[dropcap]O[/dropcap]bviously the boats and yachts – Power and Sail, are the main attraction. With more than 150 exhibitors representing over $500 million of inventory, you are sure to find something you like.
Starting out in Orange Beach, Alabama in 2010, the show operated successfully for 3 years before outgrowing the facilities. The Gulfcoast Yacht and Boat show moved in 2013 to Gulfport Harbor in Gulfport, Mississippi. The move was a huge success attracting more than 26,000 attendees, from 18 states and 3 countries. The synergy between the City of Gulfport, Island View Casino, corporate sponsors, and the Gulfcoast Yacht and Boat Show catapulted the show into the national spotlight.
Talked about nationwide as the next big thing, the line up of features and attractions for 2014 make it a must see.
Boat Show festivities start on Sunday, March 30 at the Windance Country Club, for the inaugural Gulfcoast Yacht and Boat Show Golf Tournament. This new event will start off the boat show week, offering 4 man teams free food and drink at each tee box. Also included in the fees, access to the Windance Pro Shop liquidation sale, VIP boat show tickets, and a chance to win over $1,000,000.00… that’s right over one million dollars in cash and prizes. Registration is just $500 per team, and is open right now at www.gulfcoastyachtandboatshow.com
The boat show opens on Thursday, April 3, for VIP Day. This opening day is limited to invitation or a $25.00 admission ticket only. Open from 1pm to 7pm VIP attendees will experience a craft beer tasting, hors d’oeuvres, music, and a complete red carpet show experience. Almost a mile of red carpet will be laid out to celebrate the opening VIP day. Planet Beach Cover Model contestants will be on hand greeting attendees as they arrive. The evening will end with a special concert from national recording artist ALEXA CARTER, out of Nashville, Tenessee. Your VIP pass is good for the entire weekend and is available now, online at www.gulfcoastyachtandboatshow.com
2014 will mark a huge turning point in terms of features and attractions. On the boating side we will have dealers and brokers representing over 500 million of power and sail inventory, but thats just the beginning. The show will also feature the largest power and engine display ever seen on the Gulf. With over 8000 sqft of exhibit space dedicated to every major outboard, inboard, generator, and transmission manufacturer in the marine industry. The power display will be an amazing site for new and seasoned boat show attendees.
Our electronics display will also rival some of the best, with the Raymarine Demo Trailer and the SIMRAD demo boat on site. All of the major companies like Furuno, Garmin, Lowrance, and KVH will also be represented in the vendor pavilion.
Need a new truck… here’s your chance with Allen Toyota and Toyota Trucks teaming up to offer you an exclusive test drive. This experienece will give you the opportunity to feel the breaking and acceleration under real towing conditions. You will feel the power of the new Toyotas by actually being able to pull a boat out of the water in a true boat ramp environment.
Our seminar schedule will be second to none with Discover Boating and Discover Sailing on water training sessions operating daily. Captains Chris and Alyse Caldwell will be giving land based seminars on a number of topics from cruising various waters to pets on board.
Out entertainment schedule is incredible and ranges from live sharks and sea lions to high flying water jet boots and the marlin experience. The live shark encounter will be back this year along with the great white shark experience. A new sea lion splash show has been added and will compliment the sharks, adding a whole new area of family fun. See the amazing highflying acrobats of the flyboard jet boots, by Power Up Water Sports. You thought James Bond had cool toys… wait till you see this guy fly. If fishing is your thing, make sure you take the kids over to the Wicked Marlin Simulator where they can try there luck fishing for the elusive blue marlin. This simulator is the same one used at the IGFA headquarters in Ft Lauderdale and with our modifications, is the only one of it’s kind in the country.
Speaking of fishing… Don’t forget the Spot Cup Tournament, brought to you by Island View Casino and Resort, Gulfcoast Yacht and Boat Show and the Mississippi Coastal Conservation Association. This one-day tournament being held Friday, April 4th, will focus on Trout and Redfish and offer FREE registration. It will cost nothing for participants to fish either in the paddle division or the outboard division for over $10,000 in cash and prizes. Registration is available now online at www.gulfcoastyachtandboatshow.com
On both Saturday, April 5th and Sunday, April 6th we will host a number of celebrity events at the show. On both days Captain Dave Carraro and his mate Sandro from the National Geographic’s “Wicked Tuna” TV series will be on hand. They will be signing autographs, posing for pictures and answering questions about their life as giant bluefin tuna commercial fishermen.
Saturday and Sunday afternoons will be all about the ladies as The Gulfcoast Yacht and Boat Show hosts the regional Planet Beach Cover Model Contest. Over 15 ladies will compete for a chance to be crowned the 2015 Planet beach Cover Model.
Looking for giveaways… How about a chance to win a 21′ Contender Center Console, factory rigged with a 200 four stroke Yamaha outboard, complete with a Phoenix tandem axle trailer. This package alone is worth over $65,000. We will also be giving away ORCA Coolers, Raymarine Dragon Fly units, and 4 weekend passes to island View Casino and Resort.
This show is more than a days worth of fun, so make plans to spend the whole weekend with us. No matter what day you buy your admission ticket, readmission any-day is always free. So Check out the lodging page at www.gulfcoastyachtandboatshow.com and make the show an annual weekend event… You won’t be disappointed!
For contests, shows, seminars, tournamnents or any general information on the show, check out www.gulfcoastyachtandboatshow.com