Sydney International Boat Show - Sailing Stage

SW

© SW

The team from Sail-World and Powerboat-world have worked with the event organisers and industry to bring another diverse selection of presenters.

Each morning the boating segments kick off the day, then the afternoon we have a strong sailing presence.

At 1.30pm, marine safety will be the theme as the team from NSW Maritime, along with Coastal Patrol & Coastguard explain how their safety net and some important tips can keep you out of trouble in NSW waters.

At 2pm each day (except Friday), two young Australian adventures who headlined around the world will be on stage. Last year Justin Jones, 24 and James Castrission, 25, spent 62 days at sea, enduring 10m seas, howling gale-force winds and food and sleep deprivation to achieve their aim of ‘crossing the ditch’.

Their dramatic journey, from Forster on the mid-NSW north coast to New Plymouth, New Zealand, is not only the first kayak expedition to cross the Tasman Sea, but has gone into the history books as the longest trans-oceanic kayak journey ever undertaken by two adventurers. Audiences will be riveted to hear first-hand accounts of their trevails.

Then, Team Musto is back on stage from 2.30pm. It’s amazing just how the crowd becomes fascinated by technical clothing when it’s being modeled by the great girls from Musto!

At 3pm, from Thursday until Sunday, the 2008 Tasmanian of the Year, Ken Gourlay, who set a new record when he sailed solo non-stop round the World in 2007, will tell of his epic journey.

At 3.30pm each day, the very popular Gary Schipper from Stormy Seas will present his Marine Safety presentation. Charismatic and concise, Gary always draws a crowd at the Sydney Boat Show. Stop by and you will see why.

At 4pm each day, Sail-World’s Cruising Editor Nancy Knudsen, who devoted four years to cruising around the world, will talk about the sights, sounds and savouring the experiences from that wonderful journey, comparing cultures as she explored the world’s waterways.

At 4.30pm, the sailing action speeds up, just a week ahead of the Olympic sailing regatta in China,where Australia’s team is eager for a good medal haul. British Olympian, Laura Baldwin will be joined on stage by Australian and World champion sailors who will preview the Qingdao Olympic action.

At 5pm each day, Australian sailor Tony Mowbray will transport you to another world. If you’ve ever dreamed of visiting Antarctica or the Southern Ocean in a yacht, this is the presentation for you. There’s some beautiful video footage of Antarctica complete with the eerie sound of shards of ice fragmenting around his boat.

The 5.30pm slot, every day except Friday when they are on at 7:30pm, will feature the two young Australian kayakers, James Castrission and Justin James, back on stage with the Kayak they paddled from Australia to New Zealand.

If you’ve been thinking about taking a boating holiday, but haven’t had time to plan one, come along to listen to Trevor Joyce from mariner Boating who will be presenting ‘Boating Holidays for sailors and power boaters’ at 6pm each day.

Then at 6.30pm, Team Musto returns, modeling the latest in technical and fashion wear again.

Each night at 7pm, the finale belongs to Jeff Jauncey, the principal of the NSW Boating College who will inform and entertain with details of boating licence exams, training and safety courses that will equip people at all levels to become better, safer boaters.

Then, wrapping up the action for the day, and leaving us all in the boating frame of mind as the show closes, watch the wonderful marine vision from Boat Books Australia.