Gold Coast International Marine Expo unveils a raft of new yachts

by Gold Coast Marine Expo on 13 Mar 2015 The Gold Coast International Marine Expo – Australia’s new paradigm of boat show - has unveiled a raft of new yachts, products and fun family attractions as the countdown to this unique and massive showcase of all things aquatic strikes Week 11.

This week’s Expo Countdown includes details of the Australasian premieres of the new luxurious and high-performance TAG 60 XR catamaran, the new Express water-maker from Blue Water Desalination, powerful floodlights from Lumitec as well as the new and versatile Iris surveillance cameras and a novel navigational marker challenge using an amphibious boat.

Also in the Week 11 Countdown, Expo announces that City of Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate – a vocal advocate of the marine industry – will officially open ‘the boat show with so much more’ at 10.30am on Thursday, 21 May 2015.

Event and Marketing Manager Emma Milne said these were just the latest headlines after five weeks of exciting announcements, with many more scheduled as the Countdown continues until the Expo (21-24 May 2015).

'So far we have announced a series of world and Australian-firsts, a number of yacht and boat premieres as well as lots of live and interactive family attractions and fun practical demonstrations across the Expo’s five key event sites.'

'The high-performance TAG 60 XR from Multihull Solutions will form part of the Super 60s line-up of Multihulls at The Boat Works site – the first of its kind at any boat show anywhere in Australia,' she said. 'She is a very impressive 60-foot sailing cat can be handled comfortably by a crew of just two people yet offers excellent capability on all points of sail … as well as an unprecedented level of comfort, luxury and innovation.

'Australian Marine Wholesale will premiere the Express desalination system and will be distributing bottled 200ml samples of water at the Gold Coast City Marina site, as well exhibiting as the compact yet powerful Lumitec flood and deck lights and the Iris surveillance cameras, which can be fitted to outriggers so you can catch all the game-fishing action.

'The Sirocco Marine North navigational marker challenge is a very exciting first for a boat show and will see our visitors using a Sealegs amphibious RIB to test their knowledge of the buoyage system – it’s another reason why the Expo is ‘the boat show with so much more’.'

Ms Milne said Cr Tate’s support for the Expo – created by marine industry leaders to foster growth and jobs within the wider Australian marine industry – is a great fit with Council’s economic development strategy to broaden the economy and create fulfilling careers for Gold Coast residents.

'The Expo encompasses almost the entire Gold Coast Marine Precinct, a bustling hub of over 50 hectares of marine manufacturing, export and trade, employment and training – it is where each year over 13,000 boats are built, where almost 6000 boats are slipped, serviced, repaired or refitted and where over 2000 people are directly employed,' she said.

'The value of the supply chain servicing the businesses located at the Marine Precinct – including the biggest yacht and aluminium boat-building facilities in the Southern Hemisphere – runs into hundreds of millions of dollars … so the fact we have the support of our Mayor will sit well with the international and interstate marine industry leaders visiting the Gold Coast for what is ‘Australia’s Only Working Boat Show’.'

Ms Milne said there many more exciting announcements scheduled in the countdown to Expo, including yacht, boat and product premieres, family fun and interactive attractions and productive partnerships to highlight the fact the fact that Expo will be a massive showcase featuring everything from superyachts to jet skis, kayaks to fishing equipment … and everything else in between.

In the countdown to Expo 2015, we have already announced:

Family fun and unique attractions

- Notorious, the rare 15th Century caravel replica timber pirate ship, will be open exclusively for Expo visitors – never before seen at a boat show.
- A Super 60s line-up of multihulls, never before seen at an Australian boat show.
- Yamaha Super Tank fishing demonstrations exclusive to Expo.
- Free cruising by ferry between the Expo’s three marinas – an Australian-first.
- Factory tours via The Riviera Express of the marque’s world-class luxury yacht building facility – the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Factory tours of the massive Telwater manufacturing facility – also the largest of its type in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Factory tours of the TAFE Queensland marine training centre.
- The new and mighty Gold Coast City Marina 250-tonne straddle carrier – the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere – will be flexing its muscle exclusively for Expo visitors.
- Expo Kids will receive free sailing lessons courtesy of Southport Yacht Club.
- Beneficiary charity Sailability Gold Coast will conduct special demonstrations at Expo.
- The 2015 Expo will have a new and fun on-water interactive zone as well as an Expo Kids Club.

Yacht, boat and product premieres at Expo

- World premiere of the new Whitehaven 6000 Coupe pleasure cruiser.
- World premiere of the Clipper Cordova 60 motor yacht as part of the largest and exclusive Clipper display.
- Riviera’s $15 million red-carpet, on-water showcase is exclusive to Expo and the marque will reveal details of three new luxurious models plus an entirely new yacht design.
- World premieres of the 2015 range of Quintrex aluminium boats at its biggest display at any boat show … ever.
- World premiere of the new-generation Havana 45 Houseboat.
- Australian premiere of the very fast Ballistic RIBs.
- The new Seakeeper 5 gyroscopic stabilizer system will be unveiled for the first time in Australia exclusively at Expo.

Partnerships

- Exclusive new partnership with Nine Network ensures unmatched exposure for Expo exhibitors.
- Exclusive new partnership with BoatPoint and Boatsales reaches out to massive audience.
- Expo partners with Blues on Broadbeach to highlight four fantastic days of fun on the Gold Coast 21-24 May 2015.
- City of Gold Coast partners with Expo to showcase local marine innovations.
- Expo partners with Surfers Paradise Marriott Hotel and Resort for interstate and international visitors to the Gold Coast and Expo.