50th Vancouver Boat Show Sees Bigger Crowds, Positive Mood

Vancouver International Boat Show marked its 50th anniversary February 8-12 with increased attendance, enthusiastic crowds, and strong boat and equipment sales. The show ran indoors at newly renovated BC Place Stadium and afloat at Granville Island Marina, its first year at the latter venue.

Show organizers reported total attendance of nearly 33,000 – up six percent from 2011. Despite showery weather, more than 3,900 show-goers crowded the Granville Island docks on Saturday – a one-day record for the in-water show.

There was a distinctly positive buzz among attendees and exhibitors right from the opening of the show, likely reflecting renewed consumer confidence and pent-up demand, said show manager Eric Nichol. Many exhibitors reported “dramatic” year-over-year increases in sales, he added.
 


Neptunus 650F Review

Neptunus 650F 400

By Andy Adams

Over the years Canadian Yachting has had the pleasure of doing several boat review articles on new Neptunus models and we are familiar with the qualities that Neptunus is famous for. They have all been exceptional yachts, but this is the one I would most want to own myself. It’s a personal choice and a matter of taste as to whether you would prefer to have a sedan express model or a flybridge but in my opinion, the flybridge layout offers some wonderful attributes.

We met with Neptunus Managing Director Jan Willem De Jong this past fall to take the new Neptunus 650F out in Lake Ontario. 

Read More


Destinations

The Other Virgin Islands

Sunset off St John

By Mark Stevens

I was first seduced by the United States Virgin Islands during a ferry ride from St. Thomas to Tortola to begin one of our earliest British Virgin Islands charters nearly twenty years ago.

A perfect sunset off St. John with St. Thomas views for backdrop.

Clearing Pillsbury Sound, surrounded by voluptuous emerald mountains as the ferry sliced through royal blue waters, I was struck by the unspoiled ambiance of St. John, the island gliding past our starboard beam and the irresistible charm of a village called Cruz Bay visible from our quarter stern.

Read More