Financial conditions held relatively static in 2009 in Australia, and the boat show didn’t suffer too badly – except for a noticeable reduction in the number of imported boats. The day before the show opened, a low weather system formed off the east coast and moved over landfall just after lunch during bump-in. With winds in excess of 100kph, the temporary structures forming the pavilions began to shake, rattle and roll, resulting in the evacuation of the site for safety reasons. Most of Thursday was taken up with cleaning, finishing the bump-in and preparing for an official opening on Friday morning, which produced a clear blue sky and beautiful weather in general over the remaining weekend. Visitation held and exhibitors reported excellent results over the three days of the show.
