THE SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW received just under 50,000 visitors over five days July 28-Aug 1.
THE SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW received just under 50,000 visitors over five days July 28-Aug 1. The event ran for the last time at the interim facility of the Sydney Exhibition Centre on Glebe Island, a venue utilised while construction of the new International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) in Darling Harbour was taking place.
“The show delivered all that we had planned. Excellent exhibits and a happy and vibrant audience. This is the largest gathering of the recreational marine industry in Australia,” says Boating Industry Association National Chief Executive Officer Howard Glenn. “Our objective was to bring industry together with the boating public, both old and new. We achieved this and everyone benefited greatly from the experience.
“The show has a number of objectives. Apart from educating and entertaining our visitors, we also provide the exhibitors an opportunity to sell their products and services to the boating public. Preliminary reports are that many visitors took advantage of the show’s excellent product line up and it appears that many will be on the waterways this summer with new purchases for the first time.”
Horizon Yachts from Taiwan presented its E75 motoryacht at the show, while Volvo Penta, Riviera, Multihull Solutions, Sunseeker, Beneteau, Jeanneau, X-Yachts, Yamaha Motor, Oyster Yachts, Sunreef Yacht, Lagoon, Fountaine Pajot, Gulf Craft, Azimut, Monte Carlo Yachts and Ferretti Group also took part in the show among the 178+ exhibitors. Riviera displayed its new yacht 4800 Sport Yacht among the around 800 boats shown at the event, while United Arab Emirates (UAE) shipyard Gulf Craft debuted its Nomad 65.
Multihull Solutions received seven orders for new Fountaine Pajot power and sail catamarans, including the Lucia 40 sailing catamarans, a Helia 44 Evolution, New 47 and MY 37 power catamaran at the show. Four of the ordered catamarans have been purchased for private use, while three will be placed in charter in the Whitsundays and at Sydney Harbour.
Planning has already commenced for next year, when the show will celebrate its 50th anniversary from Aug 3-7, 2017.