Developer discusses luxury boat event, post-virus future

BRIDGEPORT — That extra “e” at the end of Steelpointe Harbor — the purposely named massive redevelopment between Interstate 95 and the downtown waterfront — implies a level of sophistication and prestige the still much-vacant site hopes to eventually achieve.

This weekend, it is safe to say Steelpointe and its developer, the Christoph family, took a big stride toward earning their “e.”

As the state continued to cautiously emerge from beneath the stay-at-home restrictions aimed at stopping the coronavirus’ spread, the Christophs hosted what they intend to be an annual luxury boat show to showcase their newly built 200-slip marina and Connecticut’s largest city’s harbor.

“The idea started a year ago,” said Robert Christoph Jr. “The pandemic changed it dramatically because of the concern of COVID-19 . ...

We scaled it way back.”

But decided not to cancel entirely.

“It’s something that’s important to show off the waterfront of Bridgeport,” Christoph said. “Bridgeport has waited a long time for this.”

The goal was to provide an experience similar to shows in Newport, R.I., with “the caliber of boats, the caliber of cars, the helicopters on site,” Christoph said.

For instance, the Floridabased U.S. Superyacht Association was present for this weekend’s invitationonly affair. According to Forbes magazine, “There is no ‘law’ that says all yachts over a certain length, price or equipment must be called superyachts. However, the largest and most expensive yachts in the world are always — and obviously — referred to as superyachts (and) are usually equipped with a wide range of ‘toys’ that include everything from jet skis and speedboats to personal submarines.”