Sanctuary Cove Boat Show 2006 Preview (May 2006)

This year's Sanctuary Cove Boat Show is set to become the biggest and best yet. Max Taylor previews some of the highlights of the show

A stellar exhibitor line up is tipped for this year's Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, which is considered the crème of Australian boat shows and a drawcard for international brands.

"This is the place where the marine industry does business. We find exhibitors themselves become our ambassadors based on their own strong sales performances from year to year," the show's general manager, Barry Jenkins, said.

The response from exhibitors for the four-day event which runs from Thursday May 18 to Sunday May 21, has been so strong that the show is set to establish a national record.

Jenkins said it would offer the largest on water leisure and light commercial display ever staged in the country.

The 2005 show attracted almost 49,000 visitors and 383 exhibitors, with reported sales of more than $131 million.

It is the only boat show in the Australasian region with a focus on the superyacht industry, and Sanctuary Cove last year attracted more than 290 boats on the water of the resort marina, with a further 450 hardstand boats.

Leading names booked to exhibit include The Riviera Group, Maritimo, Kingfisher Cruisers, Four Winns, Sunseeker, Princess, Jeanneau, Mainship, Ocean Alexander, and Fountaine Pajot.

A shipload of world and Australian releases will be one of the show's highlights. Riviera's 56 Enclosed Flybridge and 37 Series II will be among them, as will the Maritimo 48, which, according to the company, will hit the market at a very competitive price.

Maritimo's marketing manager Peter Jenkins said a 48 base model would sell for $980,000.

Kingfisher Cruisers will launch upgrades of three 2005 designs: the 50 Sports Flybridge, the 54 Sports Flybridge, and the 56 Aft Cabin Flybridge. These models were originally launched at the 2005 show, and the company's Russell Wright said that as a marketing tool, the show proved so successful "we are riding on sales through to 2007".

The Australian launch of the Manhattan 66 will form part of Sunseeker Motor Yachts' multi-million dollar display at Sanctuary Cove.

With an overall length of 22.1m, the Manhattan 66 will head up the company's flybridge motoryacht range. Other Sunseeker models on display include the much anticipated Manhattan 60, and the Portofino 53 Sports Cruiser.

Adding to its 24 models, Four Winns is set for the Aussie release of the 278 and 318 Vista cruisers.

Australian company Euroyachts is bringing 17 vessels to Sanctuary Cove - its largest showcase in its eight-year involvement with the international event. The company represents Princess, Jeanneau, and Viking in Australia, and will launch a number of new models to the Australian market.

The Princess motoryacht display, worth $20.5 million, includes the Aussie debut of the 21M, V53, and the updated version of the V65. The Jeanneau Runabout 755 will be in attendance, as will Jeanneau sailboats including the Sun Odyssey 42 Deck Saloon, the 49DS, 40.3, and 35.

Auspicious Yachts Sales will launch the US-built Mainship Pilot 34 to the Aussie market, while Ocean Alexander Motoryacht Australia will launch its 45ft sports sedan and 48ft Europa.

EC Marine, the Australian and New Zealand agents for Fountaine Pajot intends to exhibit three sailing catamarans at Sanctuary Cove - a Lavezzi 40, a Belize 43, and an Eleuthera 60.

Australia's trade export entity, Austrade, will conduct export-related seminars at the show, and the AMIF Australian Boat of the Year awards will be staged on the Gold Coast on the eve of the opening.

Such is the strength of the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show that last year it won the Tourism, Hospitality, and Recreation category of the Gold Coat Business Excellence Awards for the second consecutive year.

Jenkins said the show was positioned as an international event, with marketing at boat shows in the US, United Arab Emirates, Thailand, China, and South America.

"(In 2005) we noted internationals from more than 18 countries, including the US, UK, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, China, France, Italy, Germany and Korea," Jenkins said.

"Multi-million dollar sales were recorded by Sunseeker, Riviera, and Mustang Cruisers."

He said Sanctuary Cove offered world-class facilities, such as two championship golf courses, a recreational club, the five-star Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove, a private country club, secure residential properties, and specialty stores and restaurants.

Streamlined park 'n' ride transport arrangements will again apply for entry to the show.

Accommodation packages are available at the Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove.

The 2006 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show will run from May 18 to 21. Opening hours are 9am to 5pm daily.

For more information, visit www.sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au

Published : Monday, 1 May 2006
Issue : May 2006

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