Southern Boating covers marina openings, boat shows, mergers and other events in the marine industry, and more. Southern Boating attends renowned shows and events and shares the experiences with you. Informative articles will keep you updated on everything from yacht auctions to fishing tournaments and industry charity events.
Florida Fly Fishing converges on the Crystal River
Fly fishers of all skill levels meet up in central Florida February 9-10, for the 2018 Florida Fly Fishing Expo, to see the latest in fly fishing gear displays, boats, and kayak exhibits, and fly casting and fly-tying classes. The venue is Plantation Inn on Crystal River, an on-the-water resort with spacious grounds and meeting rooms for all the demonstrations, classes and seminars led by acclaimed fly fishing experts brought in by the Florida Council of Fly Fishers International. The $25 entrance fee includes full access to seminars, demonstrations and a Friday meet-and-greet with food and beverages.
If you missed the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show in early November and the St. Pete Boat Show in late November, and can’t make the Stuart Boat Show in mid-January or the Miami Boat Show in February, then point your bow toward Jacksonville, Florida.
The Jacksonville Marine Trades Association presents the 71st Annual Jacksonville Boat Show January 26-28. As one of the oldest boat shows in the country, Jacksonville is excited about the 2018 show, since more than 25 dealers are expected to bring hundreds of boats guaranteeing at least a couple of boats on display for everyone’s taste and budget. Activities include seminars on fishing and boat safety. Events are also planned
for children to help introduce the next generation to a life on the water. The show will be held at the Prime Osborn Convention Center, 1000 Water Street in Jacksonville.
The words bargain and boat are rarely used in the same sentence, but they come together at some of the best-stocked nautical flea markets in the Southeast in January. The 28th Annual Pompano Nautical Flea Market will be held January 20-21. Event hours are 8AM to 5PM on Saturday and 8AM to 3PM on Sunday. The flea market takes over the Community Park at 820 NE 18th Avenue, Pompano Beach, Florida, which is just north of Fort Lauderdale. Details to register as a vendor or for attendance can be found at nauticalfleamarket.net.
If you find yourself in the Florida Keys in January looking for watery deals, tie up at the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce Nautical Flea Market. The market is held Saturday and Sunday, January 12-13 from 8AM to 2PM. All activities will take place at the Chamber grounds at Mile Marker 31, Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key. Nearly 200 vendors will offer everything water related whether it’s boating, fishing or diving. The event includes food and music to make a full day of entertainment.
It was a great year for the marine industry—and for Southern Boating. Our partners at the NMMA recently reported that new powerboat registrations were up 4.7% on the year. That’s a great sign for the industry and cruisers!
Southern Boating had a banner year; 2017 marked our 45th year in business, and marked some significant changes to our magazine. Those changes came with some new staff, a new redesign, and a new digital app.
While it’s always nice to reflect on what went well, it is also important to reflect on some of the things that didn’t. Mainly, the unprecedented 2017 hurricane season. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria caused widespread damage from the Caribbean to Texas, Florida and beyond. On that note, Southern Boating is still donating subscription proceeds to Unidos por Puerto Rico until May 2018.
We also like to see what our most popular stories of the year were. Our Top Ten Stories of 2017 are as follows:
‘Tis the season for boat parades! While most major boat parades have passed, it is time to reflect on the images and videos from the events. It’s nearly impossible to avoid the holiday spirit with brightly lit boats and sounds of carols echoing over the water. That’s why we try to attend as many as possible, and when we can’t attend, we want to see pictures!
Below is a timelapse of the Winterfest Boat Parade.
Do you have any photos or videos from boat parades in your neck of the woods? Send them along to marketing@southernboating.com and we’ll put them up on our site. Best photo or video will win a three-year subscription to Southern Boating and two Southern Boating tumblers!
ENJOY A FRONT ROW SEAT and secondhand adrenaline rush by celebrating with the teams as they finish the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) Transatlantic Race this month at the Camper and Nicholsons’ Port Louis Marina in St. Georges, Grenada. Originally slated to finish at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) in the B.V.I. but rerouted due to hurricane damage in the northern Caribbean, the RORC Transatlantic Race is now the longest in the Club’s offshore calendar.
Crews, veteran professionals and also first-time Corinthians depart on November 25th from Marina Lanzarote in the Canary Islands and are expected to arrive in Grenada starting around December 9th. The 20-plus yacht fleet spans from big yachts like the Finot 100 Nomad IV; Volvo 70 Monster Projects; and Whitbread 60 Challenger, to the Sun Fast 3600 Redshift Reloaded. In Grenada, the 170-slip Port Louis will be the dockage headquarters for the teams as well as the site of the regatta’s awards ceremony.
Whether you’re there to meet and greet the race teams or simply cruising the southern Caribbean, be sure to check out the Parang Festival on Grenada’s sister island of Carriacou, which starts on December 16th. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy the run-up to the holidays with music, parades, and feasting. Carriacou, 30 nautical miles north of Grenada, is a great launching-off point to the northern Caribbean, where many of the RORC Transatlantic sailors will also travel to race in the region’s spring regattas.
The end of December means that it is Junkanoo time throughout The Bahamas. This
traditional festival is thought to have roots in Africa and found a home with early slaves in
these islands during the short holiday period they were granted after Christmas. This was
their only opportunity to freely celebrate art, culture, family, and community and to mix
in some sly social commentary. Junkanoo events are held in many locations throughout
the islands and generally on Boxing Day, December 26th, or on New Year’s Day. While
there are many opportunities throughout the year to get a small taste of this cultural
experience, there is nothing like the major event on Boxing Day in Nassau. Thousands
performing in large, organized groups will “rush out” in the downtown streets. This
late-night event goes all night and well into the next morning.
The Wright Brothers’ flight anniversary is just around the corner.
Boaters, beachgoers, and kite-flyers have been enjoying the Outer Banks of North Carolina for many years. As a matter of fact, it was exactly 114 years ago this December 17th that two experimental kite-flying brothers named Orville and Wilbur made history taking turns at the helm of their self-built flying machine. Join the First Flight Society as they commemorate this historic event. According to first flight.org, “The observance begins with a patriotic musical prelude followed by a wreath-laying ceremony to honor the Wright brothers and the witnesses of the first flight at the exact spot where the famous first flight occurred.” Park museum exhibits will be available throughout the day, along with activities and interpretive talks in the Flight Room. The Visitors Center will open at 9:00AM.
The Shows Must Go On! Boat shows —and the products and events they showcase— have changed significantly over the past 45 years.
You’ve come a long way, baby! Since 1972, when the first issue of Southern Boating hit the newsstand and subscribers’ mailboxes, the entire boating industry—from technology to boat shows to fashion—has greatly evolved.
Here, we highlight just a few of the many changes.
Swimwear
The Disco Decade brought with it women’s tight one-piece bathing suits that were high-cut to show off the hips and had a deep neckline. (Think Farrah Fawcett in her iconic ’70s poster wearing a rust-colored one-piece.) Bikini styles ran the gamut from high-waisted to “barely there” (the thong was introduced in 1974). Men fully embraced tightfitting swim briefs (Speedo®) and upper thigh-revealing board shorts. Colors were bright and often floral-patterned.
Today’s styles include roomier—and longer—board shorts for men, while bikinis and one-pieces in many different cuts and hues are still popular with women, although high-waisted “retro” designs are making a comeback.
Certainly, swimwear styles—and boating fashion in general—have played a role in the marine industry; indeed, Southern Boating started publishing its annual swimsuit edition (April issue) more than 30 years ago.
Boats
Southern Boating’s first cover featured a 55-foot motoryacht, with three double cabins, a convertible dinette and lounge and a spacious aft deck. At the time, it was considered quite a large and elegant boat. The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) reports that while large yacht sales currently may be on the rise, smaller vessels—water sports boats, day boats, pontoons—are attracting a whole new generation of boaters for their affordability and versatility. Yet, regardless of the size or style of the vessel, manufacturers offer the latest and greatest options; it’s not surprising to see center consoles with multiple livewells for bait and espresso machines for the anglers!
Power
As for engines, outboards in the ’70s were typically 100- or 135-hp, very large, noisy and fuel-hungry machines. Today, boatbuilders are experiencing a growing demand for outboards as the need for more horsepower increases. Manufacturers like Suzuki, Yamaha and Evinrude have answered the call producing smoother, quieter 300-hp and 350-hp outboards with greater fuel efficiency and dependable power. Triple and quad outboards are able to reach popular fishing and cruising grounds in record time.
Technology
Builders are incorporating advanced technology into their vessels, such as docking a boat with a joystick or using a smartphone or iPad to operate your boat. Helm stations that once integrated different brands of electronic components—chartplotters, radars, autopilots, etc.—that couldn’t share data have evolved with the installation of new one-brand systems that make networking easier and improve operations.
Navigation has also become more reliable these days with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. Prior to GPS, boaters depended on LORAN, radar and their own intuition to help determine their position. Now, electronic charts and chartplotters provide mariners with accurate location information. Even on smaller boats, cruisers can navigate via GPS using a smartphone app.
Boat Shows
There’s no better place to find all of these products than at a boat show, where you have access to everything that comprises an on-the-water lifestyle. Boat shows showcase what the marine industry has to offer in new builds, concept vessels, the latest innovations, and accessories. In the 1970s, the shows mainly focused on the boats themselves, but today, you’ll also find seminars, clinics, demonstrations, and workshops—for adults and kids alike— where industry experts share their knowledge and advice with show-goers, in addition to equipment, water toys and marine products for sale.
Some displays flaunt exotic cars, helicopters and submarines, as well as a variety of food and entertainment; gone are the days of eating only hot dogs and stale potato chips. You don’t even have to be a boat owner to enjoy the show, since they’ve become a must-attend social event at which to see and be seen. Builders are eager to reach new buyers so now, boat shows are staged all over the world: Dubai, London, Monaco, Sydney, and so many other international locations.
Compared with boat shows in the early ’70s, the dollar value of products displayed has exploded. The precursor to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), the world’s largest in-water boat show, exhibited just 100 used yachts with an aggregate value of $1.5 million in 1972.
In 2016, along with toys, accessories, and equipment, there was an estimated $4 billion worth of products presented, according to the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF), which owns the event.
So, yes, the marine industry has come a long way since 1972. Boat shows are flourishing globally, technology is advancing to the point where even a beginner can comfortably take command, and popular swimsuit fashions of the past are still trending today. Bigger, better, faster, eco-friendly… it’s all in demand and available.
No one knows what the next 45 years of the boating industry will look like, but if the past four decades are any indication, the future will continue to evolve in ways we can only imagine.
By Bonnie Schultz, Southern Boating September 2017
The boat show season is in full swing and continues with the 41st Annual St. Petersburg Power & Sailboat Show November 29th through December 2nd.
Billed as the largest boat show on the Gulf Coast, the event takes place at the Duke Energy Center for the Arts, Mahaffey Theater Yacht Basin and Albert Whitted Park in St. Petersburg, FL.
The show is located directly across from the City Marina South Yacht Basin off Demens Landing and will feature a comprehensive selection of power boats and sailboats in water and on land. The latest in large yachts, family cruisers, fishing boats, runabouts, and sailing yachts are sure to delight the crowd, and the 40,000-square-foot enclosed tent will show off almost every type of marine gear available—perfect for upcoming holiday shopping.
If that’s not enough, kids and adults will find a variety of activities to learn about and enjoy the boating lifestyle. The IGFA School of Sportfishing hosts four free seminars on Saturday: Master the Flats for Redfish, Snook, and Trout; Targeting Gamefish on Nearshore Wrecks and Reefs; Bluewater Pelagics off Florida’s West Coast, and Pro Tips for Tampa Tarpon. Hook the Future, a program that revolves around fishing to spend quality time with your children, will host hour-long fishing clinics for kids ages 4-16 on both Saturday and Sunday.
Head to the Duke Energy Center/Mahaffey Theater and the Dali Museum if arriving by automobile. Plenty of parking is available at the municipal parking garages and at the Albert Whitted Airport alongside the show grounds; onsite parking is $10. The Downtown Looper Trolley is also a convenient option. The City Marina has transient dockage as well as a mooring field, so call now to check on available space.
Thursday, November 29: 10AM-6PM
Friday, November 30: 10AM-6PM
Saturday, December 1: 10AM-7PM
Sunday, December 2: 10AM-5PM
General Admission
FREE: “Kids Experience” for ages 15 and younger
FREE: Veterans and active duty military with ID/proof of service
$17 for ages 16 and older (valid for one day)
NOTE: No pets allowed except guide dogs and licensed working dogs
Major Caribbean regattas go on for 2018, despite hurricanes
Rain doesn’t stop the Carnival and neither will the devastating 1-2 punch of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September stop the region’s major spring 2018 regattas. The regattas go on as planned.
In fact, recovery is already well underway, says Michelle van der Werff, director of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, March 1-4, 2018. “Although high numbers of yachts were destroyed and the St. Maarten Yacht Club’s docks and decks were damaged, much of the marine infrastructure is still intact, including sail lofts, riggers and chandleries. By mid-November, a boat owner coming to the island won’t notice any difference.”
Likewise, the St. Thomas Yacht Club was damaged as well as some of the Club’s fleet. However, “we’re determined to hold our 45th annual regatta as the sailing grounds are as magnificent as ever, and it’s the camaraderie of returning teams and new ones that keep us moving forward,” says Chuck Pessler, director of the St. Thomas International Regatta, March 23-25, 2018.
Positive goals for the future are important in the aftermath of a major storm and staging the B.V.I. Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival, March 26-April 1, 2018, is a driving force for Director Judy Petz and her committee, Petz says. “The B.V.I. sailing community has been so gracious and encouraging, and that’s enabled us to start work on hosting our 2018 regatta. Our challenge may be housing, so the more boats that come self-contained the better. The new docks will be in place at Nanny Cay Marina, so our regatta home will be there.”
Les Voiles de St. Barth will take place as planned, April 8-14, 2018, as will Antigua Sailing Week, April 28-May 4, 2018. “Even though Antigua was not touched, as an independent nation we have our storm-damaged sister island of Barbuda to support,” says Regatta Commercial Director Alison Sly-Adams. “We invite sailors to attend our regatta as the best way to support our islands.”
Join Southern Boating for a dynamic evening during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show recognizing the work of the International SeaKeepers Society in partnership with the yachting community. Each year SeaKeepers is proud to work with a dedicated group of yacht owners and their captains in designing and executing programming around conservation, education and research. Highlights from our expeditions will be shared with guests and DISCOVERY Yacht owners will be recognized.
For more information visit the SeaKeeper’s event page.
About the International SeaKeepers Society:
The International SeaKeepers Society promotes oceanographic research, conservation, and education through direct involvement with the yachting community. SeaKeepers enables the yachting community to take full advantage of their unique potential to advance marine sciences and to raise awareness about global ocean issues.
Members of SeaKeepers include influential opinion leaders who believe that the best way to protect the environment is to protect the world’s oceans. Our members recognize the ocean’s critical importance to the life of our planet. The Society is thus deeply committed to finding real-world solutions to the problems now plaguing our seas. Our small but distinguished membership includes entrepreneurs, yachtsmen, corporations, divers, scientists and concerned citizens building a global effort to help restore and protect the world’s oceans. As a private/public collaborative effort, the Society focuses on critical ocean issues in cooperation with government agencies, other like-minded organizations, the academic community, and the public. Our motto is, “Research, Educate, Protect, and Restore.”
The St. Marys River at the Georgia-Florida border has been the hub of the U.S. East Coast
commercial shrimp industry for more than a century. Modern trawl net and fishing boat
designs invented in the area in the early 1900s are still being used today. St. Marys, Georgia, celebrates the local shrimping industry and its history on Saturday, October 7th with the 45th Annual Rock Shrimp Festival. If you like shrimp, you will find it prepared at the festival in every possible way, from chilled to boiled and from fried to fricasseed.
Newly added to the event’s activities this year is a Songwriter’s Showcase featuring an afternoon and evening of music performances. Stages will be set up on the waterfront at St. Marys Park. The festival is organized by the Kiwanis Club of St. Marys, and proceeds are used locally to fund Kiwanis youth programs.
Organizers expect to bring high-speed hydroplanes from around the world, as well as other boat classes, for a series of races. Vendors will be on hand selling a variety of food, drinks, and merchandise. Originally scheduled for April, the inaugural West End International Boat Race is planned for October 6-8 in West End Village, Grand Bahama.
NCAA Women’s Junkanoo Jam November 23-25
For fans of college basketball, the NCAA Women’s Junkanoo Jam will be held at the Hilton
at Resorts World Bimini, November 23-25. The Junkanoo Jam traditionally features some of the top women’s basketball Division-1 programs. Eight teams will compete in two divisions for separate championships. The quality of the competition is very high. Last year, four of the eight teams who participated were invited to the NCAA postseason tournament, with one additional team going to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). junkanoojam.com
Sand & Soul Festival
October 6-8
This Columbus Day weekend, Atlantis Resort at Paradise Island will host the Sand & Soul Festival. This event will include major comedy and musical acts, such as En Vogue, Salt-N-Pepa, DJ Mars, and others. There will also be various events, pool parties and late-night after-parties. For more information, visit sandandsoulfestival.com.
Visit our additional Bahamas Update about Spanish Wells.
As one of the oldest sportfishing clubs in the country, the Stuart Sailfish Club—founded in 1941—has worked hard to encourage and support sustainable game fishing. On October 13th and 14th, it continues that tradition with the 32nd Annual Saltwater Sisters Lady Angler Tournament at Pirate’s Cove Resort & Marina in Stuart, Florida. Fishing categories
include dolphin, kingfish, bluefish, and wahoo. Awards will be given for Top Boat, Billfish Releases as well as for Best Costumes and Best Boat Décor to keep things fun.
Proceeds from the Saltwater Sisters Tournament go to organizations involved in breast cancer research and to patient support groups. A schedule of the activities can be found on the Club’s website: stuartsailfishclub.com.
