Slip on your Sperrys and make your way west: The Palm Beach International Boat Show will soon be open on the West Palm Beach waterfront with more than 1,000 boats — over 100 of which are superyachts.
The show will run March 25-29, transforming an area along South Flagler Drive into a space for boat lovers and those interested in seafaring ways, with experiences, seminars and more than $1 billion of inventory. It’s all open to the public, although some yacht tours require advance confirmation.
“The entire waterfront becomes an experience,” said Andrew Doole, president of U.S. Boat Shows and Informa Markets, which produces the annual show. The Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County owns the event.
This year’s show includes the return of the Windward VIP Lounge with gourmet dining, cocktails and tastings of fare by celebrity chefs.
“It really turns the show into a celebration of the boating lifestyle,” Doole said of the variety of experiences and entertainment.
Show highlights trends in yachting
So, what are Palm Beach yacht buyers looking for?
Sustainability, innovation and function, yacht brokers and others who spoke with the Palm Beach Daily News said.
Ferretti Group, which has an office at 125 Worth Ave., is seeing a trend of people looking for more hybrid-system, flex-fuel technologies and alternative energy sources, said Simone Miletti, Ferretti Group of America’s managing director.
Ferretti will have a fleet of six yachts at the boat show, all of which will reflect trends the company is seeing in the marketplace, he said.
“At the same time, Ferretti Group meets the evolving desires of today’s yacht owners by interpreting them at the highest level thought the development of new products and advanced features,” Miletti said.
Many yacht builders are introducing hybrid fuel systems, while also designing vessel hulls to improve performance and cut environmental impact, Doole said.
Some of the boats at this year’s show tout fuel efficiency and luxury as features that are not mutually exclusive. Yacht manufacturer GranOcean will debut its W-72 power catamaran to the U.S. public at the show. When cruising at about 8 knots, the vessel uses as little as 5.8 gallons of fuel per hour, the company said.
“Owners are increasingly looking for greater interior volume, fuel efficiency and the ability to personalize their yacht without moving into a much larger size category,” GranOcean co-founder Eric So said in a news release. “The W-72 delivers that balance of space, stability and customization in a way that reflects how people actually cruise.”
Ferretti will bring CRN M/Y Amor à Vida, a six-deck yacht with a hybrid propulsion engine that features technology to help the roughly 221-foot vessel perform as fuel efficiently as possible, Miletti said. It is the first yacht from CRN to have a hybrid engine, he said.
The show itself will have an emphasis on clean energy this year, as it has its first event to make use of new permanent electrical infrastructure along the waterfront. The power system eliminates the need for exhaust-belching diesel generators.
“This project is a testament to the power of collaboration and our shared vision for a sustainable future,” Doole previously said in a news release. “By partnering with (the county marine industries association), the city and FPL, we are not only reducing our environmental impact, but also creating a cleaner, quieter, and more vibrant waterfront for the West Palm Beach community.”
Another major trend is wellness and outdoor living, Doole said.
“Designers are incorporating larger beach clubs, fold-down terraces and dedicated spa areas so owners can spend more time connected to the water,” Doole said.
As people become more health-conscious, they want features such as gyms, wellness centers, massage rooms and healthier food options, said Jonathan Beckett, CEO of Burgess, a leading yacht and charter broker with a new office at 333 Peruvian Ave. in Palm Beach.
“That’s the new norm,” he said. “Whereas 10 years ago, it was all about eating and drinking, it’s still about eating and drinking, but doing it well.”
Buyers today want experiences on the water, not just bigger boats, Doole said. Amenities might include wellness areas, but also large outdoor living spaces and areas to carry tenders, personal watercraft and submersibles.
“The modern yacht is becoming more like a floating luxury resort, designed for entertaining, relaxing and spending extended time at sea,” Doole said.
Influx of wealth is boon to show
The boat show has seen its trajectory rise with the move of more high-net-worth people and major financial firms into Palm Beach, West Palm Beach and the surrounding area.
Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs and other companies have grown their presence in Palm Beach County, an influx that has helped to form a new market of yacht buyers and decision-makers, Doole said.
“This benefits the boat show tremendously by gaining a larger pool of prospective buyers interested in luxury yachts and premium boating experiences,” he said.
Burgess began to see demand rise in Palm Beach over the past two or three years, but the past 18 months in particular marked a “very noticeable” shift, Beckett said.
“A lot of our existing clients from California or from Chicago have moved down here, and that’s exciting for us, because we know them already and they’re introducing other clients to us,” Beckett said.
Miletti of the Ferretti Group described the show as “one of the most significant events on the international yachting calendar,”
“The United States and the rest of the Americas are confirmed to be strategic markets for the group,” Miletti said. “Our presence at this boat show reaffirms our long-term commitment to this region, as it enables direct engagement with owners and partners in an environment that exemplifies the spirit, values, and distinctive identity of our brands, fostering meaningful connections and inspiring collaboration.”
Boat show has major economic impact
The boat show’s arrival each year isn’t just a welcome sight for boat lovers. The event has an economic impact of more than $1 billion per year — a number that continues to grow, Doole said.
In addition to providing a boost to local hotels and restaurants, other companies such as car services, florists and travel agencies benefit, he said.
“For many small local businesses, the boat show represents their most important revenue period of the year,” Doole said.
The show this year introduced the PBIBS Gives Back Zone, which is a free attraction that will highlight some of the boat show’s conservation and education efforts, he said. The new zone will be in front of the show’s Clematis Street entrance.
Informa Markets and the county marine industries association partner to provide grants that are funded through the boat show, according to the program’s website.
If you go
The show is open noon to 7 p.m. March 25; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 26-28; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 29.
Single-day general admission tickets start at $37 for adults and $18 for children ages 6 to 15. Two-day general admission tickets start at $66, and a single-day Windward VIP ticket is $430.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit PBBoatShow.com.
(This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)
Kristina Webb is a reporter for Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at kwebb@pbdailynews.com. Subscribe today to support our journalism.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach International Boat Show returns to West Palm waterfront
Reporting by Kristina Webb, Palm Beach Daily News / Palm Beach Daily News
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