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THE 30th anniversary edition of the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS), held from May 24 to 27, 2018, is already shaping up to be the best Show in 10 years following the launch of exhibitor bookings just two weeks ago.
An array of prominent marine exhibitors have rushed to secure prime positions on water alongside Australian boat building icons Maritimo and Riviera, as well as throughout The Marine Village and in the Pavilions. A mix of long-term exhibitors and new brands are already confirmed including Integrity Motor Yachts, Whitehaven Motor Yachts, Palm Beach Motor Yachts, Grand Banks, Leopard Catamarans, Clipper Motor Yachts, Sirocco Marine North, Multihull Solutions, Multihull Central, Lagoon, Eyachts, Horizon Motor Yachts Australia, Dometic Seabreeze, BLA, Navico, Stella Systems, Yanmar, Twin Disc, Ronstan, Club Marine, International Paint and more.
SCIBS sales and exhibition manager Dominic O’Brien said exhibitor bookings have been extremely strong, up 20 per cent on the same time last year. “Exhibitors are telling us they are confident of a great summer leading in to 2018 and they are taking additional space,” Mr O’Brien said. “More than 170 boats will be displayed on water, from superyachts to sailing boats, motor yachts, mono and multihulls, promoting every segment of the boating lifestyle. The Gold Coast is known as the gateway to the cruising grounds of the Whitsundays, so it makes sense to have a superlative showcase of multihulls, both power and sail, for visitors to explore.”
Trailerable boats will once again have a strong presence throughout The Marine Village, with increased space allocated to sport, fishing and leisure boats where the latest tinnies, fibreglass hulls, RIBS and PWC’s will be on show. Eyachts and Lagoon have enjoyed major success over the years at SCIBS and will be displaying a diverse range of power boats at the 2018 edition. Lagoon dealer principal John Cowpe said their display will include the high-end Fjord 42 and 40, three of the sleek Axopar motor yachts, a Sealine motor cruiser and a Greenline 39.
“In 2018, we will have the new generation Lagoon 40 which launched in Cannes in September 2017. We are very happy to show it at SCIBS and expect this model to be very popular,” Mr Cowpe said. “People come to SCIBS to buy boats, so it really is the show to attend.”
Horizon Motor Yachts Australia are excited to be hosting the global launch of the long-range cruising model and new release V81. Horizon will also have a new E75 on show, a model which proved popular after it sold on day one of the 2017 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. Visitors can also expect to see the E88, which is 94ft overall when you take into account the oversize swim platform, along with the E56XO, which has been specifically designed for Australian boating.
“It’s our home show, so we always go all out. We find that people come from New Zealand and Perth, including our owners,” Ms Rae said. “It’s a great time of year with a fantastic atmosphere, free entertainment and a host of restaurants in The Marine Village, so it all adds up to a great four-day holiday for them.” Horizon Group CEO John Lu will be joining the team from Taiwan, celebrating SCIBS’ 30th anniversary with special events for VIPS and an unveiling of the V81.
Long-time exhibitors Sirocco Marine North will be back in 2018 with a spectacular showcase of 15 entry-level RIBs, expanding their display to take up both sides of Masthead Way. Sirocco Marine North director Dylan Lopez said he was ecstatic to be presenting the massive super RIB, the BRIG Eagle 10, which launched in Australia in August and has been hailed the “category busting sports RIB”. “It will be on show for the first time in Queensland at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show,” said Mr Lopez. “You can ski behind or sleep overnight on it. It’s a beautiful beast!”
Mr Lopez said SCIBS had resulted in top sales and excellent leads for the company, particularly over the past two years. “We look forward to seeing SCIBS bigger and better than ever before, especially in its 30th year,” he said. “We love the combination of boats, cars, choppers, accessories, luxury products – all the dimensions of the boating lifestyle. “People come from all over the country and the region to Sanctuary Cove and they want to see it all in one place.”
In the Main Pavilion, Dometic Seabreeze is a major exhibitor, with a complete range of refrigeration, AC, water makers and sanitation on display. Dometic Seabreeze managing director Steve Quan said the company will have an array of new products on display in 2018 and looks forward to another stellar show. “SCIBS is always good for B2B, aftermarket and retail. It’s a successful show for us and always will be an excellent show, thanks to the commitment of the organisers and boat show team,” said Mr Quan. “We believe the industry is buoyant and the 2018 show will reflect that.”
Another stalwart exhibitor, global electronics giant Navico, will be exhibiting a range of marine electronics from the Simrad, Lowrance and B&G brands. Navico marketing director Michael Blackwell said the company would be showcasing the new Hook2 range from Lowrance. “We’ll be unveiling the new range at SCIBS, along with a new Simrad product that is yet to be launched that is aimed at the high-end of cruising and sport fishing,” Mr Blackwell said. “SCIBS is the first show of the year and is the perfect event for us to showcase our range of electronics for all boating and fishing categories. “The event attracts a variety of visitors that are in line with our target markets.”
Exhibitor applications are now open. To register as an exhibitor, contact the Boat Show office on +617 5577 6011 or visit www.sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au.
