The annual event will return to Hope Island on Queensland's Gold Coast from May 20 to 23.

The show's general manager, Johan Hasser, said exhibitor bookings were on par with the most recent 2019 show, with a strong list of boatbuilders reflecting the industry's desire to reveal their latest offerings.

"The strong exhibitor response is a testament to the success of our smaller-scale Sanctuary Cove Boating Festival in November, as well as the industry's enthusiasm for the enhanced larger layout of this year's show," Hasser said.

"We commend the industry for their unwavering resilience despite the many roadblocks they've faced over the past 12 months, and we are grateful that our exhibitors continue to support our efforts to provide a premium platform for marine brands to showcase their products in one spectacular location."

"We witnessed some incredible industry sales come out of the Sanctuary Cove Boating Festival and we're confident that exhibitors will continue to ride the wave at this year's Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. We're looking forward to coming together as an industry and celebrating 32 years of championing the boating lifestyle."

Following the successful launch of the Sanctuary Cove Boating Festival that provided a stop-gap solution for exhibitors, prominent brands applied for prime positions on the water when bookings opened late last year.

One of the first to snap up space was boat show regular Riviera. The luxury motor yacht builder will present its "most comprehensive boat show display" in 2021.

"We're proud to announce that Sanctuary Cove this year will be home to our largest display of Riviera motor yachts in Australia for 2021," Riviera owner Rodney Longhurst said.

Riviera will showcase a number of models from across Riviera's award-winning range of Sports Motor Yachts, SUVs, Flybridge and Sport Yachts. The range encompasses 22 models in total from 39 to 72 feet.

The show will provide prospective buyers with the first opportunity to step aboard the new Riviera 645 SUV, the flagship of the sporty and adventurous SUV six-model collection of motor yachts. The boat show will serve as the premiere of the 645 SUV.

The Riviera 645 SUV is a luxurious motor yacht, designed to offer longer-range offshore cruising, premium comfort and luxury accommodation, while enhancing the superb indoor-outdoor lifestyle features that make Riviera's SUV models so practical and popular.

The 645 SUV has the choice of three or four staterooms, three bathrooms and a utility, crew or additional accommodation aft. In addition, there is an alfresco entertaining and dining deck, gourmet galley with island bench, a side saloon door leading to walk-around side decks, and a foredeck that is a further, lavish entertainment hub.

A choice of Twin MAN V8 1300 (956 kW) or MAN V12 1550 (1,140 kW) common rail marine diesels has been selected for the 645 SUV power options. The 1550's will deliver cruise speed of 30 knots and wide-open throttle around 34 knots.

The 645 SUV will be accompanied at this year's boat show by her sisterships the 445, 505 and 575 SUVs, as well as the long-range 72, 64 and 50 Sports Motor Yachts, the 6000, 5400, and 4800 Sport Yacht Platinum Editions, and the blue-water 57 Enclosed Flybridge.

"Our team is looking forward to presenting our premiere model among a truly outstanding line-up of Riviera luxury motor yachts on H Arm at Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show this year and we look forward to welcoming visitors aboard," Longhurst said.

This year Sanctuary Cove will unveil their undercover berths for the show. The new area is part of the final stage of the precinct's $12million marina redevelopment.

The berths can accommodate vessels up to 30 metres and are completely weatherproof, adding 150 linear metres of display space for exhibitors

Koolewong Marina, in Brisbane Water, has been awarded Five Gold Anchors by the Marina Industries Association. It is one of the industry's highest accolades and is reserved for facilities that offer customers consistently high standards of service. Koolewong Marina owner Les Binkin said: "Sym and I are very proud of how the marina has developed from a green fields site to a full-service marina, we have some great boats out there, so a huge thanks to all our clients. I'd also especially like to thank all of our staff, both old and new, who have contributed so much to achieving such a high standard."

The Boating Industry Association (BIA) will introduce a scaled-down, COVID-safe Sydney show in 2021, named the Sydney Boating Festival. The show will be held in the BIA's usual spot, the International Convention Centre, and runs from July 29 to August 1, occupying the upper-level halls, including the undercover exhibitor displays on the Event Deck. The festival will still host boats on the marina in Cockle Bay for larger on-water displays with a new Festival Boulevard of displays set-up between Cockle Bay and Tumbalong Park. Unfortunately, the Brisbane show won't go ahead, with exhibitors struggling to find stock to display following a boom in boat sales.

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