2008 Sydney International Boat Show

What's hot in yachts

With the price of aptly named crude oil soaring to new heights and unlikely to return to earth any time soon, those in the business of building engine-driven conveyances are having a rethink. GM Motors recently closed some of its large-car factories, sighting a radically changed market, and announcing it would build more hybrid cars. But now boatbuilders are banking on fresh new demand for yachts. After all, the wind is free.

Riding on the back of that logic and sailing for Sydney is a whole new generation of comfortable cruising yachts. In fact, would-be yacht owners will be spoilt for choice at this year's Sydney International Boat Show, which is always the biggest yachting display in Australia but now even bigger. Recession-busters from $150,000 to about $200,000 are out in force.

But while economic circumstances keep a lid on things, there is definitely a change in the offing. Sailing schools are seeing more new blood learning the ropes, yacht dealers are running across motorboaters migrating to sailing, and the fairer sex is jumping aboard after designers have finally answered their call for easier boats to sail with all the mod cons of home.

Here's an alphabetical guide to what's hot in yachts for the coming season. There are rafts of imported craft, a good spread of time-proven local boats, and plenty of slippery catamarans should you refuse to heel and prefer level-deck sailing. At least that way the drinks won't spill.

A is for Azzura Yachts, Iain Murray's Queensland yard that occasionally turns its hand to building luxury custom cruising yachts for the top end of town. But see Marten Yachts and Sydney Yachts for more popular Murray-owned brands.

B is for Bavaria, a keenly priced German marque enjoying a strong following in Sydney and especially Pittwater. The revamped Cruiser range includes a budget 31 for $185,000 sail-away, a 34, 38, and twin-wheel 40-footer debuting at the Sydney show. A new 43 Cruiser arrives soon after, while the Vision series of deck saloon yachts - a 50 will be at the show - offers more headroom, natural light and space below decks.

B also stands for Beneteau, the world's largest yachtmaker and a firm favourite in Sydney. The French yard offers fast Farr-designed cruiser-racers and more accommodating Oceanis cruising craft, both with avant-garde interiors. New releases will include a 25.7 day-racer with lifting-keel priced from $128,000, a compact and cruisy Oceanis 31 (from about $205,000) and a nice family-sized Oceanis 37 (from $285,000). The new First 45 (from $599,000) debuting at the show is a sleek IRC optimised regatta yacht with taller rig, non-overlapping headsail and optional carbon mast.

But let's not forget B is for Buizen, those faithful and far-reaching cruising pilothouse yachts built by hand in Terrey Hills. The latest incarnation of the Buizen 48, the Series III (priced from $1.265 million) has been fine tuned for even more comfortable coastal and trans-oceanic cruising. Office is optional.

C is for Catalina, a popular wide-bodied American cruising yacht that includes the new 309 (approx $175,000) and 375 (approx $280,000) at the Sydney show. But the buzz is the new Morgan 440 (from approx $475,000) Catalina's first deck saloon boat built expressly for bluewater cruising.

D is for Dufour, another French flag flying from its Grand Large cruising yachts. The 525 (approx $870,000 sail-away) will be the new flagship at the Sydney show, alongside a Regatta 34 racer (from $275,000) with upgraded inventory.

D is for Delphia from Poland, which will display a 33, 37, and 40-footer at the Sydney show. The yachts start from a 24-foot club racer (from $55,000) and end with a new flagship 46-footer arriving here early next year.

And D is for the Dragonfly 920 Extreme, a folding trimaran from Denmark that can travel at Godspeed (see Hanse yacht agents and the Sydney show for details).

E is for Elan, a range of vacuum-bagged performance cruising and bluewater yachts built in Slovenia to Rob Humphrey's designs. There will be a 340 (from $260,000) and a 434 at the Sydney show, but the new Performance series released in Europe - the 380, 410, and a 450 with twin rudders - has handicappers talking.

F is for Fountaine Pajot, those French luxury catamarans from 38 to 75ft built for cruising in high style. The Orana 44 and Salina 48, the first of the new generation sailing cats with single-level living spaces, are coming to the Sydney show. F is also for Fusion Catamarans, whose vacuum-bagged twin hulls will debut in Sydney next month.

G is for genoa or gennicker, that big overlapping headsail that comes in handy in light airs.

H is for Hanse, a German yachtmaker that's made huge inroads into local markets with its thoroughly modern craft featuring optional all-epoxy construction, self-tacking headsails and chic interiors from a dedicated all-female design team. The new 320 (from $179,000) and 350 entry-level cruisers have traditional fibreglass hulls but stunning decor.

H is for Harmony, a value-for-money French yacht from 31 to 52ft that includes the new Esprit models from 34 to 47ft with more luxury standard features, such as teak toerails, teak cockpit floor and distinguishing decals. A new 34 Harmony ($229,000 sailaway) will debut at the Sydney show.

H also stands for Hunter, a Yankee yard offering more deck and saloon space than most, plus ease of handling and good value on the back of the strong Aussie dollar. There will be a six-yacht line-up at the Sydney show including new 49, 45DS and 36, and the popular 27 (from $110,000) 33 and 45 Centre Cockpit.

I is the first letter in IRC, which actually stands for nothing but which is a measurement system based on the old International Rule. It classifies a broad range of yachts for racing by providing ratings comprising single-figure allowances based on time. IRC racing is all the rage and, if you want a podium finish, make sure your yacht is optimised for IRC.

J is for Jeanneau, a respected French badge preferred by serious long-range cruising buffs. The stunning new Sun Odyssey 50 Deck Saloon, with oversized interior akin to a 60-footer, will debut at the Sydney show, along with the 45DS that impressed Trade-A-Boat, and the 36i and 39i performance cruiser-racers for racing.

K is for keel, the bit below the waterline with ballast that keeps your yacht upright. Don't leave home without it.

L is for Lagoon, a catamaran from French boatbuilder Beneteau. As a sign of the times, the 420 can be optioned with twin hybrid diesel-electric engines. But it's the four-cabin owner's version of the 500 that will debut at the Sydney boat show. L is also for those liveable Lightwave catamarans from Queensland. No plans to sail to Sydney yet.

M is for Marten, a high-performance semi-custom cruising yacht from Iain Murray that is selling so well delivery time is out to July 2009. The Marten 49 (from $1.5 million) is up to hull 15, the first 67 is now under construction, two 72-footers have been built, while an 85-footer for $9.5 million is at the conceptual stages. See the Marten 49 at the Sydney show.

M is also for Moody, a traditional English badge undergoing a serious makeover now that it's owned by Hanse from Germany. The new 45DS (from $780,000) is a deck saloon with raised pilothouse and all the comforts expected in a luxury motorboat. Its world release is at the Sydney Show (see Hanse dealers for details).

N is for Nautitech, a fab French catamaran whose N40 and N44 were launched at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. Not yet destined for Sydney.

O is for Oyster, that luxury British sailing crest recently sold for more than 50 million pounds sterling to a private equity firm. But it's business as usual for the yard trotting out sumptuous sloops from 45 to 125ft.

P is for Perry, a local catamaran builder coveted for its beautiful interiors. No plans to bring a 43 or 47-footer to this year's Sydney show.

Q is for quality, something that's evident on the latest luxury cruising yachts.

R is for Rolex, a revered timepiece worn by the bloke at the back of the racing yacht, who signs the cheques.

S is for Seawind, the wildly successful Wollongong-based catamaran builder that has won countless local awards and been acknowledged in America. The 1000 XL with extended transom was launched last year and the 1160 has just run up its 50th hull - a smart way to sail places.

S also stands for Swan, a luxury Finnish yachtmaker favoured by, among other high-profile skippers, Lachlan Murdoch who swanned about in an 82-footer.

S is also for Sydney Yachts from Nowra, Iain Murray's most successful yacht-building venture, making 15 to 20 boats a year. But its best-sellers reflect the changing market: all-inclusive cruiser-racers or CRs instead of the One Design 32 and 38 that were big hits five years ago. The 36CR, 39CR and 47CR from about $300,000 sail-away to mid-$700,000 have a growing following including moneyman Paul Clitheroe. No new launches this year.

T is for tacking, which is what you do when you turn the wheel and throw the gib sheet. With some luck, the bow of your yacht will pass through the wind, your crew will trim the headsail, and you will be sailing away on a new tack.

U is for uniform, which now encompasses a whole wardrobe of must-have wet-weather gear, high-performance breathable clothing and, of course, haute couture from the leading fashion houses for swanning about the yacht club après racing.

V is for vagabond or one who wanders from place to place, much like the many crews setting sail in the Sydney to Gold Coast Yacht Race on July 26. The race is a feeder event for Hamilton Island Race Week starting August 22, where V stands for very hungover.

W is for Wauquiez, a French yacht badge built for discerning sailors. 
There are two ranges including the Pilot Saloon (47 at the Sydney show) and the stately Centurion (See Beneteau dealers for details).

X is for X-Yachts, a well-respected Danish badge. The first in a new line of long-distance cruisers, the new XC 45 was just launched by Crown Prince Frederick. The yard also builds dedicated performance cruising and racing yachts (more from local Bavaria dealers).

Y is for yacht, the biggest display of which will be at the Sydney International Boat Show opening
July 31.

Z And, last but not least, let's not forget Z. After all, it's what you do after a long ocean passage, following dinner below decks, when you retreat into your cabin on any one of the above mentioned ever-more comfortable cruising yachts.

KAYAK KINGS AT SYDNEY INT BOAT SHOW
Roll up, roll up to the Southern Hemisphere's largest recreational boat show

The 2008 Sydney International Boat Show, from July 31 to August 5, will offer a smorgasbord of interesting attractions, none more so than daily appearances by the two young adventurers who conquered the Tasman Sea in a kayak.

Justin Jones, 24, and James Castrission, 25, attracted the attention of the world's media when they set out from Forster, on the NSW North Coast, and arrived in New Plymouth, NZ, 62 days later.

The intrepid duo endured howling winds, mountainous seas, and sleep and food deprivation during their epic voyage, and together with the actual kayak they called ‘home' for two months will be appearing on the Better Boating Workshop stage at 2pm and 5.30pm every day bar Friday, when their only appearance will be at 7.30pm.

With more than 300 exhibitors thronging the six vast halls of the 28,000m² Darling Harbour Exhibition Centre and a further 70-plus displaying a range of luxury craft on the adjoining Cockle Bay Marina, the show, sponsored by NSW Maritime, is set for a prime edition.

DEBUTANTS
Many of the boats on display will be seen in NSW for the first time, with Australia's leading manufacturers Maritimo, Riviera, Mustang, Haines Signature, Quintrex, Cruise Craft, Stacer, Whittley, Evolution and Haines Hunter all introducing new models.

The imports, too, will be there in numbers, with Chris-Craft, Beneteau, Sea Ray, Bayliner, Bavaria, Maxum, Cobalt, Ferretti, Johnson, Fairline, Sunseeker, Regal, Grand Banks and Horizon leading the charge.

Many of the show's confirmed favourites return, including the popular Yamaha Fishing Clinic, daily Musto fashion parades, and the educational and entertaining Better Boating Workshop and Strictly Sail stages.

Opening hours and admission prices remain unchanged.

The show opens daily at 10am, with the halls open each day until 8pm, while operations will cease on the marina at 6pm.

Admission charges are $18 adult, $42 family (two adults and up to three children aged six to 17 years), $16 seniors card holders, $12 pensioners, and $10 children (aged six to 17 years). Children under five years are admitted free.

For those visiting for the first time, the show is served by public transport, including buses, ferries, light rail, mono rail, and Sydney's suburban rail network.

Motorists will find the area dotted with parking stations, all within a few minutes walk of the main entrance.

The show cannot be seen in “an hour or two” said organisers who recommend an early arrival, breakfast at one of the many cafés and restaurants overlooking the marina and a solid day (or two) inspecting the various displays.

For more info and to book tickets on-line, visit www.sydneyboatshow.com.au