Perfect weather for Sanctuary Cove start

by Bob Wonders on 25 May 2007 The 2007 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show officially opened on Thursday (May 24) and brilliant sunshine and light breezes brought out the crowds.

Although no parking is allowed within the show’s precinct, roads leading into the centre were gridlocked as early as 8am as exhibitors, media, show staff and others battled their way into the venue.

The Honourable Bob Baldwin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Federal Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, himself a dedicated boater, officially opened the show.

Boat show general manager Barry Jenkins, also president of the Australian Marine Industries Federation, said the show had attracted a record both in terms of exhibitors and boats on display.

The show was also living up to its ‘international’ status, with delegates from many nations and dealers and visitors from the United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand, Taiwan, South Africa, Italy, Malaysia, Germany, Singapore, Canada and France to name but a few.

One guest taking in the spectacular sights was the British High Commissioner to Australia, the Honourable Helen Liddell.

She joined Mark Chapman (Chapman Marine Group) and UK-based marketing manager of the British-built Fairline range, Bryan Jones, to inspect some of the latest models from her home country.

The Chapman Marine Group has just been appointed Fairline distributor for Australia.

All the heavyweight names in the Australian marine industry were prominent on the 400-plus boat marina display, with Maritimo, Riviera, Mustang, Dee Vee, Alaska Motor Yachts, Beneteau, Bavaria, Seawind, Sea Ray, Bayliner, Cobalt, Grand Banks, Sunrunner, Princess and Sunseeker among them.

With the Friday and the weekend to come, Barry Jenkins is confident last year’s record attendance of just over 49,000 will fall.

'I believe if this weather holds more than 50,000 will pass through the gates over the four days,' he said.