Sailboats of the 2019 Sydney boat show

If there were any rumblings about the poor health of the Australian economy, the activity and excitement at the marina section of the boat show didn’t back them up, with most brands showing their newest products.

Here’s the boatsales round-up of the wind-powered wonders of the 2019 Sydney International Boat Show.

Bavaria showed off its new C-Line range of C45, C50 and C57, highlighted by the C57 display yacht, with its transom-height swim platform opened to reveal a large dinghy garage.

The “Australia Pack” boat show special offer on the Bavaria C57 featured around $180,000 of boat, packages and options, including advanced navigation; full bimini, spray dodger; cockpit cushions; fridge and freezer; microwave; TV prep including retracting screen; upgraded furling mainsail; halyard winch organiser; Code Zero 55-sized winches and tracks; and an air compressor for water toys.

Flagstaff Marine Australia showed off three new-generation Beneteau models: the 51.1 First Line, the 46.1 First Line, and the Oceanis 41.1.

The Beneteau Oceanis 51.1 First Line is designed to deliver performance and comfort, combining a 2.8-metre deep lead-bulb keel; carbon or aluminium mast; up to 35 per cent more sail area in high-tech materials; a self-tacking jib; composite steering wheels; and top-of-the-range Harken deck fittings.

Halyards, control lines and sheets lead to single winch locations at each helm station, reducing crew size and workloads.

Below decks is bathed in natural light via large hull portholes.

The Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 First Line, meanwhile, features more mast height, 28 per cent more sail area, Harken deck fittings and a deep lead-bulb keel.

This new boat is Finot-Conq designed, with interior by Nauta Design that takes advantage of natural light via large hull portholes.

It comes with an aluminium or carbon mast; flat-deck genoa furler; German mainsheet system; upgraded performance rigging and halyards; upgraded performance Harken winches and Black Magic Harken blocks; polyester bowsprit with integrated anchoring gear and bobstay; and adjustable backstay and genoa cars.

The Beneteau Oceanis 41.1 has a large cockpit that’s kept clear of lines by a mainsail arch.

The 2019 boat is lighter than the previous Beneteau 41 and is said to be the fastest and most luxurious 40 foot-plus Oceanis to date.

Finot-Conq Architects and Nauta Design have successfully combined their talents once more.

The new 41.1 features a transom-wide, electric drop-down swim platform and hard chines and fully balanced sail plan for what the boat-builder says will be better stability and performance.

All controls lead back to the cockpit and there’s optional
German main-sheeting, in-mast furling and self-tacking jib available.

Buyers can choose from two- or three-cabin versions, with one or two heads. The forward cabin offers a full-size double berth.

The hull structure carries a seven-year warranty.

Beneteau’s nearby Excess marquee also highlighted the French marque’s new cruising catamaran range.

The Excess 12 and Excess 15 are the two launch models for the brand, with the Excess 11, 13 and 14 models due soon.

Performance Cruising Yachts highlighted two models making their Australian premiere: the Dufour 390 Grand Large and the Dufour 430 Grand Large.

The 390 Grand Large is one of the next generation of the popular Dufour Grand Large range.

Designed by Umberto Felci and featuring innovations inspired by the Dufour Exclusive range, this new model has improved forward volume and modern aft chines to make the hull both more spacious and fast.

The new hull is said to be at its best downwind, but also performs extremely well upwind via a new “bow to stern” hull volume development.

The roof proportions give more interior space while conserving side deck width.

New highlights include elegant helm pod consoles, a ladder integrated in the aft platform, double-opening companion doors and LED lighting on deck.

The Dufour 430 Grand Large is a bigger version of the new 390, with similar features and upgrades.

It is available in two layout versions.

Windcraft’s stand highlighted the new Hanse 458, the newest of the “8 Series” boats featuring a large cockpit with ergonomic plotter pods and helmsman seats.

All halyards, sheets, trimming and reefing lines are completely covered by the deck and run aft to the two helm positions.

The performance rig has the trademark Hanse self-tacking headsail, but if there is a need to walk forward the hull has a full-length bulwark along the hull-deck joint.

The vinylester hull construction features a carbon-composite main bulkhead providing mast to L-shaped keel connection.

A stainless steel double anchor arm doubles as the tack point for a code zero.

Twin helm seats hide an integrated barbecue and wash basin, while a level bathing platform is one step down, offering easy access to the water for swimming and for boarding watercraft.
The coach roof has 13 opening hatches, and the hull has six windows.

Interior layouts can come with the option of three or four cabins.

Superyacht-style retracting cleats are standard on the 458.

Performance Boating Sales highlighted the new Jenneau Sun Odyssey 410.

Cockpit design is immediately noticeable, thanks to safe walk-forward aisles between the gunwales and the cockpit seats.

A 4.0-metre beam provides ample seating space in the cockpit.

The Jenneau Sun Odyssey 410’s forward cabin’s double bed can be arranged centrally for single-head layouts, or canted to starboard, allowing space inside the forward cabin for a private head and shower.

The saloon features a U-shaped galley and a U-shaped dinette, flanked by a head and shower compartment.

Two aft cabins can serve as twin rooms, or one can have a bed while the other is optimised for storage.

The Jenneau Sun Odyssey 410’s standard keel is a 2.17-metre draft bulb, with an optional shoal-draft keel available.

The standard sail plan is a 43.6-square-metre main and 36.8-square-metre 110-per cent furling headsail.

A stubby bowsprit can fly a Code Zero or gennaker.

Jeanneau’s boat show exhibit rode high in the water, to the point that we asked if it was fitted with the standard Yanmar 40hp diesel.

We were assured that the boat was empty, but otherwise stock.