The Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show opens on February 11 and promises to be a city-wide boating extravaganza. There are plenty of reasons to jet to Miami in February not the least being the chance to climb aboard hundreds of new boats, sail and power.
A broker friend of mine told me a while ago that 75 percent of the new cruising sailboats sold in the last few years are multihulls with catamarans ruling the market. So, it will be no surprise that the first big American boat show of the year’s sailing displays will be filled with mostly multihulls and there will be several interesting new designs to pore over.
The sailing section of the show has been moved around Maimi over the years and this year the Sailor’s Cove is combined with the mega yacht section of the show in the IGY Haven Grand Marina on Watson Island. Note that you have to buy tickets in advance through the show’s website.
All of the major cat builders will have new or relatively new models in Miami. Aquila, which is the world’s leading power cat builder, is bringing their new sailing cat, the innovative Aquila 50. This thoroughly modern new design is aimed at family cruisers who want to sail far and wide.
This joins two other new cats in the 50-foot range, the new Leopard 52 and the Windelo 54. The Leopard 52 is also The Moorings 5200 for the charter market. Leopards are built in Cape Town, South Africa and are know as highly capable, durable and strongly built cruisers with fixed keels and cruiser friendly rigs.
The new Windelo 54 is a technical marvel with a tall performance rig, dagger boards and innovative electric or hybrid diesel-electric propulsion systems. Windelo cats are represented in America by Just Catamarans of Florida.
Bali Cats will have their new 4.6 and 5.2 on display at the show. Bali specializes on designs that are brimming with outdoor lounging areas and close connections with the water. The flybridges are huge and offer a full outdoor salon for sunning, eating and sundowners.
It is interesting that Leopard, Fountain-Pajot and Excess are all introducing boats in the 40-foot range for the more entry level market. The Lagoon 38 is replacing the venerable 3800 which may be the most popular cruising cat ever built. The French builder has kept all that made the original special while upgrading the design and rig to modern standard.
The Excess 13, a sister brand to Lagoon, has their new 13 which is the epitome of the “sport cruising” theme that drove the founding of the company. Aimed and younger cruisers who are into water sports, the 13 is a spritely performer with a indoor-outdoor accommodation plan.
Fountain Pajot will display their new 41 and 44 which are making a world of all the major boat shows. The boats bear all of the FP DNA for fine design and construction, spacious living areas and easy sailing. The French builder has introduced the boats to build their full line and provide an entry level for new cruisers.
Only a week away, the 2026 Miami show is sure to be a hit and the Sailor’s Cove section has enough to keep cruisers busy for days.
