A wave of pioneering Australian businesses have jumped onboard to join World Boating Day on 25 and 26 May, culminating with a series of free events being held at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show on the Gold Coast and across Australia.

Following the appointment of Luke McCaul of Zeal Marinas as the South Pacific ambassador, the movement has garnered the interest of reputable actors of the industry.

This innovative campaign was developed by the Superyacht Life Foundation who set the dates, and coincidentally fit in exactly with one of Australia’s key events for the leisure boating industry.

Johan Hasser, General Manager of Mulpha Events said ‘As Australia’s largest marine event, the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) is excited to support the inaugural World Boating Day. Our Show, from 23 to 26 May, falls on the week of World Boating Day’s global launch. In ode to that, we have various activities and activations in place for our exhibitors, trade partners and visitors to collectively celebrate the boating lifestyle. From superyachts and luxury motor yachts to trailerable boats, gear and gadgets, SCIBS 2024 is the place to see the best the marine industry has to offer in the Southern Hemisphere”

Whilst the campaign has a great link to SCIBS, World Boating Day was created independently, to open the doors of businesses far and wide and invite first-time or avid boating enthusiasts to celebrate boating. Between the mild South Pacific autumn and the entry into the summer season, the dates are the perfect compromise between the two hemispheres. World Boating Day strives to become the date in everyone’s agenda for a unified weekend on an international scale, creating ripples of positive sentiments towards the joy that boating and being around water brings us. This movement is a practical solution to creating more accessibility and understanding of a sector driven by passion.

Pacific Enthusiasm

But how shall we overcome the timezones, and spread the message while it is still daylight? This was the question on the World Boating Day planning table and the solution has paved an innovative path for regional activation in following years for the event.

Luke came into the spotlight and World Boating Day onboarded its first ambassador. Zeal Marinas was founded by Luke McCaul garnering his previous experience combined with an energy and enthusiasm in pursuit of the growth of marinas and boatyards: the exact definition of the word zeal itself. From this appointment has stemmed incredible support and enthusiasm indeed of participating companies into the movement of World Boating Day, with a list of events continuing to grow daily.

“I saw the opportunity to be involved in an initiative that promotes sustainable leisure boating, this being an important foundation of the marine industry and future of Zeal Marinas. And so I joined with a view to set a good benchmark for the World Boating Day movement in years to come – it has been nothing short of fulfilling!” says an enthusiastic ambassador, Luke McCaul.

In the South Pacific region, key businesses already registered on the platform include Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, Freedom Boat Club Australia (with its 9 locations around the country), Jack Warwick – Yacht Broker at Ray White Marine, d’Albora Marinas (Australia’s largest marina network), Flite Board, Shell Harbour Marina, Pelican Waters Marina, Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard, Quality Marine Clothing, Coral Sea Marina, Marina Mirage Marina, Empire Marinas Group, The Boat Princess, Red Paddle Co, The Boat Works, Flagship International and AIMEX. Whilst in the Northern Hemisphere, Benetti, Feadship, Bilgin Yachts, Tankoa, Cantiere Rossini, Isle of Man Maritime, Pulina Exclusive Interiors are among some of the participants listing exclusive events.

“d’Albora is proud to support the World Boating Day initiative, our daily business is at the very core of its focus as we provide boating and marine lifestyle services and solutions across our marina, boatyard, boat sales and hospitality network” said Julien Pouteau, Managing Director, d’Albora.

Some amazing events – it’s easy to register

Events listed so far have amazed the World Boating Day team with a burst of creativity: from sea trials on Freedom Boat Club’s new Sea Ray SDX 250 and boat maintenance workshops, 1:1 appointments with Quality Marine Clothing to maintain your wet weather gear, a 2-hour open Q&A with yacht sales brokers, meeting the young professionals of our marinas and boatyards, or even a self-drive tour through one of Queensland’s key refit facilities, without forgetting the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show itself – and the AIMEX Garden lunch sponsored by World Boating Day.

“Freedom Boat Club’s participation is a no-brainer given our success expanding boater participation through our innovative, subscription-based boating model which provides unlimited walk-on walk-off boating to our more than 90,000 members in Australia, Canada, the US, UK, Spain and France. Also participating is our sister company Fliteboard, the world’s leading electric hydrofoil (eFoil) brand. Also participating is our sister company Fliteboard, the world’s leading electric hydrofoil (eFoil) brand providing thousands of new and experienced riders the ultimate flying over water experience’” David Kurczewski, General Manager of Freedom Boat Club Asia Pacific, part of Brunswick Corporation

From years of industry experience and insider knowledge, the World Boating Day platform has provided a smooth and hassle-free way for any company to take part. It is this easy:

1. Create your account here
2. Enter your event details, online or in-presence. Do you already host an event as part of your marketing calendar, or at SCIBS? Simply list it on the platform!
3. Save and it will be live within 24 hours.

All events become automatically part of the global media campaign, gaining additional exposure to one’s own marketing – if they choose. The amplification will also be picked up by an influencer campaign, with trusted names such as The Boat Princess, local boating icon Paul Burt present at SCIBS – and many more around the world as the movement grows.

Cannot join this year? Claim the date with the array of free promotional assets readily available to download!

There is no limit or criteria to fulfil, no fees, and no deadline to register. Shipyards, boat clubs, design studios, sailing schools, marinas, crew agencies, retail businesses and offices are openly invited to join, creating a specific event or registering an existing one from their calendar under the World Boating Day banner.

“We couldn’t be happier to bring more people to the leisure boating and superyachting industry into the beautiful part of the world that Australia and the South Pacific are. We are so proud that the region is leading the movement, and encourage the rest of the world to follow: World Boating Day is not ours, it is for everyone who would like to join!” Dilan Saraç, Executive Director of the Superyacht Life Foundation, initiator of the first World Boating Day campaign.

To join our Ambassadorship programme and be a leader of the movemen in your region, please contact: