From O Media and Shaghalni, Omar Khalifa comes to us with The Boat Show addressing a rising market in Egypt right in the heart of the Red Sea.

Gouna’s The Boat Show

Every year, millions of power boaters, sailors, and fishermen, together with their friends and family, go to boat shows all over the world, not only for a good time but also to do earnest and generous shopping for the boat that is suitable for them. The Boat Show, the first of its kind, premiered its first show in El Gouna, Red Sea with Omar Khalifa being the organizer and the brains of the whole operation. The founder of O Media and Shaghalni explained that the idea first came for creating an event that addressed something that the existing market lacked, this poses a huge opportunity in a growing market, more marinas are steadily opening all over the country even the ones that already exist are expanding in size; this all gives and proves, in turn, the aggressive expansive market.

“The idea behind the boat show originated from my deep relationship with the sea and boats and anything related with the two and I see that here in Egypt, specifically speaking, in the Red Sea and El Gouna the market is steadily growing. Currently, there are around 600 boats in El Gouna but there was no umbrella that served the idea of buying and selling boats, especially preowned boats. During those past few years with economic crisis, the rise of the COVID pandemic and issues concerning importations it gave a huge boost for local manufacturers.”

A range of power boats, sailboats, yachts, and super yachts from various boat manufacturers were included at the display, in addition to a variety of sporting goods for fans of all water activities on exhibit, including engines, accessories, marine equipment, and instruments. The Arab Marine Industry Association sponsors the exhibition (AMIA). “People were very interested in the show, proving that even though it was not a mass targeted event, a very niche event such as this one that targets a certain class of the social pyramid can also make some noise as we focus on the quality not the quantity. Based on last year’s event, around 60-70% of all boats were sold which is quite a high success. From the potential buyer’s side, I would say that it was pretty beneficial and quite a success being very diverse with the content on show and the people that came were very impressed.”

While the world is becoming increasingly connected and more business is now being conducted remotely, many in the industry believe there is no viable replacement for meeting potential clients and business partners face to face and seeing yachts and products in person - a brochure or online virtual tour just isn't the same. Khalifa explains, “buying a boat is not instantaneous, you find a boat you like, you think about it and take a while to contemplate on it and do your thorough research until you finally decide.” Of course, the Internet is clearly the research tool of choice prior to a dealership or shows visit for those who made boat purchases, and boat shows are one of the primary ways buyers connect with the boat industry for both new and experienced boaters.

Khalifa confesses, “one evident challenge we faced was the fact that it was a dry boat show, the Gouna marinas are all constantly overbooked so we couldn’t suggest having an on-the-water boat show. It was a challenge thinking about how to make it look good while on dry land and in doing so we took the parking area of Gouna’s cultural and conference center. Manufacturers themselves were also skeptical since this was quite a new and fresh concept and did not know how many boats they could potentially sell; they weren’t sure of the number of guests that were expected to show up. I foresee, following the event’s success in 2022, that this year will be a lot bigger and grander than the one before as it will definitely be something we are going to keep building on as years go by.”

More than just a hobby

We've all heard the expression ‘give a man a fish feed him for a day, teach a man to fish feed him for a lifetime.’ Although this was true in the past, fishing has evolved into much more than a means of subsistence. Fishing has evolved into a way to unwind and connect with those around you.

Professional anglers are frequently supported by large sponsors. They compete in regular tournaments, many of which are streamed live online and on mainstream sports networks around the world. Omar Khalifa, a light tackle angler, describes his love for the sport started at an early age and only recently he took it a step further, “it was only until the past ten years or so that I have started doing it competitively, participating in local tournaments. I started to win and climb up the rankings, I had the pleasure of representing Egypt in three world championships, and then by May 2020, I was recognized as the first Egyptian to hold the IGFA world record. I now have a total of eight world records to my name to date.”

Like the sea itself, the shore fascinates us who return to it, the place of our dim ancestral beginnings. In the recurrent rhythms of tides and surf and in the varied life of the tide lines there is the obvious attraction of movement and change and beauty. There is also, I am convinced, a deeper fascination born of inner meaning and significance.

— Rachel Carson, Edge of the Sea

Fishing allows you to slow down, forget about your worries and troubles, and focus on what is happening, whether you're out on a quiet lake early in the morning or at dusk on a busy river. Khalifa explains, “The sport in itself has taught me quite a lot, I learned that being patient is a true virtue that one must possess and that fate plays a huge part in fishing. I’ve lost big fish before and the pain of that loss still hurts to this day. At the same time, God gives you something else that you did not expect; this just teaches acceptance, gratitude and that life is like a roller coaster, you win some and you lose some.”

For many people, this state of concentration and calmness is relaxing, therapeutic, and revitalizing, allowing them to reconnect with nature and rediscover their sense of purpose in life, which is beneficial to their overall health. Witnessing the wind rustling through the trees and the creaking of your boat help to clear your mind of all distractions, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the experience of casting a line and waiting for a big catch, “fishing for me cleanses one’s soul, it is a connection that has nothing to do with whether you catch fish or not; it’s just being out there, rearranging your fishing rods, untying the knots, looking at the rolling waves and the seagulls’ chirping.” 

The sport has never been more accessible thanks to the abundance of information available online and the constant introduction of new tools and technologies to make the lives of anglers easier. The variety of baits, poles, and angling techniques can be a little daunting for those who are new to the sport of fishing.

“I am a self-taught fisherman; reading books, watching YouTube videos and documentaries are all some of the ways I would learn everything I could about the sport. I would even randomly message worldwide professionals, request zoom calls, and ask them technical questions about things that you wouldn’t necessarily find online and that information would help a lot in developing your game here.” Anglers, such as Khalifa, can master their profession much more rapidly because there are so many resources for information available, developing a passion for fishing and having the equipment necessary to make it into a competitive activity. “Fishing is all about drag setting, to catch a fish you need to make sure that you can’t break the line, so we use light lines and that is the most challenging part of fishing if you want to aim for world records. I am a light tackle angler and this segment is very technical so you would ask how would you adjust your drag and what percentage would you adjust it to. They would also tell you the best rods to use and the best hooks to use and step by step you get there.”

Water gives meaning to the landscape for many people. Some people can't live away from the ocean because they need physical access to the sand, rocks, and surf, as well as visual access to the blue horizon and the psychological access that comes with simply knowing it's there. Others consider themselves fortunate to be able to spend a few days, weeks, or months on vacation at the beach.