PUBLISHED 31 MAY 2012 14:30

Exceeding expectations

Sailboats drew punters’ attention at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.

Motorboats outnumbered sailboats at this year’s Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, yet there was a strong contingent of yacht brokers who claimed the show to be a raging success.

Among the sailboat exhibitors were Jeanneau, Multihull Solutions, Catalina and Beneteau. Despite some negative discussion within the industry about some aspects of the show in the lead up, most were more than pleased with the outcome.

Ian Douglas of Mooloolaba Yacht Brokers, representing Jeanneau said the general feeling from the public was that the show was excellent. “We were happy with all of it. We had a great show. I would have to say a lot stronger than we expected. We are pricing four boats this week and expect to have four contracts by the end of the week. The DS44 was outstanding and everybody was talking about it. We are pleased we went to the trouble of bringing it here.”

Brett Thurley at Pacific Motor Yachts, dealer for Clipper, Jeanneau and Prestige, was happy to report he sold boats at the show. “But I gauge a boat show on response on the Monday. Sometimes people are really keen on the weekend, then pull back the week after. But we have been busy doing sea trials and the leads we have are serious.”

Thurley continued: “We ramped up our effort this year to have the largest presence on the water and launch Jeanneau and Prestige. The response and rewards were beyond our expectations. SCIBS provided the show and the visitors. It was a far greater result than we could have hoped for. I applaud the management of the show for their efforts to generate and invest in media activity to support the show. To me it’s the premiere boat show for Australia.”

Brands will be following up their sales leads in the coming weeks, hoping that there will be many new owners of sailboats before the next show.

www.sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au