Trade A Boat's 2005 Sydney Boat Show review

The old Sydney Boat Show at the Show Ground had innocence. Fibreglass boatbuilding was still in its infancy and you'd made it if you could afford a Hood 23 yacht or a Bertram 25 cruiser. Today, those showstoppers are more often mooring minders. And at the Sydney International Boat Show at Darling Harbour you had to leave sentimentality at the door to appreciate where boating is headed.

Apart from a few classic craft, a handful of repros and retros harking back to a bygone era, this year's show was a modern boating extravaganza the likes of which we'd never seen before.

Never have our long-serving local boats been challenged by so many lofty imported craft. They were here in their droves from America, in dribs from Canada, drabs from Asia, and in an increasingly big way from the UK, Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, hey, even Slovenia. Such was demand I was told there were 100 exhibitors on the waiting list.

Indoors, the affordables, trailerables, tinnies, fishing rigs, ski boats, wakeboarders, paddlecraft and sailing dinghies vied for attention. There was also the annual fishing clinic, a mid-winter swimwear show, yacht charters, whiz-bang electronics, interior decorators, and everything at all remotely tied to boating.

However, on the temporary marina there was a different calibre of craft. Despite the cooling real-estate market, luxury boats are on the ascendency and it was here that you could find the swanky new-season cruisers, ocean-going yachts and majestic motorboats from all around the world.

Moored gunwale-to-gunwale were 275 ever-more luxurious craft ranging in price from about $100,000 for a fetching French Beneteau cabin cruiser to $8 million for the spiffing Sunseeker 82 MKII Yacht from England that's supplied with every concievable luxury, including fine china for a mid-ocean high tea.

With a collective value of at least $150 million, estimated Domenic Genua from the Boating Industry Association, this was the show's biggest ever on-water display and it wouldn't be out of place on a marina in Majorca. The big clique of cosmopolitan craft were lured by the free-trade agreement with America, the strong Aussie dollar, the buoyant economy, and our apparent willingness, at least with well-heeled generations, to spend on our leisure.

At least 70 per cent of the boats on the marina were foreign marques, including Americans Bertram, Viking, Cabo and Chris Craft - the latter chosen by Hollywood stars and JFK - English Princess and Sunseekers, European Bavarias and Beneteaus. Then there were our own homegrown boatbuilders such as Caribbean and Riviera, Deep-V and Seawind.

Peter Sarich, son of Ralph Sarich of Orbital Engine fame, has invested $17 million importing American Bertram boats and establishing a new boating business at Jones Bay Wharf this year: "I researched the market and was pleasantly surprised by the number of people prepared to invest in recreational boating. It's a quick way to get a release," he said.

Launching a counter attack, Australia's biggest boatbuilder Riviera will export about 55 per cent of its 420-boat production run in 2005-2006. Wholesale Manager, Alan Paterson, believes recreational boating has been on the ascendency right around the world since September 11, when people decided to spend more time at home reconnecting with their families.

Tireless boatbuilder Bill Barry-Cotter, who has attended at least 30 Sydney Boat Shows, says his new Maritimo enterprise, which caters only to the local market at this stage, has grown from nothing to $70 million in sales in 12 months.

Officially, annual boating registrations have increased by about four per cent a year in the Eastern States. However, boats are getting bigger, faster, more comfortable and even more exotic. A stalwart in the boating industry, Barry Spooner from International Marine says he's never seen anything like it in 50 years. "Were just so fortunate and affluent here that it's not unusual to have two houses, three or four cars, a couple of boats, and a few wives," he adds wryly.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE
UK Sunseeker, the preferred conveyances of F1 drivers and celebs in the Med', had nine gorgeous motorboats collectively valued at about $27 million. With separate crew quarters, the new 82 Yacht (about $8 million) was the most expensive on show.

The single-level Predator models that are much loved for entertaining included a 61, 68 and 75, while a new 53 debuted in the point-and-shoot performance line of Portofinos. The stately Sunseeker Motoryachts include the Manhattan 50 and 64 models.

Compatriots Princess had a new-generation 67 (about $3.7 million) that ushers in a new era of styling for the luxury motoryacht marque and the full-beam owner's cabin with full headroom is the stuff of much bigger boats. The Princess exhibit ranged across a P50 and P57 to the sexy V58 and V65 sportyachts.

From England with love came the upmarket Fairline 52 Grande Tourisimo, a $1.75 million single-level entertainer with retractable hardtop and reverse-cycle air conditioning for all-weather cruising. A new Squadron 66 and the Phantom 46 will be released at the Southampton Boat Show later this year.

The Italians hit back with a stunning new Azimut 68S for about $4 million with electric retractable hardtop and aft suntop, tender garage, hydraulic platform and ladder, dark timber joinery, and twin super-smooth 1360hp MAN V12 motors with common-rail injection. It was this scribe's boat of the show and was flanked by Azimut's five-star 55 and 62 flybridge motorcruisers.

Yachting Unlimited at Jones Bay wharf, which is morphing into a nice little luxury-boating alley, unveiled the new Pershing 50 (about $2.5 million) from Italy with twin MAN V8 900hp turbo diesels with common-rail injection and Arneson surface drives. Coveted for its powerful performance, the Pershing touts a top speed of 46kt - early trials on the harbour point to at least 43kt - and dynamic turning at high speed. Other Italians worth a peep included the beautifully finished Cranchi sportscruisers.

Yachtmaker Beneteau was branching out with its avant-garde Antares motorboats from 6.20m to 13.80m in length and a really nice 12m flybridge model rigged to do everything, while French yachtmaker Jeanneau had a new entry-level Leader 805 Offshore Powerboat and cruisers ranging to the Prestige 46. A new French badge, Ocqueteau was attached to a line of quaint cabin cruisers with great finish for a French powerboat builder.

They didn't come any more American than Chris Craft, however. These are the retro cruisers of choice for many Hollywood greats and past politicians including JFK. Chris Craft is relaunching Down Under with a dapper trio comprising the 25ft, 28ft and 36ft Corsair that are built on performance hulls. The 40 Roma (about $790,000) is a real gentleman's cruiser with poise.

The American assault hit a crescendo with the launch of some big-name battlewagons for bluewater fishing that might rock our local Riviera, Blackwatch and Caribbean brands or, moreover, take sales from our custom yards. Those with a penchant for flybridge cruisers crawled over Cabo Yachts' 43 (about $1.4 million) and 48 (about $1.9 million); the genuine American Bertram 51 (just landed for about $1.9 million) and the 57 (about $2.8 million tournament-ready); and the Viking 56 (high-$2 million), which had gob-smackingly good engineering and finish and a 39kt top speed with twin Caterpillar 1420hp motors.

Star-spangled Regal offered a spread of sweet-performing sportscruisers from the 2665 family weekender to the 4260 (about $780,000) that I thought was a great drive on the harbour. Another well-known Yankee badge, Wellcraft had two versions of its 35CCF high-performance centre console, plus a 252 cuddy cabin walkaround boat and 232 centre-console sportsfisher all with outboard power.

Indoors, meanwhile, was the biggest display of Boston Whalers ever seen in Australia, a triple-engined Hydrasports 3300VX sportsfisher, and some nice Sea Ray, Four Winns, Larson, Bayliner, Trophy and Arvor boats. Cobalt was back on the marina, meanwhile, periodically starting the big-block V8s on its sportscruisers and attracting due attention.

Expecting just another American production boat, I came away mightily impressed by the new Monterey 270 ($129,315 packaged with the lot). The new sportscruiser lineup stretches to a 35-footer from $350,000. The Montereys have a Euro-influenced finish that's a cut above, great deck designs with plenty of comforts, sporty performance and a keen price. New cruiser buyers put them on their shortlists.

American Carver was espousing the virtues of on-water living and family-friendliness aboard its troika of all-new 33ft to 38ft flybridge cruisers, while bigger is better in Cruisers Yachts' accommodating range of wide-bodied sportscruisers from 30ft to 54ft. Its 45ft motoryacht even has a spa bath.

The next wave of Americans contained motoryachts from Meridian for spending weeks afloat with the family, Maxum sportscruisers that offer driver-and-crew comforts, sexy Sea Ray sportscruisers and sedan bridge motorboats that are huge entertaining platforms, and Silverton convertibles for fishing and family use. Tiara Sport Yachts team offshore performance with inshore pizzazz.

The new Albin 28 cabin cruiser from Rhode Island, Mainship trawlers and Grand Banks have more traditional lines, as do the Integrity cruisers, the Alaskans and the DeFever. The Dyna 51 is all space and style for your money.

On the local front, Riviera boasted a new 51ft flybridge convertible with a terrific internal moulded stairwell and enclosed bridge for the spend-the-kid's-inheritance generation, a new 60ft flagship with underwater exhausts, and an exciting 360 Sport Yacht and M360 sportsruiser for all-weather boating. Local competitors Maritimo unveiled a new 52 fly with crew-friendly decks.

Caribbean released a new 32ft flybridge boat with twin cabins and twin 210hp Cummins for efficiency, while Blackwatch and Deep V (lookout for the single-engined 30 soon) had some seaworthy convertibles for chasing marlin. The new version of the White Cap 40 flybridge gameboat was much improved, too.

Locals Mustang and Sunrunner matched it in the pricing war started by the imports. But in terms of dollars and numbers the Sydney International Boat Show was a worldly affair and by far the most cosmopolitan boat show in the Southern Hemisphere. It attracted a large amount of interstate interest and reasserted its position as the nation's best boat show.

WHAT'S HOT IN YACHTS
You could travel the world in search of a fleet of yachts like those that fought for attention this year at the Sydney International Boat Show.

Cheaper imports and flash new foreign yachts made with cutting-edge production methods overshadowed the few remaining, Australian badges.

The eternal quest for weight savings has given rise to new resin-infusion and injection-moulding boat-building techniques and the emergence of epoxy systems, which were previously confined to custom boat builders. But while the boats are getting lighter and faster, the trend is to more homely cruising yachts graced with sailing aids like electric winches and furling sails that couples can sail away.

Asking prices ranged from more than $1 million for an around-the-world yacht to $2250 for a sailing sea kayak that wouldn't be out of sorts gadding about the lake on a warm summer breeze.

Here's a run down of what's hot in the world of new-season yachts...
Big-named Beneteau is mounting a three-pronged attack this season: its successful .7 Series with Farr-designed hulls can be found on the racetrack; Oceanis cruising yachts now offer more room and easier operation thanks to electric winches and bowthrusters; and the new Cyclades yacht range caters for the lower-end of town where a lot of new buyers are getting afloat.

While simplistic, the Cyclades 43 ($362,000) has an Australian-sized cockpit in which you can entertain and an egalitarian layout with a bathroom and shower for each of its three cabins. The Beneteau build quality has been signed off by discerning company matriarch Madame Roux and at least half the yachts sold so far have gone to private owners, not just charter fleets, who want to save on options and reduce maintenance via a low-fuss finish.

A Cyclades 39 will debut at La Rochelle Boat Show in France next month and a 50 will be released thereafter. Meantime, Beneteau's high-volume Oceanis range has grown yet bigger with the new Groupe Finot-designed 523 featuring three, four or five-cabin layouts including the option of a huge proprietor's suite.

Club racers will fawn over the new Farr-designed Beneteau 34.7, a perfect-sized yacht for driving around the cans and doing the northern regattas. Weight-savings come from resin-infusion methods, which Beneteau intends to use more often on its racing yachts. Other features include an asymmetrical kite and prod and expected competitiveness in the IRC divisions. A fleet-footed 27.7, popular 36.7, race-winning 40.7 and new 44.7 completed the racing range.

But if money's no object the Beneteau flagship, a Farr-designed 57 costing from $1.3 to $1.4 million, is the one. This yacht has notched-up 10 sales in Australia already. And while ensconced in luxury, consider Beneteau's other badge, the Wauquiez. The new blue-hulled 40 looked spiffing at the show.

French rivals Jeanneau had their avant-garde Deck Saloon yachts including the new 49DS with huge living room, and a new 42DS due in Sydney in February. The Sun Odyssey cruiser range had a voluminous 45 (about $445,000) and 49 with bow storage compartment. While none have been ordered yet, there's a new Sunfast 40.3 for racing sailors.

The French theme continued with Dufour's new Grande Large (now there's tautology for you), a range of voluminous cruising yachts that included a 385 and 455 and a 365 coming soon. The Performance Cruiser lineup - a 36 and 40 - have injection-moulded decks for 40 per cent weight savings over a conventional deck. There's also a 44 sporting a powerful high-aspect rig racing this year and a French Archambault 40 debuted at the show before jousting at Hammo.

There were just two Asian-made yachts. The DK46 (about $880,000) is an American-designed racer made in Malaysia and favoured by Sydney sailor Ray Roberts, who won a number of Asian regattas in the past year or so; and the Tayana 48 Deck Saloon from Taiwan, a new boat here made for oceanic sailing.

A continental flavour hailed from Bavaria in Germany and its new 30 ($170,000 with wheel steering), 33 and 39 cruising yachts. A 37 is being released in Europe and, on the racing front, there's a 35 Match here already. However, demand was greatest for its small cruisers that are well suited to social racing and pottering around the harbour and bays.

Germans Hanse made waves with a new E Series of vacuum-bagged epoxy boats that boast 25 per cent weight savings over its current boats. The new 531E, 461E, 400E and 370E ($282,000) were a hit with Sydney sailors. The agent also represents the stylish Swedish Hallberg-Rassy yachts and a 43 centre-cockpit cruiser ($342,000) debuted at the show.

Built to demanding Lloyds' standards and Rob Humphrey's designs, Elan from Slovenia had a 31-footer with tiller steering and a 37, but the 384 ($295,000) from the new made-for-cruising Impression range impressed most. Belgium badge ETAP had one of its foam-filled unsinkable 30-odd footers, and there was a Swan 48 from Finland, plus a Nordship 35 from Denmark.

The Danish X37 is a work-of-art production yacht, but the new 35 One Design is X-Yachts' tear-away success - more than 80 have been sold before its September release in Europe and three of the new International One Design Class will debut here in March. A new fully-carbon X55 racer and big X70 are new European releases.

The present economic climate gave rise to the biggest fleet of American yachts ever seen at a Sydney Boat Show. Hunter's high-volume cruisers ranged from a nifty 25-footer ($58,000) to a new 41-footer ($349,000), and countrymen Catalina displayed a new 350 and 387, plus a revised 28 and 400 ($330,000).

Yet the Island Packet 485 ($980,000) was the one that best encapsulated the American cruising yacht theme. It has a full-length keel protecting its propeller, in-mast furling mainsail, cutter rig and electric winches. The centre cabin was graced with gleaming stainless-steel deck gear, while a full-width owner's stateroom called from below.

Long-lived locals Northshore had their honest 34 and 38ft yachts; my favourite floating home and office, the Buizen 48, was on show again; and Iain Murray was behind the slick Sydney 39 CR fast cruising yacht. The Ultimate 3000 ($195,800) was an interesting one-off relaunch of a local Cole 30 that was a hit back in the late-70s.

The cream of the catamaran crop included Seawind's 1000 and 1160, the Lightwave 45, the Tasman C35 cat, and the pretty Perry 43 and 57. Plus there were powercats, though nothing like the range at Sanctuary Cove Boat Show. But Perry has sold seven of its flagship 57s this year including a boat to a roving American who considered it the ultimate cruising conveyance. Where trailer-sailers were once common at the Sydney Boat Show they are now few and far between. Catalina had a 22-footer (from $38,000), there was a Macgregor 26 hybrid power-and-sail boat, and an F24 trimaran. By and large, however, we seem to be over the hour of rigging at the boat ramp and, despite events like the Marley Point Race, the TS trend seems to be slipping slowly into obscurity.

The Walker Bay 8RID was a fun tender with inflatable tubes that you can row, motor and, yes sail. Then there was the all-in-one Hobie sea kayak with paddle, pedal and sail power for $2250. But aside from the new Hobie Bravo plastic cat ($6825 including of-the-beach cradle) there was little by way of wet-bum dinghies. The sailing scene has changed and worldly cruisers with diesel engines and sails are the craft making waves.

It may not have matched last year's record attendance (93,500), but when the doors closed on the 38th staging of the Sydney International Boat Show, organiser, the Boating Industry Association of NSW, could feel well pleased. With an attendance of 89,451 the show easily maintained its status as the largest recreational boat show in the Southern Hemisphere. Planning has already begun on the 2006 show, which will have a yet bigger on-water display.