Mumbai international boat show begins

Mumbai, Feb 22 (UNI) The first ever Mumbai International Boat Show showcasing sail boats, kayaks, ski boats, motor boats and luxury yachts from the world's leading international brands like Nautors Swan, Azimut, Beneteau, Searay, Feretti and Sunseeker began here today.

With this, the metropolis has joined its sister waterfront cities Cannes, Sydney, Miami and London.

The International Boat Show introduces discerning Indians to see a whole new luxury lifestyle on the water.

Also on display are boat engines, water sports equipment and luxury boat accessories including fashion wear on the water.

The Boat Show, being held at the MMRDA Grounds, Bandra-Kurla Complex in subarban Bandra heralds the arrival of leisure boating in India and signifies the maturity of the Indian economy and the powerful purchasing power of its lifestyle savvy consumers, a release by Mumbai Film Festival said here.

The event is being held in three parts with the main event at the sprawling exhibition grounds of Bandra-Kurla Complex, the new business hub of Mumbai's mandarins.

The event, which is going to become an annual event, will include the first ever International Business to Business Conference on Leisure boating in Mumbai, sponsored by the Grand Hyatt, the hospitality partner of the show, the release added.

Eminent Indian and international personalities, associated with boating like Maharashtra Government Chief Secretary D K Sankaran, Admiral S Mehta, International Sailing Federation president Goran Peterson, Nick Hopkinson of IBI, Rob Stevens, Chairperson, British Marine Federation and Paul Strzelecki, CEO, Henri Lloyd are attending the show.

''India is the last major potential leisure boating market in the world and there is enormous scope for the show with the growing level of disposable income and increasing interest in leisure pursuits in India. A new generation of wealthy Indians are turning their heads from buying top of the line luxury cars to owning private yachts,'' Dr Malav Shroff, Director, the Mumbai International Boat Show, said.

UNI