Organizers expected more than 2 billion baht (approx. US$60 million) of trade to be generated by the show while supporting the government's policy to make Thailand the “Marina Hub of ASEAN”

T he sixth edition of the Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show opened its doors to the public for a four-day festival of the boating lifestyle. Held 23 – 26 November at Ocean Marina Yacht Club, HE Mrs. Kobkarn Watta-navrangkul, Thailand's Minister for Tourism and Sport presided over the Opening Ceremony. This year’s show featured a strong in-water display of global yacht brands and Thai built boats (pleasure and commercial), as well as a diverse range of onshore exhibitors.

“We had an exciting line-up of exhibitors at this year's Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show ranging from day boats to luxury superyachts as well as marine products and services, luxury properties and much more. The four-day festival has something for everyone with pop-up restaurants along the marina front and onshore activities for kids,” said Mr. Napong Paripontpochanapisuti, Acting Deputy Managing Director, Residential Business, Ocean Property Co. Ltd., organisers of the Ocean Marina Patta-ya Boat Show.

Boat Show.Kicking off the Asian boat show season, more than 6,000 people t visited the 20,375 sqm of onshore and in-water exhibition space at the Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show. A multi-billion baht line-up of boats and businesses showcased everything from small day boats to superyachts, marine products and services, luxury automobiles and property, and all manner of marine gadgets and water toys. Highlights included experiential activities for visitors and in-water demonstrations as well as free daily yacht cruises.

Organizers expected more than two billion baht (approx. US$60 million) of trade to be generated by the show while supporting the government's policy to make Thailand the “Marina Hub of ASEAN” and showcase the marine leisure credentials – onshore and off – of the Gulf of Thailand.

“The goal of the show is to expose more Thais to the leisure marine lifestyle, and to show them how much fun they can have on the water, as well as showcase the marine products and services in the Gulf of Thailand, and the region's stunning cruising grounds, to internation-al visitors” said, Mr. Scott Finsten, Harbour Master of Ocean Marina Yacht Club, home of the Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show.

Visitors come from as far as Europe and all over Asia to visit the show, that is now ear-marked as a ‘must-attend’ event in the latter part of November every year. “We are very pleased at how well the show has been received and grown from year-to-year,” said Mr. Finsten.

Just a 90-minute drive from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and half that time from nearby U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport, Ocean Marina Yacht Club is the gateway to the Gulf of Thai-land and the magical Koh Chang archipelago nearby where islands such as Koh Mak and Koh Kood provide sailors with many stunning anchor-ages and cruising sites to explore.

“We expect the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project to drive economic growth on the East Coast and Pattaya in particular is well positioned to support and benefit from this growth, both off and onshore,” added Mr. Napong.

“While, we would always like to get more people to the Show, we very happy with the quality of the visitors this year” added, Mr. Finsten.. “Many serious leads were generated, and people weren’t just here to look around, they were here to buy boats, marine products and accesso-ries as well as a number of the lifestyle items that were on display.”

Ewa Stachurska, Simpson Marine’s Group Marketing Manager, stressed how important it was hold an annual boat show in Pattaya, hoping that the OMPBS would continue to grow and develop and increase brand awareness in the area.

Berne Lamprecht, the MD of ASAP Marine, an on-land exhibitor, was happy with the lay-out of the show, saying it looked very professional and that the tenting design was very well done. Kazuki Ot-suka, another on-land exhibitor, the MD of Hull Marine, was pleased with the way the products on display were segmented and partitioned.

Visitors enjoyed both the on-and-off-water displays. There were plenty of gadgets for visitors to gawk at: Jetsurf Thailand (motorized surfboards), Seabob Base (underwater scooters), Route 66 Motorcy-cles (Harley Davidsons), Motorhomes & Caravans Thailand, Falcon

Motorsport (Husqvarna dirt bikes), BVZ (Sunbrella & Suniture). and Triumph motorcycles were all on display as was SEARA Sports fitness equipment.

Marine products were well represented with Liqui Molly, Hull Marine, Sika Thailand, Rain X Thailand, Watchara Marine, Gateway Equipment, C. Shamongkol Engineering, Lalizas Thailand, AWLGRIP & International Paint, Livart Marina, and ASAP Marine all displaying their wares.

VR Union, Swell Pro Thailand, Ocean Marina Yacht Club and Lux Inc all had booths at the show as did BUPA Health Insurance, Man-dara Furniture, Brighton College International School Bangkok, the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, Ocean Property & Dot Property.

MGC (an Azimut 86S & an Atlantis 43), Princess (Princess 56 & 42) and Simpson Marine (a Monte Carlo 86, a Lagoon 421, plus an Oceanis 38.1) highlighted the boats in the water. Pinnacle Marine had a couple Montereys on the land (an inboard and an outboard) and a couple in the water (an Elan E5 and an Azimut). Choknamchai had an aluminum passenger ferry on display (SakunC), and Floeth Yacht had a FL45 Catamaran on the water. Aquila showcased its stunning 44 and the Bangkok-based owner was there to enlighten prospective buyers on how much he was enjoying his boat. And SeaSearcher Boats made the trip up from Cleveland, in Queensland, Australia, to display both on the land and in the water.

There was also free daily yacht cruises to give people a taste of life out on the water.

When it came to food and beverage, Pendarosa, B-Delicious, Made in Italy, Miami Bar, and Annette itim Tuk Tuk all combined with Amber Fine Food & Grapes, Indian by Nature, Movenpick Pattaya, and Cape Dara Resort to quench thirsts and satiate the appetites of the Show patrons.

Peter Jacops of Disabled Sailing had a booth at the Show and at the auction on Saturday night Harbour Master Scott Finsten did such a good job as auctioneer that he raised Bt40,000 for disabled sailing, which will allow Peter to buy the hoist his organization so desperately needs for moving its boats.

For beautiful days of sunshine and blue skies combined to make the 6th OMPBS a great success.

For more informationwebsite: www.oceanmarinapattayaboatshow.com facebook: www.facebook.com/oceanmarinapattayaboatshow