June 2010 - Boating Industry Association of NSW

Jessica Watson to appear at
Sydney International Boat
Show
The Sydney International Boat Show is seldom, if ever,
short of headline acts, but organiser the Boating Industry
Association (BIA) of NSW has outdone itself this year
confirming that Jessica Watson, ‘the darling of the high seas',
will light up Darling Harbour.
Sponsored by NSW Maritime and scheduled for five
action-packed days, 29 July–2 August, space bookings are
going ‘gangbusters' with the association forced to open Hall
6 following a complete sell out of floor space in the primary
(and cavernous!) Halls 1 through 5.
Jessica Watson, who in less than eight months has
circumnavigated the world, will appear in the Better Boating
Lounge at the show and will share her story with the visiting
public.
I would suggest it will be standing room only anywhere
near the Better Boating Lounge whenever Jessica takes the
stage.
Domenic Genua, Marketing and Event Manager for the
BIA, said it was ‘truly exciting' to be able to confirm Jessica
Watson as the show's special guest.
"The Better Boating Lounge will also feature Don McIntyre, a
major supporter of Jessica Watson's solo voyage and currently
involved with the Bounty Boat Expedition,” Genua added.
Details will also be announced shortly of yet another
appearance in the Better Boating Lounge, that of the Norris
family, from Sydney's northern beaches.
The family (dad, mum and two kids aged 7 and 5) has
just spent 1825 days (and that's five years!) on water sailing
around the world.
Of course, there are people with little or no interest in
sailboats and the Sydney International Boat Show caters in
full for them.
Every style and every form of recreational powerboat will be
on display, from tiny tinnies to globe-circling mega yachts.
Benefits of BIA membership
Aaron McKenna, Member Support and Development,
will be available during this year’s Sydney International
Boat Show to give an insight into the many benefits of
BIA membership to non-members in a series of one-onone
meetings.
If you would like to schedule an appointment at
this year’s show contact Aaron on 02 9438 2077 or
aaron@bia.org.au to arrange a meeting.
Although the Darling Harbour extravaganza will indeed be
a boat show, largest in the Southern Hemisphere, in fact, it will
also be a fount of education and entertainment for all ages.
Popular attractions, some new, some old favourites, can
be relied upon to create interest, among them the Nautilus
Marine Insurance Fishing Clinic (usually playing to standing
room-only audiences), the Walk of Fame and The Marine
Precinct Education Centre.
Throw in Historic Boat Displays, the Musto Fashion
Parades, the Photography Competition which proved such
a hit last year, as did the Discover Boating Tours of Sydney
Harbour and it's easy to see why the show regularly attracts
attendances in the 90,000-plus region.
Of course, no need to take everything too seriously
– especially not the Boat Building Competition, which has
scores of show visitors in, tears - tears of laughter, that is,
as competitive apprentices from local boat builders try to
build a boat.
Materials and tools are kept to a minimum and when built
the teams have to race their vessel around Cockle Bay!
At least one, often more, of those vessels end up on
the seabed, much to the amusement of the cold-hearted
spectators.
As always, a show highlight will be the spectacular marina
on Cockle Bay, largest marina specifically erected for a boat
show anywhere in Australia.
The BIA was delighted to report that reservations for marina
space were double the tally at the same time last year.
Education and entertainment may attract the crowd, but
for the genuine boating enthusiasts the Sydney International
4 - June 2010 BIA of NSW LOGBOOK