2008 World Royal Superyacht & Luxury Show

GrahamF · 05-09-2008, 02:06 PM

World Royal Disaster...

That is what it was, A DISASTER. I would like to add a few extra words but I won’t. I really thought that this show was going to be the next Monaco show but in Spain.

The media hype that was given on this show and that we were told at the METS in Holland was completely 100% the opposite. I spoke to several of the exhibitors and there were 3 from the USA and what they were told a month before the show was a BIG FAT LIE. They were told that the show was 80% full of boats and there were several mega yachts.

The organizer lied to every exhibitor and possible future exhibitors. I told my wife I better get over there as this is going to be a big show but when I arrived in Tarragona there were no sign boards of any kind. After I found my way and I saw what was there I thought to myself “what the hell am I doing here”.

Well I went around the show and all you could see is a lot of pissed off exhibitors that found out 2 days prior that they were lied to, big time. I am just glad that we didn’t buy a stand as the prices are nearly the same as in Monaco.

The organizer from Holland painted a picture perfect scene and a lot of people believed him. I spoke to the Shadow marine guys and man were they pissed off, because they spent a lot of money to be there. Out of the so called 120 Yachts that ranged from 30 meters to 150 meters, there were only 24 yachts there... and out of them 6 of them were there on a semi permanent basis.

On the biggest queue (on the map N) there were supposed to be 65 boats of various sizes with a Restaurant and exhibitors, but there was nothing. Yesterday, a few exhibitors packed up and left. This morning when I woke up it was raining and they expected the rain to stay for a few days so I don’t want to know how many of the exhibitors packed up today.

Shadow Marine was going to have one of their Shadow boats at the show and thank goodness they did not. So just for the guy’s that are involved at boat shows, if "Mr. F" from Holland approaches you and tries to sell you a stand at a show... and he promises you the world... be sure it is too good to be true.

Below is the map of the Marina where the show is held. Some photos will follow.

GrahamF · 05-09-2008, 02:16 PM

The first 2 boats were not part of the show

GrahamF · 05-09-2008, 02:23 PM

A few more

GrahamF · 05-09-2008, 02:29 PM

A few more

GrahamF · 05-09-2008, 02:33 PM

a few more

GrahamF · 05-09-2008, 02:41 PM

A few more

GrahamF · 05-09-2008, 02:48 PM

The Motor Yacht in the one photo is a 124 Delta and she is 10 Years old

NYCAP123 · 05-09-2008, 02:51 PM

Graham,
I think you're being a little hard on them. There are some nice boats there. There're only 3 things that seem to be missing from this Superyacht Show...Superyachts, exhibitors and people.

YachtForums · 05-09-2008, 02:53 PM

That Delta looks like the old "Que Sera", captained by YF member David Reames, who now heads up C&N's US charter operation. I thought it was a 122', but it's been years since I've been on the boat.

GrahamF · 05-09-2008, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYCAP123

Graham,
I think you're being a little hard on them. There are some nice boats there. There're only 3 things that seem to be missing from this Superyacht Show...Superyachts, exhibitors and people.

Hi NYCAP123
A few of the sail boats that were there are based in Tarragona and some of them were build in Tarragona. I was going to be at that show for 4 days as i thought it would be good for business. I would have spent over a 1000 Euros just to be there. Some exhibitors spent nearly 30,000 Euros. That money could have been well spent when the Monaco show is on. They wanted to charge the exhibitors a 100Euros per day for Coffee and Water and 150 Euros a day for lunch. The exhibitors were not allowed to bring in anything of their own. They saw somebody bring in water and they took photos of the person and they were going to get i fine. There were exhibitor that were charged 250 Euros for 2 chairs. In the booths one exhibitor wanted to put up some posters and the charged him 1000 Euros to put up a solid plastic wall. They had VIP Parties as well the cost 150 Euros. The first party was cancelled. The 2nd VIP Party was also 150 Euros but later on they changed it to 100 Euros and still nobody went. A lot of the Exhibitors went to the Captains bar as Awlgrip was giving a Party and it was good. Lets just hope that it does not happen again.

GrahamF · 05-09-2008, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YachtForums

That Delta looks like the old "Que Sera", captained by YF member David Reames, who now heads up C&N's US charter operation. I thought it was a 122', but it's been years since I've been on the boat.

If i can remember correctly it said 124 but you might be right Carl.

K1W1 · 05-09-2008, 03:39 PM

Hi,

Too bad Graham it seems you and many others were sucked into what can only really be described as a scam.

There are types out there who just see yachting as a way to make an easy buck, this will not be the first " non event" that pops up and turns out to be vapour wear

Ken Bracewell · 05-09-2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrahamF

If i can remember correctly it said 124 but you might be right Carl.

It is 122'.
The original name was Louise and she is hull #2 of that series (Hull #1 was Intent).
They built 2 and decided that the boat's sheer line would be nicer if they raised the bulwarks a little in the bow. The result was the poular 124' series.

Brian · 05-09-2008, 03:51 PM

You know, I didn't really hear anything about this show. They couldn't have spent much on advertising it. Maybe that was an indicator?
Looks pretty desolate from the photos.
Oh wait a minute, I see a visitior, he's in the third photo!!!!

Walter · 05-10-2008, 06:44 AM

It looks like there were more boats then visitors.