Dubai Boat Show-March 2010

The Dubai Boat Show brought a small but influential sector of the yaching industry together March 9th through the 15th in the United Arab Emirates.  We enjoyed beautiful weather during the week, which was a nice contrast to the windy cold weather many of us endured a month earlier during the Miami Boat Show.  The docks were crowded and there was a nice cross-section of boats from all over the world.  The Lurssen M.Y. Linda Lou was the queen of the show, moored stern-in adjacent to the face-dock.  The Trinity M.Y. Red Saphire was moored nearby and turning heads as well.  The well known Dubai-based M.Y. Natalina B was stern-in adjacent to the Linda Lou; two large Nautical Structures deck cranes recently installed!  Just out past the jetti were moored a few notable yachts as well.  The newly launched Oceanfast M.Y. Austral sat on the hook during the show.  The M.V. Alure Shadow was anchored nearby.  Further off was the world's largest motor yacht; M.Y. Dubai.  Built by Blohm+Voss and finished by Platinum Yachts she measures an impressive 538-ft/ 164-meters long.  In the photo gallery you may find an image of the world's tallest building taken from the bridge of the world's largest motor yacht; How cool is that?!

During our visit to the UAE we made a day-trip with Enterprise Florida to Abu Dhabi.  We enjoyed a VIP guided tour of the new Yas Marina and hotel, a facility surrounded by a Formula-One racetrack!  The Yas Marina is an amazing development and will hopefully attract many yachtsmen to visit and enjoy the facility.  The adjacent recently completed eighteen-hole golf course is itself impressive.  It is amazing to see what can be carved out of the desert with desire and ambition.  The nearby Ferrari World theme park is almost complete; its undulating red roof huge by any standard.