44th Annual Newport International Boat Show
September 11 – 14 at the Newport Yachting Center, Newport, RI
The fall show season kicks off with the 44th Annual Newport International Boat Show, one of the largest in-water boat shows in the country. This show encompasses 13 acres of Newport, Rhode Island, with powerboats and sailboats from 16 to 85 feet on display. On shore, you’ll find an array of marine products and services to enhance the boating lifestyle. Dealers and manufacturers will be on hand to provide valuable information and answers to all your questions.
The 44th Annual Newport International Boat Show is September 11 – 14 in Newport, RI. © Onne Van der Wal/vanderwal.com
Nothing beats hands-on training to improve your boat handling skills or learn new ones, and the show organizers have teamed up with Confident Captain/Ocean Pros to make their innovative At the Helm program available to boaters of all experience levels. Taught by professional, U.S. Coast Guard licensed instructors, At the Helm is open to all attendees. Registering at newportboatshow.com for a 90-minute session, a 3-hour Become a Powerboater course or a 2- or 3-hour Sailing course gives you VIP status that includes a goodie bag, discounted rates for future At the Helm courses on your own boat, and a chance to win a $150 gift certificate to one of Newport Restaurant Group’s eight award-winning restaurants located throughout Rhode Island.
Another highlight is Newport for New Products. Presented in partnership with Cruising World, Sailing World and Yachting magazines, this program open to all domestic boats and boating products launched since April 1, 2014 and making their official boat show introduction in Newport. It is also open to all foreign boats and boating products launched in the U.S. market since April 1 and making their official debut in Newport, though they may have been shown and sold outside the U.S. before April. Judged by panel of industry experts on the basis of innovation, value to the consumer and aesthetics, awards are given to the “Best New Sailboat 30 Feet and Over,” Best New Sailboat Under 30 Feet,” “Best New Powerboat 30 Feet and Over,” Best New Powerboat Under 30 Feet,” and “Best New Boating Product.” Judging takes place on opening day and the winners will be announced on Friday, September 12.
There’s also a Newport For New Products People’s Choice Award. Attendees who come to the show on Thursday will receive a voting card with a detailed list of the entries and their location at the show. New debuts will also be marked with red and blue mats to help make them easy to find. After choosing your favorite, drop your voting card at the Show Office by 6pm Thursday. The winner of the 2014 NFNP People’s Choice Award will be announced Friday morning at the Awards Breakfast Ceremony in the Sunset Lounge near the Newport Yachting Center Marina, and one lucky People’s Choice voter will win an iPad with a $50 credit to the online Apple Store.
In the Authors Corner in Tent C, you can meet Judy Silva, author of The Voyage of Yankee: Lady Circumnavigating New England on a Sailboat and Voyage of Albatross: Journey to the Bahamas. Kids will enjoy the amazing face painting and balloon twisting talents of Sailor Donna. She’ll be entertaining with her lively personality and gentle nature near the Marina Dock Office at the Newport Yachting Center on Saturday from 11 am to 2:30 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 2 pm.
The show’s Official Charitable Partner is Coast Guard Foundation, a national non-profit organization supports the men and women of the U.S Coast Guard who risk their lives on the water every day for our safety. The Foundation provides higher education grants and financial relief to its members and their families. Stop by their booth in Tent B to meet the people behind the organization.
Show hours are Thursday to Saturday from 10 am – 6 pm, and 10 am – 5 pm on Sunday. Advance discount tickets are available online. Thursday, September 11 is VIP Day, and attendees will receive special attention from exhibitors. Tickets for VIP Day are $30. Admission on Friday, Saturday or Sunday is $18 ($15 in advance). Two-day standard and VIP packages are also available. Children under 12 are free every day when accompanied by an adult, and there is a free shuttle bus between the show and the parking lot at Easton’s Beach. For more information including a list of boating seminars, visit newportboatshow.com.
For tips to taking your own boat to the shows, reference Cruise to the Newport International Boat Show.
Newport Brokerage Boat Show
September 11 – 14 at Newport Shipyard, Newport, RI
The Newport Brokerage Boat Show, which runs concurrently with the Newport International Boat Show, is the largest in-water display of quality brokerage yachts in the U.S. More than 100 sail and power yachts from 40 to 140 feet from over 30 brokerage firms will be on display. Admission to this show is complimentary, and you can take a water shuttle to the International Boat Show (where you’ll need to purchase a ticket for admission). For more information including a list of boats, log onto brokerageboatshow.com.
39th Annual Progressive Norwalk Boat Show
September 18 – 21 at Norwalk Cove Marina, Norwalk, CT
The Northeast’s most popular boat show has something for everyone, whether you’re a sailor or a powerboater. Highlights include free presentations at Fred’s Shed Interactive Learning Center, where you can learn about keeping your boat “shipshape,” basic fiberglass repair and maintenance, changing a water pump, and going one-on-one with a service technician. Discover Boating is hosting several hands-on powerboating workshops at the show, covering such topics as basic docking and fundamental close quarters maneuvering skills, advanced docking skills, open water boat handling and safety, and anchoring and multi-vessel rafting. Space is limited and pre-registration is recommended. Sign up at boatshownorwalk.com/attendees/features/features.aspx.
Whether you’re a new paddler or looking for the latest gear and techniques, don’t miss PaddlePalooza. Presented by Downunder, PaddlePalooza comprises free kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) demos on the dock, private SUP lessons by appointment, and Kids SUP Fun at 11 am and 3:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday (ages 10 and up; free). The Annapolis School of Seamanship is offering free 30-minute Boating Education sessions on such topics as diesel engine basics, GPS navigation, and line handling techniques.
The six-time World Champion Miss GEICO Racing Team will introduce their newest offshore racing boat. Miss GEICO is a 50-foot Victory catamaran. Powered by 1075 Mercury racing engines, she has a top speed of 170mph. Antique boat aficionados won’t want to miss Miss Daisy, a 19-foot Chris Craft Capri speedboat, crafted in mahogany in 1958. Maritime musician Eric Stone will be performing from 11 am – 6 pm daily, playing his unique blend of rock, pop and country inspired by the tropics and his love of the water.
Show hours are 10 am to 6 pm daily. Adult tickets are $15, and children 15 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. For more information including seminar and special event schedules, visit BoatShowNorwalk.com.
45th Annual United States Sailboat Show
October 9 – 13 at City Dock, Annapolis, MD
The nation’s oldest and largest in-water boat show is where many new sailboats make their international debut. Among the hundreds of sailboats of all sizes and types on display, the popular Multihull Lagoon is a unique opportunity to peruse the largest multihull collection in the world – 45 cats and tris strong and growing.
Several free seminars for novices and experienced sailors alike will be presented by Cruising World and Chesapeake Bay magazines. New for 2014 is the Annapolis Sailboat Brokerage Show. Running concurrently with the U.S. Sailboat Show, this inaugural event is an opportunity for find the best for less.
Show hours are 10 am – 6pm Thursday (VIP Day), 10 am – 6:30 pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and 10 am – 5 pm Monday. All tickets are $35 on Thursday, and adult tickets are $18 on Friday through Monday. Tickets for children ages 7 – 12 are $5, and kids 6 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. For more information, visit usboat.com/us-sailboat-show/home.
43rd Annual United States Powerboat Show
October 16 – 19 at City Dock, Annapolis, MD
The world’s oldest and largest in-water powerboat show has everything from luxurious motor yachts and trawlers to high-performance boats and offshore fishing machines. Attendees can see and board family cruisers, center consoles and inflatables, as well as the largest power catamaran section in the world. There’s also a vast exhibition of marine equipment, electronics, accessories, gear and related services including boating instruction, rentals, insurance firms and lending institutions.
Take the Wheel, an innovative seminar program presented by The Annapolis School of Seamanship, is a day-long educational package providing both “classroom” seminars and two introductory rides on one of four major styles of powerboats: semi-displacement trawler, express cruiser, sportfish, and downeast cruiser. In addition to the hundreds of new boats on display, this show includes the 2nd Annual Powerboat Brokerage Show.
Show hours are 10 am – 6pm Thursday (VIP Day), 10 am – 6:30 pm Friday and Saturday, and 10 am – 5 pm Sunday. All tickets are $35 on Thursday, and adult tickets are $18 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Children’s tickets are $5 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and kids 6 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. For more information, visit usboat.com/us-powerboat-show/home.
