The 42nd Sydney International Boat Show was held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre and Cockle Bay Marina, Darling Harbour from the 30th of July to the 3rd of August 2009.
With over 250 exhibitors showcasing their products and services in five halls and 190 boats anchored at Cockle Bay, it was claimed that the show was the best ever.
The major highlights during the show include Talks and Parades, Hall Exhibitions and In-Water Exhibits at the marina.
And for the first time in the show’s history, the Discover Boating Tours were introduced.
Departing every 30 minutes, visitors had the opportunity to take a free tour of Sydney Harbour on a Matilda Rocket.
During the tour, participants was shown some of the yacht clubs, boat ramps, public moorings and fishing spots. Among the places that we cruised by were the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House, …
… Garden Island, home to Australia’s Navy fleet, …
… Disney’s House (didn’t knew that Mickey Mouse likes pink), …
… and Rose Bay, Sydney’s first international airport (catered for seaplanes).
Looking back into the harbour, we get to see the spectacular views …
… that the residents of the luxurious water front houses wake up to everyday.
Cruising on, we past the HMAS Sydney Memorial Mast, which represents a mark of respect and recognition of the Australian officers, sailors and ships lost at sea and in combat, …
… Taronga Zoo, …
… and Mosman Bay.
On with our journey back to Darling Harbour, …
… we also cruise past by the official Sydney residence of the Australian Prime Minister, Kirribilli House, …
… before crossing the Harbour Bridge again.
We then cruise past Luna Park, …
… one of Sydney’s first skyscraper, …
… Goat Island, …
… ANZAC Bridge, …
… Australian National Maritime Museum, with its fleet of ships and submarines, …
… and lastly, Pyrmont Bridge, one of the first swing bridge in the world to be powered by electricity.
After disembarking from the Discover Boating Tour, we proceeded on to the In-Water exhibits to check out some of the luxurious yachts, from Maritimo, Princess and Sunseeker. First up is the Maritimo A50 Enclosed.
As a standard option, you get a galley (small kitchen), …
… a living area with foldable tables, sofas and …
.. a pop up LCD or plasma screen.
Going down the staircases, you get at least two rooms with a view ...
… plus an en-suite or a shared bathroom/toilet (also with a view).
For a small yacht, all of the features are controlled by over 50 electrical switches.
We also had the chance to take a peek at the A55 and A60. Most of the interiors are similar, except that some may be more luxurious than others. For example, the higher end versions offer stainless steel kitchen appliances, …
… built-in washer and dryer, …
… coffee machine, …
… and an outdoor BBQ set.
At the Princess’s booth, we had the chance to inspect the V65 Sports Yacht, …
.. before dropping by at Sunseeker’s booth.
Here, we inspected the Manhattan 52.
All in all, it can be concluded that all the yachts are the same. Like a car, you pay the difference in price for the brand, interior fittings and luxurious accessories.
Also on display at the marina were trimarans,
… historical boats, …
… armed forces water crafts, …
… and a pink yacht belonging to 16 year old Jessica Watson who will sail solo non-stop and unassisted around the world.
The last and also quite an interesting exhibit that we saw at the marina was the houseboat. It is a whole house built on a floating platform complete with a full-fledged kitchen, living and dining area, …
… and 5 bedrooms with en-suite on the ground floor.
At the top floor, you get a 10 person spa bath, a huge dining table and a full BBQ set.
As it was getting dark, our last stop for the show was at the exhibition halls.
This is where the Fishing Clinic, Fashion Parades, Better Boating Lounges, and Historical Boat Displays took place. Our first stop was at the Fishing Clinic, where great tips were provided for the keen anglers.
Moving along, we arrived at the Photography Gallery and Competition section …
… and next to it, the Historic and Classic Boat Display section, where Australian historical power boats were on display.
There was also another section known as the Marine Precinct for those who wanted more information about boating in Australia. This section featured many government and marine organisations where essential boating safety and compliance information were provided.
Last but not the least, the general exhibits connecting all the 5 halls allowed suppliers and vendors to showcase their latest products and services.
For boating enthusiast, I guess this show is a not-to-be-missed event!
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