MAKING WAVES
Just when you thought boating holidays were over, along comes Australia Day. In terms of festivities, nothing comes close to the big day of national celebration on January 26. The 2013 program includes the transformation of Sydney Harbour into a floating festival of new events, as well as country-wide celebrations on various waterways. See australiaday.com.au for information about events in your area and dress your boat for the occasion.
Euro turns heads
A cool retro gentleman's racer from Austria has arrived. The Frauscher 1017GT is, in essence, a 33-foot version of the 717GT that previously won best European power boat, and arrived in Sydney in late 2011. "We're certainly witnessing a trend among Sydney's elite boating community, where ... the 1017GT [is] the [European] boat of choice for power, prestige and performance in the 30-foot-plus range," says the dealer principal at Premier Marine, Steve Hannes. He says Sydney Harbour is about day boating in style and sharing nautical adventures with friends and family. "Our first run on the 1017GT saw us mobbed by the boating community, who were jaw-droppingly excited just to get a glimpse of this magnificent beauty," Hannes says.
Virtess on the way
Ensign Ship Brokers has sold the first of the much-vaunted Bavaria Virtess 420 Flybridge cruisers to a Sydney customer. The delivery of the award-winning boat will coincide with the 2013 Sydney International Boat Show. "The open arrangement, with the cockpit flowing into the saloon and galley, is superb; the headroom amazing; and to offer a three-cabin and two-bathroom [model] is clearly a credit to the outstanding creativity of Italian designer Too Design," importer Tony Ross says.
Brunswick revamps
American boat-building behemoth Brunswick is repositioning itself in the emerging new marine market by putting iconic Hatteras and Cabo sport-fishing boat brands to market, culling the Trophy trailer boat brand altogether and remodelling Bayliner so its focus is on entry-level day boats. The Cruisers range will cease outside Brazil. According to the chief executive of Brunswick Corporation, Dusty McCoy, the market is changing, with less demand for big cruisers and more for just-add-water-type day-boating models. Ironically, the local importer of Hatteras and Cabo has been selling plenty.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Australia Day afloat turns Sydney Harbour into a floating festival on January 26, with new events and country-wide celebrations on local waterways (see australiaday.com.au for event details). According to the article, the festival encourages day boating in style and can increase local interest in short‑haul boating and social boating activities.
The Frauscher 1017GT is a 33‑foot European 'gentleman's racer' — essentially a larger version of the award‑winning 717GT — that arrived in Sydney late in 2011. Dealer principal Steve Hannes says Sydney's elite boating community has embraced the 1017GT as a boat of choice in the 30‑foot plus range for power, prestige and performance, generating strong local interest at first runs.
Ensign Ship Brokers sold the first Bavaria Virtess 420 Flybridge to a Sydney buyer, with delivery timed for the 2013 Sydney International Boat Show. Importer Tony Ross praised the Virtess' open cockpit‑to‑saloon flow, generous headroom and three‑cabin/two‑bathroom layout — features that indicate buyer appetite for well‑designed, family‑friendly flybridge cruisers in the local market.
Brunswick is repositioning its offerings by pushing the Hatteras and Cabo sport‑fishing brands to market, discontinuing the Trophy trailer boat brand, remodelling Bayliner to focus on entry‑level day boats, and ceasing the Cruisers range outside Brazil. CEO Dusty McCoy says the market is shifting from demand for big cruisers toward 'just‑add‑water' day‑boating models, a strategic pivot that signals changing consumer preferences in the marine market.
The article notes that, ironically, the local importer of Hatteras and Cabo has been selling plenty, suggesting healthy local demand for these sport‑fishing brands even as Brunswick refocuses its global portfolio.
According to Brunswick's CEO Dusty McCoy, there is less demand for big cruisers and more interest in easily accessible day‑boating models. For investors, this trend points to potential growth in manufacturers, importers and dealers that specialise in entry‑level and day‑use boats rather than large cruiser segments.
Yes. The article highlights buyer enthusiasm for features such as open cockpit layouts that flow into the saloon, generous headroom, and flexible accommodation (for example, three cabins and two bathrooms on the Virtess 420). These design attributes are being promoted by importers and appear to drive buyer interest at shows and deliveries.
The article points readers to australiaday.com.au for details about Australia Day events in your area. It also references the 2013 Sydney International Boat Show as the timing for the Virtess 420 delivery — check official boat show sources for current dates and exhibitor information.
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