An impressive collection of some of the world's largest and most luxurious superyachts will be displayed Sept. 14 to 17 at YachtFest San Diego.

"This event is not about the kind of casual yacht enthusiasts that most of us know," says Chuck Nichols, a director of YachtFest San Diego and a veteran of San Diego’s largest sailing event, the America's Cup. "Instead, it’s about international business moguls, industrialists, tycoons and dot.com millionaires and billionaires who, for lack of a better phrase, are guests on their own boats."

An estimated 25 yachts representing owners, charter firms and manufacturers, will be the centerpiece for this festival that organizers hope will become an annual event. The official motto is "Celebrating International Yachting." Pacific SuperYacht Promotions LLC is the event producer.

Valued at in excess of $10 million to $20 million and up, these yachts will be placed on display over a four-day period at the Shelter Island Marina and Island Palms Hotel on Shelter Island.

What this means for San Diego is financial opportunity, or the potential loss of it.

Nichols says an average of $236,000 per year per yacht is spent in boatyards. Each yacht supports five boatyard workers per year and annual expenses can be estimated at 10 percent of hull cost.

Nichols, who was the former San Diego Super Bowl XXXII Host Committee president, also served as America's Cup 95 president and AmericaOne sales director, believes if San Diego doesn’t embrace the industry, it will be an opportunity lost.

"Our neighbors to the north (Marina Del Rey) and on the East Coast have already begun steps to build the slips and facilities for superyachts. Fort Lauderdale risks losing part of an $800 million a year industry. So the word is out — these yachts leave economic benefit in their wake," says Nichols.

YachtFest San Diego will include a wide range of related activities, including an industry trade show, educational seminars for owners and crews, and a variety of social and charitable events.

In addition, a fashion show will feature stunning creations of top international designers and a forum will debut the latest in superyacht trends and interior decor. Crews will be invited to polish their engineering and maintenance skills at special workshops while owners and prospective owners learn about financial, legal and insurance issues. A Career Day will introduce job opportunities for those interested, and other showy items — helicopters, luxury autos, submersibles — will accompany parties and receptions.

Besides Nichols, YachtFest San Diego organizers are some of the Southwest's biggest names in the maritime industry, including:

• David Roscow, managing director of Fraser Yachts.
• Tom Driscoll, owner of Driscoll Boat Works.
• Bill Dysart, staff commodore of Southwestern Yacht Club, president of the Maritime Museum and an admiralty law attorney.
• Richard Bartell, the owner of eight San Diego hotel, restaurant and marina properties.
• The Art Engel family, owner of ship and superyacht repair facilities.
• Sandy Purdon, past chairman of the Port Tenant Association, president of the San Diego International Sports Council, owner of a marina, senior manager for four America's Cup events and staff commodore at the San Diego Yacht Club.

Roscow, who also is chairman of Pacific SuperYacht Promotions, says the festival will not only showcase San Diego as a premier cruising destination for superyachts, but also promises to enhance San Diego’s well-earned reputation as a high-tech yachting center.

"Not since the America's Cup has San Diego’s yachting community been treated to an event of this magnitude," says Roscow. "This will be a world-class festival that celebrates every aspect of international yachting."

A goal of YachtFest is to woo more superyachts to San Diego. Several hundred superyachts larger than 120 feet are now traveling among the world's premier cruising destinations. The industry is booming, with 10 times as many yachts larger than 80 feet being built today than just five years ago, says Nichols.

The average annual income for superyacht owners is $400,000 with a net worth of $4 million.

YachtFest San Diego also is expected to demonstrate the need for new equipment and facilities in order to provide the necessary services for super-yachts.

The vessels themselves are technological marvels, featuring state of the art navigation, telecommunication and operations control systems. Jim Clark, founder of Netscape, refers to his yacht (Hyperion) this way: "I can run my boat from my office or my office from my boat."

In addition to the functional systems, these yachts are frequently floating art museums containing treasures valued in the millions.

Dates: Sept. 14-17, 2000.
Hours: Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Site: Shelter Island Marina and Island Palms Hotel on San Diego’s Shelter Island.
Description: An estimated 20-25 yachts, representing owners, charter firms and manufacturers, will be the centerpiece for YachtFest San Diego on Sept. 14-17. The first annual YachtFest San Diego, "Celebrating International Yachting," will be produced by Pacific SuperYacht Promotions.
These yachts, many of which are valued at more than $20 million and contain priceless furnishings and objets d'art, are professionally outfitted and decorated by world-renowned yacht designers. Hailing from jet-set ports of call from around the world, the yachts will be placed on display over a four-day period. The event will include a wide range of related activities, including an industry trade show, educational seminars for owners and crews and a variety of social and charitable events.
Participants: Many of the yachting industry's top manufacturers, builders, brokers, designers, decorators and charter management firms have requested applications for exhibitor and marina space.
Admission: $75 in advance; $85 at door. To reserve advance tickets, call (858) 481-7411 or visit the Website: www.yachtfest.com.
Participating Charity: National Multiple Sclerosis Society, San Diego area chapter.
Educational Seminars: The San Diego chapter of the Marine Technology Society will conduct seminars on topics including design advances, historical treasure hunting, high-seas piracy and security issues and the latest in the SuperYacht industry's recreational products.