yacht-charter/yacht/just-enough).

And now, with only 4 mega yachts mentioned, it is easy to see why children walked their exhausted parents home, men dreamt of boats instead of women, and women dreamt of cabana boys instead of husbands.  And “yachties” toasted 5 successful evenings on the bows of some of the world’s most luxurious pleasure craft.