Sydney International Boat Show stats and facts

by Jeni Bone on 20 Jul 2010 Just one week out, the Sydney International Boat Show is in final preparation for an anticipated 80,000 visitors to the event - Australia's largest. Here, we look at some of the more astounding stats and facts.

For example, did you know there’ll be nearly 1,000 boats on display? There are 213 currently confirmed for the Cockle Bay Marina and another 700-plus within the vast halls of the Darling Harbour Exhibition Centre.

The centre itself comprises more than 27,000 square metres (292,800-plus square feet) and to take one circuit of the display areas involves a 2.2 kilometre (nearly one and a half miles) ‘stroll’.

Needless to say, bringing such a major exhibition to readiness is no simple task; in the loading docks where exhibitors and their staff unload the vehicles bringing product for display, it has been estimated there will be more than 2100 vehicle movements.

That takes many hands; more than 5,500 people are involved in setting up and operating the show.

The Sydney International Boat Show has become a major occupant of the harbours city’s annual calendar of events.

Sydney people certainly embrace the exhibition, since its inaugural year in 1968, 3,020,077 people have flocked to the Darling Harbour site.

The Sydney International Boat Show is the only recreational boat show in the Southern Hemisphere ever to approach the ‘magic’ 100,000 attendance figure, topping more than 93,000 just a couple of years ago.

This year, organisers are anticipating 80,000-plus to turn up for the show.

For information and tickets online visit www.sydneyboatshow.com.au or call the recorded information line on 1300 7 26287 (BOATS).