Darling Harbour set to showcase the Boating Industry

The 2013 Sydney International Boat Show (August 1-5) will mark the 25th occasion that Darling Harbour has played host to Australia’s boating industry.

As always, the 2013 show will prove to be one of the favourite attractions for Sydneysiders with 70,000 visitors expected to turn out for the venue’s largest annual exhibition.

With the show less than three months away, show owner/organiser, the Boating Industry Association (BIA) of NSW, says planning is well advanced.

According to the BIA, response has been positive with the recreational boating industry committing to the event in earnest. The Association has confirmed that all available undercover space within the halls has now been spoken for by companies’ wishing to present the latest in recreational marine products and services.

The Events Marketing Manager, Domenic Genua said “We are currently involved with planning for the floating marina in Cockle Bay and I can promise show visitors they will be seeing some of the finest craft available on the world market as well as the ever increasing range of magnificent Australian-built vessels.

“The Cockle Bay Marina has consistently been a highlight of the Sydney International Boat Show and visitors will be impressed as usual with the high standard of the displays,” he added.

Although it has been proven that Sydney residentsflock to the show, many of them regularly, ticket sales are also strong across regional New South Wales and from interstate.

Additionally, many international visitors also attend, among them top executives from major marine boat builders and manufacturers across the world.

Attractions within the show that have proven so popular with visitors will return in 2013, including the Walk of Fame, the Musto Fashion Extravaganza, the often hilarious Boat Building Competition and the outstanding MyBoatingLife Entertainment Precinct.

The MyBoatingLife stage will offer something for every show visitor.

It has been designed specifically to educate and entertain and in this guise it has performed brilliantly.

Guest speakers, among them adventurers, world travellers and entertainers will keep the crowd ‘buzzing’ throughout the five days of the show.

With more than half of the attending audience having a primary interest in fishing, the fraternity will be pleased with the excellent line up of speaker and topics to suit those novices to the sport through to the old hands.

People with a keen interest in sailing will not miss out. With more than 25,000 of the shows visitors having and interest in sailing, the show’s producers have ensured that elements of education, entertainment and a large number of displays will fill every sailors needs.

“In fact, the Sydney International Boat Show boasts the largest number of sailboat enthusiasts at one venue in the Southern Hemisphere,” Mr Genua pointed out.

The very popular Walk of Fame has cemented itself as one of the most sought after components of the Sydney International Boat Show. With Australia boasting an amazing maritime history and achievements, the Walk of Fame is the perfect way to see first-hand some of the vessels that contributed to those pages of history.

Visitors to the show know that it is one of the year’s best locations for getting information and advice on recreational boating. Central to this will be the Marine Precinct, situated near one of the major show entry points; it offers a host of service providers comprising various government departments, volunteer groups, educators and associations.

“The Marine Precinct forms a central point were show visitors can obtain all the information related to safe, recreational boating,” Mr Genua explained.

“This area will also include experienced staff from the Office of Boating Safety and Maritime Affairs as well as a team from the Roads and Maritime Service from Transport for NSW,” he added.

Regular visitors to the Sydney International Boat Show know only too well its importance on the world stage, but for the uninitiated, consider this; many of Australia’s and the world’s leading manufacturers planning on introducing new products to the Australian market launch their new offerings at the Sydney International Boat Show.

The show will operate from 10am to 8pm (in the halls of the exhibition centre) and from 10am to
6pm on the Cockle Bay Marina.

Admission charges are; $20 for Adults, $12 children between the ages of 6-17 (children under 5-years admitted free) and $47 for a family ticket admitting two adults and three children. Concession prices will be available for seniors and pensioners.

Those attending after 5pm on any day will pay only $5.00.

The event runs with the support of Transport for NSW who is the organisers Partner in Safety.

Keep tabs on the show, its activities and plan your visit accordingly via the website, www.sydneyboatshow.com.au,
or through Twitter @SydneyBoatShow or Facebook at www.facebook.com/SydneyBoatShow