Sydney International Boat Show hailed as a great success - MarineBusinessWorld Oceania newsletter
by Peter Rendle 10 Aug 2023 15:00 PDT
2023 Sydney International Boat Show Sydney Boat Show © Sydney Boat Show
The Sydney International Boat Show closed on Sunday having enjoyed four days celebrating the Australian boating lifestyle at the International Convention Centre Sydney and the Show's purpose-built marina on Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour.
Andrew Fielding, President of the Boating Industry Association (BIA) said, "Boating is a standout option in leisure for people from all walks of life, ages and abilities. We're delighted with the diversity of the offering, quality of the displays and the enthusiasm of the public attending our Show." With a total of 233 exhibitors, accounting for 646 boats at the Show, including 220 vessels on the marina representing 82 on-water exhibitors, the largest on-water display since 2018, all available space in the halls and marina was sold out. There were 151 exhibitors showing a total of 424 boats in the halls.
It was a busy week for the BIA. The winner of the BIA Apprentice of the Year 2023 Award, was presented during the Opening Ceremony of the show. BIA CEO Andrew Scott said this annual recognition celebrates the remarkable achievements and contributions of outstanding apprentices in the marine industry. "This Award highlights the importance of nurturing and supporting talent for a thriving future in boating," he said. "The marine industry is a vibrant and exciting sector where boating continues to be a stand-out activity across the country." The recipient of the BIA Apprentice of the Year 2023 award is Beau Deathridge, a dedicated 4th year apprentice marine mechanic from Douglas Marine, located in Mona Vale on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
At the same time the BIA announced GoBoat as winner of the inaugural Sustainability in Boating Industry Award for 2023 at the Opening of the 54th Sydney International Boat Show in Darling Harbour. BIA President Andrew Fielding said the award was introduced to recognise outstanding efforts by businesses promoting sustainable practices and supporting environmental responsibility within the boating industry. "The judging panel faced tough competition with a healthy number of submissions, showcasing the industry's growing interest and commitment to sustainability," Fielding said.
Also, Darren Vaux was awarded with Life Membership for his outstanding and unwavering commitment to the industry. BIA President Andrew Fielding said Darren had made an extraordinary impact across the industry over the past 20 years. "Darren's commitment is boundless when it comes to striving for the best possible outcomes for the boating industry in Australia," Fielding said. "His strengths in leadership, strategic planning, solutions focus, resilience and advocacy have delivered numerous wins.
Another award this week went to two long-serving Marine Rescue NSW members from the state's South Coast who have been awarded the NSW Maritime Medal during a ceremony at the Sydney International Boat Show. Minister for Transport Jo Haylen presented the medal to Marine Rescue Jervis Bay Unit Commander Kevin Hill and Marine Rescue Merimbula Unit Commander Bill Blakeman.
From the boatbuilding side of the industry, we learnt the Northbank Fibreglass Boats, one of Australia's leading fishing trailer boat brands, has been sold to Andrew and Chelsea Harris. Andrew comes to marine manufacturing with distribution and marketing experience in the Australian fishing and tackle industry. Andrew and Chelsea are already proud owners of a Northbank 600C, with Andrew having a prior association with Northbank as a brand ambassador and moderator of the Northbank social pages. Andrew and Chelsea come to the business with passion for the brand and product, proudly continuing as a family owned and operated business in SA.
And in another buy-out, Garmin Ltd. announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire JL Audio, a privately-held U.S. company that designs and manufactures audio solutions for marine, aftermarket automotive, powersports, home and RV customers.
"JL Audio's extensive audio experience will create new opportunities to provide premium audio features across a broad range of our markets and products. The JL Audio brand is known around the world for offering a premium audio experience which is made possible by their talented and dedicated associates. We look forward to welcoming the JL Audio team into the Garmin family." -Cliff Pemble, Garmin President and CEO With over four decades of experience, JL Audio offers premium audio products and accessories, including speakers, amplifiers, subwoofers and other audio components.
From the sailing side of the industry, the Royal Geelong Yacht Club (RGYC) announced the purchase of a fleet of identical RS21's to spearhead its newly developed Sailing Development Program (SDP). The development of the SDP is an exciting opportunity for RGYC to showcase its expertise and involvement in sailing development while increasing both awareness and opportunity to become involved in the sport of sailing at any level. This is an exciting step forward for RGYC and the entire Geelong community and continues to position sailing as not only a high-performance pursuit but also a valuable and impactful tool for community engagement and connection for Geelong.
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Stay safe,
Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@marinebusinessworld.com