Record visitor numbers - Sanctuary Cove Boat Show

by Sail-World & Powerboat-World on 28 May 2007 The 2007 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show smashed records across the board with a record 456 exhibitors, a record 53,156 visitors and huge sales actually confirmed at the event. The Sanctuary Cove Boat Show visitor tally was 7.04% above 2006 figures.

The mood was buoyant amongst the exhibitors as the gates shut last night, reporting sales of at least $A150m at the event.

Wes Moxley, the CEO of Riviera confirmed contracts for 30 boats including five sales of the Riviera 4700, which won the Australian Marine Industries Federation Boat of the Year Award.

There were also sales of two Riviera 44s - which are yet to be produced. Riviera said that the total value of the sales at the Show amounted to $34.4 million.

Other Australian manufacturers reported record sales at the Show. Mustang holds deposits for $8 million worth of sales including the sale of five M43 models.

Sunrunner also had a successful show reporting the sale of 11 boats valued at some $7 million.

Sunseeker headed the imported boats with a total of 10 boats valued at $31.9 million.

There was keen interest in sailing craft as well. Australian manufacturer Seawind sold six catamarans valued at $2.5million and Jeanneau reported sales of $1.7 million.

Other brands reporting strong sales included Activa, Horizon, Precision, Monterey, Glacier Bay, Deep Vee, Fairline, Alaska, Beneteau, Hanse, Bavaria and Palm Beach Motor Yachts.

Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show general manager Barry Jenkins said reports suggested it was the most successful show ever.

'We were astounded at the number of boats we confirmed were actually sold at the event – and we’d expect numerous sales to develop in coming weeks or months as a direct result of the Show,' he said.

Confirmed figures of boats on water totalled 421 after a final count with a further 402 boats and personal watercraft in hardstand displays.

'The confirmed sales are just what we know from exhibitors, we’d expect to hear about further success in coming days.'

Not all the big players’ sales figures have been included in the count so far.

Bill Barry-Cotter’s award-winning Maritimo experienced its best-ever retail show.

Marketing manager Peter Jenkins, a man who always plays actual results and turnover figures close to his chest, said the sales achieved during the four days were 'above and beyond any expectations we may have had. Bill Barry-Cotter and I can probably claim between us 70-years of boat show attendance. This result is the best retail situation we have ever encountered.'

The company displayed its full range at the show, including the 2005 Australian Boat of the Year, the Maritimo 60, the all-new Maritimo 52 in the innovative Sky Lounge design and the Maritimo 48 and mid show numbers across that range indicate that overall sales would have been in the same order as Riviera.

Manager of Export Services Austrade Queensland Brendan Egan estimated international sales deals at the Show would bring tens of millions of dollars to Australian manufacturers.

'The beauty of Sanctuary Cove is that internationals can come here and see everything that Australian companies have to offer. We’ve had the largest international delegation of Taiwanese here with representatives of 10 Taiwanese yards who are sourcing Australian products and components,' he said.

'The marine industry is a global supply chain. Bringing Taiwanese here exposes them to a wider range of products and we’d expect some significant purchases. 'Mr Egan said Malaysian companies at the Show were looking for Australian expertise in the area of infrastructure, marinas and services.