Thirty-six years ago, the “Ultimate Event” took place to celebrate the opening of a wildly ambitious development called Sanctuary Cove. It flew in superstar heavy weights Frank Sinatra and Whitney Houston no less and cost some $16m (in 1988 money) to stage.
The event reflected the grand aspiration of the concept – and the boldness of its founder: the brash, gravel-voiced Mike Gore – to create a precinct and lifestyle destination prominent on the world stage, on the humble site of an old dairy farm on the Coomera River.
There was conjecture, right up to the day of the event, that Sinatra would even turn up; and there were similar reservations that the lofty Sanctuary Cove concept would fail to launch also.
But Sinatra did show, touching down at the 11th hour in a private jet, and nearly four decades later, the Sanctuary Cove name has indeed become eminent among leisure and lifestyle brands and destinations globally.
While superstars of music and sport heralded the opening, it was arguably boating – the marina and the boating lifestyle – that has been at the centre of its identity and ultimate success.
A Boat Show is Born
Boating was a passion of Sanctuary Cove’s colourful founder; as was the connectivity with international boating markets, from the beginning.
Mike Gore and wife, Jenny were dealers for Cheoy Lee – attractive trawler style cruisers, imported from Hong Kong with their business partners, the Lo family, who would also become founding partners in Sanctuary Cove.
The Gores initially purchased the property with boatbuilding in mind… Before the imagination began to flare for how it might be developed as a resort-style, fully integrated community – building out and over the water – with a world class golf course, comprehensive marina village (resplendent with brewery), four harbours and marina to boot.
At the time, the law did not permit anything like it, and so began the political and legislative journey that culminated in the Sanctuary Cove Resort Act (1985), the subsequent major development, and one of the most pervasive advertising campaigns in history.
In the wake of the “ultimate event” – which was an extraordinary week-long gala – the first “Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show” (SCIBS) was conducted, in 1989. It immediately became a vital magnet and cog in Sanctuary Cove’s momentum.
Thirty-five very big years later, SCIBS has emerged as what Palm Beach Motor Yachts founder Mark Richards describes as
“The Best Boat Show in Australia by a country mile.”
Mark Richards, Founder & CEO Palm Beach Motor Yachts
Headwinds and Heavy Seas
It has not all been plain sailing – for the boat show, or the industry.
There have been global financial crises, pandemics, travel and supply chain blockages, labour shortages, disruption in manufacturing and technologies, and all the economic undulations in between.
In the midst of recession in 1990, the numbers of exhibitors had fallen drastically, with only 30 boats exhibited. But SCIBS, and the marine industry, has shown its resilience and metal through such times.
Riviera was one such brand that defied the odds through the 90s, not only surviving but growing internationally. It now stands as a bastion of success, not just in the boatbuilding business, but in Australian manufacturing and export markets generally.
It is one of the biggest employers on the Gold Coast, with 950 staff. A few weeks before the show, the company trumpeted the launch of its 6,000th boat – a mighty achievement.
Coastwatch took a look aboard a Riviera 43 back in 1999 – regarded as a “bigger boat” in those days – but a boat that bears little resemblance to the 78 foot model we went aboard in 2024.
Coastwatch & SCIBS – 35 years
Another significant industry brand also arrived in 1989 – that of this one: Coastwatch !
Coastwatch established and maintained a long association with SCIBS, particularly through the first formative decade.
A pioneer in coastal leisure programming, Coastwatch, like SCIBS, played a significant role in promoting and providing valuable information on boating, fishing, surfing and general coastal knowledge – championing not only the lifestyle, but the industries and businesses operating within them.
By its 10th Anniversary in 1999, SCIBS was breaking new ground and had genuine international legitimacy. The current owners and organisers, Mulpha, had taken charge, and the world was taking notice.
Coastwatch was prominent at the 10th Anniversary: running a pavilion, reporting on the event and broadcasting the TV Show.
A selection of Brownie’s Coastwatch videos from the 10th Anniversary in 1999 can be seen below this article – offering a walk down memory lane, and a fantastic retrospective on the extraordinary growth that has taken place in the intervening 25 years.
It is appropriate that both SCIBS and Coastwatch celebrate 35 years in 2024 and can look back as participants in a historic growth period; not just in terms of industry economics, but in the public uptake of everything that is special about being on the water.
SCIBS 2024
The 35th year of the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show broke new records again.
In 2024, 767 boats were displayed across 335 exhibitors, including 356 boats on the water. There were 2,500 marine products showcased, 102 new product launches and 43, 741 visitors through the gates across 4 days.
The 2024 Show played host to a number of world first product releases, particularly in the electric propulsion sector, including new generation hybrid power from the Slovenia based Greenline; the Danish headquartered Rand Boats and their fully electric, 32 knot luxury runabout; and Zerojet, a New Zealand based company, who showcased a jet driven, electric-engined Hydrofield tender on their first foray to the show (see all videos below article).
A West-Australian start-up, E-Nautic had a particularly innovative creation. Led by two young entrepreneurs, Joshua Cribb and Michael Andrewartha, E-Nautic is pushing the boundaries of both hydrofoiling and electric power (see video below):
While SCIBS attracts the biggest names, it is encouraging to see smaller, innovative products and companies like E-Nautic using SCIBS as a launching pad, like many others before them.
There are numerous success stories and now established companies, that have grown with and alongside SCIBS. Gary Cooper established Stella Marine out of the back of his van and has been exhibiting at the show since 2003. Stella have now been sponsoring the main pavilion at SCIBS for the last four years.
Stella employs 40 staff and manufactures and distributes a unique range of world class products, including market leading water-makers and patented hydraulic swim platforms, from their factory at The Boat Works.
Also growing exponentially around SCIBS, is the “Coomera Marine Precinct”, of which Sanctuary Cove forms an extension. Spurred by developments like The Boat Works, the Gold Coast City Marina, and surrounding company headquarters, over the last 15 years, it has become the epicentre of the marine industry in Australia.
“South East Queensland has become the hub… in the last five years, the growth has been staggering. And to be a part of it is exciting. It’s a fantastic ride to be on.”
Gary Cooper, Founder — Stella Marine
Cooper emphasizes the significance of the show: “We’ve been through the ups and downs, and Sanctuary Cove has come back as being the premium boat show in the Southern Hemisphere. For us, it’s our home show and is extremely important for our business and is a major part of our marketing.”
This year’s SCIBS was also notable for the contingent of young women in leadership roles, including Josie Eastman, General Manager of Edencraft; and Laura Mason, co-owner and GM of Kingfisher Boats.
Both women were proudly exhibiting major new release boats they had a very active role in the design of; namely, the new Edencraft Formula 255 and the Kingfisher 730.
Full Throttle into the future
Andrew Fielding, National President of the Boating Industry Association (BIA), emphasizes the multifaceted significance of the show, and its role in stimulating demand.
The industry has normalized somewhat from the unexpected super-normal growth seen during the covid and post-covid periods.
Even with potential economic headwinds on the horizon, Fielding sees companies as being well resourced to handle them. Notwithstanding this, growth in various segments of the industry shows little sign of abating.
A Dream Realised
They say the fingerprints of a founder always remain to some extent.
And perhaps that is true in the case of Mike Gore and Sanctuary Cove.
For Sanctuary Cove’s ultimate success can be traced to a spirit of “determination” from the earliest days of reclaiming the land the marina is built on.
Perhaps it did require a bit of 1980s bravado; and the bullishness of a Gold Coast “White Shoe Brigade”developer to get it off the ground and take flight in the first place.
Gore – who passed away a mere six years after the opening, in 1994 – was a fighter from his early days as a mechanic on the Parramatta Road used car scene.
He took a lathe to the long bureaucratic grass (as he saw it) – forcing a change of law that allowed for the transformation of what was a swampy marsh – in the process creating precedent for other like developments, and a template internationally.
Gore’s exit from Sanctuary Cove was reluctant, yet swift. Subsequent owners such as Ariadne also found themselves in financial paralysis holding the assets, until Mulpha, the current owners, acquired them and re-powered the adventure.
While his own personal dream did not unfold as planned, Gore’s tenacity (and rapacity), is echoed in a positive sense.
Credit must go to all who have followed though; and the businesses big and small, who have taken the risk, and bought into this bold idea. In so doing, they have realised the full potential of the vision, and in the case of SCIBS, created a marine industry juggernaut.
Mulpha Events marketing manager, Kara Roberts, was deservedly delighted that the 35th instalment was their biggest and best ever, and says they are humbled by the impact of the show and its value to their exhibitors. “The exhibitors are the star of the show. Without them we have no show.”
SCIBS is now, truly, an international benchmark; an almost self-powering asset (nonetheless requiring plenty of hard work and stewardship of its many moving parts) driving growth and returning on this investment of money, sweat, risk and toil.
Indeed, it is an embodiment of industry determination and co-operation, and stands testament to the fact that mighty dreams can come true with collective commitment, perseverance and belief.
By Nick Cornish
Videography | Tristan Davies (Senior Editor), Rod Figeureido (DOP), Ben Russell (Asst Editor), Nick Cornish (Writer,Producer)
AROUND THE GROUNDS
Coastwatch went around the show grounds talking to a broad range of exhibitors. Click on the videos below for more interviews in addition to those in the article above:
Pontoons are currently the largest recreational boating segment in the U.S (after PwCs), with over 65,000 units sold each year. It is a segment on the rise in Australia, and Garrett Koshak from BRP and Telwater takes us through one of the market leading Manitou models he had a close involvement in the design of; and its unique Rotax Stealth 150 power plant.
Johnny Milton, owner of the historic “Wynnum Marine” and his team tell us about the boats they have on show including the new release Cruise Craft E695HT, which takes the famous brand in some new directions and according to the Wynnum team, is the “most advanced boat they have ever built”.
Justin Thorpe from BMS, the primary Maritimo dealer — on their “home ground” at Sanctuary Cove — talks through the range of one of Australia’s finest big boat manufacturers, and tells us what makes these multi-application boats, built for Australian conditions, unique performers.
Scott Redmond talks about the growth and evolution of the Seakeeper gyro stabiliser and their now broader application; and the team give us a live demo of the effectiveness of the system on a Veitch 23, an exemplar of the smaller boats the system can now be installed in.
Marnie Ebeling gives us a look through the unique Axopar adventure boats 45 foot model — the flagship of the range; while GM Ross Turner shows us the 100% electric Rand — the first of its kind in Australia. With a 265kw power plant the Rand is capable of 32 knots, with a range of 150 nautical miles.
Amanda Sallaway shows us the Dockmate docking system and its unique features, as well as the other exciting products Docherty Marine distribute, such as the “Stable on Board” system that can stabilise “pretty much anything on board” in a rolling sea.
Well known for refrigeration and coolers, Bailey Smith talks to the expansiveness of the Dometic product range, extending to toilet, air-conditioning and electric steering and handling systems — including famous brands such as Sea Star. Bailey shows us the Dometic Optimus system and the XPA, Xtreme Power Assist, system, as well as their Sea Star trim tab and jackplate systems.
Started in 1974 by Geoff Jobe, a professional water skier, Matthew Ng outlines the extent to which the Jobe company has grown its range beyond its devoted waterski equipment market to inflatable tubes, inflatable pools that sit behind yachts, apparel, shoes, life jackets, and hit products like the infinity sea scooter.
Superior Jetties has become a powerhouse Gold Coast based manufacturer, building all of its concrete and plastic products locally. The company has expanded internationally, and Rob Bamford tells us a bit about the company’s activities in commercial and residential markets, its diverse product application and commitment to continual improvement.
Coastwatch speaks to Rob Gaden from Yamaha Marine Australia at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show about the Yamaha Outboard range from 2.5 to 450 horsepower as well as all the details of the recently launched, brand new 350 horsepower V6 Outboard engine and how it integrates with your boat through the Helm Master EX boat control system. The market for big horsepower outboards has exploded in recent years as boat owners choose them to power larger and larger boats in lieu of sterndrive alternatives.
Founded in 1998, JSW Powersports has been the worldwide number one dealer for Sea Doo for 12 consecutive years — a signficant achievement for this Gold Coast based company. Tom Niederer speaks to Coastwatch about Sea Doo’s new range including the RXT-X 325 horsepower PWC, and the new Seadoo Explorer; while giving a tour and snapshot of their broad portfolio of other marine leisure and recreational products, which now includes the well known Sea Fox fishing and Cobalt waterski boats.
Powercat is brand with offshore pedigree in Australian going back to the 1970s. Current owner, Oliver Grant had a long association working on the boats before buying the company and has doubled down on the build quality on the 9 models in their range. There has been extensive development of their 9000 series and the company have also brought back their “Party Cat” a boat popular in the 2000s.
Peter Pembroke from Highfield Australia talks to Coastwatch about their variable-deadrise alluminium hulled inflatable adventure boats —including a tour of the Highfield 660 Sport. Re-dfining versatility in inflatable boat design, the company has gone from strength to strength and Youtube sensation Nick Fry ( @_nickfry ) was on hand to tell us a bit about his own 660, that he films from in his coastal adventures.
Greenline Hybrid Electric Yachts — based in Slovenia, and founded in 2008 — has been a pioneer in hybrid propulsion technology, not just in the marine space, but in global engineering across all industries, with its 2008 Greenline 33 hybrid predated any Prius or Tesla. The boats are now 6th generation models with a range from 39 to 58 feet, and Luca Raumland shows us through one of their innovative 40 foot models, talking to their efficient hull design, diesel engine integration and solar capabilities.
Zerojet has integrated the world’s first turn key electric jet drive engine into a Highfield tender. A four year project, Co-Founder Neil Mans talks us through the variety of benefits to an electric jet tender creating the “biggest small boat you can get” and discusses the durability of the lithium iron phosphate battery that you can “punch a nail through” without issue.
From the Vault — 10th Anniversary 1999
