Phuket boat show getting bigger
Cruising missile: The 26-metre Pershing from Italy will be a feature at the PIMEX show in January.
The world may still be wobbling from the effects of the ghastly GFC (Global Financial Crisis for those of you who have been living in a cave for the past 2 years), but yacht-makers and associated businesses seem to be doing okay, if the numbers given by the organisers of the upcoming Phuket International Marine Expo (PIMEX) are to be believed. We quote:
“PIMEX is a key contributor driving the growth of Phuket’s marine tourism by approximately 10% year-on-year. The show has a proven track record with sales successes and strong visitor numbers for seven consecutive years. The 2010 show is expected to attract over 75 local and international exhibitors and over 4,000 visitors, including many wealthy overseas investors looking for the perfect holiday home with a leisure marine lifestyle.”
It’s not just the number of exhibitors, boats and visitors that are expected to grow this year. It’s also the size of the gleaming gin palaces. This year the show, which takes place from January 7 to 10 next year at the Royal Phuket Marina, will feature a pair of giants.
First up will be a 26-metre Pershing - that’s close to 90 feet long, or the length of three classic London red buses. Apart from looking and behaving like a cruise missile (it’s silver and has a top speed of 44 knots, or 80 kmh), it has the usual nifty stuff like enormous sunbeds on deck, top-flight AV gear, a stateroom that would make your average Hilton green with envy, and even mosaics in the bathrooms.
Even bigger will be the 32-metre Mangusta (three and a half London buses) by Rodriguez of France. It’s not quite a quick as the Pershing – it’ll hit 35 knots, or about 65kmh – but it’s got even bigger sunbeds, bigger stateroom and – if your fancy runs this way – you can have a big hot tub on the rear deck. A 65-kmh hot tub. Imagine.
We hesitate to describe any of the other entrants in the show, for fear of making them pale by comparison, but event director Andy Dowden assures us that there will be something for everyone. Well, almost. Just don’t ask for a hot tub in your rubber dinghy.
