Sydney International Boat Show 2002

Other boat shows may lay claim to this or that - the most marina space, the biggest undercover display, a record rise in patronage, that kind of thing - but none can hold a candle to the aptly named Sydney International Boat Show from August 1-6 in Darling Harbour.

Cosmopolitan and classy, the Sydney Boat Show will flaunt a top-shelf selection of the very best sail and power boats money can buy. Take the yachts, for example, the latest lines from Europe and America, as well as local craft, which together form the biggest showing of new sailboats in Australia.

COSMOPOLITAN
The imported yachts represent the cosmopolitan face of boating in Sydney. French makers Beneteau will have a new Oceanis 42CC centre cockpit cruising yacht, a racy First 36.7 and a full spread of other chic models from 31ft upwards.

Sister company Jeanneau, which recently took an order from Sunsail UK for over 100 new yachts (believed to be the largest single order ever placed by a charter company), will have a flotilla of French-made yachts including some debut models.

North South Yachting will display a range of well-priced German-made Bavaria yachts, including a new 36-footer, Danish-made X-Yachts and a Kiwi-built Oyster 53 luxury cruiser.

Yacht Italia will reveal two new Italian-made Grand Soleils, the 40 and 43, US builders Catalina and Hunter will both be well-represented, the latter with its new 356, while Etap from Belgium will have an unsinkable 30-footer that is bound to make waves.

Sailing in from Germany will be a new Hanse 311 with some bigger sisterships, plus the Swedish cruising beauty, the Hallberg-Rassy 34, which is featured in this issue.

YACHT-BUILDING BOOM
Meanwhile, after years in the doldrums, the Australian yachtbuilding industry is back on the ascendancy. Spurred on by local and foreign markets, we are now producing some of Australia's best yachts yet, and they will be on show this year.

An example of the local yachtbuilding boom is the leading Australian builder, Sydney Yachts in Nowra, which turned over more than $10 million last financial year. It now employs more than 80 staff, is ISO9002 accredited and exports in excess of 60% of its production run.

But if the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show is anything to go by, some of the biggest queues at the Sydney show will gather outside the new Kay Cottee 56. Built by SailAus in Yamba, the comfortable cruising yacht is rigged for short-handed sailing across oceans.

More than $2 million will buy the Signature Edition, Cottee's own boat, with optional lifting keel (reduces draft from 2.76m to 1.53m), air-conditioning, dishwasher, washing machine and dryer, and three flatscreen televisions.

Kay Cottee also opted for electric winches, a furling mainsail, and a deck-accessed workshop. The three double cabins each have ensuites, with underwater viewing ports in the aft cabin floors, while the 5m-long saloon boasts a separate casual eating area.

Another local hero is the MKL49 designed by David Lyons and built by Mackman Boats on the Gold Coast, which won the Australian Yacht of the Year award. Unfortunately, the owners are contesting the Sydney to Southport Race, so no show.

While it is designed in New Zealand, the Elliott 1250 Tourer is another impressive newie being built in Victoria. The cruiser-racer has a deckhouse - a kind of glass-encapsulated raised saloon with views - that is a luxury normally reserved for much bigger yachts.

Featured in this issue, the Elliott should appeal to home handypeople, as it can be purchased as a basic hull and deck, with keel and rudder.

NSW builder Northshore Yachts will display its flash new 369 One Design yacht, which has sleek styling and a hull drawn by Scott Jutson, who designed Brindabella. Pitched to club racers, the yacht won two winter series meets on the harbour this season.

The runnerless rig on the 369 has non-overlapping headsails, but a large spinnaker for performance downwind. Off the race track, the 369OD delivers comfort for the family to cruise up river.

With three double berths, a hot shower, refrigeration and more, the new Northshore 369 will cost $250,000, plus sails and instruments.

Our biggest yachting marque, Sydney Yachts, part-owned by Iain Murray, will unveil a new One Design 32-footer to feed the club sailing ranks.

Following in the footsteps of the hot-selling Sydney 38, the new 32-footer is expected to be fast, fun, easily managed and comfortable down below.

The non-overlapping rig, so much in vogue these days, makes for snappy tacking. On deck, a large open cockpit can carry six sailors in comfort. For cruising couples it offers twin double cabins and a relatively large saloon. The Sydney 32 will sell for under $250,000 ready to campaign at the club.

Indoors, look for the 59er, a new off-the-beach skiff from NSW company Bethwaite Design, for sailors who through the wisdom of age are no longer predisposed to hanging on the wire.

And there's always the long-life Laser for around $7500 on trailer, or the option of a charter on the harbour or lessons with a sailing school.

NEW MARINA, BIG TOYS
This year's Sydney International Boat Show marina in Cockle Bay will be built by Walcon Marine especially for the occasion and graced with lots of glamorous motorboats. More than 160 berths were presold to both local and international companies.

Naturally, Australia's biggest leisure-boatbuilder, The Riviera Group, has taken the most marina space. Local dealers will have the full range of glamorous Rivs on display, headed by the new 58ft flagship. But making just as many waves will be the company's new 47ft cruiser, released for the first time anywhere at Sydney.

Sister company Mariner will be easily distinguished by their sporty lines and largely navy-blue hulls. The well-priced Mariner sportscruisers are giving many of the imports a run for their money.

Another major boatbuilder based in Queensland, Mustang Cruisers, will have a flotilla of home-grown sportscruisers headed by the new 4600 Mirage. With twin 450hp 3126B Cats, the Mustang flagship will achieve speeds of around 34kt, while featuring a cockpit floor that lifts on a hydraulic strut for engine access, air-conditioning that fans the helm, flatscreen televisions and cherrywood joinery.

Oozing style, the classic-looking timber Azzura cruisers will be hard to miss. The Commuter 50 and 33-footers feature lovely lines with tumblehome, teak decks and lots of pretty chrome bits. My kind of boats.

So, too, are the Palm Beach picnickers - check out their awesome new 50 if you want to see sweet lines and good looks.

Bluewater fishos can jump aboard the new improved Black Watch boats. Okay, so you're wondering how they made these sweet-running gameboats better? Check out the cherrywood-lined interiors, soft furnishings and internal moulded liners - little wonder they are exporting overseas. Also on the fishing/family front, locals Caribbean will have some good, honest seaboats.

The best local craft may well be the semi-custom Warren 23m motoryacht. Think poise, performance and a veritable floating palace fit to berth in any top-notch Med marina.

BRITS REEL IN THE MILES
Speaking of overseas, this year's spread of imported motoryachts will take some beating. From the UK, Fairline will flash a number of new boats with timeless, tasteful and elegant interiors floating on sharp hulls designed to reel in the sea miles.

Also from the UK, popular prestige powerboat marque Princess will be represented by a spread of beautiful boats from 40 to 60-something feet, with the kind of contrivances normally reserved for custom-made boats.

Sealine will also be showing off its range of motoryachts, while Sunseeker, another UK company making its mark, will be unveiling a new Predator 61 (tested this issue) at an exclusive themed cork-popper that might have something to do with James Bond.

Growing in popularity among the upper echelons of big-boat buyers, more Sunseekers are on the way to Sydney.

AND MORE, LOTS MORE...
From Italy will be a number of marques including Azimut, which will display some of its lovely open-plan, exquisitely moulded motoryachts in the 40-50ft range. These boats may cost a bit more, but take the opportunity to stroll inside and see how well they are finished.

Other Italians to look out for include Ferretti, Apreamare and Monte Fino.

Big volume American luxury boating brands such as Bayliner, Sea Ray and Maxum will be waving their respective flags, too - perhaps indoors instead of outdoors - with their 25 to 30-something sports and family cruisers.

Then there'll be some new Salthouse 60s from across the Tasman, designed expressly for long-range, economical cruising.

Also worth a long look are the Trader and Royce aft cabs from Taiwan, and the way-cool cruising beast called the Offshore, which could be among the best liveaboards of the show.

All these are only the tip of the iceberg. There are so many big boats that I've breezed past - not to mention a helicopter for sale - plus halls packed to the rafters with trailerboats, traileryachts, the latest electronics, charter stuff, food, wine and, wow, women doing fashion shows in mid-winter...

2002 Sydney International Boat Show
When: August 1-6, from 10am-8pm
Where: Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre and Cockle Bay Marina, Darling Harbour
Public Entry: $14 Adults; $34 Family (2 adults & 3 children); $9 Seniors & Pensioners; $7 Children (free entry to children under 5 years of age)
Size of Show: 6 halls (27,200sqm) with 300 exhibitors. Marina (600m long) with over 150 vessels from more than 50 exhibitors.
Organisers: The Boating Industry Association of NSW, tel (02) 9438 2077, or visit the website at www.bia.org.au.
Sponsors: Club Marine Insurance, Channel 7, Waterways Authority, Trade-A-Boat.
Show Website: www.sydneyboatshow.com.au