FLIBS 2023

Hundreds of thousands of boating enthusiasts and marine industry professionals from around the world, came together for the 52nd Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the largest in-water boat show in the world. The show which ran from the 25 to 30 October had a strong showing from the Asia-Pacific region with Australia, Fiji, Tahiti, and New Zealand all featured in the Superyacht Pavilion stand. Visitors were delighted to meet Fijian warriors and singers and experience the kava ceremony first hand. David Good (Superyacht Australia), Cynthia Rasch (Port Denarau Marina), Sarah Toxward (Rivergate Marina and Shipyard), Virginia Hammond (SuperYacht Great Barrier Reef Association) and Manoa Ray (Tahiti Tourisime) were on hand to provide information on the fantastic superyacht cruising grounds, superyacht refit and service facilities in the region.

Asia-Pacific superyacht builder, shipyards, and refit facilities were also featured at the show with Horizon Yachts displaying four of their newly launched models that include the FD110 Tri-Deck, FD100 Tri-Deck, FD90 and an FD75, as well as three new catamarans the PC52, PC60 and the PC68. StellarPM, with its production facilities in Vietnam were keen to share details about the StellarONE 108S which is currently in build.

The Italian yacht building segment, which makes up the lion's share of yachting production globally, also had a strong presence in Fort Lauderdale.  "Florida is the centre of gravity for boating in the US," pointed out Stefano de Vivo, CCO of Italian yachting giant Ferretti Group. "We've been working really hard in this market in the last four or five years." The hard work seems to have paid off, with de Vivo revealing that 50 per cent of all Pershing sales come from North America and the 60-metre Comfortably Numb was delivered to a US client earlier this year.

Another APSA member at the show was SeaBob who reported overwhelming the interest in the new look water toys. All five days of the show were super busy with breakfast meetings, lunch presentations, superyacht launches, and superyacht viewings. Fortunately, there has also been some time to relax and the US Superyacht Association Skylounge was the perfect location for superyacht industry professionals to network and meet. While captains and crew enjoyed the facilities of the Oasis Lounges host by the GMT-Global Marine Travel and their sponsors.

APSA members exhibiting at the show or visiting included: Benetti Yachts, Ferretti Group, Horizon Yachts, Gold Coast Marine and Shipyard, Stellar PM, Cayman Registry, Dörries Yachts, GMT Global Marine Travel, Rivergate Marina and Shipyard, Port Denarau Marina, Tahiti Tourism, Burgess, Superyacht Australia, Azure Yacht Crew Health, Sevenstar Yacht Transport, Simpson Superyachts, Azure Yacht Crew Health, Catalano Shipping Services, Dörries Yachts, AON, and Travel Cue.