SPOTLIGHT

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SPOTLIGHT Navigating the WATERWAYS

Thousands will flock to the “Yachting Capital of the World” October 27-31 for the sixty-second annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Ahead of the event, which takes place at Bahia Mar Yachting Center and beyond, FLI caught up with Phil Purcell, president and CEO of Marine Industries Association of South Florida, to discuss what not to miss at this year’s five-day spectacle. “Whether you are looking for adventures at the AquaZone or taking in the sights at Superyacht Village, this year’s boat show will have an experience for all to enjoy,” says Purcell. (flibs.com

Discover some new debuts at FLIBS like the Azimut Grande Trideck (above).

1World Debuts “We always have world debuts of boats that manufacturers produce,” shares

Purcell. While there will be more than 1,000 boats on view, make sure to slow down and admire a handful such as Azimut’s 38 Metri Trideck,

Viking Yachts’ 46 Valhalla, Pursuit’s S 428, and Riviera Yachts’ 645 SUV. For more head-turners, turn to page 48. 2 Go VIP What is better than attending FLIBS? Attending with access to the Winward VIP Club, an elevated experience inclusive of a premium open bar, gourmet food, and a posh place to post up—with air-conditioning! As a bonus, the club offers boat show goers a concierge who can book private appointments with yacht brokers and plan your day.

3Must-See Exhibitor Whatever you do, make your way over to the boat show’s largest attraction: AquaZone. This exhibition is located at the Sailfish avilion outside the convention center and features a 40,000-gallon freshwater pool, which will host in-water demos, contests, and 23 visiting water sports and innovative marine exhibitors such as Seabob, Zapata Flyboards, Radinn, Freestyle Slides, and more.

Q&A Stay in MOCEAN

Brothers Brad and Warren Techow came up with the idea for the app Mocean (pronounced “motion”) five years ago. Hailing from the small town of Sedgefield, South Africa, the now U.S.-based creators say it was Facebook landing in the news for exploiting user data that led them to create a platform for yachting professionals. “We decided to focus our full attention on creating an alternative to Facebook that would allow yachting professionals to connect with each other both socially and professionally, seek and share advice, and stay informed on the industry around them,” says Warren, who lives in Fort Lauderdale. Here, he breaks down what Mocean is and how it works. (themoceancommunity.com)

FLI: What is Mocean capable of?

Warren: You can share and discover discover who’s around you for networking purposes, seek advice and answer questions, discover upcoming events, and send and receive messages to other members.

Tell us about your weekly meetups.

We host a bi-monthly stand-up paddleboarding event that focuses on cleaning up Fort Lauderdale’s waterways; we co-host a beach cleanup once a month with Twenty6North Productions, Spartan Fishing Company, and B Ocean; and we have a bi-monthly meetup at Sistrunk Marketplace for drinks and socializing.