The Ft Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) got off to a rainy start yesterday as Hurricane Sandy sent winds and squalls through the docked yachts and booths. Organisers sent out a statement yesterday saying that the show would open as scheduled at 10:00 am EST on Friday.
Sandy, which was downgraded to a tropical storm, is responsible for the deaths of 21 people in the Caribbean. The storm ripped through the Bahamas on Wednesday, and is headed to the southeastern US coast.
Although Sandy’s centre is expected to remain offshore, heavy rain and winds have pushed into parts of the Florida peninsula and winds are expected to become larger with time, affecting much of the southeast US coast during the next days.
“After careful consideration of all available weather forecasts for tomorrow, Show Management has made the decision to open the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show as scheduled at 10am,” says a statement released yesterday. “Show organisers will continue to carefully monitor the weather tonight and tomorrow and, should the conditions change, are prepared to take appropriate action."
Several exhibitors canceled events scheduled for Friday adn during the weekend.
For show updates, visit facebook.com/fortlauderdaleboatshow.