More than 1.2 billion baht in yachts and luxury watercraft were showcased when the Ocean Marina Boat Show sailed into Pattaya.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome opened the Nov. 27-30 show with harbormaster Scott Finsten, Wilaiwan Thawitsri, deputy governor for tourism products and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and Ocean Property Group executives.
The largest boat displayed was the 115-foot Phatsara yacht, built in Thailand. The Heliotrope 65, the world’s first solar-assisted luxury catamaran, which also was built in Thailand by the Bakri Cono shipyard, was also on display.
(L to R) Supatra Angkawinijwong, Deputy Managing Director, Ocean Property Group; Wilaiwan Thawitsri, Deputy Governor, Tourism Authority of Thailand; Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome; Scott Finsten, Harbor Master, Ocean Marina; and Nusara Assakul, Chairman, Ocean Property Group, push the button to officially open the event.
In all, more than 105 exhibitors displayed their products at the 14,000 sq. meter show visited by more than 6,000 people over the four days.
Leading boat brands participating included Princess Yachts, Azimut Yachts, Cranchi, Beneteau, CNB Yachts, Lagoon Catamarans, Monte Carlo Yachts, Carver Yachts, Century Boat, Boston Whaler, and more. Besides boats, there also were luxury cars – including Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, Bentley, Porsche and Ducati – rental yachts, water-sports equipment, properties and jewelry.
The second day saw a seminar on “green boating” with Raphael Domjan, CEO of Solar Stratos SA speaking about first solar-powered around-the-world tour in 2012.
Domjan said using solar energy in an economic downturn saves money and preserves the environment, even though it has a high initial cost.
Solar energy cannot be used with all sizes of boats and can only be used with boats no larger than 30 meters, he noted. It is a myth that solar-assisted boats are not powerful, as new technologies help them store sufficient energy and are less expensive to operate.
