Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show Opens Thursday

The 2010 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show starts this Thursday with a fantastic line up of marine products valued at millions of dollars.

The 22^nd annual Show is staged at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast from Thursday, May 20 to Sunday, May 23 from 9am to 5pm daily.

This year’s event has drawn 421 exhibitors with on-water displays at the marina, hardstand displays through the waterfront Marine Village and exhibits through three large pavilions.

“Visitors can wander past close to 200 boats on water ranging from super yachts through to glamorous luxury cruisers, sail boats and multihulls,” said Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show general manager Mr Barry Jenkins. If placed bow to stern, on-water displays would stretch close to 3km.

On land, a wide range of marine craft are displayed with wakeboard vessels, trailerable boats, jetskis and kayaks. Three large pavilions showcase electronics, engines, marine safety gear and services.

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

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

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

There are 107 world and Australian marine product releases in close to 15,000sqm of pavilion and hardstand display space.

In the luxury motor yacht area, vessels at the Show include the 22m Adagio from New Zealand; two Assegai custom built sport fishing boats and the world release of the Endurance 750 pilothouse.

Princess showcases the Princess 78 Motor Yacht in an Australian launch while Sunseeker releases three new vessels – the 80 Yacht, 86 Yacht and 30 Metre Yacht and there are three new relaases on the national market from Fairline.

“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.

Australian companies Maritimo, Riviera, LeisureCat, Lizard Yachts, Clipper Motor Yachts and Van Munster Boats launch new vessels on the world market.

New boats in the under 50ft power category include the Arvor 215, the 46 sedan from Alaska Motor Yacht range, the Sea Doo Challenger series and debuts from Mainship Trawlers and Nimbus.

Sail boat brands are strong with Bavaria, Catalina, Oceanis, Fountaine Pajot, Hunter, Imexus, Lagoon, Montebello and Scandinavian Yachts to name some new releases.  

“Ticket sales have been strong for the Australian Marine Industry Breakfast facilitated by Gold Coast City  Marina,” said Mr Jenkins. 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. The breakfast is held on Friday, May 21 at Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove.

“A lively entertainment schedule should entertain crowds daily,” said Mr Jenkins. There are bands, roving musicians, cooking displays, seminars and radio outside broadcasts.

Ticket sales for the 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. 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.