Arts Afloat

Antique & Fine Art Yacht to Anchor in DC Waters

SeaFair, the first-ever floating antique show and fine art gallery, will set sail this November and anchor in our Nation’s Capital. Docked in Old Town, Alexandria for five days, the luxurious 228-foot mega-yacht, designed by the internationally-renowned Luiz de Basto of Miami, features a revolving array of 28 highly respected international art and antiques dealers who will occupy 12,185 square feet of museum-quality exhibit space.

Washington, D.C. is just one of 38 cities along the eastern seaboard to host the custom-built yacht, each for a five-day visit. On Wednesday, November 7, SeaFair will host a gala preview vernissage designated to raise substantial funds
for a prominent local charity. During the remainder of its stay, the yacht will host invitation-only events.

In addition to 28 onboard galleries, the Grand Luxe offers a signature restaurant, sky deck bistro, open-air champagne and caviar lounge, and international coffee bar. These lavish facilities, that include five decks and a passenger capacity of 600, are available to host an array of special events, from luncheons to cocktail parties.

“SeaFair will offer an extraordinary, exclusive experience for those guests visiting the yacht,” said Lee Ann Lester, who with her husband David, founded Expoships, LLLP, the world’s first exposition megayacht company and developer of SeaFair. The Lesters founded the Palm Beach International Fine Art & Antiques Fair in 1997 and have organized more than 40 international events in the United States. “We offer an exceptional, private environment where collectors can meet with dealers in an entirely unique manner.”

“SeaFair is an innovative, event-driven concept designed to expand the marketing reach of American and International dealers while revolutionizing interest in the local arts and cultural community,” said David Lester. “In today’s challenging global environment, SeaFair brings dealers directly to collectors’ seasonal residences rather than requiring the collector to travel a great distance in order to visit
world-renowned galleries.”

More than one hundred dealers have reserved space aboard SeaFair most for multiple segments of the tour. Gallery owners already committed have expressed excitement and conviction that SeaFair offers a new solution to rising problems in the art sales market.

“SeaFair is a remarkable and visionary innovation in the art trade,” said Alan Rubin of Pelham Galleries in London. “This concept is fresh, original and just what so many dealers have been waiting for,” concurred Robert Fishko of Forum Gallery in New York. Other ports include Manhattan, Greenwich, CT, the Cape Cod Islands, Miami Beach during Miami Basel, and numerous cities along the Southeastern coast including Savannah and Charleston.