MARINE BUSINESS NEWS
NEWS UPDATE
3 November 2023
Publishers note
I'm not sure where to start this week. It has been busy, and I will probably need to reference the industry news that has arrived, not only from the Association bodies but also from industry members.
I was pleased to read that Adam Smith has been appointed as the new President of the Boating Industry Association Ltd. Adam is certainly a 'people person' and has the industry at heart. I have no doubt he will do a tremendous job at the helm.
The Melbourne Boat Show wrapped up, reporting an enviable 42,575 visitors. They have certainly scored some Victorian-inspired "6 pointers" and are now on the verge of improving their position in the national boat show rankings. Well done to the BIAV team.
On the world stage, several members and our Associations have made the shortlist for the coveted international Boating Awards. This week, we venture into the world of McConaghy, courtesy of our friends at PlantSail. We also have news with The Boat Works next expansion phase complete, Edencraft investing in some serious machinery, and YESSSS adding to their already formidable team.
On the sporting front, the entries for the Sydney to Hobart have now closed, and we are less than 100 days away from the much-anticipated start of the E1 Series.
Not on the sporting front, Marine Rescue NSW has been called out for all manner of reasons, with their crews doing an exceptional job.
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Stay safe on the water,
Domenic Genua - Publisher
BIA announce Adam Smith as President
The Boating Industry Association Ltd announced a changing of the guard with Adam Smith stepping into the role of President of the association representing a vibrant industry that last year reported more than $9.6 billion in turnover nationally.
Melbourne Boat Show a "resounding success"
The Boating Industry Association of Victoria has said that the 2023 Melbourne Boat Show was a resounding success. From Thursday 26 to Sunday 29 October, the event celebrated boating across more than 1km of waterfront, and five full marinas at Docklands, in Melbourne’s CBD. Featuring well over 100 exhibitors and 42,575 attendees, the event provided something for all boating enthusiasts, as well as those new to boating.
Inside McConaghy
For 56 years McConaghy Boats have built some of the most extreme racing machines. With such a long history in composite construction and a self-proclaimed addiction to building high performance machines, McConaghy invited the internationally-acclaimed reporter, Matthew Sheahan, to take a look at some of its most advanced carbon projects for his PlanetSail series
BZ Optics: Setting Sail into the Future of Eyewear Innovation
In the world of sports and outdoor enthusiasts, BZ Optics had long been a name synonymous with cutting-edge eyewear technology. However, in 2023, the brand found itself sailing into uncharted waters, quite literally, as they received news that their groundbreaking bifocal photochromic sunglasses had been shortlisted for the prestigious British Yachting Awards’ “Clothing Innovation of the Year” category.
The Boat Works adds in-water service berths
The Boat Works’ Stage 5, comprising of more sheds and more hardstand has now reached completion in time for the next wave of vessels heading north for summer cruising. The next phase is works on the waterfront with additional new marina berths. The installation of the concrete pontoon system known as Super Elite from Superior Jetties is under way.
Andy Vollmer, Project Manager at Superior Jetties, said the expansion is a boon for visiting boaties and offers berths for vessels up to 24-metres.
Edencraft bolster manufacturing ability
Edencraft Creative, a family-owned business operating out of Geelong, is poised to lead Australian manufacturing into a new era with the launch of their large-scale CMS 5-Axis CNC machine. Capable of handling projects as large as 15.5m x 5m x 3m, this machining centre is the culmination of years of aeronautical and marine research and development.
YESSSS appoints Matt Forbes to lead EMEA business expansion
YESSSS, a marketing and business consultancy firm in the marine industry, is excited to announce the addition of Matt Forbes, joining as Director of Business Development – EMEA. Matt’s extensive experience and industry expertise position him as a valuable addition to the YESSSS team and their growing portfolio of marine clients.
Australia and Asia Pacific region on show to the world of superyachts: Australian Superyacht Rendezvous 2024
Australia and the broader Asia Pacific region’s growing superyacht movement will be celebrated when the fourth edition ofAustralian Superyacht Rendezvous is staged on 17 and 18 May 2024 at Australia’s most awarded marina, Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard (GCCM) in Queensland, Australia.
Marine Rescue deliver exceptional efforts across many emergencies – updated
The last week was busy for Marine Rescue NSW across the state. Rescues, searches and assists all played a part in keeping the the fleet and their crews busy. In addition to this, they also received awards and kept their training programs on schedule. Read the updates here, and more stories on the Marine Business News website.
Boat makes Time Magazine list of best inventions
Faroboats, creators of the Faro Powerdock Set, the first self-sustainable electric boating solution of its kind in the world, has been selected to feature in the 2023 List. TIME has revealed its annual list of the Best Inventions, which features 200 extraordinary innovations changing our lives.
Less than 100 days until E1 hits the racecourse in Jeddah
The UIM E1 World Championship, the world’s first and only all-electric raceboat championship, is set to make a stunning debut at the E1 Jeddah GP in Saudi Arabia on February 2 and 3, 2024. Featuring mixed-gender teams competing in an iconic one-design fleet of RaceBirds, Jeddah will be the first stop of a global championship that will span the globe throughout the year.
BIA Data Service Unlocks Boating Insights
The Boating Industry Association has joined with the boating app DECKEE to establish a Boating Data Service in Australia. The new service called BIA Data will offer insights and analysis of privacy-protected boating activity and behaviour informed by GPS movement capture and boater data inputs.
2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart – entries close with 120 teams
Entries for the 78th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race closed on Friday and the lineup of 120 boats is one of the most open and diverse fleets in years. The 628nm classic which starts on Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day, 26 December, has attracted entries from around the globe and features ten international teams – representing New Zealand (3), Hong Kong (2), New Caledonia, USA, France, Germany and Ireland.
Australian Associations announced on shortlist for boat builder awards 2023
A total of 36 companies and individuals from 14 countries have been named as potential winners for this year’s Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement 2023, in association with Raymarine. Final decisions were made by an international panel of 10 subject-matter experts from an initial selection of 90 very high-quality entries across 11 categories.
Family bonds grow during an 1100 nautical mile voyage
Reflecting on times past, led us to an interesting family story and a voyage across four Australian states during the COVID lockdowns. This trip of a lifetime proved to be a valuable lesson in enjoying the journey, not just the destination, for Riviera 505 SUV owner Kevin Taylor and son Josh.
BIA launch latest Discover Boating campaign ‘See You Out There’
The Boating Industry Association Ltd (BIA) has launched its ‘See You Out There’ advertising campaign as part of its Discover Boating initiative. With the peak boating season approaching, the three-month campaign is set to inspire and welcome new participants into the world of boating, showcasing the diverse array of activities accessible across budget ranges.
The dawn of the iconic Maritimo 52 and Maritimo 48 models
In the third chapter of Maritimo’s 20th-anniversary celebration, we chart the phase that followed the instantly successful M60, building on the momentum with the introduction of Maritimo 52 and Maritimo 48 models, and propelling the Maritimo brand to new markets.
