As man has to know his limitations, as the expression from the fame Dirty Harry movie-franchise goes, and I know mine when it comes to boats shows in general and the annual Miami version in particular. I can stomach just one day strolling the Miami Convention Center floor before my feet start protesting their carpet-over-concrete beat-down and my vision blurs from abysmal indoor lighting.
So I limit my convention-center misery, also known as, “Is it over yet?” day, to opening day. That day also is known as “VIP day.” Though it never makes me feel “VI,” I do appreciate the lack of “P” who show up that day. Crowds make me itchy, so I enjoy the lack of them in the convention center on opening day.
One good more reason to schedule VIP day as convention-center day? Nor-Tech throws a fine party at its display when the show closes for the evening. If I can only make it to the Nor-Tech party, I tell myself as the afternoon wears on and my patience thins, I’ll be OK.
A moment of self-reflection and candor: I know I have a dream job. I count my good fortune every day. But there is nothing dreamy about “covering” a boat show, especially when you know almost always know what’s coming, which is, after all, your job.
Thursday, the second day of the Miami show, is my “get some fresh air and endure some choice South Florida traffic” day. By shuttle or far more likely Uber—again, crowds are not my jam—I head across Biscayne Bay for One Herald Plaza, which both indoor displays and a nice assortment of boats and the docks behind them.
Boats in the water “show” far better than boats in a convention center. That’s a fact.
But they show even better when they’re actually running and you can ride in them. That isn’t an option at the One Herald Plaza location but it is if you make an appointment with one of the exhibitors at the Mercury Racing-organized demo experience at Grove Harbour in Coconut Grove. Though the location is a bit of a hike for show-goers staying in South Beach, the trip is more than worth the effort.
On Friday, I hide from anything officially show-related. I stay put and work by the pool at the Sagamore Hotel, the host venue for the annual Florida Powerboat Club/Speed On The Water Miami Show Bash presented by Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats that evening.
And when the sun rises Friday morning, I escape.