Sanctuary Cove Boat Show starts today

Visitors can view boats and marine displays from 424 exhibitors when the 2010 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show opens today.

It is the third highest exhibitor tally in the Show’s 22-year history.

The four-day event, from today through to Sunday, May 23, is staged at Sanctuary Cove in the northern area of Queensland’s Gold Coast, Australia.

“We are delighted to see so many exhibitors at the Show which gives a positive boost to the start of the event,” said Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show general manager Barry Jenkins.

There are close to 200 boats on water with multi-million dollar super yachts, sail boats, luxury cruisers and sport fishing boats. If placed bow to stern, on-water displays would stretch close to 3km.

“On land, we’d estimate there would be some hundreds of boats, water craft and marine craft,” said Mr Jenkins.

The Show has three large pavilions plus close to 15,000sqm of hardstand displays through the waterfront Marine Village.

This year, two new components have been introduced – a Prestige Brokerage and Charter area on water and in an Australian first, a dedicated Sea Trial area.

“There are 15 vessels in the Prestige Brokerage and Charter display ranging from around 15m to 30m,” said Mr Jenkins. “These impressive vessels make a handsome addition to the Show,” he said.

A huge array of marine products are displayed including wakeboard vessels, trailerable boats, jetskis and kayaks, engines, marine electronics, marine finance, interior design, safety gear and marine business to business services.

 “We know international exhibitors or buyers are coming from United States, New Zealand, China, Taiwan, Korea, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Italy to name a few countries,” said Mr Jenkins. 

“We know there are combined inbound buyer groups and government delegations with close to 200 delegates,” he said.

“This year we also have a contingent of Italian marine companies exhibiting as a national presence in C pavilion for the first time.”

At least 111 marine products are released on the market at Sanctuary Cove including 23 world releases.

“It is very difficult to put a figure on the value of these displays. Certainly the combined marine displays at the Show would top some hundreds of millions of dollars,” said Mr Jenkins. Some vessels alone are worth millions of dollars.

The Show attracts global coverage with registered media attending the event from Singapore, the United States, South Africa, New Zealand and journalists, photographers and crews from around Australia.

Tomorrow, (Friday May 21), the Australian Marine Industry Breakfast facilitated by Gold Coast City  Marina has attracted 200. This ticketed public event features Thom Dammrich from the US, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and president of the International Council for Marine Industries (ICOMIA) as guest speaker. It is staged at Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove.

Ticket sales for the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show are available online. Online tickets offer a small discount to gate ticket entry. One-day online general admission costs $A22 with concession online tickets at $A19. Children aged 14 years and under are free. Point of entry ticket sales for one-day general adult admission are $A25 and concession one day admission tickets are $A20.  For a full range of gate, two-day and four-day admission tickets, view the website on www.sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au

During the Show, there is no public parking on site however streamlined transport options include Park ‘n’ Ride, water taxi and ferry transfer, helicopter transfer and limousine and taxi drop off.

The $A2 billion Sanctuary Cove, located on the northern Gold Coast, is Australia’s leading and most successful master-planned community. Sanctuary Cove, which was first launched in 1986 by developer Mike Gore, was acquired by current owners Mulpha Sanctuary Cove (Developments) Pty Limited in 2002. MSCD is an arm of Mulpha Australia Limited, which is a subsidiary of Mulpha International BHD, a Malaysian listed company.