40th Newport Boat Show Held April 18-21

Byline: The Log Staff

40th Newport Boat Show Held April 18-21

NEWPORT BEACH — A lot has happened since the very first Newport Boat Show opened at Lido Marina Village in 1973.

Back then, Richard Nixon was in the White House. A Middle East oil embargo had brought on a U.S. gasoline shortage and there were long lines at filling stations. “All in the Family” was the Number 1 television show in the country. And “The Sting,” with Robert Redford and Paul Newman, won the Academy Award for best motion picture.

In spring of 1973, the inaugural Newport Boat Show presented 40 to 50 boats in the water, instead of inside a convention center hall — something new for Southern California — and it drew crowds. People came from throughout the West to board and compare new and brokerage sailboats and powerboats, at a brand-new marina.

This year’s 40th annual Newport Boat Show — set for April 18-21 at Lido Marina Village — will showcase more than 200 boats in the water, making it the largest show of its kind on the entire West Coast. There will be scores of brand-new models, along with ocean-tested yachts that come already outfitted with just about every cutting-edge amenity imaginable. And show-goers will find a wide array of key boating services, marine electronics, engines, boating gear, apparel and accessories, too.

Show-goers will find a remarkable array of yachts, including some of the largest and most luxurious vessels in show history. Among the largest yachts scheduled to appear are the 140-foot custom expedition motoryacht Leightstar, the Flagship 122 Shogun and the 107-foot custom motoryacht Shana.

Other standout yachts will include a 90-foot Ocean Alexander, an 87-foot Johnson, an 85-foot Azimut, an 83-foot Fairmile, an 82-foot Horizon, an 82-foot San Lorenzo, an 80-foot Ocean Alexander and a 76-foot Offshore. And show-goers will find scores of brand-new boats and brokerage vessels in the 35- to 65-foot range, too.

Whether you’re looking for a luxurious motoryacht, a long-range cruising trawler,  a serious sportfisher, a sleek sailboat, a speedy sportyacht or a family cruiser, you’ll find it here.

This year’s show will be in the same location as the 1973 event. And since the beginning, the show has been produced by the Duncan McIntosh Co.

Show producer Duncan McIntosh invites everyone to “Come celebrate with us, as we mark four decades of presenting the best of boating in the West.”

Show hours are noon-7 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $15 (credit cards accepted) for adults and free for children 12 and younger. Free offsite parking and continuous shuttle service will be available — and a courtesy guest dock will be available for vessels up to 21 feet.

For more information, call (949) 757-5959 or visit newportinwaterboatshow.com.

Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *