Sydney Showboaters

It's 40 years-old, one more than this writer, who can remember the good old days when we hopeful boat owners wandered around the old Sydney Showground and looked up at the 30-footers, the big boats of the day, and silently wished for one. Now a stunning on-water exhibition and undercover marine expose, the Sydney International Boat Show has come of age, matured into a truly world-class show, morphed into a cosmopolitan event with craft from all around the world, and become a stage for new launches from our local boatbuilders, not to mention a venue where much bigger boats rule the waves.

This year's 40th Sydney International Boat Show from August 2 to 7 at Darling Harbour is, in fact, bigger than ever before. The show has attracted more than 350 exhibitors to a huge new purpose-built marina spanning the breadth of Cockle Bay - the biggest purpose-built structure at any national boat show - as well as oodles of trailerable craft and cool gear to six heated halls.

Together, the big and little boats, accessories, holidays and charters, fishing, dive and watersports equipment will make this the biggest Sydney show in the history of the event. And, in terms of capital-city shows, Sydney always attracts the biggest crowds and the most sales of sails and motorboats.

Boating Industry Association marketing and event manager, Domenic Genua, says due to the increase in the size of the boats the marina will be 20 per cent larger than last year. Reflecting Sydney's thirst for luxury vessels, the specially constructed floating marina will cross Cockle Bay and host more boats than the previous record of 305 craft at last year's show. All told there will be well over 1000 boats vying for attention.

So what exactly is seeking a new home on the harbour this year? While it's famous for its luxury imported craft, local boatbuilders will be staging some of the most exciting new launches of the year. After announcing no interest in the game-fishing market, Maritimo has succumbed - hook, line and sinker - and will unveil a new purpose-built game fishing boat, the 550 with, we're told, such things as quick-transfer fuel tanks for more agility when chasing fish and, on the demo craft, a $20,000 fighting chair. With twin 1000hp Cats, it is said to do better than 38kts. While the Riviera Group unveiled its new 45-foot flybridge craft at Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show - that boat will make a splash for the first time in Sydney - the big new debut is the 4400 Sport Yacht with Volvo's ground-breaking IPS propulsion system featuring forward-facing propellers - bound to be a hot harbour boat - and the new 47 Flybridge with Enclosed Hardtop, so you don't get wet; plus a 56 Flybridge Cruiser with new mezzanine seating option in the cockpit. All told, Australia's biggest boatbuilder will have 15 boats on display.

New kids on the block - at least as far as flybridge cruisers in Sydney are concerned - Mustang will showcase its M37 to M43 models to the local fishing and cruising set; Bella Marine will have its Chinese-built flybridge cruisers on display; evergreen Caribbean will have its time-proven flybridge craft including the new trailerable 24-footer; Deep V will have some fish boats including the 310; and Whitecap will show its refined 40 that has found favour with local game fishers out of Botany Bay.

Locals Sunrunner will have a spread of revamped sportscruisers, as will Mustang, while Whittley will unveil its 2800 Cruisemaster, a new flagship maxi trailerboat with accommodation for four. Measuring 9.0m overall, with a hull length of 7.5m and beam of 2.47m, the 2800 Cruisemaster will have an overall towing weight of around 3450kg on its lightweight aluminium trailer. Price is expected to be around $150,000-plus.

Luxury imported boats with six-figure tags range all the way up to the Italian-made Azimut 105, the largest boat ever to grace a Sydney show, which keeps company with Azimut's new 62 Fly and 43S, the latter proving popular with Sydney Boat Share. Blueblood Princess have six stunning UK-made motoryachts; compatriots Sunseeker have a display of Predator sportyachts and Manhattan motorcruisers; but all eyelids will be batting at the Italian-made San Lorenzo 72 - can't wait to check her out - with big news on future Fairlines from the UK, too.

Grand Banks will have a new 47EU Heritage trawler-style cruiser; avant garde French Beneteau has a new Monte Carlo 37 sportsyacht and Antares 7; compatriots Jeanneau has a PR42S sports-top model with Volvo IPS and aft garage; the futuristic Fjord 40 with Wally-Yachts styling makes a splash; and boutique Backcove from Maine, USA, has a 29-foot and new 26-foot picnic boat.

Those American mainstays now made in Italy, the big-ticket go-fast Bertrams aren't to be missed if offshore fishing is your game. But due to the strong Aussie dollar there will be many more American boats at the show: expect big things from Bayliner, Cruisers, SeaRay - with a new marina at the Spit it's out to make its mark - Monterey, Four Winns, Regal, Chris Craft, contemporary Carvers, the huge new Voyager passagemaker, the sweet Dorals from Canada, the Cobalts, the Boston Whalers, and lots more.

As ever, you'll find the best collection of yachts anywhere in Australia, with Sydney Yachts offering plenty of smart racer-cruisers and high-end Marten cruising boats. Our celebrated cat maker Seawind will have its comfortable cruising craft on show.

French Beneteau has a groovy Oceanis 43 cruising boat, a compact First 21.7, a big racy First 50 and Lagoon 42 hybrid catamaran; and French Jeanneau will reveal more of its "i" series and Deck Saloon cruising yachts.

Hanse, the German builder outselling them all, will have a new 540E epoxy yacht, which is lighter and stronger with the signature sleek minimalist lines and designer interior; American Hunter has a new 36; Catalina will boast high-volume affordable family sailing boats; Harmony Yachts from France makes a splash; and that's just for starters.

Indoors, the affordables, trailerables, tinnies, fishing rigs, ski boats, wakeboarders, paddlecraft and sailing dinghies vie for attention. There's a fishing clinic, swimwear show, yacht charters, whiz-bang electronics, and everything else to do with boats.

The best attended marine event of any in the national circuit, the Sydney show is expected to attract up to 90,000 visitors, says the BIA, though it's the calibre of showgoers that will drive sales. Typically, the Sydney market is strong and savvy, showgoers' show their hand and, these days, tend to buy something bigger than a tinnie or tub.

Though trailerboats are the biggest sellers in terms of numbers, it's the big boats and unmatched display of yachts that will wow crowds. All told, some half a billion dollars in new-boat sales are made each year at the show, or roughly a quarter of NSW's $2.1 billion recreational boating industry.

The Sydney show is perceived as the place to buy. With all those boat agents and dealers under the one roof something has to give and, often, it's the price or some gratis extras.

The Sydney International Boat Show is open from August 2 to 7 at the Convention and Exhibition Centre, and Cockle Bay Marina from 10am to 8pm for the halls, but 10am to 6pm for the marina. Entry costs $18 adult, $10 child, family $42, aged pensioner $12 and senior $16.

For more information, visit www.sydneyboatshow.com.au