Yacht Style – July 2019

SHOWS Review: Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show

STUNNING DISPLAY OF

INNOVATIVE NEW MODELS

L

ocated at the epicentre of Australia’s boat building industry,

but held in a luxury resort, the 31st Sanctuary Cove Boat Show

replicated its early 2000s glory years with a stunning display

of latest models, including world releases from the two largest

production yards, Maritimo and Riviera.

The GFC and a rival event at nearby Gold Coast Marine Precinct

had led to a modest downturn in the last decade, but the latter show

finally folded in 2018, so greater numbers of exhibitors and visitors

flocked to the ambiance of Sanctuary Cove’s Marine Village, which is

packed with upmarket restaurants, bars and boutiques, and to its on-site

InterContinental Hotel promoting the reopening of a sister property on

exclusive Hayman Island.

Official figures had 182 larger power and sail boats in-water, and

423 craft displayed ashore across Marine Village precincts, while 334

exhibitors included marine accessories makers showing their wares in

huge custom pavilions.

Maritimo, long the anchor exhibitor at Sanctuary Cove Boat Show,

had its usual premier in-water position, displaying a wide range of

models, and staged the world debut of its revolutionary X50.

This is a slightly smaller sibling of the X60 unveiled here last year,

and is thus priced at a competitive A$1.44 million, which is virtually

the same in Singapore dollars, including standard beach club aft

accommodation.

Already X50 pre-launch sales have made the model an international

success, just as the X60 was similarly received last year, and both have

strong ongoing support. Several were sold at Sanctuary Cove, with many

more post-show sea trials pending.

X50s and X60s will be exhibited in Australia, New Zealand and

America this year, and the Southeast and East Asian dealer networks

are being further developed. SG Boating in Singapore runs Southeast

Asia.

Describing results as “one of the best product launches in Maritimo’s

history”, a spokesman says that the “astounding international response”

is thanks to the model’s innovative design features, coupled with the

brand’s trusted performance and ocean-going comfort.

X-Series lead designer Tom Barry-Cotter has basically created an aft

beach club with ensuite that can be an al fresco third cabin, or custom

laid out as a unique VIP, or anything in between, depending on the

owner’s preferences.

This frees space forward so that the Master and VIP cabins there,

both with ensuites, are noticeably larger than in the usual three-cabins-

forward layout of most boats this size.

WORDS BRUCE MAXWELL

Aerial view of Sanctuary Cove Boat Show in one of the luxury resort’s four harbours. Gold Coast Marine Precinct is further upstream, on the right bank, roughly centre-frame