The Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show concludes on a high for 36 Degrees Brokers

After a successful weekend on the Gold Coast, 36 Degrees Brokers has wrapped up another outstanding week at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show 2026, returning home with strong momentum, valuable new connections, and growing confidence across the market heading further into 2026.

As the marina clears and exhibitors begin the pack-down process, one thing remains clear, buyer confidence across both sail and power continues to strengthen, particularly in the cruising and lifestyle sectors. Throughout the show, the 36 Degrees Brokers team spent time with a wide range of clients, from experienced owners preparing for their next upgrade through to first-time buyers taking serious steps toward boat ownership.

A major takeaway from this year’s event was the quality of conversations taking place across the docks. Rather than purely browsing, many visitors arrived with clear plans, realistic expectations, and detailed questions around ownership, build schedules, brokerage opportunities, and long-term boating goals. The level of research buyers are doing before stepping onboard continues to evolve, making in-person events like Sanctuary Cove even more valuable when it comes to comparing layouts, understanding specifications, and narrowing down the right fit.

The show also highlighted the continued demand for versatile cruising platforms capable of balancing comfort, performance, and practical live-a-board capability. Interest remained particularly strong around modern sailing catamarans and owner-focused monohulls, with visitors placing increasing importance on usability, storage, entertaining space, and offshore capability.

Several standout models generated consistent traffic throughout the event, including the Beneteau Oceanis 52, which made a strong impression as one of the most talked-about new releases on display. The Excess 13 also continued to attract attention for its blend of performance sailing characteristics and practical cruising design, while the Lagoon 38 proved popular with buyers exploring long-term cruising and family-oriented layouts.

Beyond the boats themselves, the event once again reinforced the strength of the marine community across Australia and New Zealand. Industry professionals, owners, suppliers, and prospective buyers all came together across four busy days of networking, onboard inspections, and waterfront events, creating the kind of atmosphere that continues to make Sanctuary Cove one of the region’s most important boating showcases.

For 36 Degrees Brokers, the value of attending events like Sanctuary Cove goes far beyond the show itself. It’s an opportunity to stay connected with the market, spend quality time with clients face-to-face, and help simplify what can often feel like a complex buying or selling journey.

While the docks may now be quiet again, the conversations certainly are not. The team is already following up on enquiries from the show and helping clients take the next step, whether that means exploring a new vessel, preparing a boat for sale, or planning future cruising adventures.

If you couldn’t attend this year’s show, or you’d like more information on any of the models that featured throughout the week, the team at 36 Degrees Brokers is always available to help guide the next stage of your boating journey.