02/2008 –

The 20th anniversary Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show will be a celebratory event with numerous world launches and an exciting array of marine products on display.

More than 400 exhibitor applications have been received for the Gold Coast event staged Thursday May 22 to Sunday May 25 since bookings opened in October.

“We have been overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response from the marine market,” said Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show general manager Barry Jenkins.

“This year is a milestone in the Show which has grown from a smaller regional show to a globally significant event. Our investment over more than a decade of international marketing has paid off as the Show received international visitors from Europe, North America, the Pacific, Asia and Africa in 2007,” said Mr Jenkins.

In an Australian first, Sanctuary Cove has been chosen for the first Taiwan pavilion hosted by the Taiwan Yacht Industry Association. At least 10 companies are expected to participate as exhibitors, building a national image of Taiwanese super yachts to Boat Show buyers.

Sanctuary Cove Show now holds a significant place in marine boat show calendars. Last year records were generated with 456 exhibitors, more than 53,600 visitors and more than 4km of on-water displays. At least $A260 million in sales were generated at the Show or as a direct result of the Show.

As early as January 2008, dozens of world and Australian marine launches have been confirmed including:

• Australasian Marine Imports’ release of the Alaska 56 Pilothouse, a flagship vessel in the Alaska motor yacht range;

• Mackeddie Marine’s showcase of Platinum, a 37m custom motor yacht built in Tasmania. The vessel offers accommodation for ten with four double berths and an owner’s or ‘honeymoon’ suite on the main deck.;

• The world release of the Halvorsen 34 Broadwater Sedan, developed from the company’s popular and well proven 32 Sedan;

• And the world launch of an Australian manufactured water maker through Powergen.

Larger power vessels of more than 15m include the Australian release of the Eagle 53 Yacht; Formula Cruisers’ Icon 54; the Australian debut of the Hampton 680 Pilothouse and luxurious trawler yacht, the Selene 59. Luxury imports include Sunseeker’s impressive line-up including the Manhattan 70; and four models from Horizon Boats International.

There’s plenty of power boats under 15m with Fountaine Pajot’s new Highland 35 Pilot and Cumberland 46 power trawlers; the Luhrs 35 Convertible and Luhrs 31 Open Tower, the new generation Pirate Sportcruz 340 and the world release of the inboard version of Southbeach Boats’ Vacationer 240. Other power boats in this category include the Fjord 40 Open Mark II and the southern hemisphere release of the Ranger Tug R21-EC.

“We believe there’s some really exciting marine products and services at the Show which are new to the market,” said Mr Jenkins. “As usual, leading Australian companies are represented including Maritimo, Riviera and Mustang.”

New sail boats include the Dragonfly Trimaran DF920 Extreme; Fountaine Pajot’s Orana 44 and Salina 48 and new Hanse 320 and 350 models.

“We are known as the place ‘where the marine business does business’ and the array of marine products and services proves this,” said Mr Jenkins. “We’ve got world releases by MultiPanel, Tristream Propeller Company and Gold Coast company Durahub plus new products for the Australian market from Furuno Australia and Cummins MerCruiser Diesels’ new Zeus propulsion system.

The 2008 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show is staged at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast, within an hour of Brisbane and Gold Coast airports. Show hours are 9am to 5pm daily.

For details: www.sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au.