Organised by the Boating Industry Association (BIA), the show has become the largest recreational boat show in the southern hemisphere and has again filled the entire exhibition space available at the International Convention Centre and the show’s purpose-built marina on Cockle Bay.

The show spreads across the ICC’s two exhibition levels, while the Event Deck adjacent to the top level has a pool devoted to demonstrating aquatic products such as kayaks, paddleboards and pedal boards. There is also a second pool offering the kids free bumper-boat rides.  

The schedule is packed full of seminars and entertainment, including fishing masterclasses, historic boat displays, the Australia International Dive Expo and on-water equipment demonstrations, plus the Transport for NSW Boating Safety Zone.

“The enthusiasm for the show is always remarkable,” BIA president Alan Blake said.

“We returned to Darling Harbour last year after the new facility was complete. ICC Sydney’s two-level venue, the outdoor Event Deck and the marina at Cockle Bay have certainly lived up to expectations; 2018 is shaping up to be an even grander show.”   

Visitors can expect high-quality presentations and gear to suit all budgets, plus many important global and regional premieres.

Whether you love the inland waterways of Australia or prefer the open waters off the coast, exhibitors at the Sydney International Boat Show promise everything for the recreational marine enthusiast.

As many as 1000 boats by more than 250 exhibitors from across the world will be on display.

Sydney-based Chapman Marine continues to promote the lifestyle benefits that boating can bring to families and individuals by having on show Beneteau Outboard Powerboats from the Antares and Barracuda range.

“We launched the new Beneteau Antares 9 twin outboard motor cruiser, which is a brand-new model, along with the Antares 7 and 8 and the Barracuda 8 fishing machine,” managing director Mark Chapman said.

“We are also presenting two new brands from Europe, the Falcon and Flipper Sports console boats.”

Chapman Marine also has on display 11 models from Sea Ray, with new Australian releases being the 250 SDX Outboard and Sterndrive models, the new 230 SPX, new SLX 310 and the much anticipated 290 SDX Sundeck with Twin Merc Verado 250hps engines.

NSW dealer Blakes Marine is showing off Bar Crusher’s impressive fleet of Fishing Weapons, their high performance plate aluminium boats. Also, making its SIBS debut, is the 615BR, described as Bar Crusher’s ultimate crossover boat.

The new 6000 Flybridge, La Robelle has joined the impressive flagship of the Whitehaven Motor Yacht range, the 7500 Sports Yacht Finito on display in Cockle Bay Marina.

Queensland-based supermaxi yacht Black Jack beat Wild Oats XI to the finish line in the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. Peter Harburg’s 30-metre Black Jack finished at 7:26:20 on Monday 28 July in 6-9 knots of cool north-westerly wind, giving them an elapsed time of 1 day 17 hours 36 minutes 20 seconds. Phil Arnell’s yacht Anger Management was the fastest Newcastle yacht, finishing early in the morning on 31 July with a time of 2 days 18 hours 14 minutes and 28 seconds. The other two local boats, She’s the Culprit and Stampede, battled it out in the PHS division.

Tomago boat ramp has received an upgrade, thanks to the New South Wales Government’s boating Now program. The program is a part of the state government’s $70 million funding program to support initiatives that enhance the boating experience in NSW, including the delivery of recreational boating infrastructure across the state’s waterways. The upgrades to the Tomago boat ramp included a new floating pontoon system, Boating Now Program and Port Stephens Council. The five year program operates until 2019, with other projects in the works for Newcastle and the Hunter region.