It was generally a good show for our clients with a definite increase in enquiries on 2010. The event itself was as packed as ever, and the cafes along the harbour wall even more eye-wateringly expensive, but the atmosphere was generally upbeat and the talk was of increased orders despite the ongoing eurozone problems. Refit work continues to keep the industry afloat with new orders still thin on the ground, but the talk was of money being around in greater quantities than before, and of owners being less afraid of spending it in public.
The BRIC countries continue to be the focus of marketing efforts for new builds, although not all are convinced that China, with its lack of maritime heritage, will turn out to be the sales Nirvana that many hope it to be. The news last week that Brazil has raised its import duty on imported leisure boats from 20 to 35% was also unhelpful.
Clients of ours present at the show included Lantic Entertainment Systems – launching their new Wireless Audio Centre control software, Alewijnse Marine Systems, Design Unlimited, Navico and Infiniti Yachts.
Boat of the Show as far as we were concerned was the 44m catamaran Hemisphere, with a beam of 16.6m (54.5 ft!), which was truly immense and combined all the space of a motoryacht with the ability to turn the engines off and actually go sailing.
