The 69th annual Miami International Boat Show – February 11-15

World’s Premiere Boating Event Cruises Into Miami February 11-15, 2010 Showcasing Best of the Boating Industry 2010 Miami Int’l Boat Show & Strictly Sail Miami makes waves with thousands of boats, deals, & new attractions. 

Miami, Fla. – February 2010 – The 69th annual Miami International Boat Show & Strictly Sail Miami cruises into town February 11-15, 2010, where new and experienced boaters from throughout the world can gather in one place to view, board and buy the best the boating industry has to offer. With special deals on everything from sportfishers, sailboats and mega-yachts to engines and the newest electronics, the 2010 Miami International Boat Show is the ideal place to shop, save and enhance every boating experience. 

The five-day event draws tens of thousands of visitors each year and hosts more than 2,000 exhibitors from around the world, filling the Miami Beach Convention Center and Sea Isle Marina & Yachting Center with thousands of boats and hundreds of booths showcasing the latest gear and accessories. And for the first time ever, powerboat and sailing enthusiasts can gather in one location to see the best of everything as Strictly Sail Miami moves from its traditional venue at Miamarina at Bayside to Sea Isle Marina & Yachting Center, joining forces with the Miami International Boat Show’s powerboat in-water location. 

“There is no other boating event in the world that provides boating enthusiasts with the opportunity to shop the best and biggest selection of boats and accessories at unprecedented deals,” noted Cathy Rick-Joule, vice president of southern shows. “With thousands of products to choose from in one of the best boating destinations, the Miami International Boat Show is THE destination to find out why life is better with a boat, continuing to give boaters something for every lifestyle and budget.” 

In addition to the vast selection of boats and marine accessories for sale, there are plenty of activities boaters of all ages can enjoy throughout the five-day event. 

Features of the 2010 Miami International Boat Show include: 

· Affordability Pavilion – Boating is more budget-friendly than you may think! The Affordability Pavilion is returning for the 2nd year, showcasing boats for those with smaller budgets, highlighting pricing options and displaying boats that visitors can finance for $250 or less. 

· Big Game Room – The Big Game Room is celebrating its 7th year as the one-stop marketplace for every angler. With new exhibits, the latest fishing products and destinations, activities and daily seminars from the pros, the Big Game Room is a must. Have a drink at the Marlin Bar while waiting for the next educational seminar to begin or take a walk over to the interactive Bait Rigging Station, where visitors can improve their rigging techniques. 

· Discover Boating Center – This one-stop resource for new boaters is staffed by experts who can answer any boating question and offer advice on the best course to choosing a boat that’s perfect for your lifestyle and budget. 

· NEW! Expedition Great White: An Evening with Chris Fischer, Expedition Leader – The Miami International Boat Show’s Big Game Room is hosting “An Evening with Chris Fischer,” professional angler and Expedition Leader on National Geographic’s ground-breaking new show, Expedition Great White. Fischer will appear in the Big Game Room on Friday, February 12 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. to talk about the expedition and his experiences getting up close and personal with one of the most dangerous and fascinating creatures on the planet. Visitors will also be able to see a replica of one of the Great White’s caught during the Expedition. Fischer will be available for a Q&A with his audience and an autograph signing after his presentation. 

· NEW! FIRST MATES Course by the U.S. Coast Guard (Saturday, Feb 13 and Sunday, Feb 14 ONLY) – For the first time, the Miami International Boat Show is offering the United States Coast Guard’s FIRST MATES course in the Big Game Room Feb 13 and 14 from 10:15-11:45 a.m. The course will teach what every skipper’s right hand man should understand while underway; topics include boater’s language, basic navigation rules, environmental protection and more.

· NEW! Guy Harvey Artist Pavilion (room 2700) – Boating enthusiasts and art aficionados can meet marine legend Dr. Guy Harvey in the new Guy Harvey Artist Pavilion in addition to shop the largest collection of Guy Harvey artwork, apparel and merchandise ever available at the show. Dr. Guy Harvey is celebrating his 25-year career as a world-renowned artist, photographer, diver and scientist and was recently inducted into the International Game Fish Association Fishing Hall of Fame. 

· Miami Herald Discover Boating Photo Contest – How did you Discover Boating? Sponsored by the Miami Herald, visitors to the show are encouraged to submit their best photos of how they discovered boating for a chance to win an Adirondack Pack Boat and a $500 show shopping spree. Send them to the show office or bring them to the Discover Boating Center at the show. All entries must be received by Saturday, February 13 at 4:00p.m. Visit MiamiBoatShow.com for more details. 

· Miss GEICO – Miss GEICO is back! The world’s fastest offshore racing boat, powered with the same turbine engines that flew missions in the first Gulf War and can reach speeds of more than 185 miles per hour, will dazzle any boating enthusiast with a need for speed. 

· New product introductions, one-of-a-kind innovations – Get an exclusive sneak peek at the newest boats, cutting edge technologies and must-have accessories throughout the show floor as exhibitors from all over the world showcase their latest and greatest. Boat show “must-sees” include the U.S. unveiling of a Mercedes-inspired Cigarette racing boat; the introduction of Al Copeland’s Phenomenon racing boat, a beauty boasting to beat Miss GEICO; the world’s only amphibious boat, SeaLegs; and more. Click here for a sampling of new products that will be featured at the show. 

· NEW! Pre-Show Shopping – The Miami International Boat Show’s newest online offering allows attendees to pre-shop the 2010 show for the greatest deals on the newest boats by visiting MiamiBoatShow.com. Show goers can plan ahead and search boats by brand, model and more, in addition to scheduling dealer appointments onsite or at the dealership.

· SpongeBob SquarePants appearance –Meet Bikini Bottom’s favorite resident! Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob Squarepants is making a special appearance at the show and will be on hand Saturday, February 13 ONLY, to meet and greet fans.

www.miamiboatshow.com