What’s on sail at SCIBS?
Cruisers and cats are lining up for charters and sea changers.
Organisers of the upcoming Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) have released details of the line-up of sailing yachts and catamarans due to go on display in May, including several new releases.
The world’s number one selling yacht brand, Beneteau, will have 11 boats in display at SCIBS, including two sailing models alongside the brand’s power range. The Yacht Brokerage managing director Peter Nicholson said they will display the Beneteau Oceanis 35.1 and Beneteau 45.
“The 45 is a great choice for SCIBS. We are seeing the development of the Queensland market and significant increase in enquiry for the new Beneteau range,” he said.
“Beneteau is renowned around the world for space, comfort and styling. The 45 is a recreational yacht that easily transfers to commercial charter, which is a growing market.
“We are putting quite a lot of effort into SCIBS this year as it’s a significant milestone being the 30th edition. As the Beneteau dealer in Queensland, we are investing heavily in the marketplace to promote the brand.”
Mooloolaba Yacht Brokers will again present the popular Jeanneau 349 Sun Odyssey from the French yacht builder. On display this year, the three-cabin performance version of this yacht with the lifting keel is suitable for both competitive and cruising sailors.
“There are more than 500 of this model sailing around the world, and 45 of them in Australia,” said dealer principal Ian Douglas.
“We are sure visitors to SCIBS this year will be impressed with its versatility and quality.”
On water, Multihull Central will display six models in total – its biggest display in 19 years of boat shows. Director Brent Vaughan said he is proud to present the innovative new Seawind 1190 Sport, hot off the ship and making its Australian debut.
“The Seawind 1190 Sport is a really interesting boat. It’s unique in that it has daggerboards, retractable rudders, a taller rig than normal, aramid-fibre, high-tech sails, a big carbon bow sprit and spinnaker, plus loads of enhancements,” he said.
“The reason being, there are many more sailors coming to multihulls and wanting to compete in the Hamilton Island Race Week and social regattas. They want performance out of their cruising cats.
“There has been a lot of cross pollination at the Seawind and Corsair factory. The Sports is somewhere in the middle between high performance and comfortable cruiser. At $660,000, the Seawind 1190 Sport offers all this in a sub-million boat.”
The brand-new Corsair 760 Trimaran will also be on show, with the trailerable “pocket racer-cruiser” also making its Australian debut at SCIBS.
“It’s the sort of boat you can race with your mates, then take your kids out and teach them how to sail and stay out overnight,” said Vaughan.
“It has a sink, stove, freshwater and basic bedding. You can sleep onboard or moor offshore and set up camp on a little beach somewhere. Priced at $125,000 it is within the reach of families and first-time sailors.”
Multihull Central will also show the Seawind 1260, a charter vessel going to Whitsundays with Charter Yachts Australia, and in its power range the Aquila 48, displayed for the first time in Australia. There will also be the Aquila 44, which is being offered as a syndication boat with Yachtshare, and the Aquila 36 in a family fishing version.
Multihull Solutions will present two models from the French marque, Fontaine Pajot, including the Australian debut of the Lucia 40 sailing cat alongside the MY 44 power cat.
“The Lucia 40 has proven exceptionally popular and we expect many people flying from interstate to see it this year,” said managing director Mark Elkington.
“We will be displaying two of the most popular boats from Fontaine Pajot, which is enjoying incredible sales success in the Asia Pacific region – there are 47 in forward order for delivery by 2020!
“We also have strong interest in pre-owned vessels, testament to how these boats retain their value and how their styling is timeless.
“Our main markets are retirees learning to sail and wanting to set off cruising, the ‘grey nomads’ looking to explore the coastline instead of hitting the road, younger families taking time off for a sea change, and young professionals who want a boat for cruising and entertaining on the weekends. They work hard, and a boat is their reward.”
Representing Bali catamarans, Dream Yacht Charters will display the Bali 4.0 ‘Banjo’, a popular charter yacht in the Whitsundays. Dealer Christophe Vanek said the Bali 4.0 has accommodation for up to 10 guests, a large flybridge and bow entertaining area with tables and sunpads, plus a massive aft deck for meals and socialising.
“The Bali 4.0 is an example of the new concept with loft at the back of the boat, which opens up and is ideal for the tropics, enjoying the sunshine, while escaping the heat, and taking advantage of the watersports and activities people enjoy while boating,” he said.
The Multihull Group (TMG) will have the 450 Lagoon on show alongside its European power brands Axopar, Fjord, Greenline and Sealine. TMG director John Cowpe said the 450 Lagoon is one of the most popular current models with 1,000 boats released.
“It’s a great all-rounder and will appeal to families and couple looking for a luxurious cruising cat that is equally at home for weekend sailing as it is for long range cruising,” he said.
Fresh from being announced as the Australian dealer for Dragonfly Trimarans, built in Denmark for over 50 years, TMG will also showcase the brand for the first time at SCIBS. TMG Queensland manager Rowan McMahon said the dynamic multihulls are extremely versatile and can be used as fun, fast family cruisers or an even faster performance offshore racer.
“All Dragonfly models use the ‘Swing Wing’. With this revolutionary system, the trimaran can be folded to reduce the beam by more than 50% in less than one minute per side, using no tools and operating only from the cockpit,” he said.
“This system enables these boats to become trailable in the smaller models or fit perfectly in a single marina pen.
“We are certain they will be very appealing to cruising and competitive sailors.”
