Dates set for 2020 Sanctuary Cove Boating Festival

However, this year’s show – named simply the Sanctuary Cove Boating Festival – is likely to lack some of the sparkle of previous events as the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on both the Australian economy and travel.

Best of all, the event will be free to attend.

SCIBS general manager Johan Hasser said the festival was “an important stepping stone to help the local industry get back on its feet”.

“After a tumultuous year, it is important for us to support the local marine industry with a safe event at a smaller scale,” Hasser said.

“Many businesses are doing it tough – whether that’s marine, retail or tourism – and the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show has always been a major attraction for intra- and interstate visitors to the Gold Coast.

“We want to connect marine enthusiasts with the brands they know and love at the Sanctuary Cove Boating Festival, which will be a safe, family-friendly day out celebrating the boating lifestyle synonymous with the region.”

The Sanctuary Cove Boating Festival will focus on the south-eastern Queensland boating industry and will be held at the traditional SCIBS venue at the Sanctuary Cove Marina.

The event is likely to include iconic Gold Coast brands Riviera and Maritimo, as well as global brands such as Princess and Horizon.

The scaled-down festival will also be the first opportunity for the marina to publicly show the result of a $16 million makeover that includes significant investment in the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort.

“At this stage, sadly no other boat shows will be going ahead in Australia this year. We’re confident that the Sanctuary Cove Boating Festival will be an industry leader when it comes to hosting a COVID-safe event across the marine offering,” Hasser said.

“We’re really looking forward to showcasing our fantastic new marina and welcoming visitors back into The Marine Village and InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort, and the Boating Festival is the perfect opportunity for locals to rediscover Sanctuary Cove.”

SCIBS organisers were finalising plans for June’s 2020 event, even announcing ticket sales in early March as the COVID-19 pandemic started sweeping across Australia.

The show was postponed in late March as the full effect of the pandemic hit.

The 2020 event was to have been a showcase for Riviera, which had planned to use the show as a platform for the global launch of its Riviera 64 Sports Motor Yacht, not to mention celebrating the brand’s 40th anniversary.

Also planning on making a debut at the 2020 event were the Maritimo X50R, the Horizon FD80 Skyline, Princess V65 and F70, Ocean Alexander 26R Enclosed, Galeon 500 Fly, 510 Skylounge and 640 Fly, Fleming 58, and the Fairline F//Line 33 luxury dayboat.

Other brands including Multihull Central, Queensland Marine Centre, Axopar, and local brands Whittley and Sailfish also had plans to debut new models.