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The 2002 Sydney International Boat Show has written itself into the history books with a record gate attendance and sales estimated at this early stage to exceed AUD$250 million.

Hours after the six-day show closed on Tuesday (August 6), Roy Privett, general manager of show organiser the Boating Industry Association of NSW, was able to
confirm an audited attendance figure of 89,248.

This was a healthy 16.5 percent increase on the 2001 figures and established a new gate record, easily exceeding the 86,391 who visited the 1989 show.

"The 1989 show was the first staged at Darling Harbour and no doubt many visitors were drawn out of curiosity to see the new venue", Privett said.

"To slash that figure so dramatically is a great result for boating.

"The Federal Government has been saying Australia's economy is as good as any in the western world and from a boating viewpoint no one could argue".

More than 300 exhibitors displayed their goods and services at the show, with boats carrying retail prices ranging from AUD$800.00 to more than AUD$7 million.

The spectacular marina in Cockle Bay, alongside the Darling Harbour Exhibition Centre, hosted more than 160 vessels representing the world's leading manufacturers
from Australia, the United States, Italy, Germany, France, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, to name but a few.

This year's show featured a new marina system installed by the Australian office of the UK firm Walcon Marine, supplier for the past 30-years of the Southampton Boat Show marina system.

"I think the new marina lifted the show to another level", Privett said.

Domenic Genua, marketing and event manager for the Boating Industry Association and a key man in the show's organisation and presentation, was delighted with the
end result.

"I would have been extremely pleased to have reached 80,000 visitors", he said.

"To create a new attendance mark is better than the traditional icing on the cake".

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