Sanctuary Cove show a success

There was sunshine, there was rain – but overall the 2010 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show was a roaring success.

Members of the marine industry were not left disappointed with the annual event, now in its 22nd year, attracting its third highest tally of exhibitors in the show's history. Some 424 exhibitors were present with over 570 boats and watercraft on display as well as numerous engines, electronics, marine products and services on show.

Over the four days of the event an audience of in excess of 39,000 marine enthusiasts walked through the gates of the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, situated in one of Australia's leading leisure boat building region on the Gold Coast.

Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show general manager Barry Jenkins said exhibitors reported high quality sales leads and interest from genuine buyers, some reporting it had been their best year sales wise for several years.

"We have seen some fantastic sales results," said Mr Jenkins who confirmed that sales were made directly to international buyers as well as Australians.

"The Show has proven to be the place 'Where the Marine Business Does Business' and we have had exhibitors already indicating interest in the 2011 Show," added Mr Jenkins.

Industry veteran Steve Shaw, who has exhibited his Powercats at the Show for the past 10 years, said that he saw a positive attitude from buyers. "It has been two years since we actually sold a boat at the Show, this year we sold five."

The first sale was made within two hours of the show opening on Thursday. Steve likened this year's Show to 2007 when he sold some 26 boats. He said that before the event he had many enquiries from people who were planning to come to the event. He sold five of his bigger boats during the Show and is confident that he will double the figure in the next few months.

Diana Orsmond from G-Force Marine said that there was a lot of interest in the company's inflatables; many being bought as tenders for larger yachts. Diana said they had taken deposits for 10 rigid inflatables with a lot of enquires coming from interstate visitors.

The Boatsales Network was once again a proud sponsor of the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. The Show is a special event for the BoatPoint Network (which includes the Boatpoint.com.au and Boatsales.com.au websites) as the Boatpoint website was originally launched at the show 13 years ago.

Boatpoint exhibited on Masthead Way, showcasing all of the exciting site changes and innovations that have occurred in 2009/2010.

Tournament Boats, which are built at Yatala, signed a major deal to export at least 100 boats to South Korea. The deal was signed between the company and representatives of Komarine who attended as part of the Korean delegation.

Luxury boat sales were also very positive, with Boats International, who market Horizon cruisers, sold a 65 and said there was a lot of interest in the new 88, which was making its world debut and also the striking Bandido 66.

Peter Jenkins from Maritimo, who traditionally keep sales figures very close to his chest, said it was the best show for sales the company had experienced in five years. It is known that of the sales Maritimo signed up, one boat went to Melbourne another to South Australia and a third to Singapore.

An ecstatic Riviera CEO John Anderson said that contracts had been signed for nine of the 43 Flybridge Cruisers, which made their debut at this year's show along with 12 other Riviera models. John said that 25 per cent of the total sales would be exported.

Overall the show was a fantastic success, not only for the exhibitors and organisers but for the Marine Industry as a whole. Confidence is improving and it will be exciting to see what the rest of the boat show season holds for the industry.