The Miami Strictly Sail Boat Show 2014

I view sailboats like an art enthusiast that sits still to "experience" a painting.  Yes, I liked the Miami boat show.  The scene is hot, slightly crowded, and frantic but there were beautiful new an used sailboats, and experts on every sailing accessory.  The knowledge was free to the asking and mostly within walking distance. 

The high point for us was John Kretschmer’s lectures on Ocean Passages and Storm Sailing.  John is a professional sailor and gifted story teller.  His lectures offered valuable facts and opinions that had us jotting notes, cringing, and laughing.  Here are a few subtopics I found interesting:

• Chafe is your number on enemy on a long passage.
• Don’t use your main sail in the down wind trades.
• Over purchase your auto pilot and furling rigs.

His latest book is A Serious Ocean- Sailboats, storms, stories, and lessons learned from 30 years at sea.

Rarely are two people equally tolerant of crowds, heat, and sales people.  So, next year we’ll plan to accommodate that inevitable point at which I’m getting started and my wife has had enough.

Boat Show Tips:

• The show’s last day was a Monday which was far less busy than the weekend. 
• Have a backpack with:  Water, snacks, hat, sun screen, and room for purchases.
• Set goals for the show.  It provides everyone a sense of purpose and progress. If the goal is simple and easy there’s also room for spontaneous excursions that would, with out a goal, feel like impulsive floundering.  If the couple, plans the goal together both parties work together during the show.  My targets were to board the Hanse 50, Passport 54, and Hylas 46.  Attend 4 lectures, See an AIS, and a wind generator rep. I boarded all the boats plus other used sailboats but only attended 2 lectures and missed everything else.

 Boat shows are a tremendous opportunity to see and touch new and used sailboats.  More importantly they provide a valuable learning opportunity for gadgets, new technology, and creative ideas for cruising racing.  Lastly, as a yacht broker it's reassuring for me to see other brokers in action.  it's reassuring to know that there is always room for my hallmark.  Honesty.