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Expulsion of berth owners and their boats for boat shows...

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by airship, Sep 14, 2006.

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  1. airship, Sep 14, 2006
    #1
    airship

    airship Senior Member

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    French Riviera...
    The 29th Cannes International Boat and Yacht Show opened its doors on the 13th September 2006. For the first time ever, the organisers have also managed to obtain a whole swathe of berths in the neighbouring port of Port Pierre Canto in order to display mainly used yachts for sale on behalf of agencies such as Campers & Nicholsons etc.

    Those yacht owners who have an all-year berth in the port suddenly find their berths "confiscated" and their playthings at the mercy of wind and waves anchored out in the bay of Cannes. The current weather is inclement, some forecasts warn of F7 winds and resulting sea-state in the bay later today/tomorrow. I appreciate the difficulties of hosting boat shows, but is this sorry situation reasonable?

    If a calamity occurs, will they be able to sue the city of Cannes (who now manage the marina) for all that they're worth...?!
  2. Loren Schweizer, Sep 14, 2006
    #2
    Loren Schweizer

    Loren Schweizer YF Associate Writer

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    For the last umpteenth years, The Fort Lauderdale Boat Show as well as the Miami Boat Show acquire dockage for show boats by kicking out the 'regulars' in various high-end marinas for the period of the shows, plus move in/move out--- about a month.
    Bahia Mar, Pier 66, Biscayne Bay Marriott, Hall of Fame Marina, and others.

    I believe this is in the lease paperwork one signs when renting an annual slip.

    Reasonable and common... how else to put on a boat show, airship, so that you'll buy a boat?
  3. airship, Sep 15, 2006
    #3
    airship

    airship Senior Member

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    Location:
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    When Port Canto was built in 1965, it was reportedly one of the biggest privately-financed marinas in the world. If I have my facts straight, the French government at the time encouraged the building of many new privately-financed marinas on the basis that buyers would own 50 year leaseholds on berths before "reverting" to government ownership.

    In the case of Port Canto, the city of Cannes "took over" the management of the port prematurely in 2002 (instead of 2015) citing "problems with the then private management company". Port Canto has never before now been used to host boat shows, presumably because the berths are or were privately-owned.

    I accept it's "common practice" that marinas are used for boatshows, there wouldn't be many "in-water" shows otherwise. And of course, if it's in the small print of the contract when the leaseholder originally acquired their berths, then it's undoubtedly legal.

    All I'm saying is that it can't be very pleasant for permanent leaseholders to be booted out at a time when berths elsewhere are scarce. With the Monaco boat show due to open on the 20th, they can't even go there...

    You'd think marina operators would have a little more consideration for their customers wouldn't you? Or perhaps the "incentives" from boat show organisers are too important to ignore...?!
  4. Ken Bracewell, Sep 15, 2006
    #4
    Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

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    I understand the marina take-over concept and appreciate it. But as a point of conversation; the Palm Beach Boat Show in FLorida is held at a location which has NO marina for the rest of the year. They bring the boats in and build the docks around them.
  5. CaptTom, Sep 15, 2006
    #5
    CaptTom

    CaptTom Senior Member

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    Last winter I ran a boat that stayed at Pier 66. I had discussions with the dockmaster on several things, one being a year-long contract if the owner decided to keep the boat in FL for the summer. I was told that for Pier 66 (and I assume all the other marinas owned by the company that owns Pier 66) the regulars are asked to leave for a period of about 2-4 weeks (depending on marina), and that it's in the contract. But, the dockmaster said they do work with you and try to find another slip, even if they are up the New River at some of those marinas. It is a bit of a hassle, but then again the marinas down here are nowhere full, so you're not talking about hundreds of yachts (I was at Pier 66 the other day and it was less than 1/3 full, with many of those yachts on display for sale). Many of the winter tenants don't come in until after the show.
    Capt Tom