Set sail at SCIBS

“Sanctuary Cove is firmly established as one of Australia’s premier boating and marine lifestyle destinations, which is why SCIBS continues to attract a strong contingent of sailing yachts, cruising catamarans and premium marine brands each year,” said Rattray-Wood.

“With direct access to some of the country’s most iconic cruising grounds, the Gold Coast is a natural launch point for east coast and South Pacific boating, while the lifestyle appeal of Sanctuary Cove itself makes it an authentic showcase opportunity for the sailing market.”

Leading the charge this year, Beneteau dealers will be collaborating with a major presence as part of a dedicated Beneteau booth. This year, Beneteau is celebrating 40 years of the Oceanis range and will present an impressive fleet of nine models, including the Asia-Pacific Premiere of the Oceanis 52 sailing yacht.

“SCIBS serves as one of the most important platforms to reaffirm Beneteau’s long-term commitment to investing in the Australian market, introducing our latest products and innovations to the country in close collaboration with our esteemed Australian dealers,” commented Beneteau Asia Pacific.

Belinda Kitsiou from Sundance Marine, which represents Beneteau in Victoria and Tasmania, added that SCIBS is a vital means of connecting with the boating public.

As the largest and most anticipated boat show in our region, SCIBS is the highlight of our marketing calendar. With the APAC premiere of the Oceanis 52, we are thrilled to be presenting our largest showcase for many years.”

The Oceanis 52, which launched at last year’s Cannes Yachting Festival, ushers in the eighth generation of Oceanis cruising yachts and blends power, elegance, innovation, and lineage.

The Oceanis 52 redefines the standards of fast cruising monohulls. With its diamond-shaped cockpit, integrated chart table, smooth descent, and attention to materials, it embodies a bold and demanding approach.

The forward cabin, featuring a large rectangular bed, offers rare comfort.

The living space in the generously proportioned cockpit,  enhanced by a maximum beam extending all the way to the transom, is 30 percent larger than the Oceanis 51.1.

Also in the Beneteau family, the First 30 is a planing cruiser that has already been embraced by around 150 owners worldwide. In APAC alone, five First 30s have arrived in Australia, Japan, and China.

Catering to the diverse needs of today’s sailors, it is a versatile cruiser suitable for both professional and amateur racing, as well as family cruising—all while delivering an enjoyable experience. This model has achieved significant market success and several prestigious awards.

Rounding out the offering in sail, the racer/cruiser First 44 combines performance and elegance, for an unrivalled sailing experience.

Excess Catamarans, from Groupe Beneteau, will host the Australian premiere of the Excess 13, led by the brand’s local dealer, 38 South Yacht Sales.

Fresh from its regional launch at the 2026 Singapore Yachting Festival, the award-winning Excess 13 was designed and blends high-performance, lightweight construction with comfortable family cruising. It features twin aft helm stations, optional “Pulse Line” rig for added speed, and innovative, foldable “sugarscoop” sterns for enhanced water access.

Multihull Central returns to SCIBS this year with the Seawind 1160XL making its boat show debut.

“It’s quickly becoming our best seller,” said Director, Brent Vaughan. “It’s a feature-filled cruising cat that is exceptionally well priced for a nearly 40-footer.”

A brand new Seawind 1370 with all the latest updates and innovations will join the 1160XL, and the third cat on water is the HH44 ready for immediate delivery.

“We’ll be representing Outremer cats from France as well, with information about the new 48 which just launched in France,” added Vaughan.

For cruising multihulls, “SCIBS is a good show”, according to Vaughan.

“Southeast Queensland is the gateway for cruising for the east coast of Australia, the Whitsundays and beyond to the islands of the South Pacific.

Sailing is enjoying a renaissance, as people realise they can enjoy unlimited range with all the comforts of an apartment.

Within reach are the untouched islands and destinations you can’t get to any other way, using a lot less fuel and enjoying the experience under sail.”

Presenting 13 boats in total, the Whitehaven Group will have a massive range of vessels on show, including three world premieres, among them, Aquila’s all new 50 Sail – the brand’s first foray into the sailing segment.

Making its regional debut, the new 50 Sailing Cat will be surrounded by an Aquila showcase of seven Aquila Catamarans in what will be the largest ever display in Australia.

Jason Chipp, Aquila Power & Sail representative at Whitehaven Marine explained, “Aquila Sailing Catamarans have been designed for cruising and the popular charter market. Strong and high quality, the New Aquila Sail range is well suited to the demands of the Australian coastline and beyond. From the expansive social and living spaces to the quality of finish, the Aquila Sail range is a great fit for our regions and our customers.”

Chipp continued, “Sailing catamarans are a large part of the market in Australia and the segment continues to grow as more people discover the freedom and joy of extended passage making.

The Aquila 50 Sail offers the largest volume in its class and her sea keeping abilities will certainly impress Australian and New Zealand Cruisers.

Best of all, owners will have the option to take delivery of their Aquila sailing catamaran at the factory and cruise it back home through the warmer waters of Asia in what would be seen as a tempting alternative to the much longer route from Europe.”

Representing brands in both sailing and motor yachts, the team from The Yacht Sales Co. will host three Asia-Pacific premieres: the new Fountaine Pajot FP44, Dufour 54 and Dufour 41.

Following strong global interest since their recent international debuts, the three models are expected to attract significant attention, reflecting growing demand for performance-led cruising yachts across a range of ownership profiles.

The Fountaine Pajot FP44 introduces a refined new generation of sailing catamaran, combining generous onboard volume with confident bluewater performance. Seamless integration between cockpit and saloon enhances onboard liveability, while flexible layouts and intuitive handling make it equally suited to private cruising or charter.

The Dufour 54 redefines performance cruising in the 50-foot-plus category. Elegant design, expansive living spaces and multiple configuration options, including a full-beam owner’s suite, position it as a standout for extended offshore cruising.

Also making its Asia-Pacific debut, the Dufour 41 brings contemporary design and versatility to the 40-foot category.

Designed to balance performance with comfort, it offers generous interior volume, abundant natural light and multiple layout configurations, including three- and four-cabin options, making it well suited to both private owners and charter programs.

Performance Cruising Yachts will return to SCIBS with the latest in European yacht design, innovation, and on-water luxury, showcasing three exceptional models, including two Australasian debuts: the Hanse 410 and Hanse 460.

The brand-new Hanse 410 redefines what’s possible in a 41-foot cruising yacht. With sleek contemporary styling, expansive living spaces, and effortless handling, the Hanse 410 delivers the perfect balance between comfort and performance – whether you’re planning weekends on the harbour or extended coastal adventures.

Then there’s the internationally acclaimed Hanse 460 will boasts the innovation and versatility that earned it global recognition as one of the world’s leading cruising yachts.

Featuring exceptional volume, modern luxury, and easy short-handed sailing capability, the Hanse 460 has quickly become one of the most sought-after models in the Hanse range.

In addition, Performance Cruising Yachts will be promoting opportunities in their Hanse 460 Yacht Share Program, offering a smarter and more accessible pathway into premium yacht ownership.

Made in South Africa, the esteemed Leopard brand will have power and sailing cats on show, including the Leopard 46 Sailing Cat which combines performance, innovation, and comfort. Featuring the signature forward cockpit, spacious aft cockpit, and bright, open saloon, she is equally suited to private ownership or charter use. Excellent sailing performance and thoughtful design make her a standout in her class.

Also among the Leopard line-up is the Leopard 52 which replaces the highly successful Leopard 50. The new 52 takes everything to the next level, such as enhanced living spaces, refined performance, and cutting-edge design features tailored for long-range cruising and effortless onboard living. With improved layouts, seamless indoor-outdoor flow, and upgraded systems throughout, the Leopard 52 delivers a premium sailing experience for owners who demand more.

Adding to the boats on display, the Leopard 43 is a compact, capable, and cleverly designed sailing cat that offers the perfect balance of performance and practicality. Ideal for couples, families, or charter use, this model introduces smarter use of space, modern styling, and enhanced sailing efficiency.

Appealing to cruising couples and families looking for customised performance cruising, Mahi Boats will display the Schionning Solitaire 1520 sailing multihull, Evening Star. Built on the Gold Coast, the 15.25-metre bluewater sailing catamaran is equipped with a hybrid propulsion system with solar integration.

The team from Carbon Yachts will have a presence on water with the Saffier 33 sailing yacht on show.

Offering easy day sailing, this luxurious, 33-footer boasts the biggest cockpit in its class which will comfortably host up to 10 people. It is ideal for single or shorthanded sailing, with all lines leading to the “gentleman’s seat” at the helm. Owners can choose deck and hull colour, and every Saffier represents the pinnacle of Dutch craftsmanship and ingenuity.

“It just won the cruising division at Brisbane Race Week, so they do perform as well!” stated Chris Hrones, Director at Carbon Yachts.

“SCIBS is always a good show for us, with a great atmosphere and hopefully, good weather,” he continued.

Sailing is on the rise as people are attracted to the peace and tranquillity, the lower cost of fuel, and a conscious move away from bigger cruisers into day sailers where the emphasis is on entertaining space for family and friends, rather than cabin space.”

In the vital insurance realm, Pantaenius Australia will have two stands at SCIBS. Over the four-day event, Pantaenius will host a series of short information sessions covering topics of interest to owners, such as Cruising beyond Australian waters, Depreciation and agreed value policies, as well as discussing claim scenarios and an Open Q&A: “What you always wanted to ask your insurer”.

“A new initiative this year is our 12-month price lock guarantee for new customers, providing certainty at renewal,” stated James MacPhail, Managing Director, who explained that SCIBS is a valuable opportunity to reconnect with existing customers and engage with new customers.

Once again, the Pavilions will be full of exhibitors showcasing innovative equipment, nav gear and propulsion, as well as crew apparel, safety products and destinations.

The team from Power Equipment, distributors for Yanmar, are excited to present the brand new ePropulsion Spirit 2 electric outboard, which Marketing Manager Matthew Wheare said is “a new 2kW electric outboard, perfect for small vessels, tenders and sailing boats where more precision is needed”.

“This is the first public display of the Spirit 2 in Australia and will be on show at the ePropulsion stand in the Pavilions.”

From Vetus-Maxwell, the E-Line electric propulsion and Bowpro electronic thrusters, which are always popular with the sailing fraternity. “We will also have a range of maxwell Anchor Winches, Vetus Marine generators and Vetus Diesel marine propulsion engines,” stated Sales Manager, Troy Goodwin-Smith.

The 2026 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show runs 21 to 24 May on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

The Ocean Media team will attend SCIBS 2026 and we look forward to catching up with readers, clients and colleagues for yet another fantastic edition.

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