If you can't make it to the Super Bowl, then let Super Yacht Bowl bring the festivities to you.

From January 30 to February 2, 2009, yachts and megayachts from 50 feet on up to more than 100 feet will be gathering in St. Petersburg, Florida, the next-door neighbor of Super Bowl XLIII host city Tampa, for events celebrating the best of onshore and on-the-water luxury. Specifically, Super Yacht Bowl will include a yacht hop and a yacht christening, a dinner dance with NFL alumni, and of course, on Super Bowl Sunday itself, either transportation to and from the big game (if you have tickets) or a private viewing of it on a giant screen, in a tent on the terrace of the Renaissance Vinoy Resort.

In fact, the Vinoy is serving as headquarters for Super Yacht Bowl, providing dockage for 50- to 70-footers, and it's extending special guest-privileges packages to those megayacht owners and their friends who'll be docked at Port St. Pete (100- to 400-footers) or St. Pete Municipal Marina (75- to 99-footers). (See map illustration below.) Privileges include golf as well as use of the spa and fitness facilities. The two St. Pete city marinas will offer full service for a three-day Super Yacht Bowl price. Chauffeured transportation will be available to ensure owners and their guests at the city marinas don't miss out on the yacht hop and other festivities, too. All told, Super Yacht Bowl anticipates accommodating upwards of 100 yachts.

The organizer of Super Yacht Bowl is Les Abberley, former publisher of Showboats magazine and currently the owner of Blue Highway, an events-promotion and marketing company. Among his notable events: the Acura Yacht Club, held during the Honda Grand Prix in St. Petersburg. In fact, Abberley's experience with setting up the docks next to the race route got him thinking more about "bringing yachts to a great event onshore," he tells me. "Super Bowl seemed a natural," he explains. "It's the biggest sporting event in America." And, he adds, because "there are people who no matter what the economy will still go boating," what better way to encourage them to enjoy "the luxury of being on their own yacht in the ambiance of Super Bowl with their family and friends."

Among the yachts that will be attending Super Yacht Bowl: Lazzara's new 92 LSX and the 101'6" Burger Tò-Kalòn, one of which is expected to be christened that weekend. Word is that Tatoosh or her big sister Octopus may also make an appearance in the area. It wouldn't be surprising, considering owner Paul Allen also has a stake in the Seattle Seahawks. Other NFL team owners, including those for the New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, and Washington Redskins, have also reportedly inquired about yacht reservations. (Those of you who follow both football and the sport of yacht-watching will know that the Dolphins and Saints owners each have a history of megayacht ownership.)

To reserve your spot at the Super Yacht Bowl Marina, the collective name for all three marinas, visit the Super Yacht Bowl Web site.

In addition, I'm pleased to announce that Megayacht News is one of the media sponsors of the event. I'll be reporting each day about the previous day's and night's activities. And of course, in the weeks leading up to Super Bowl, I'll post updates accordingly.

While the NFL says 7.5 million parties are held each year during Super Bowl, it's safe to say none have ever been like this.