The Sydney International Boat Show, 1 – 5 August 2019 at the International Convention Centre Sydney, presents an impressive line-up of speakers, each with their own tales of adventure and achievement, sure to inspire and entertain the thousands of visitors expected across the 5 days of the show.
FIRST AUSSIE WOMAN TO ROW SOLO ACROSS THE ATLANTIC – MICHELLE LEE
Michelle Lee is the only Australian woman to row solo non-stop across any ocean, successfully crossing the Atlantic earlier in 2019, a distance of 5000 kilometres. Her story of tenacity, strength, survival and sheer determination is inspiring, along with the design and cost challenges of developing her own boat, and the will power required to make it to the start, let alone the finish line. Michelle will be at the show, along with her boat Australian Maid, sharing her many stories of life solo at sea.
MARINE EXPLORER – DEAN CROPP
Marine explorer and cinematographer Dean Cropp recounts his many adventures travelling with his father, documentary producer Ben Cropp. Presenting “The Sharks were BIGGER in my day” Dean talks about growing-up on the road with his Dad, and learning to walk whilst living an unconventional boating life. Dean will also talk about “The little-known wonders of Sydney Harbour”, and his time sailing Australia’s most remote Coral Sea reefs and beyond. Treasure hunting and extraordinary wildlife are all part of Dean’s life, including encounters with whales, fevers of manta rays, sharks, and trying to locate the shipwrecks his father failed to uncover.
WATER SPEED RECORD – SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA II
Popular last year, The Spirit of Australia II returns as a major feature of the show, with Ken Warby’s son David challenging for the Outright Unlimited World Water Speed Record. Ken himself recorded two world records with the original Spirit of Australia, and has now made small improvements in the hull design to ensure the new Spirit of Australia II will be a record breaker.
The vessel has close to 50% more power than the original boat, powered by a Rolls Royce Orpheus 803 ex-Italian Air Force jet engine, removed from a Fiat Gina G-91 jet fighter. It’s as much a rocket as it is a boat. See it at the show and have a chat to Dave about his ongoing record-breaking plans.
AUSTRALIAN CIRCUMNAVIGATOR – LISA BLAIR
Within a month of completing and surviving her solo Antarctica voyage, Lisa Blair was already preparing her next adventure, to become the first woman to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around Australia. Hear Lisa present her positive, empowering story at the Sydney International Boat Show, telling of the highs and lows of sailing solo around Australia in 58 Days, including her almost sinking on the final run to the finish line. Lisa navigated around reefs, islands and shipping traffic, and could only take 20 minute naps throughout the circumnavigation, making this journey more challenging than the wide open space of the Southern Ocean.
With almost 5 million people enjoying our waterways each year in Australia, the Show includes plenty of other education thanks to the show’s Partner in Safety Transport for NSW, and entertainment as well. The show is open each day from 10AM until 7PM.
Source: Boating Industry Association Ltd
