Sanctuary Cove Boat Show Review

The 13th Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, held from May 24-27 at Sanctuary Cove Resort in Queensland, attracted a record 358 exhibitors. Perfect weather throughout the show ensured visitor numbers were up on 2000, with 43,020 people making their way through the gates - an 11% increase on last year, according to the organisers.

Presented by Trade-A-Boat, the show featured more than 180 boats on-water, plus more than 280 boats and 80 PWCs and canoes on land.

The show confirmed its ability to attract international visitors, with the organisers recording attendees from no less than 23 countries. Early results from exhibitor surveys showed more than half received potential sales enquiries or actual sales from internationals.

Trade-A-Boat attended the show under our Pacific Marine Media banner, along with sister mags Trailer Boat and BlueWater Boats & Sportsfishing. Trailer Boat's Mustang and Ford Explorer project rig attracted plenty of attention parked right at the public entrance to the show, as did our undercover stand, with magazines, merchandise and subscriptions in high demand. The nearby BoatPoint stand was also a popular stop for visitors to gain information about using Australia's largest boating website on the Internet.

SPORTSCRUISERS GALORE
Sanctuary Cove 2001 could well go down in history as the year of the sportscruiser. Several manufacturers chose the show as the platform to launch new models.

Australia's biggest boat manufacturer, The Riviera Group, launched its all-new 37ft flybridge cruiser and featured an extensive display of all its current models. Riviera's display was voted the best on water.

Mariner also provided the first public viewing of its all-new 370 and 430 Express Cruisers. (We will be publishing full tests of these and other new models at Sanctuary Cove in coming issues of Trade-A-Boat).

New imports included an impressive range of Princess Motor Yachts, including the debut of the Princess 50 flybridge cruiser.

Squadron Boat Sales released the Uniesse 42 and 48, as well as displaying a Squadron 52, 62, Phantom 38 and Targa 48 from Fairline.

The Ferretti Group launched its 480 Ferretti luxury motoryacht, as well as displaying the Pershing 54, 41 and 37 Sports Cruisers.

Genesis Marine chose Sanctuary Cove to launch its New Zealand-built Targa 400, which follows on from the success of the company's Genesis 335, launched at last year's show.

Mustang Cruisers, although not launching any new models, displayed its extensive range of sportscruisers from the 2600 right up to the award-winning 3650.

Bayliner Australia also launched two interesting new models, the 3488 and the 3788.

Also on display for the first time in Australia was the BMB 380 Sport from Bavaria Motor Boats in Germany.

Meanwhile, the Aussie owned, built and designed Sunrunner Marine brand launched its all-new 3400 Sports Cruiser. Show visitors were able to view this boat both on the marina and on the hardstand.

Fastlane Marine are back in business and used Sanctuary Cove for the relaunch of the popular Fastlane 34.

Another relaunch at Sanctuary Cove was the Integrity 35, an Australian designed and built family cruiser from Integrity Marine.

New Zealand was well represented at this year's show, with 18 companies presenting a united effort through the country's export group, Marex.

On-water displays included the 55ft Kastina and 62ft Kahala from Salthouse Marine Group, the Kingfisher 54 Sportfisher from Formula Cruisers and the abovementioned Genesis equipe.

In a first for the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show, 12 British companies were also represented through the British Marine Industries Federation.

Some magnificent hand-crafted boats were also on display. These included the Azzura 50 from Azzura Yachts, the Palm Beach 38 from Palm Beach Motor Yachts and a custom vessel by Norman Wright & Sons.

(See next month's Trade-A-Boat for a pictorial feature on the Azzura 50).

Marine engine manufacturers were also well represented with some interesting new products on display from Volvo, Yanmar, Cummins, MTU/DDC, CAT, Steyr, MAN and Scania.

Volvo Penta released its Skipper's Introduction program, which expands its existing pre-delivery commissioning procedures to include an on-water test of the new power system with the owner and an information briefing on the engines.

Yanmar displayed its new 4JH3-DTE model, which develops 125hp from a four-cylinder block and is available in the Yanmar SailDrive range, making it the most powerful saildrive units on the market.

SAIL POWER
On the sailing side, the standout yacht of the show was the new Stanyon 86 luxury cruiser, ChinaGrove II, valued at around $A8m, on show with Grant Torrens International Marine Brokerage. Built in Australia by composite construction specialists, BoatSpeed, of NSW, and designed by the Queensland company, Stanyon Marine Design, the pilothouse sloop features a stunning interior with Balinese-influenced decor throughout. There is a huge, airy saloon, giant master cabin aft with ensuite spa bath, plus two more double cabins and a mezzanine galley with dinette.

The carbon-fibre rig from Southern Spars in Auckland features in-boom mainsail furling and self-tacking headsail, with all control lines led under the deck and controlled from the dual steering positions in the raised cockpit.

(See next month's Trade-A-Boat for further information on this impressive showcase of local craftsmanship).

Australian builder Seawind exhibited the first of its 1200 Tech 3 models, featuring a targa arch over the cockpit and a three-cabin layout in the hulls.

Other locally produced multihulls on display included the Perry 43, Tasman C43, Lightwave 10.5 and Raider 302, while imported cruising catamarans in the sail basin included the Lagoon 380 and Privilege 465, both from France.

Current model keelboats on display in the sail basin included Jeanneau's impressive Sun Odyssey 43 Deck Saloon and Sun Odyssey 37 from France, the German-built Dehler 39, three Bavaria cruising models, also from Germany, the lightweight, speed-oriented J/105 designed in the USA and built in France, the Beneteau Oceanis 411 from France.

There were several Catalina models from the USA on display, including the big Catalina 470 passagemaker.

Hunter Yachts, also of the USA, was represented, as was the Australian builder Northshore Yachts with its 340.

A new entry to the market was the Event 34 from Slovenia, displayed on the hardstand by Brisbane's Leisure Marine. Available in two or three-cabin layouts, the cruiser/club racer is expected to retail from $180,000.

Associated equipment on display included Gineico's stylish range of interior light fittings, door handles and latches. The Tacktick range of performance electronics for dinghies, sportsboats and small keelboats from England was on display on the Oceantalk stand.

A new Pilot deck hatch was included in the Lewmar range of marine hardware. Also on display was the new Maxwell Liberty rope/chain windlass winch built to provide a lighter weight option for handling 10mm chain, for multihulls in the 45-60ft range and sportscruisers and sportsfishing boats in the 50-80ft range.

TRAILERBOATS
There was no shortage of trailerboats on display at Sanctuary Cove, with many manufacturers and dealers using the show to launch new models.

Northside Marine displayed the latest from Whittley, Pacific Sportfish and Platinum Custom Cruisers.

Currumbin Tinnies featured a comprehensive range from Stessl and the new Primal plate-aluminium craft imported from New Zealand.

Tweed Coast Marine had the latest from Ally Craft and Cruise Craft, including the new 625 Outsider.

Sundown Marine displayed Quintrex and Bar Crusher aluminium boats.

Springwood Marine also had a range of Quintrex tinnies on display, as well as the latest from Haines Signature.

Boatarama received plenty of interest in the new Southwind SF640 and Yamaha 225hp four-stroke outboard.

Eagle Ray chose Sanctuary Cove to launch its all-new 2300 cruiser cab and also displayed its popular 2300 centre-console.

There were also some spectacular on-water displays featuring trailerboats - with Bayliner displaying its comprehensive range of bowriders and sportsboats, while Mustang featured its ingenious trailerable sportscruisers (2200 and 2400 Club Sport).

The outboard manufacturers also produced some crowd-pleasers, with Yamaha releasing its brand-new 225hp four-stroke, while Mercury displayed a new 60hp EFI four-stroke.

ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY
Some amazing developments in electronic technology have taken place in the last 12 months. Oceantalk proudly displayed the latest in daylight viewable screens from Raymarine (formerly Raytheon); Taylor Marine showed off Navnet technology from Furuno; while Navman, Lowrance, C-MAP, TMQ, Navigation Dynamics and others were all on hand with their latest and greatest.

The broad appeal of the show was emphasised by the number of charter companies exhibiting their services, particularly for bareboat and skippered charter holidays in the Whitsundays but also for a wide range of international travel opportunities, such as the luxury cruises aboard Star Clipper tall ships.

For amateur and professional boatbuilders alike there was also much to see, thanks to the large number of materials and equipment manufacturers and suppliers displaying their wares.

NEXT YEAR...
This year's Sanctuary Cove Show confirmed for many exhibitors its growing reputation as Australia's best boat show.

The addition for the first time of a brokerage display at nearby Gold Coast City Marina, with ferry links on the Coomera River between the two sites, also appeared popular.

Show dates for next year are: Thursday, May 30 to Sunday, June 2. Don't miss it... We won't!