Weather no damper to enthusiasm at Sydney - MarineBusinessWorld Oceania newsletter
by Peter Rendle 1 Aug 2024 15:00 PDT
Sydney International Boat Show © Sydney International Boat Show
The 55th Sydney International Boat Show opened at 10am yesterday (Thursday 1 August) at the purpose-built Cockle Bay marina and Sydney International Convention Centre (ICC), within the Darling Harbour precinct. Recognised as one of the world's leading boat shows, the Show will run for four-days from Thursday (10am to 7pm daily) and continues through the weekend until 5pm Sunday, with a comprehensive and diverse recreational marine exhibition.
The Show offers visitors a one-stop-shop for everything to do with the boating, fishing, and marine lifestyle. More than 600 boats and thousands of products are on display, alongside an array of entertainment and educational masterclasses, all aimed at appealing to the novice boatie through to the seasoned marine enthusiasts, or families looking for a fun day out.
Not exactly the kindest day Sydney has provided for the first day. A stiff southerly breeze bringing a chill from the mountains, mixed with a sprinkling of rain was a test for marina-based exhibitors and visitors alike. However, the traditional boat show optimism was in ample supply and a steady stream of visitors indicated that the show was on the way to being another successful event.
I was privileged to attend the official launch of the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350 yacht and the Jeanneau DB37 powerboat, both premiering at the show. Tanguy Tertrais, APAC Sales Director of Jeanneau/Prestige brands and NSW Jeanneau dealer Lee Condell, Director of Performance Boating Sales, hosted the event.
I also caught up with Graham Raspass at the show on the Flagstaff stand. Graham outlined the changes recently made to their trading platform. Over the last five years, Flagstaff Marine has grown significantly with offices now on the Gold Coast, Port Stephens, Newport, and Rushcutters Bay. They've also expanded the range and they are proud to represent to include a number of national brands. At the same time, they've been increasing their capabilities for commissioning new boats and are currently developing an online parts ordering system, initially for their Beneteau owners before introducing it across our other brands. As part of this expansion journey, they've decided it's time to rename as the Flagstaff Marine Group.
On 11 June, Beneteau celebrated another significant milestone at the Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie site: the 400th Oceanis 51.1 and the 200th Swift Trawler 41 left the factory. True icons of the Beneteau brand, these boats continue to seduce enthusiasts the world over. These achievements testify to the dedication and expertise of the 350 employees who shaped these superb boats.
Sunseeker International is pleased to announce that DCH Marine has been appointed as official distributors in Australia and New Zealand. Following the successful launch of the distribution agreement for Singapore, at the Singapore Yachting Festival, DCH Marine will become official distributors in Australia and New Zealand, commencing at the Sydney International Boat Show.
For the fisho's, Dunbier Mackay are debuting their latest innovations at the show. They're excited to announce their newest innovations: the all-new 2025 Alloy Sports Centreline and an expanded range of Loader Pro X trailers from Dunbier, and an upgraded MLKR trailer with a cutting-edge rear entry design from Mackay.
Set to take stage as one of the latest model releases in the Australian marine market to feature at the show, the Yellowfin Extended Cabin range is set to take New South Wales by storm as one of the most innovative, groundbreaking plate boat models in the country. One of Australia's biggest boat shows will hand its nearly 50,000 global visitors one of the first opportunities to touch, see and experience the new fleet of Yellowfin Plate Boats with the YF-70 and YF-76F on display at the Hunts Marine and TR Marine stands, located at areas 101 - 104.
McConaghy Boats, renowned for its cutting-edge performance-luxury yachts and manufacturer of the AC40 for the America's Cup, is proud to announce a partnership with Integrel Solutions, a leader in electric marine systems. This collaboration aims to equip McConaghy's vessels with the most advanced 48V highly efficient electronic marine systems, starting with the MC75 performance-luxury catamaran. Known for iconic super maxis such as Alfa Romeo, Black Jack and Wild Oats XI, McConaghy's vessels have consistently dominated the world's toughest regattas. The company's commitment to pioneering technologies and unmatched performance aligns seamlessly with Integrel Solutions' mission to provide energy freedom on the water through environmentally conscious solutions.
Among new products released recently include Garmin's Spectra LED control module. Garmin this week announced the Garmin Spectra™ LED control module—a compact lighting controller that makes it easy to control onboard LED lights from a compatible Garmin chartplotter or the ActiveCaptain® app on a compatible smartphone. From bow to stern and everything in between, Garmin Spectra lets boaters control LED illumination for JL Audio and Fusion® marine speakers, subwoofers and wake tower speakers, along with strip, courtesy, underwater, cup holder lights and more.
DAVCO announced this week the launch of its revolutionary AquaChocks removable and adjustable chock system. AquaChocks provide the stability of a secure cradle system for storage of tenders and personal watercraft while under way, giving boaters the ultimate peace of mind while out on the water. The synthetic grip pads keep the tender in place without causing damage to the hull. When not in use, AquaChocks can be completely removed, leaving a true flush deck surface, eliminating trip hazards and allowing full use of the deck space. AquaChocks are designed to fit a wide variety of tenders and PWCs, while the adjustable design ensures a snug fit, keeping the watercraft secure regardless of size or shape. The 316 stainless steel construction is designed to survive the harshest marine environment with long-lasting durability and a beautiful mirror finish that complements any vessel.
More marine industry news at www.marinebusinessworld.com : Oceania-wide news from the largest boating news network.
Stay warm and dry,
Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@worldmarine.media