Inside Boat Show party vibe: All need know for the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show
For those in the know, the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show is “much more”. Here’s all you need to know on tickets to one of the city’s biggest parties and our top 10 highlights.
What's On
Don't miss out on the headlines from What's On. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The marine extravaganza which has docked at Gold Coast’s Sanctuary Cove is “much more” than a boat show - it’s social scenehighlight full of fine dining and champagne parties.
The Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) bosses are promising a giant economic boost from the four day expo butalso plenty of networking fun.
Plenty of world-first launches were also forecast at the highly anticipated Thursday morning bell ring opening.
Mulpha Events and SCIBS general manager Johan Hasser said: “They call it a boat show but it’s much, much more.
“It’s a festival of fun, friends, fine dining, cocktails, champagne, parties and boats. It’s a delicious, moorish taste ofthe boating lifestyle.
“It’s an economic powerhouse for the marine industry and it contributes annually nearly half a billion dollars to the GoldCoast and the Queensland economy.
“But what’s really at the heart of SCIBS is the passion we share with our exhibitors at this spectacular location.
INSIDE $18.6M SANCTUARY COVE SHOW STUNNER - VIDEO
“Hosting an event like this takes a certain type of person, months of preparation, creativity, relationship building, I couldnot be prouder of my team of absolute professionals,” he said.
With 102 boat and product premieres, 700-plus boats and 2500 marine products, SCIBS managing investment company Mulpha Events CEO Greg Shaw said this year was going to be “bigger, better and brighter”.
“The events team every year say ‘Wait until this year, we’ve got some amazing surprises’ and to date they’ve never let usdown.
“From Mulpha’s perspective, we continue to invest very heavily in Sanctuary Cove. I think our investment to revolutioniseour marina, to bring super yachts to the destination has been an enormous success.
“The marina itself is currently trading close to 100 per cent occupancy and we just see the industry continuing to expandwith the support of amazing exhibitors.
“I’m amazed at how the level of exhibitors just continues to improve and that quality really makes us the best boat show inthe southern hemisphere,” he said.
Federal MP for Fadden Cameron Caldwell said at Thursday morning’s launch the boating industry was particularly important forthe local economy.
“This show is worth about half a billion dollars to the local economy and the marine industry is worth approximately $10 billionto our country so we should not underestimate how important it is.
“It is important we have a thriving Gold Coast economy,” he said, adding it was “so important the marine industry remainsstrong”.
“There is only one thing that us locals say at this time of year and that is have a great boat show,” he said.
With 102 boat and marine product premieres, 700-plus boats and over 2500 marine products, the 2024 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show has something for all boat enthusiasts.
Having launched on Thursday, here are the top 10 coolest picks at this year’s Show.
1. 1959 RIVA Bellissimo
The 1959 RIVA Bellissimo on sale from Ray White Marine is one of just 35 out of a total production of 426 Riva Floridas. It has been restored using original Riva Parts by Cantiere Matteri at Lezzeno on the shores of Lake Como, Italy, under the guidance of master craftsman, Erio Matteri. It has also been upgraded with a second, modern and powerful engine, a Chevrolet V8 350.
2. Fliteboard AIR, AirPro & ULTRA L2
Fliteboard, a brand of Mercury Marine and a leader in the eFoil industry, will be showcasing its much anticipated AIR, AIR PRO and ULTRA L2. The new Flite AIR and AIR PRO are easy to use, durable and lightweight and offer similar ‘on foil’ performance as premium Fliteboard models at a much lower price point. The ULTRA L2 is the world’s lightest production performance eFoil weighing in at approximately 18.3kg. The board features the new carbon fibre Marc Newson designed mast and Marc Newson designed hand controller, which provides more ergonomic and intuitive usability, and a new wave tracking feature.
3. JSW Powersports – AXIS A225
Inspired by the best-selling AXIS, the luxury A225 powerboat is a signature blend of value, performance, and technology in a sleek and modern package. With plenty of power behind the boat while still delivering a first-class experience inside the boat, it boasts incredible agility.
4. Sealegs
These boats are trusted worldwide for waterfront residents, superyachts, tourism, flood rescue and Coastguard patrol. Using patented amphibious technology, they drive on land and can also transform themselves into high performance powerboats on the water. Sealegs can also be launched by one person with easy embarking and disembarking.
5. Highfield E Jet 330
The E Jet330, the world’s only battery powered, jet propelled tender in production will be released at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show by Northside Marine. It features ZeroJet proprietary technology developed in New Zealand and integrated into compact class-leading aluminium RIBs. Powered by ZeroJet’s 18KW Jet Drive system, the E Jet 330 features a 48V battery and is able to reach a speed of 20 knots. A sleek 3.36-metres long and 1.82 metres wide.
6. Zilla Jet Boats
Sanctuary Cove Boat Show attendees will be able to check out Zilla’s most popular boat, the custom Spicy 3.5m. It has been known to reach speeds of 123km/h with a stock Yamaha engine. These are a great boat for the family to discover nature. Zilla is the only registered boat builder in Australia for these mini jet boats.
7. Eyachts – RAND Supreme 27 Electric
Leading European yacht distributor in Australia, Eyachts, has announced its impressive line-up for the upcoming Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. This will include the Axopar 29 Sun Top, Axopar 45 Sun Top, and the groundbreaking RAND Supreme 27 Electric – the first electric vessel in it’s category to enter Australian waters. With zero emissions and whisper-quiet operation, the RAND Supreme 27 Electric features a cockpit chaise lounge and an optional kitchen and bar.
8. Bentley
The Bentayga S pairs unique sports styling with your choice of a twin turbocharged 4.0 litre Bentley V8 engine or an advanced 3.0 litre hybrid. The body kit includes black painted side sills, front and rear bumper details, and an elongated rear tailgate spoiler. Alongside dark-tint headlamps and tail-lamps, the matrix grille and tailpipes are also finished in black, as is much of the exterior brightware. Red-painted brake callipers peer through exclusive 22” wheels, which can be commissioned in three different finishes. These Bentleys go for approximately AU$395,800.
9. Yamaha JetFish
Take fishing game to the next level with the JetFish Equipped FX HO. In 2021, Yamaha launched the JetFish accessory range, which saw the introduction of the RecDeck – an extended rear recreational platform and custom JetFish fishing rack. Yamaha Motor Australia has taken this JetFish concept to the next level by combining these exclusive factory designed JetFish accessories with the extremely popular FX HO to deliver a complete “turnkey” fishing package.
10. Enautic WaveFlyer Volare and Waveflyer ROGUE
Australian-based start-up, Enautic, will showcase the revolutionary Founders Edition WaveFlyer Volare and the WaveFlyer ROGUE at Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. Enautic’s new vessels are user-friendly, high performance electric flying boats that create no pollution. Featuring fully retractable hydrofoils and an electric propulsion system, the Volaré features the company’s patented WaveDrive technology, designed to keep you balanced and stable on the water. The Rogue, that has a top speed of 20 knots.
The Sanctuary Cove International Boat show has grown exponentially since its unofficial inception in January of 1988, whenoriginally called The Ultimate Event.
A marine village and a marina was the perfect environment for a boat show and as part of the
Ultimate Event the first Boat Show was staged at Sanctuary Cove filling the marina with over 250 boats.
Another boat show, not organised by Sanctuary Cove, was scheduled and held in May 1988.
The success of these premier events triggered the annual Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show which celebrated its 35thanniversary last year.
Barry Jenkins who was involved in the Boating Industry Association and has been known as “Mr Boat Show” for his enduring involvementsaid the event had grown incredibly since those first years.
“We had to obviously do something to stimulate business for the tenants in the village so we were devising some events thatwould stimulate that and drive numbers through the village and it sort of stemmed from there,” he said,
According to Mr Jenkins, the pinnacle of success came in 2008 with a record 450 boats on water, 600 boats on land, 453 individualexhibitors and a total of 53,000 visitors over four days.
“As the industry started to grow and demand was there, [manufacturers] produced more and of course, the more they produced,the more they wanted to showcase at the show
“One year at the height of everything Riviera produced something like 400 boats,” he said.
With 2024’s show exhibiting cars like Bentleys, it’s hard to believe cars weren’t always a part of SCIBS.
“There were no cars or anything like that, it was purely marine and then little by little towards the end of the year, asI remember, one year we tested it with the Ford Motor Company and we had Ford.
“We only had one Ford vehicle in the show and they gave us a couple of other Fords to run around branded with the show informationon,” Mr Jenkins said.
Mr Jenkins said he’d seen the success of the show increase since the appointment of Mulpha Events’ Johan Hasser.
“He is taking the show where it needed to go, in line with trends and expectation and whatever - quite successfully,” Mr Jenkinssaid.
Meet the Gold Coast stars of new reality TV series
‘Eye-opener’: Two local lads cast in Australia’s first foray into the international reality Shores franchise reveal what it was really like behind the scenes.
Theme park giant’s new bigger, faster ride to replace fan fave
One of Australia’s most-loved theme park thrill rides is being replaced with a bigger, faster version - and it’s been unveiled to the world in Amsterdam. See where and when it’s opening.