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6:54 PM Fri 22 May 2009 GMT
Thursday, May 21, was to be a 'red letter day' for the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show as it staged its 21st edition.
Sadly, it will be a memorable show for the wrong reason - the first show in that 21-year span to be forced into cancelling its opening day as the eastern seaboard was battered by howling winds and torrential rain.
The good news did follow, with the show opening officially the following day (Friday, May 22) beneath pleasant autumn sunshine and much more acceptable breezes.
Not surprisingly, much conversation centred on the Friday weather forecast, which had predicted a return to wet and wild conditions on the Saturday and only slightly improved conditions for the Sunday.
Satellites show a strong possibility of a return bout; some have described it as 'round two', with further strong winds, up to 30-knots plus, accompanied by rain, heavy at times, to hit the Gold Coast late on the Saturday morning.
Being thankful for small mercies, the show certainly looked the part on what proved to be an exceptionally busy Friday, with streams of visitors moving through the on-shore and marina displays.
I was impressed with what seemed an air of confidence throughout.
Several attempts to speak with a number of exhibitors I wanted to catch up with were thwarted when I was unable to get near them through a 'sea' of prospective clients.
All the heavyweight names prominent in the Australian boating industry were on site; the big engine manufacturers, Mercury, Volvo-Penta, Suzuki, Yanmar, Yamaha, MTU, Evinrude, Honda, Caterpillar and Nanni Diesel just to name a few.
Australia's #1 boat builders, Maritimo, arch-rival the embattled Riviera, Mustang, the Haines Group, the top tinnies from Stacer, Quintrex, Brooker, Savage and Horizon joined the big guns from overseas, including Fairline, Grand Banks, Horizon and Princess.
It was definitely the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, the 'engine controls' reading all ahead full!
To get things underway after such an unforgettable weather front could only be termed a credit to the show's management, general manager Mark Jensen, boat show manager Harry Davis and their support staff.
The Powerboat-World team will follow up again over the weekend, and if the weather does turn nasty, well, so what?
What better place to spend a miserable day than being surrounded by glamorous girls, glamorous boats and the knowledge that numerous bars and restaurants were close by at all times?
See you there.
by Bob Wonders
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Sellicks Hill, SA
