Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show 2023

The 34th edition of the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) has cemented its position as the Southern Hemisphere’s leading boating and marine showcase, boasting impressive attendance, exceptional sales and a vibrant, festival atmosphere. Over four action-packed days, SCIBS 2023 attracted 47,345 visitors who flocked from all over the globe to view thousands of marine products, and an impressive 740 vessel line-up, including an all-time record of 315 boats on water and over 100 Australian, Asia-Pacific and World premieres.

 “The feedback we’re receiving from exhibitors and visitors is extraordinary, and the exceptional growth of the event supports that. SCIBS is recognised by the industry as a must-attend event on the international boat show calendar, providing an unparalleled opportunity to market and sell products whilst showcasing the boating lifestyle,” said SCIBS General Manager Johan Hasser. “The enthusiasm from exhibitors for the Show has been a driving force behind the ongoing investment in Sanctuary Cove by parent company Mulpha Australia, including the recent expansion of the marina to include an additional 28 berths and the upcoming development of another superyacht arm by the new year. The Show is very much a collaboration between everyone involved - us, our sponsors and partners and exhibitors. We’re passionate about ensuring an exceptional visitor experience and the best platform for exhibitors to showcase their products to an engaged audience. It’s proved to be a very successful strategy, with this year being our biggest and best in our 34-year history.”

Erica Rae of Horizon Yachts says SCIBS has generated over $40 million in sales just the first three days. “This has been the busiest Show we have had in the past five or six years,” Rae said. “It has been phenomenal; the number of enquiries we have had come through. The crowds have been extraordinary, it has been really very busy. The quality of leads has also been really strong. We don’t usually sell a lot of boats at the Show because we are custom builders, so it is usually a two-to-three-month process, but we have already sold three boats - an E88 Sports Yacht, and FD80 and an FD90 - just over the first three days, and we are expecting the coming months to see more sales generated from SCIBS. Even our biggest boat, we have three very solid leads on that boat. It has a purchase price in the tens of millions of dollars, so there are a very limited number of people in a position to make that purchase. The fact we have three very strong leads on that is a testament to the quality of the Show and the kind of audience it attracts.”

Greg Haines from Princess Yachts says his team believes SCIBS 2023 has produced some of the strongest leads of any boat show they have participated in. “My team advised me that this year has presented us with the highest quality leads we have ever had at the show, and some of the team went further to say they have received the best quality leads of any boat show we have attended. We are finding there is a lot of interest in the bigger boats - boats above 65 feet.”

Mark Elkington, CEO, Multihull Solutions and The Yacht Sales Co said SCIBS 2023 has achieved outstanding results for his companies. “Our ILIAD Catamarans team was inundated during the show as the new ILIAD 53S commanded attention and a number of orders were taken across the range. It was wonderful to welcome dozens of owners who are currently waiting on the arrival of their new yachts, and the entire team felt this was the best show we have experienced since 2018.”

With another successful event now under their belts, Hasser emphasised the economic impact of SCIBS 2023, highlighting its influence on the event, tourism, and marine sectors. The show continues to fuel marine sales, create employment opportunities, generate tourism revenue, and increase visitor nights in the region. The Mulpha Events team have already turned their focus to next year’s Show, with plans to make it even bigger and better.

The 35th Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show will be held from May 23-26, 2024. For more information visit sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au