Sail-World.com : Australian boating industry flying flag worldwide
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Australian boating industry flying flag worldwide |
There’s action galore coming up for the Australian boating industry and it’s about to happen all around the world.First of the major events is the staging of the 48th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, arguably the largest big boat show in the world.
Scheduled for October 25-29, this massive show features more than one billion dollars worth of vessels and requires no less than six locations.
The show is spread between the Bahia Mar Yachting Centre, Broward County Convention Centre, Fort Lauderdale Grande Hotel and Yachting Centre, Hyatt Pier 66, Hall of Fame Marina and the Las Olas Marina.
Maritimo and The Riviera Group will be among the Australian exhibitors, supporting their US dealerships, with others, such as Ronstan and Seawind Catamarans showing off Australian products.
Those who survive Fort Lauderdale will then be setting sail for METS (Marine Equipment Trade Show) Amsterdam, the world’s premiere trade exhibition.
METS is set for November 13-15.
The Australian International Marine Export Group (AIMEX) with valuable support from Austrade is a regular exhibitor, hosting an Australian pavilion and a gala networking function attended by Austrade representatives from Italy, Germany, Spain and France.
At least 15 or so Australian manufacturers will be represented.
Following the Christmas and New Year festivities, all eyes turn towards Miami and rhe massive Miami International Boat Show.
Scheduled for February 14-18, the Miami exhibition is staged over three locations, the vast Miami Beach Convention Centre (more than one million square feet of exhibition space!), the Sea Isle Marina and Yachting Centre and the Miamarina at Bayside.
The three locations each specialise in a specific boating segment; the displays at the Miami Beach Convention Centre covers boats, engines, marine accessories, fishing tackle, marine art, nautical sportswear and an absolutely astonishing array of general boating accessories.
At the Sea Isle Marina and Yachting Centre, hundreds of boats, from offshore racers to sportboats and luxury megayachts vie for attention, many of them undertaking demo runs for he many dealers visiting the show.
Miamarina at Bayside (very similar to Darling Harbour) features the Strictly Sail component of the show.
Maritimo, The Riviera Group and Seawind will again be prominent, supporting their US dealer networks.
I have visited the Miami show several times and for those who have not made the trip it’s one I can recommend.
Staged by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the Miami International Boat Show is indeed a sight to behold.
The NMMA represents more than 1700 members who produce about 80 percent of the boats and boating products used in the United States.
Retail sales of boats and related products and services amount to an estimated US$39.5 billion annually!
The next overseas assignment to attract Australian participation will be the sixth International Marina Conference (May 25-28).
Set for the picturesque English Channel port of Oostende, Belgium, the conference will feature intensive discussions covering marina design, operation and management.
Organisers have arranged “a battery” of speakers from Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Previous IMC conferences have been held in Amsterdam (1993), Genoa (1996), Fort Lauderdale (1999), Sydney (2002) and San Diego (2005).
Australian marina identities Jeff d’Albora and Ian McAndrew are among the Australian contingent heading to Oostende and expect to lead a group of at least 15 marina designers and operators.
There’s one minor (perhaps major?) problem with IMC 2008 – it clashes with the 2008 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (May 22-25) Sanctuary Cove!
Next thing you know we’ll be heading for Darling Harbour and the 2008 Sydney International Boat Show (July 31 – August 5).
Time sure flies when you’re having fun!
by Bob Wonders
8:40 AM Thu 23 Aug 2007 GMT
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