Oz's biggest boating event draws near

Australia’s biggest boating event, the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS), is just around the corner. Held at the Gold Coast from May 24-27, the show attracts marine heavyweights and smaller manufacturers alike, both from Australia and abroad. It’s touted as the place “where the marine business does business”, meaning the who’s who of the boating industry will all be there. That means luxury yachts, motor yachts, trailerboats, electronics, gear, gadgets and some of the industry’s zaniest new offerings — like a shark-shaped semi-submersible that porpoises like a dolphin.

And don’t miss the SCIBS 2012 Yearbook, which this year is produced by TrailerBoat

 Trade-a-Boat. This large format, perfect-bound coffee table book will feature the same level of quality editorial found monthly in Australia’s leading boating publications (yours truly). That means exclusive boat tests, amazing destinations, bang-up electronics and all the latest gear, matched with industry-leading photography and printed on the highest quality paper we’ve ever gotten our mitts on. Even if you can’t make it to the show, the Yearbook is absolutely not to be missed, so we’re distributing it in leading newsagents across the country from May 14.

Or perhaps you’d fancy an electronic version of the Yearbook on your iPad? Not a worry, Murray. Download the whole kit and caboodle through iTunes from May 5. It’ll include all the goodies from the Yearbook with some added interactive electronic niceties like video and links to cool stuff online. Did we mention it’s an Australian marine industry first?