Strictly Sail Miami

[Auzzee]

We flew back from the Bahamas for Strictly Sail in Miami. It's held at the Bayside which is great for sailboat shows, but a bit ordinary for anything else...especially food.

The show was wonderful. Saw some great 'bits' for boats including a nifty mast-climber, new solar panels, refrigeration, power cells and, of course, boats.

My new favourite boats are the Hylas 46 (secondhand 2012 is US$799,000, so that's not an option), the Nauticat range which I saw a few years ago in Japan and which still thrill me. and the Aussie entrant Seawind catamarans...the 38'er is a fabberlus boat.

Heading back to Abaco soon for some Carib sailing. Once again we need to be 'creative' for the customs chappies who insist on charging 45% duty, plus 7.5%VAT for anything...whether a new purchase or not.

Honestly, I think the Bahamas needs to rethink its strategy regarding the huge sailing busiuness...Cuba is a developing market and Mexico is great...and cheap.
For instance, I can take my boat into Mexico for 10 years for $50. The Bahamas is $300 for the first year and $500 for each year after that.

The Bahamas is great for one thing only; the waters surrounding the islands. Otherwise, the land is flat and featureless, approaching third world as far as infrastructure is concerned and the people are not the happy-go-lucky carefree mob depicted in popular myth. Did I mention the Bahamas is very expensive? Cost of living wise, it is 45% more than the US and 28% more than Oz.

Okay, whinge over, back to the business at hand.
Coffee and bagels........

[haiqu]

I'm certainly glad that *someone* is having a good time out there.

[Auzzee]

It was fun. I must confess I am not a fan of northern Cuba, but the boats were good to see. Back in Fort Lauderdale for a few days (it's a much more pleasant place), then orf to Abaco.

[haiqu]

Chewie on your deckshoes.

(Note: This is written in Australian. Don't ask for a translation.)

[Auzzee]

RippachuneBoris...

[Unwrittentimeline]

We hit up the show this year also but only on Thursday and Friday then we headed back to North Carolina. We have our eye on the new FP 40. They also had an Antares 44i Ona for sale, but like your Hylas, it's a bit pricey.

I thought it was a great show though I still prefer Annapolis in October.

[jaswolf43c]

I guess you had a great time there! I’ve been to the Bahamas before as a part of a small ship & cruise adventures by Blount. I agree with your point that they need to reestablish or reorganize their strategy for the sailing businesses. They have that good opportunity to get some output from this business. continuing with the present strategy won’t be helping them in any case. If they are gonna charge for cruises like this, as you said it would be better to go to Mexico or Cuba. The thing that attracts me to the Bahamas is none other than the islands, surrounded by beautiful water bodies and it’s a nice place to hangout.