2021 Sydney Festival of Boating: What to expect

The different format recognises the big shift in the Australian market as more people look to holiday at home – and many with a boat – in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and global and domestic travel restrictions.

The new format also recognises that a number of traditional exhibitors will struggle to fill a display with boats as Australian sales boom in response to the pandemic, as well as helping organisers meet strict COVIDSafe guidelines.

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“Boating has proven itself as a standout choice in recreational activities for families across Australia over the past year,” Neil Patchett, the Queensland co-manager for the event’s organiser, the Boating Industry Association, said.

“Flexible work practices, low interest rates and the ongoing staycation are some of the factors leading people to look at how to make the most of their leisure time and getting out on the water is a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors.”

This year’s show will include exhibition space inside ICC Sydney and on the undercover Event Deck, a “Festival Boulevard” running between Cockle Bay and Tumbalong Park, and even more marina space in response to higher-than-expected demand for on-water displays.

Activities include fishing competitions and demonstrations, paddlecraft tests, boat-building demonstrations, roaming musicians, and a treasure hunt for children that spans the four corners of the festival and finishes at a “pirate ship” moored in Cockle Bay.

Another significant focus of the festival is safety, with the BIA teaming up with Transport for NSW to promote safe, responsible and enjoyable boating as more first-time boaters hit the water.

The event will also host the awarding of the NSW Maritime Medal, awarded to individuals or organisations that demonstrate an outstanding and sustained effort or contribution to improving the safety or marine environment for the benefit of the boating or maritime community in NSW.

Tickets are on sale online from July 1.  

Okay, so what can we expect to see? We’ll keep updating this article as we learn what is locked in for a 2021 Sydney Festival of Boating reveal.

R Marine Sydney has announced it will have two recent arrivals in Gold Coast-based luxury motor yacht maker Riviera's Sports Motor Yacht range making their first appearance in Sydney; the Riviera 50 Sports Motor Yacht and the Riviera 64 Sports Motor Yacht.

Both have entrainment-focussed mezzanine levels above a cockpit optimised for everything from fishing to water sports and diving.

Other models on display will include the Riviera 4800 Sport Yacht Series II Platinum Edition and flagship Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition.

The Horizon FD87 Skyline missed its Australian debut at the 2021 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, so its first official opportunity to wow local boaties will be in Sydney.

That said, people living on the south-eastern Queensland coast who are interested in kicking the tyres on the Horizon FD87 are getting plenty of opportunities to jump aboard before the FD87 heads down to Sydney.

This boat is innovative in several ways, but most distinctly it has an almost plumb bow that maximises the interior space offered by the design’s high freeboard, and a superyacht-style wave-piercing bulb at the front of the keel that helps with fuel economy and speed, as well as seakeeping.

The “skyline” in this boat’s name means it comes equipped with an enclosed flybridge, and includes a “touch-and-go” helipad that allows guests and the owner to meet the boat wherever it happens to be anchored.

Sundance Marine will turn up at the 2021 Sydney Festival of Boating with a couple of Australian debuts, the Prestige 420S and the Prestige 520F.

The Prestige 420 S is the newest model in the compact cruiser sedan line, and also the cheapest.

Stretching just over 13 metres, it features a large sunroof in the coupe-styled hardtop, an aft master stateroom with full ensuite, double bow stateroom, and twin inboard Cummins performance rated to either 380hp or 425hp.

The Prestige 520F is a mid-range model in the closely related flybridge-equipped boat range.

The open flybridge extends over the lower cockpit, creating a large upstairs entertainment space. It's so large given the Prestige 520F's 16-metre length that the French brand, owned by Beneteau, describes it as an "XXL" flybridge.

US Great Lakes-based sports cruiser maker Regal will have a show-stopper at Sydney, the all-new Regal 36 XO via Sydney-based distributor Premier Marine.

The boat features a walk-through windscreen providing unrestricted access to the lounge space on the bow, a huge saloon space that uses the full beam, and family-friendly downstairs accommodations including a full bathroom with shower.

It will be interesting to see if the boat on show includes the optional sliding glass bulkhead that fully incloses the saloon space giving the 36 XO more all-weather appeal.

As well as the Regal 36 XO, Premier Marine will also have a superyacht-arched Regal 22 FasDeck and Regal LS6 weekenders on show.

For the fishing enthusiasts, there will be the US-made Century 2301 and 2600 centre consoles, with Premier Marine also planning on having the Italian-made Oromarine 78 and S9 Coupe, and Zar Formenti 53 and ZFO luxury RIBs around for those who prefer faster, more pampering boating experiences.

There will also be a motor launch on display; the elegant Chris Craft Launch 30.

Arvor will have the Arvor 675 Weekender on show in Sydney, the first of the more family-friendly versions of the French brand’s keel-up redesign of the series.

The boat comes with a fully equipped galley with sink, stove and fridge, and sleeping space onboard for two people, complete with an enclosed head.

A dinette that can convert to an extra single berth is located inside the wheelhouse, while the cockpit features an aft lounge with extra seating on the starboard side. The bow has a sun lounge large enough for two people.

The Arvor 675 Weekender is expected to show alongside the Arvor 705 Sportsfish and 805 Sportsfish.

Sydney-based dealership Boat Monster, meanwhile, is gearing up to have the 11.3-metre Invincible 37 Catamaran ready in time to wow Sydney showgoers.

The fibreglass 37 Catamaran is a twin-step, dual-hulled centre console fishing platform featuring quad engines producing up to 1800hp of performance – top-spec fit-out is quad Mercury Racing 450Rs.

Invincible is a new brand to Australia, and the Invincible 37 Catamaran sits in the middle of the five-model twin-hull range.

Meanwhile, Short Marine hopes to have its Cantieri Capelli Tempest 44 RIB-based centre console dayboat ready in time for a Sydney show debut.

This 13.1-metre craft is certified for up to 1275hp of outboard engine performance – that's triple Yamaha 425 XTO Offshore levels of power.

A great platform for a weekend getaway, and with space on board for up to 18 people, the Cantieri Capelli Tempest 44 also has downstairs accomodations for a couple, as well as a dinette and an enclosed head with separate shower for overnighting in comfort.

A number of Beneteau models will be on display via Sydney-based Chapman Marine including the French brand's new powered cruising flagship, the Beneteau Antares 11 Fly.

The biggest Antares is a no-fuss family cruiser featuring twin outboard engines, while onboard it boasts a full-beam master suite with three berths, and a convertible deck-level saloon that can accommodate up to another seven people.

The flybridge deck includes a separate helm and plenty of entertainment space.

Chapman Marine will also have the Beneteau Gran Turismo 32 OB on show, as well as other various Antares and Flyer models.

Meanwhile, high-end luxury motor yacht brokerage emarine will have the Brabus Shadow 900 XC on display in Australia for the first time.

This twin Mercury Racing 450R-powered boat, built over an Axopar 37 XC, has won an international design award for its distinctive looks.

Notably, it's an all-weather boat with an enclosed wheelhouse and below-deck accommodations, but at the same time is made for people who enjoy the outdoors with cosseting cockpit and foredeck spaces.

emarine will also have the Axopar 28 and Axopar 37 on display, and the Axopar 22, the Finnish brand's only boat that you can just hook up behind a car and tow.

The Axopar 22 has multiple configuration options for the cockpit, so it will be interesting to see what eyachts believes is the best choice for the Australian market.

Flagstaff Marine will have a foiling sailboat on show in Sydney. The Figaro Beneteau 3 is a pure racer – it was going to be the representative Olympics Games boat up until the sport was dropped from the schedule.

The Figaro Beneteau 3 was designed as a one-class foiling monohull racer, although the foils are very different to what we've seen so far. They're optimised to reduce sideways drift and have more righting moment – the ability of the boat to sit upright with pressure on the sails.

Also on show from Flagstaff will be the Beneteau Oceanis 40.1 and 46.1 cruising yachts.

Meanwhile, VicSail plans to bring the Swan 48, a new, almost 15-metre racing-honed yacht from Nautor's Swan that still small enough to be sailed by a couple, to Sydney.

Cooloola, the boat lining up for the Sydney gig, is fitted with a draft keel that makes it lighter than a standard boat, as well as a carbonfibre mast and V-boom.

Electronics group Navico says it will have a presence at the 2021 Sydney Festival of Boating featuring an interactive display so that users can try before they buy.

Of note, it will have its recently launched high-end Simrad NSSevo3S chartplotter and fishfinder on display, as well as the new Lowrance ActiveTarget live sonar system that is so precise it can show fish moving around in realtime.

It will also show the Lowrance Elite Fishing System range of mid-range fishfinders and chartplotters.