Well, Guess Where We Just Went?

The 32nd Annual Palm Beach International Boat Show
 

Held March 23-26, 2017, this is one of the top five boat shows in the country - featuring more than $1.2 billion worth of boats, yachts and accessories from the world's leading marine manufacturers. It is truly an International Show. The event includes hundreds of boats from 8-foot inflatables, power boats, fishing boats, center consoles, bow riders and personal watercraft, to super yachts over 150 feet. The finest pre-owned yachts, tents full of the latest electronics and accessories, seminars and kid's fishing clinics, exotic cars, live music and fun for all.

On Day Two – the show promoters announced the sale of two boats over 200 foot.
 

We were in the VIP Pavilion. This is a literal glass building, half the size of a football field.  There was a marble bar in the center, scattered bistro tables for 3-4 around the bar, constant music, and along the sides of the room were 8' X 10' seating areas offering groups of leather couches, love seats, burled wood and glass tables, populated by service vendors specializing in luxury living, as much as boating.  

Our neighbors were providers of personal jet services/sales, the largest global marina management firm, delivery services for yachts over 200 feet, a ship designer, exotic car broker, a console (looked like space ship) designer/manufacturer, an entertainment and events concierge service and a specialty floral design company serving jet and boat owners.

The Pavilion was the designated "get away from the crowd/heat/wind and make a deal" spot, so designed for the benefit of the yacht vendors and their VIP customers.  The traffic flow was everything from huge yacht owners, to boat reps., and everything in between.  The Press was a big part of the crowd --newspapers, boating magazines, travel magazines and trade (mechanical) magazines, as well as the Save the World's Oceans crowd. 

 

We attracted people from all of those populations, and they all had the same question. "Where is this place?" Most thought it was some exotic location in the Islands.  People were intrigued, then inquisitive, then wanted to know details.  They wanted to know how big a boat could come to our marina. Was the Island truly private and quiet?  Was it like Ocean Reef (high dollar and crowded) in the Keys?  And, people were shocked by how reasonable the cost of Useppa homes, fees, access, etc.

One woman was disappointed she couldn't get her 200+ foot yacht in, but was glad she could bring her 74-foot cruiser.  Another wanted to reserve a slip for November; wanted the name of the dock master, NOW!  Another, an owner of a Chicago plumbing company could not wait to bring over every friend he'd made at the show to reveal his new "find" as a destination, promising five Useppa visitors next season.  Another woman -- who had, long ago, been in this area, texted us on the way home, saying our information ''spoke to her.”  She and her husband were here this past weekend, and will be back in four weeks. 

Dozens of people gave us their email and asked for additional information.  Several were ‘’big league’’ fishermen and wanted the details of what was running and when.  Several had been to Useppa, tried to dock and were told they had to be members or invited/sponsored by a member in order to disembark. To those people, we have extended warm invitations.

If was a fun and exciting four days and we couldn’t have been more pleased to represent the incredible lifestyle of Useppa Island. Just to see their expressions when we proudly proclaimed we were in Florida, NOT the Islands...priceless!