Despite economic conditions boat show response is positive - MarineBusinessWorld Oceania newsletter
by Peter Rendle 13 Aug 22:00 BST
Sydney Boat Show © Boating Industry Association
Sydney's largest marine and boating event has concluded another successful year, with thousands of visitors descending on Sydney Showground over four days to celebrate the very best in boating, fishing and outdoor adventure.
Building upon a legacy of major boat shows dating back to 1960 in the NSW capital, the 2026 Show created Australia's largest off water marine showcase, bringing together more than 100 exhibitors showcasing more than 350 boats and watercraft, thousands of marine products and accessories, Australian premieres, industry leading innovations, live demonstrations and family friendly entertainment.
Further north and following the enthusiastic response to previous editions, the Get Onboard Boat Expo - Brisbane returned once again for an exciting encore last month. Despite the challenges of producing larger boat shows, Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron successfully hosted the only boat show held in Brisbane, amidst crowds of spectators enjoying the on-and-off-water exhibitors on the spectacular grounds of Queensland's largest marina and Marina Industry Association's "Club of the Year".
The Spit Boat Show, a two-day showcase of the world's leading day boats and luxury recreational vessels, will take place 7-8 November at Fergusons Marina, Sydney. Discover the latest innovations from Europe's most exciting brands, with an impressive collection from the likes of Eyachts, Grady-White, Capelli, Valhalla, Viking, Chris-Craft and Azimut, making it one of the best opportunities to compare leading boats side by side.
One year after the landmark 2x25 Review revealed the persistent barriers preventing women from progressing across sailing and the wider marine industry, The Magenta Project is celebrating its largest graduating mentoring cohort, marking another milestone in the organisation's mission to create a more equitable future for the sport. The 2025/26 cohort sees 77 women graduate from The Magenta Project's internationally recognised Mentoring Programme.
Australian Sailing is pleased to announce the appointment of Jessica Lundh as the new Performance Pathways Manager, bringing extensive experience across high-performance sport, coaching, education and athlete development to the role. Lundh joins following a career spanning international competition, coaching, leadership and education, giving her a unique understanding of the athlete journey from grass roots participation through to Olympic campaigning.
Grand Banks V-WARP Technology, introduced with the Grand Banks 60 in 2017, resolves the long-held trade-off between range and speed. Through a warped hull form, carbon fibre superstructure, and monocoque construction, every Grand Banks model now delivers greater range, higher speed, and a more comfortable offshore ride.
The first ILIAD 53F equipped with the new Shade Power option has been launched, introducing an innovative enhancement that delivers greater onboard comfort, improved energy independence and even more enjoyable time at anchor. Designed specifically for the flybridge model, the optional upgrade features an extended carbon fibre hardtop that increases the yacht's solar capacity to an impressive 5kW. This significantly reduces reliance on the generator while at anchor.
Marine Rescue NSW volunteers completed their second busiest July on record, responding to 253 search and rescue missions across the state's waterways as favourable winter boating conditions encouraged more people onto the water. Volunteers safely returned 512 people to shore, with 90 of the month's responses classified as emergencies.
More industry news at www.marinebusinessworld.com/Oceania updated daily.
Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@worldmarine.media