Events | 50 years of smooth Florida sailing

Fort Lauderdale Boat Show from the inside

What kind of condition is the American market in? Is the current economic crisis changing the scene in the US? And what measures have European yards, particularly the Italian ones, taken to counteract not only the recession but also the weak dollar? These were the questions that hung over the 50th edition of the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show which was loaded with more significance than ever in its history. But make no mistake about it: there are no hard and fast answers out there right now. The only certainty is that the United States was the first to be hit by the earthquake that has as its epicentre the Lehman Brothers collapse. An earthquake whose aftershocks were felt right throughout the entire American economy with an inevitable negative effect on spending and consumption, the nautical sector included.

But does this mean that the market there is still stagnant? Is the ailing giant on which the fate of so much of the world’s shipbuilding industry depends, as sales there account for 50% of all output, showing any signs at all of recovery? The good news is that the signs, though weak, are there. The freefall has stopped. Fort Lauderdale wasn’t entirely sold out but compared to last year, things were much better. Tickets sales at the box office were up what might seem like a modest 1% but in the current situation is actually quite encouraging. “We were forecasting a drop of 8%,” says Efrem Zimbalist III, CEO of Show Management, which organises the event. “The Friday before we closed numbers were up 20% on the same period last year. Online sales were up more than 20% too.” There’s no arguing with the figures: it seems that public interest in boats is reviving.

And there was a certain buzz even in negotiations. “We signed five contracts for five boats at the show,” said Rich Lazzara, owner of the eponymous Tampa yard. “Four of the new 78LSX Flybridge while the fifth was for the first in a new series of 76’ motoryachts of which we’ll begin delivery next year. An encouraging sign after the market being completely at a standstill between January and June.” Not everyone was as positive, however, as Rich Lazzara. Many feel that, although there is light at the end of tunnel, it’s still a good ways away. This means that the market is still struggling to offload inventory of new boats which is creating upheaval in pricing with inevitable knock-ons on the pre-owned market which is being further depressed. However, there are plenty of potential clients at the top end of the market who are going to yards and naming their own price. So it’s still quite a confused snapshot and we’ll need a bit of time before order is restored and the good old stable rules of supply and demand get back to normal. Right now there is an oversupply. But standing still means losing ground. This is why the world’s leading yards were all out in style.

When it came to the Italians we have to mention, of course, Mondomarine’s debut on the American scene. This was the Ligurian yard’s very first time over the Pond, a move that is very part of its management’s policy of expanding into new markets. Benetti for its part took advantage of the Fort Lauderdale setting to unveil its new line of semi-customs. A very ambitious plan that will be based around a range made up of no less than seven models. The Ferretti Group, on the other hand, played the sustainability card by focusing on the Mochi Long Range, which was premiering in American waters. Sanlorenzo was there too and brought along the new SD 92, a semi-displacement long-range cruiser. Perini Navi was also present, buoyed up by a recent contract signed for the construction of a 73-metre from the Vitruvius range for an American client. CRN made its presence felt in no uncertain terms with the 54-metre Maraya. Last but not least, Sessa Marine, Uniesse, Cranchi, and Aicon were all showing too as long-standing fans of the American market.

Matteo Zaccagnino

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