SANCTUARY COVE BOAT SHOW: Yachts, cats and cruising conveyances

The 2018 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) will provide the inspiration for visitors to realise their cruising dreams, with a stellar line-up of sailing yachts and catamarans, a host of destination experts promoting a myriad of cruising grounds around the Queensland islands ad Great Barrier Reef, and all the hardware, gear and gadgets you'll need for a safe and memorable trip.

Along with major international brands such as Beneteau, Jeanneau, Seawind, Fountaine Pajot, Lagoon, Aquila, Bali and Leopard, SCIBS will also feature the latest navigation and electrical equipment from Lowrance, Simrad, B&G, Raymarine, Coursemaster, Garmin and Furuno, with new equipment also available from Dometic, One Sails and Adventure Safety, as well as hardware and winches from Ronstan and Muir.

Marinas and coastal destinations will also be in force, promoting their amenities for the cruising fraternity, and pushing the calendar of sailing events for the racing fleet. Musto will swell the ranks of exhibitors in the Pavilions and throughout The Marine Village with its high-performance offshore clothing range.

The Gold Coast is considered the gateway to the Whitsundays and The Reef, hence the big spread at SCIBS of cruising yachts, cats and motorcruisers, and all the electronics, accessories and destinations to lure you offshore.

BENETEAU
The world's number one selling yacht brand, Beneteau, will have 11 boats in display at SCIBS, including two sailing models alongside the brand's power range.

The Yacht Brokerage managing director Peter Nicholson said they will display the Beneteau Oceanis 35.1 and Beneteau 45.

"The 45 is a great choice for SCIBS. We are seeing the development of the Queensland market and significant increase in enquiry for the new Beneteau range," Nicholson said.

"Beneteau is renowned around the world, for space, comfort and styling. The 45 is a recreational yacht that easily transfers to commercial charter, which is a growing market.

"We are putting quite a lot of effort into SCIBS this year as it's a significant milestone being the 30th edition. As the Beneteau dealer in Queensland, we are investing heavily in the marketplace to promote the brand."

JEANNEAU
Mooloolaba Yacht Brokers will again present the popular Jeanneau 349 Sun Odyssey in a three-cabin, performance version, with a lifting keel suitable for competitive and cruising sailors.
"There are more than 500 of this model sailing around the world, and 45 of them in Australia," Mr Douglas said.

"We are sure visitors to SCIBS this year will be impressed with its versatility and quality."

SEAWIND
On water, Multihull Central will display six models in total - their biggest display in 19 years of boat shows.

Director Brent Vaughan said he is proud to present the innovative new Seawind 1190 Sport, hot off the ship and making its Australian debut.

"The Seawind 1190 Sport is a really interesting boat. It's unique in that it has daggerboards, retractable rudders, a taller rig than normal, aramid-fibre, high-tech sails, a big carbon bow sprit and spinnaker, plus loads of enhancements," Vaughan said.

"The reason being, there are many more sailors coming to multihulls and wanting to compete in the Hamilton Island Race Week and social regattas. They want performance out of their cruising cats.

There has been a lot of cross pollination at the Seawind and Corsair factory. The Sports is somewhere in the middle between high performance and comfortable cruiser. At $660,000, the Seawind 1190 Sport offers all this in a sub-million boat."

CORSAIR
The brand-new Corsair 760 Trimaran, a "pocket racer-cruiser," is making its Australian debut at SCIBS. This nifty little yacht is trailerable and the sort of boat you can race with your mates, then take your kids out and teach them how to sail and stay out overnight.

"It has a sink, stove, freshwater and basic bedding. You can sleep onboard or moor offshore and set up camp on a little beach somewhere. Priced at $125,000 it is within the reach of families and first-time sailors," Vaughan said.

CHARTER AND SYNDICATION
Multihull Central will show the Seawind 1260, a charter vessel heading to the Whitsundays with Charter Yachts Australia, and in its power range will be the Aquila 48 displayed for the first time in Australia.

Then there's the Aquila 44, which is being offered as a syndication boat with Yachtshare, and the Aquila 36 in a family fishing version, with live bait tank and rod racks at the back, barbeque, full windscreen, loads of refrigeration plus all the comforts you'd expect of a cruising cat.

FRENCH MULTIHULLS
Multihull Solutions will present two of the most popular in the French marque Fontaine Pajot's current range.

Managing director Mark Elkington said their display will include the Australian debut of the Lucia 40 sailing cat, as well as the MY 44 - a power cat launched in 2017 that is already setting records.

"The Lucia 40 has proven exceptionally popular and we expect many people flying from interstate to see it this year," Elkington said.

"We will be displaying two of the most popular boats from Fontaine Pajot, which is enjoying incredible sales success in the Asia Pacific region - there are 47 in forward order for delivery by 2020!

"We also have strong interest in pre-owned vessels, testament to how these boats retain their value and how their styling is timeless.

"Our main markets are retirees learning to sail and wanting to set off cruising, the 'grey nomads' looking to explore the coastline instead of hitting the road, younger families taking time off for a seachange, and young professionals who want a boat for cruising and entertaining on the weekends. They work hard, and a boat is their reward."

LEOPARD
Leopard will have two power cats on show, the Leopard 43 and 51, both making their SCIBS debut.

Dealer Wayne Richards said the new Leopard 43 PC power yacht leaves no details untouched, including the hull design, speed, standard specifications, updated interior, and much more.

"The Leopard 43 PC is a completely redesigned mid-sized catamaran built with the quality foundation that has come to be expected of Leopard Catamarans," Richards said.

"It offers great value for the quality, performance, and durability. With great fuel range at cruising speed, a lot of outdoor space including an enormous flybridge which can be fully enclosed, she is economical, easy to handle, and spacious with 27 per cent more interior volume than her predecessor."

In addition to private ownership through Leopard Catamarans, this cat will be available through The Moorings Yacht Ownership Program, which allows access to their worldwide destinations for six to 12 weeks of owner use per year.

Ensign Ship Brokers will also have information on a new sailing C45 and C50, replacing the Cruiser 46 and 51 and available in three variations: Style, Ambition and Holiday, arriving later in 2018, and the Bavaria power model the E34 sedan.

BALI
Representing Bali catamarans, Dream Yacht Charters is proud to display the superbly designed Bali 4.0 'Banjo', a popular charter yacht in the Whitsundays.

Dealer Christophe Vanek said the Bali 4.0 has accommodation for up to 10 guests, a large flybridge and bow entertaining area with tables and sunpads, plus a massive aft deck for meals and socialising.

"The Bali 4.0 is an example of the new concept with loft at the back of the boat, which opens up and is ideal for the tropics, enjoying the sunshine, while escaping the heat, and taking advantage of the watersports and activities people enjoy while boating," Vanek said.

LAGOON
The Multihull Group (TMG) will have the sensational 450 Lagoon on show at SCIBS this year, alongside its European power brands Axopar, Fjord, Greenline and Sealine, and a VIP lounge on a floating pontoon.

TMG director John Cowpe said the 450 Lagoon is one of the most popular current models, with 1000 boats released.

"It's a great all-rounder and will appeal to families and couple looking for a luxurious cruising cat that is equally at home for weekend sailing as it is for long range cruising," Cowpe said.

Fresh from being announced as the Australian dealer for Dragonfly Trimarans, built in Denmark for over 50 years, TMG will also showcase the brand's exceptional models for the first time at SCIBS: the 25ft and 35ft models.

TMG Queensland manager Rowan McMahon said these dynamic multihulls are extremely versatile and can be as fun, fast family cruisers or an even faster performance offshore racer.

"All Dragonfly models use the 'Swing Wing'. With this revolutionary system, the trimaran can be folded to reduce the beam by more than 50 per cent in less than one minute per side, using no tools and operating only from the cockpit," McMahon said.

"This system enables these boats to become trailable in the smaller models or fit perfectly in a single marina pen.

"We are certain they will be very appealing to cruising and competitive sailors."

Tickets for the 30th annual Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show are now on sale.