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Multihull Solutions is exhibiting the Fountaine Pajot MY5 at Sanctuary Cove

Malaysian-owned Mulpha Events Australia, which runs premier Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, is taking a hand in the country’s other leading display in Sydney this year, and will be involved in smaller Boating Industry Association (BIA) expos, such as Brisbane and Adelaide.

An agreement signed between Mulpha Australia CEO Greg Shaw and BIA President Darren Vaux foresees “a collaboration that will enable the delivery of innovative and engaging world-class events with a significant focus on the boating lifestyle, for the benefit of exhibitors, partners, visitors and the broader boating industry”.

BIA will continue to own its stable of boat shows, and retain overall financial control, so exactly how the deal will work in practice is evolving, but there is considerable enthusiasm ahead of the 34th Sanctuary Cove IBS from May 19-22.

SCIBS resumed last year after a 2020 lay-off caused by Covid, the first Asia-Pacific boat show to do so, and 51,000 visitors thronged an expanded layout in what was proclaimed the most successful event to date.

Located in an upmarket resort village and the adjacent berths of Harbour One, it has always had a sheer ambiance factor. Buyers can fly in by helicopter from the downtown Gold Coast or stay onsite at the InterContinental.

Sydney IBS, held in the International Convention Centre and at the custom pontoons of Cockle Bay in Darling Harbour, overlooked by CBD high-rise office blocks and hotels, has missed two years, and will welcome a fresh approach for the scheduled reopening of the 53rd edition from July 28-August 1. About 60,000 visitors attend, and whereas Sanctuary Cove is limited by its singular access road and waterways, turnouts in Sydney could be much higher.

The ILIAD 50 is showing at Sanctuary Cove

“The marine industry here is truly exceptional, and it is one we are dedicated to support and grow”, says Shaw. “As a diversified real estate, hotel and hospitality business, Mulpha is well placed to expand the boat show offering, to attract a broader audience, and to introduce more Australians to the boating lifestyle.”

Mulpha, probably best-known in Southeast Asia at present for its development of the 1,765-acre Leisure Farm in Iskandar Malaysia, began Australian investments in the 1990s with the purchase of Bimbadgen Winery, followed in 2002 by its signature acquisition, the already-famous Sanctuary Cove Resort.

Since then, it has added equally-upmarket Hayman Island Resort in the Whitsunday Islands to the portfolio, along with InterContinental Hotel interests, and the London Marriott, plus diverse other property developments.

Chairman of Mulpha is Lee Seng Huang, also known in Hong Kong for his substantial stake in financial services firm Sun Hung Kai. Lee went to Sydney University, and in recent years has acquired the 100ft racing yacht Scallywag, which he has campaigned in many regional events, including the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

SCIBS was developed independently for its first decade, before the BIA became involved in what had become “Asia-Pacific’s import-export showcase”, but it has had a titular association since, and now it seems the relationship has come full circle with the latest BIA-Mulpha Events co-operation.

Riviera’s Sanctuary Cove display features the new flagship 78 Motor Yacht

Both of Australia’s largest production yards, Riviera and Maritimo, are located nearby in what is effectively the country’s boating epicentre, and they form rival centrepieces for SCIBS, regularly exhibiting a wide range of craft and drawing attention to new designs, technologies and innovations entering the market.

Riviera last year launched a floating VIP owners’ lounge at H Arm in Harbour One, part of the show’s expanded in-water facility, and the popular Riviera Festival of Boating is repeated in May at what yard owner Rodney Longhurst says “will be Riviera’s only exhibition in Australia for 2022”.

The Festival involves boating education and training workshops including courses for lady skippers, mastering knots, lines and hitches, offshore seamanship, understanding radar, navigating at night, and onboard power systems management. These are open to owners and potential clients, and there are a number of exclusive social events, such as the Riviera owners ladies luncheon, a cocktail party and a spectacular gala.

Centrepiece of the display will be the new flagship Riviera 78 Motor Yacht, starring amid a further selection of Sports Motor Yachts, Sport Yachts, SUVs and Flybridge models from across the builder’s award-winning 39-78ft range.

Maritimo as usual starts the F Arm display with a six-vessel line-up including three global launches. Their range spans M-Series Flybridge, S-Series Sedans and X-Series Sport models.

Maritimo is showing its S75

On the slips is their new S75 Sedan Motor Yacht, scheduled to be launched in late 2022. Maritimo Design Director Tom Barry-Cotter says it “draws on a wealth of feedback from owners all over the world, and has been two years in concept development and planning stages. Owner input is something that is constantly used, and sees us creating our most progressive S-Series to date, while retaining the Maritimo DNA of a superb ride, safe walk-around decks and quality finishes from construction through to furniture”.

Rolls Royce Power Systems’ MTU engines are being introduced to M75 Flybridge, S75 Sedan, M600 and S600 models.

Tom’s dad Bill Barry-Cotter, also an offshore power boat racing aficionado, founded both Riviera and later Maritimo, and famously hung his hat on a penchant for consulting owners. He is now celebrating 60 years in the industry.

Sales of multihull vessels have taken off across the Asia-Pacific region in the last decade or two, so three exclusive launches at Sanctuary Cove from Multihull Solutions will command attention. They are premiering the Neel 43 trimaran, Fountaine Pajot’s Isla 40 sailing catamaran, and the Fountaine Pajot MY5, alongside the well-received ILIAD 50, which like the MY5 is a motor catamaran. An FP Elba 45 is also in the mix.

Fountaine Pajot Isla 40 is being shown by Multihull Solutions

The Neel 43 trimaran, just arrived, received nominations for three of the world’s most prestigious awards for 2022, Multihull of the Year, European Yacht of the Year and British Yacht Awards.

Fountaine Pajot’s Isla 40 is larger than her predecessor, the Lucia 40, and comes with three or four cabins plus the possibility of a crew cabin. The renowned yard’s MY4.S also available is a stunning new Sports version that features a voluminous owners’ suite and lovely salon-cockpit combination bathed in natural light.

ILIAD catamarans burst onto the scene in 2019 and the 50-53S-62-74 range is selling like hot cakes, its pedigree based on exceptional range, fuel economy, build quality and value for money.

Horizon, Taiwan and Asia’s largest boat builder, has its Australian HQ at Sanctuary Cove, and has recently sold the impressive Fast Displacement FD90 Sumo, designed by Cor D. Rover, to owners who are basing the boat at Airlie Beach. She has an enclosed skylounge configuration and a five stateroom layout, including an on-deck master.

Horizon Yachts has sold two Fast Displacement FD90s in Australia

This and similar models are being shown, and Horizon itself has by far the widest range of options of any builder in the region. Sumo, which also features floor-to-ceiling windows, is the second FD90 sold in Australia alone.

Mulpha Events General Manager Johan Hasser advises the other new models are scheduled from Ocean Alexander, Palm Beach Motor Yachts, Axopar and Whitehaven Motor Yachts. “The recent extension of the marina has allowed SCIBS to occupy every last bit of space,” he says. “As such, there are significantly more boats on the water this year.”

www.sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au