At the 15th Moscow International Boat Show spring 2008, the worldwide trend towards bigger and bigger yachts was obvious even to the naked eye.
Most of the distributors, dealers and companies were represented not by actual yachts but by stands. Trendsetters such as Ferretti, Azimut or Princess this time didn't bring over "live" vessels. The biggest stand - and the widest range of models – was introduced by Burevestnik Group which by now represents no less than 15 various yachting brands ranging from American Avon RIBs to Italian ISA megayachts. But the biggest "live" yacht at the show was the Polish Galeon 530, brought to Russia for the first time ever.
On the other hand, the show was visited by heads of prominent shipyards personally. Giancarlo Rizzardi, head of InRizzardi group, came for the second time - this time with son Domenico. It's the group's third MIBS; last year the company acquired three new brands and now owns Rizzardi, Italcraft, Posillipo, Diano, Cantieri Parisi, Bat and Santa Yachts shipyards. That means that InRizzardi offers just about the full range of boats from tenders to steel-hull megayachts. Next year the group is planning to bring really big yachts to Moscow, taking an area just a little smaller than it does at the Monaco Boat Show - about 800 sq.m.
Jim Ruffolo, president of American Burger Boat Company - the biggest in the Western hemisphere - came to MIBS for the first time though he knows Russian clients rather well: the shipyard's last two models, Areti I and Areti II, were designed for a Russian customer.
This spring's MIBS was the first for Italian Fashion Yachts (the shipyard's products were represented at the stand). The company president Fabrizio Politi came over personally. The Fashion Yachts' model line is quite big, covering practically all sizes: 16.8-metre tender, open yachts Fashion 55, Fashion 68, Fashion 72 Classic, Fashion 88 and Fashion 166, flying bridge models Fashion 35mFly and Fashion 44mFly and 52- and 60-metre superyachts.
Talking about superyachts, one can't help mentioning domestic manufacturers who presented large-size vessels this year. A new Timmerman 40 yacht is scheduled to be launched in May, to sail to the Mediterranean and represent Russia in the autumn at the Cannes and Monaco boat shows. Laky Verf company presented its new 45 M project - a steel-and-aluminium motor yacht. The boat was designed by Van Oossanen & Associates bv and Omega Architects. She will be built under supervision of Bureau Veritas, in line with the international MCA standards.
As to actual yachts on display at the Crocus Expo pavilions, one should mention the Dutch Linssen 410 from Prestige Yachts and Elling E3 from Kater Life. Elling E3 is a semi-planing yacht; good fuel efficiency (1 litre per mile at 7 knots) and opportunity to install extra fuel tanks ensure good range, allowing to sail in areas with poor infrastructure ashore and even cross oceans.
This time - probably it was the first-ever for MIBS - there wasn't a single "live" sailing yacht at the show, though the range of models on offer got much bigger. Famous names such as Beneteau, Jeanneau, Bavaria, Shipman cruising and racing yachts, the Gernan Hanse and the British Feeling sailing yachts, were supplemented by newcomers. Italian de luxe Grand Soleil yachts offer excellent speed, and not at the cost of onboard comforts. The Dutch Van Dam Nordia shipyard has two lines of boats - motor and sailing ones. Finnish Nautor Swan sailing yachts start at 42 feet, while the biggest model is 100 feet long. Polish Delphia sailing yachts also have made it to the Russian market. The shipyard offers a line of 6 models, the biggest is New Delphia 46. Delphia 33 won the Foreign Yacht of the Year 2008 award of the American Cruising World magazine.
As to catamarans, the show participants included Lagoon, Nautitech and Privelege. The French Nahema company which builds sailing catamarans beginning at 120 feet came to the MIBS for the first time.
There were two large stands of Japanese engine and jet-ski manufacturers Honda and Yamaha. The line of aquabikes on offer was extended by the Italian HSR Benelli - maker of scooters, jet-skis and various other "water toys". The company's stand presented the latest models in the 2008 line.
The next Moscow International Boat Show will take place at the Royal Yacht Club between September 4-7, 2008.
Sergei Kostin
Photoreport
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