Is there room for another Yacht Show?
The Abu Dhabi exhibition hall lay tantalizingly close on the other side of the official red tape and the now obligatory x-ray machine. Security was tight, but thanks to the organisers my all area pass worked a treat my name was down and I was getting in.
Readers of my blog will already be aware of my enthusiasm for this show from the first hours. The world’s leading Super Yacht builders were ready and willing to discuss any possible new and exciting projects and I had the rare opportunity to sit and chew the Super Yacht cud with the industry leaders, something that is unheard of during the Monaco or Fort Lauderdale Shows.
Once you had strolled around the exhibition hall, there was then a short walk through a newly built bridge which spanned six lanes of costal highway. You were then met on the other side by what can be best described as the 30M Club. The best part of 500 million dollars worth of floating fun was polished and waiting for you to have nosey around.
Next to the hard and in poll position lay the 90M Dubawi and Lauren L, another 90M Show stopper, along with the award-winning 68M Aviva a few positions away. I should mention the 85.3M Alysia – which boasts a seven-star interior and has been titled a ‘Resort’ afloat. The rest of the boats were all well presented and all the boats present had busy viewing diaries for the entire three Show days.
I and most of the visitors were impressed with the organization and certainly the after show parties were some of the best I have ever attended; the on water Super Yacht Ballet as a prelude to the gala dinner was simply stunning. This show will grow from strength to strength and Abu Dhabi is the perfect host. All of this bodes well for the first F1 race to be held in the city in November. I was lucky enough to see the plans and I can reliably inform you there will be a Super Yacht Marina as an integral part of the F1 Circuit