Great Show – Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show a ‘bellwether?'

by Steve Hall on 24 May 2010 The 2010 Sanctuary Cove International Boat show in its 22nd year, took place from the 20st-23rd of May at Sanctuary Cove on the booming resort and waterways area of the Gold Coast just south of Brisbane Queensland.

The show traditionally showcases the best in Australian marine luxury craft, while in recent years has expanded to cover the burgeoning sailing market, specifically large cruising catamarans.

Known as the place where the ‘marine business does business', this year was no exception with many international buyers and trade delegations present and many world product releases from Australian manufacturers. One hundred and eleven marine product releases with twenty three world releases were on display at this years show.

The weather this year was a great improvement from last year where a vicious storm took toll on facilities and visitor numbers. Apart from some rain on Friday the show weather was benign for visitors and the many helicopters clattering overhead, delivering show goers to the internationally famous resort.

With numerous activities for visitors from fashion shows, product demonstrations, seminars and wandering musicians, a carnival atmosphere prevailed. Local boatie Sam Hall said 'wide variety of boats and boating equipment, I liked the pavilions but far too much to do in one day!'

Sanctuary Cove International Boat show general manager Mr Barry Jenkins said ' we have had approximately 35-37,000 people through the gates with International delegations from all over Asia, plus representatives from many European countries, importantly Italy with for the first time ever a national pavilion'.

Commenting on this year's show Barry went on to say 'A deal signed yesterday with a Korean company for 100 boats over the next 12 months, Beneteau had a good show, a raft of exhibitors across the board are reporting a good sales, excellent leads and things are looking brighter, Four hundred and twenty four exhibitors, one hundred and ninety seven boats on-water another three hundred and ninety watercraft on land' he said

A possible bellwether for the Australian marine industry the chandler supplier DeckHardware, spokesperson Melissa Yeomans said: 'Great show across the board, also interestingly a great number of purchasers who came for specific products after seeing them on the show and our own Deckhardware site.'

She went on to say: 'Lots of purchasers have been renovating boats and many fitting out new boats'. Continuing she said 'I feel the industry has recovered not only here in Australia but also across the board with one of our suppliers Forespar in the US going gangbusters.'

Deckhardware was busy to the last moment of the show selling the innovate ‘BillyBung' and ‘Trueplug' devices.

Local marine video production house dreamstreams.tv will be producing a short video of the show including highlights of: Sunseeker 30 Meter luxury motor yacht, Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show General Manager Mr Barry Jenkins, Billy Bung, Deckhardware, P&W Marine Engineers and Beecham Yachts.