Hey, 89,248 people can't be wrong! That's the number of visitors to this year's Sydney International Boat Show, a record-setting crowd up 16.5% on last year, that created a defining moment for the boating industry and confirmation that we are not afraid to spend on leisure.

In fact, judging by post-show sales, leisure has a greater value than ever before. Only hours after the Sydney Boat Show closed its doors, dealers were reporting more than $250mill in new boat sales. By the time you read this, many more boats will have found new homes in Sydney.

While the number of boats mightn't be up by much on last year, their dollar value most certainly has risen. Indeed, much of the action was at the marina - a new system installed by the Australian office of the UK firm Walcon Marine, where more than 160 big-ticket boats bobbed enticingly under unseasonably sunny skies.

There, amid the seamless luxury, were some outstanding trends in boating - bigger and faster, greater sophistication, and more comfort more than ever before. Yet at the same time, there is a trend towards smart 30-footers to convert the hordes of aspiring big boaties.

LUXURY LINERS
Here, the trend is to smarter small cruisers and bigger and faster top-end-of-town luxury liners.

Sales are coming from cashed-up baby boomers who place value on their leisure time, as well as retirees whose chicks have flown the roost but who have a nest egg waiting to hatch.

The first boat off the rank was a groovy Medline Euro-style RIB with blue-and-white canvas cushions and a chic moulded console. Take it to a beach, take it through rough water, tie up to a restaurant somewhere. Expect to see more groovy Euro RIBs in the future.

World-class local builder Sunrunner had its 3400, the Australian Marine Industry Federation Boat of the Year for 2002, selling for $335,00 in the Deluxe version. There was also the AMIF Merit Award winning Sunrunner 3700 with twin 300hp Yanmar diesel power for $389,000 and the new, smart, entry-level 3100 sportscruiser, priced from $198,500 (see test this issue, from page 250).

The UK-made Sealines were represented by a brace of 47ft and 51ft comfort cruisers priced at $1.25m and $1.65m respectively.

Nearby, Germany made its mark with a BMB 330 Sport.

Things were really rolling at the local powerboat makers' stands. Mustang had a long line-up of cruisers including the 28, 32, 34, 38 and its swish new 46ft sports model for a highly competitive $812,900. It will beat the Euros at their own game (see our test next issue).

Another emerging trend was the retro style of craft like the amazing timber Azzura Commuter 50 and 33-footers. The former, named Cambria II, is Sydney businessman John David's new boat. Top end of 30-plus knots comes from twin 420hp Yanmars.

Across the way was a perfect home-away-from-home liveaboard, the 570 Voyager from American builder Carver, and around the corner a couple of the only remaining traces of the go-slow/save-fuel cruising club in the form of two Offshore motoryachts, a 48 for $1.25m and a 62 for $2.4m.

But no-one could hold a candle to locals Riviera and Mariner, creating a dashing display complete with salespeople in matching suits, a big merchandise pontoon, and a Club Riviera lounge. When you buy these boats you get more than just a product.

Mariner had 3350 and 3850 flybridge cruisers plus its full range of sportscruisers, starting with the smart entry-level 290, then the 370 and value-for-money fast runner, the 430 Sports. Mariner is on the move in Sydney with a new southside dealer.

The real crowd pleasers were the chic Rivieras. The new 47-footer made its debut with twin 535hp motors and a starting price of $765,424. The 47 comes with an enclosed flybridge option. Crowds were clambering aboard.

It was also standing room only on the company's new flagship, the Riviera 58-footer (see test this issue). In fact, it was pretty much the same situation on all the Rivs: the 43, 40, 37, 36, as well as the 4000 and 3000 Offshore sportscruisers.

Sydney Princess yachts rocked to the tune of nothing under six-figures. The company sold a V65 valued at over $2 million from the Sydney Boat Show, while the line-up also included a P61, P56, 22 Metre and V65 calling come hither. Which I duly did while enjoying a bubbly.

Stalwarts Caribbean had its great 40-footer (90ltr/hr @ 22kt), plus the 35, 32, 26 fly and a way-cool Dirty Deeds-style 26 runabout with navy blue hull and trendy teak trim. There was a Caribbean 24-footer, too.

Johnson chimed in with a $1.9m 58-footer, Monte Fino had a 70-footer which looked the goods, while Trader Yachts had its roomy aft cabs such as the 475 and 575. Alongside, the Prima 60 motoryacht cost $1.6m.

UK marque Fairline made waves with a Squadron 62 from $2.6m, a Targa 40 from $611,964, and a Phantom 38 from $670,219. The first Fairline to go into survey in Oz, a 55-footer, was bound for Queensland.

The 'bigger is better' mantra is echoed by Fairline's overseas releases for 2003, a Targa 61 and a new flagship Squadron 74, due here next September. Apparently, there are many 60ft Fairline owners keen to upgrade.

Next along the Sydney Show line-up were two Italian stallions, the Uniesse 48 Fly and 42 Open, followed by the boat of the show, a stunning silver Supernova 77 from custom local boatbuilder Dave Warren. It lays claim to the world's largest opening roof on a boat.

Let's not forget those locally produced sportfishers of note, the Blackwatch boats, which ranged at the show from 26 to 34ft, then 36 to 40ft. The company has a bigger battlewagon drawn up for next year's show.

Sunseeker, that British symbol of seduction, won the party prize for its fantastic martini party - hiccup, hiccup! - and its wonderful facilities on the marina including a Sunseeker conference and meeting room.

Sunseekers on show spanned the Camargue 50, Predator 61, Manhattan 64 and Predator 68. A new 50 Camargue with hardtop is scheduled to arrive in Sydney before Christmas and an order has been placed for a 46.

But the real news was an 82ft Sunseeker - a brand-new model being introduced at this month's Southampton Boat Show in England and due in Sydney in 2003.

Also on show were some family boats, the Resort 35, a Capricorn 38, Fairway 36, pro boats the Steber 37 and 43, and the mini motoryacht known as the Integrity 37. If that was beyond you, the Cruising Club were selling shares in Sea Ray sportscruisers.

American marques weren't so conspicuous this year, but there was a Sea Ray 480 Motor Yacht and a Miami-style Baja 38 on 'roids.

The Kiwis made a show of it with some neat 60 and 65-footer flybridge models from Salthouse, while the French company Beneteau, which apparently sells more power than sail in Europe, had an interesting Ombrine 700 walkaround for $102,000.

Setting new standards were the Apreamare cruisers from Italy, based on Sorrento's traditional 'gozzo' runarounds. These double-ended, planing playthings went from 7.5m to an 11m model for $788,000. And in the Yacht Italia stable was a Ferretti 480 flybridge cruiser.

'Italian alley' was further graced with panache and practicality with a tremendous trio of Azimuts — the 39, 42 and 46. One of the best things to come out of Italy, aside from Sophia Loren, Azimut will release a new 50-footer this year and it has just dropped a new 98 in the water.

My partner said her pick of the boats at the show was the Palm Beach 50 and, well, it's hard to disagree. You get style, size, comfort, retro-styling and very slippery performance in the pretty locally-made boat.

The final trend is to power catamarans, often with Yanmar motors. Replacing displacement boats, the latest fuel-efficient cats included the Voyager V930 outboard-powered cat, the Signature cruising cat, Scimitar 1010 and the Venturer.

SAILING SCENE
Amid the sundrenched glitz and glamour was a bigger-is-better yacht market. The over-45s were pitched at well-heeled leisure boaties, the burgeoning retiree market, and big city sailors wanting to make a splash.

But the sophisticated new small-yacht market taking hold in Sydney is there to appeal to first-time owners. Several things are helping drive the budget keelboat market.

There is the pool of time-strapped professionals keen for twilight racing, the adventurous corporate types looking for an active outdoor sport, and perhaps recession-proofing from yacht manufacturers.

Should the clever new class of cafe cruiser-racers from 8-10m in length find a home, then the club racing scene will get a real shot in the arm. Here's a run-down of what was small and smart, big and beautiful, plus what is coming after the Sydney Boat Show.

Besides exhibiting the 50th Sydney 38 it has built, Sydney Yachts had a nifty new 32-foot club racer, also a one-design yacht by Murray, Burns and Dovell. The Sydney 32 is intented to race in class fleets and under the IRC division within clubs, and according to Sydney Yachts, six were sold in the first week after its release and harbour charter company East Sail has ordered 10 of the boats. Cost is under $250,000 sail-away.

French yacht-maker Beneteau, whose Australian representative Vicsail celebrated importing its 500th yacht to Australia during the show, has a funky new First 27.7 from Jean-Marie Finot that is scheduled to arrive here early next year and wow city sailors.

The yacht has twin cabins, an enclosed head, 18hp Volvo saildrive, and electronic lift keel. It will race under IRC and in JOG regattas. Cost is anticipated to be around $130,000.

Existing competition for the Sydney 32, the Beneteau First 31.7s has been a hit in Australia with close to a dozen sold. The nifty cafe-racer has six-person sleeping capacity and a pricetag of around $216,000 in full regatta trim.

Beneteau's introductory yacht at the Sydney Boat Show was a 311 Clipper. It also had First 36.7 and 47.7 racer/cruisers and cruising yachts including the 361, 393, and 50, which has long been a favourite for cruising couples, for $750,000.

But the new big yacht release from Beneteau for the grey set was the 42CC, a centre cockpit boat with a gorgeous owner's cabin. Next year, a 57.7 flagship racer is scheduled to arrive in Sydney. Price is expected to be under $1.5m.

Other French options from Vicsail included the Wauquiez 40 pilothouse and Lagoon 380 catamaran.

Nearby were the Australian-built Perry 43 cruising cat, Conquest 1200 cat and a funky new Lightwave 33 cat, while around the corner, Seawind had its hot-selling 1000 and 1200 cats. There was also the French-built Privilege 435 cat.

Across the way, Yacht Italia had the blue-hulled Grand Soleil 40 and 43, the larger of which was reportedly sold on the spot for more than $500,000.

But for big tickets, the Kay Cottee 56 took the cake at more than $2 million.

One of the hottest new yachts was the Northshore 369OD. Think sleek, fast, exciting, well, not at all like the Northshores of old, like the traditional 340. Also on show was the high-top 370. Scheduled new for 2003 from the Australian builder is a top-end Northshore 420 from the pen of David Lyons.

A little Farr 30 sat nonchalantly opposite the groovy Elliott 1250 Tourer, a kind of mini pilothouse yacht. Also on the local scene, a Pacific 36 and a Farr 51 Pilothouse perfect for retirees.

Germany made a showing with the smart little Hanse 311, a Judel/Vrolijk-design that won a national yachting magazine award last year. Base price of $179,000 includes a standard self-tacking headsail, twin mahogany-lined cabins, and a separate head. Hot water is standard.

Hanse also had a 371 and 401, while Swedish builder Scanyacht flashed a 399DS raised-decker and there was a happening Hallberg-Rassy 34, also from Sweden, another smart cruising yacht. France returned in the Dufour 38 Classic and not far away was the top-shelf Oyster 53, built in New Zealand under license for the English marque.

The importers of French yacht-maker Jeanneau had a brace of new small yachts, the 29.2 and 32 Sun Odyssey, on show. Their Philippe Briand-designed Sun Fast 32i is a sportier number that should find a home here soon.

Other head-turners included the established Sunfast 37, 40, 40DS, 43DS and new 45.2.

German-made Bavaria yachts, which are more your social cruising class, begin at 32ft and offer value for money. There was a new Bavaria 36 and 41, with a new 38 and 44 coming to Sydney soon.

The importer, North South Yachting, also has the Danish-made X-yachts including an X412 and X442 for those who prefer to race.

American-made Catalina family cruisers have become a regular part of the local twilight-sailing fleets. The 34MKIII was selling for $235,000 and the 32 is around $210,000. Also on show was a 42MKII.

Also from the US come the Hunters, headed at the show by a new 356 cruising yacht. In terms of entry-level, Hunter's new 326 should be in Sydney in November for around $210,000.

The unsinkable foam-filled Belgium ETAP yachts - the 30-footer at the boat show was $175,000 sailaway - was another new entry.

The racy French-made J-Boat range, with asymmetrical spinnakers for easy kite sets, is also seeking to get a toe into the Australian market, with the J120 on display.

Local luxury cruising yacht builder Buizen had a 40 and 48 on display, while there was also a Murray 50 fast cruiser on show.