In the shadow of the looming mid-term elections, the 59th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show once again, showcased the yachting industry like-no-other. Spanning six miles of floating docks and playing host to over 1200 exhibitors, the American yachting capital came to life last week; the Venetian-like waterways of Fort Lauderdale an idyllic location for such a showcase.

While the first days of FLIBS began slowly, those travelling from across the globe (from 52 countries to be specific) eventually found their way to Bahia Mar marina, and before long, potential buyers began to walk the show alongside determined brokers, viewing their pick of the 1500 boats on display.

Those lucky enough to do-so stepped on board Abeking & Rasmussen’s 74.5m Elandass; a masterpiece of modern yacht design and a testament to its Dutch build. The talk of the show, from the dock her dark exterior appeared a mystery waiting to be discovered while passers-by watched in awe. Those taking the water-shuttle could catch a glimpse of her full exterior profile with carefully engineered lines and glass-work showcasing a true marvel of this year’s show.

At Pier 66, a short boat-trip away, the three largest vessels avoided the bustle of the show’s busy center. Another recentl Abeking & Rasmussen, Aviva (98m) showed-off her size berthed next to fellow Top 100 yachts Areti (85m) and Phoenix II (90m) while another newcomer, 63-metre Utopia IV stood her ground in the center of the show.