MAKING WAVES
Our singing the praises of Easter school holidays must have fallen on deaf ears. Never have I seen so few boaters on the water. We shared the usually thronging anchorage at The Basin, aka Coaster's Retreat, in Pittwater with a mere handful of crews. Perhaps the weather reports are to blame? Yet the reality was a wonderful Sydney bolt-hole, barely rocked by waves and wind, with warm water, hungry fish and, dare I say it, no crowds.
Forecasts for change
The Bureau of Meteorology has made structural changes to its marine forecasts. Marine wind warnings will now be incorporated within the coastal waters forecasts and not listed separately. The warnings cover the first two days of the forecast period and specify which day is affected. The wind warning will be added as a label above the wind and wave forecasts for the affected days within the coastal waters forecast. During wind warning periods, the coastal waters forecast will be issued every six hours. See the detailed forecasts at bom.gov.au/marine.
Newcastle revs up
The first round of the 2013 Offshore Superboat Series will be held at Newcastle next weekend for three exciting classes of supercats capable of speeds of up to 215km/h. The superboats will take to a predetermined course in Newcastle Harbour in an effort to set new Australian and world speed records. At the same time, the Newcastle Foreshore Park will host the annual boat and leisure show. For car buffs, Fuelarama at Wharf Road and the Foreshore Car Parks will celebrate Newcastle's car culture. See fuelarama.com.au.
Melbourne expands
The 53rd Melbourne Boat Show on June 14-17 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre has been expanded by 3000 square metres. The Boating Industry Association event is billed as Australia's biggest indoor boat show. And every new-boat buyer at the show gets a free half-day boat-handling course. See biavic.com.au.
Big expectations
In its third year, the Gold Coast International Marine Expo from November 1-3 is set to break records. In 2012, the Expo attracted 190 exhibitors, more than 500 boats and more than 20,000 visitors. Geared towards the grass-roots and family boater, the expo is a working boat show in the heart of the Gold Coast's marine precinct. It's worth a trip. See gcmarineexpo.com.au.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
The Bureau of Meteorology now includes marine wind warnings inside the coastal waters forecasts instead of listing them separately. The warnings cover the first two days of the forecast, specify which day is affected, and appear as a label above the wind and wave forecasts. During wind warning periods the coastal waters forecast will be issued every six hours. For full details see bom.gov.au/marine.
Because wind warnings are integrated into coastal waters forecasts and forecasts become more frequent during warning periods, operators and marine service providers can get clearer, more timely guidance on short-term conditions. That can help with scheduling charters, maintenance windows and event planning around periods of higher wind risk.
The first round of the 2013 Offshore Superboat Series will be held in Newcastle with three classes of supercats that can reach speeds up to 215 km/h. The races aim to set new Australian and world speed records, and run alongside the Newcastle Foreshore Park boat and leisure show and the Fuelarama car events.
Major local events bring foot traffic to marinas, dealers and hospitality businesses. While the article doesn’t provide economic figures, investors often watch event-driven demand because shows and races can boost short-term sales for marine retailers, increase exposure for exhibitors and support local tourism-related revenues.
The 53rd Melbourne Boat Show (June 14–17) was expanded by 3,000 square metres at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre and is billed as Australia’s biggest indoor boat show. A notable buyer incentive: every new-boat purchaser at the show receives a free half-day boat-handling course. Expansion and buyer incentives can signal active marketing by the industry to convert visitors into buyers.
An expanded floor footprint and buyer-focused promotions often reflect exhibitor confidence and efforts to stimulate sales. Investors can view larger shows and added buyer benefits as one of several indicators of market activity and dealer optimism in the recreational boating sector.
The Gold Coast International Marine Expo (Nov 1–3) was in its third year and in 2012 attracted about 190 exhibitors, more than 500 boats and over 20,000 visitors. The expo is positioned for grass-roots and family boaters and is a working boat show in the heart of the Gold Coast marine precinct—details that suggest strong consumer engagement at that event.
Watch a few practical signals: attendance and exhibitor counts at major shows (Melbourne, Gold Coast, Newcastle), buyer incentives such as free handling courses, and the frequency and format of BOM marine forecasts (bom.gov.au/marine). These public indicators help investors gauge consumer interest, dealer activity and short-term operational risks for marine businesses.
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