RR ambassadors are cleaning up

RR ambassadors are cleaning up

 

A local group is combining enjoyment of the great outdoors and a bit of exercise with picking up rubbish to enhance their waterfront environment.

The group was organised through social media and gained 165 members in only a few weeks as Responsible Runner ambassador Gabrielle Costello explains.

"Being a responsible runner does not mean you have to run (although you are more than welcome to)! The idea behind it is 30 minutes of physical activity while cleaning up rubbish from our beaches/water ways."

Gabriielle was attracted to the original Responsible Runners network of runners, walkers, and pro-activists dedicated to keeping our beaches, waterways, and land clean while keeping fit.

"Over the summer I spent a lot of time swimming with (daughter) Sierra and that's when I noticed just how much rubbish is really lying around certain areas around the Whitsundays, I wanted to do something but felt the task was a bit large size and time wise for me to try and tackle on my own."

"It was around about the same time Responsible Runners showed up in my news feed on Facebook, I followed them for a few weeks and saw just how effective just a few people doing an hour clean up could really be, that's when I decided to contact them and ask them if they would be interested in me being a RR ambassador and they happily agreed."

"I have already been asked a few times if I get paid to do this, and I do not. Everything I do is out of my own time and resources, the reward for me is a bit of fresh air and exercise and satisfaction that I know I'm doing my bit no matter how small it may seem to others," Ms Costello told the Whitsunday Coast Guardian this week.

 "It makes such a difference not just preventing the litter ending up in the ocean, but preventing it getting there in the first place by creating awareness and inspiring people to make a difference through the RR presence on the beach and the photos shared over social media (Facebook) about just how much rubbish is really out there.

RR meet every Sunday at 4pm for an hour and then afterwards count what has been collected and record the data to send off to Tangaroa Blue Australian Marine Debris Initiative, who provide us with our clean up kits.

"The name is a bit confusing for some - you don't actually have to run, I certainly don't unless I'm chasing Sierra," Ms Costello added.

 

Stung!

 

Compared to the charismatic megafauna of the oceans, jellyfish have never received the attention they deserve.

Lisa-ann Gershwin, the director of the Australian Marine Stinger Advisory Services, wrote Stung! to help correct this, arguing that jellyfish are to the oceans what canaries are in a coal mine, except their indicator behaviour is to thrive when conditions are most dire. Accounts of the various jellyfish blooms across the globe, from polar waters to tropical seas, are used to illustrate just how much the ocean environments have changed, mostly to the detriment of marine biodiversity.

Dr Gershwin has spent quite a bit of time here in the Whitsunday area and is well known for her passion for jellyfish research. Indeed, the only time over the years your writer has seen an Irukandji was a creature caught by Lisa-ann and safely pickled in a small glass vial.

This genre of nature writing is highly frequented territory. But what makes Stung! stand out is that Gershwin achieves the rare combination of being not just a talented researcher who has discovered more than 160 new jellyfish species but also a very entertaining writer, turning what could have been a worthy but prosaic book into a page turner.

Stung! On Jellyfish Blooms and the Future of the Ocean by Lisa-ann Gershwin is published this week by University of Chicago Press

 

Mariner Notices

 

Slade Rock - Mariners are advised that the lighted port lateral mark buoy Fl R 25s which marks Slade Rock has been re-established in position. AUS charts 249, 250, 823 & 824

 

Abbot Point Berth One - Mariners are advised that Abbot Point berth 1 front lead light F G is temporary unlit due to maintenance on berth 1. Mariners are advised to navigate with caution in this area. AUS charts 255 & 826

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

Rotary needs a hand!

Rotary needs a hand!

 

Of course the Rotary Club of Airlie Beach is usually helping the community in so many ways, but now they need your help.

 

Rotary have taken on the huge task of taking all or as much as they can of the furnishings from the 250 room ex Club Med Lindeman Island Resort. Some of the chairs, tables and other items are destined for community and sporting clubs of our area. The balance of the goods will head down the Bruce Highway to help the people of flood ravaged Bundaberg.

 

"So, where do I fit in?" you ask. Well as you can imagine this is a huge undertaking. But if you could lend a hand your might be able to enjoy a trip down to scenic Lindeman Island by luxury barge in exchange for helping to load the stuff onto the barge.

 

Ok, sounds like a regular Airlie Beach job, i.e. plenty of scenery but no pay. Hang on, Rotary is always helping the community and I'd bet there would be a BBQ and a knock off drink in the offing. Plus the feel good factor one gets from doing a good job for your community while raising  a bead of perspiration.

 

Sound like something you might lend a hand for? Training for your club members? Rotarian in charge of the project is David Paddon who would really like to hear from you on 0414997942.

 

                              

People's Day Blessing

 

The 2013 Airlie People's Day and Blessing of the Fleet is on Whit Sunday May 19 at the Whitsunday Sailing Club in Airlie Beach. There are usually Sunday markets along the foreshore and a variety of activities.

 

First Lieutenant James Cook named the Whitsunday Passage in 1770 so the Blessing of the Fleet is held each year on Whitsunday, otherwise known as Pentecost Sunday.

 

A Blessing of the Fleet is part of the calendar of many seaside and fishing communities around the world.

 

Community groups are invited to participate in the Blessing of the Fleet on the seafront lawn at the Whitsunday Sailing Club, Airlie Beach from 10am, Sunday, May 19. The sail past of yachts and other craft is from 11 am from the sea wall.

 

For further information, contact Heidi Walton at the Whitsunday Sailing Club or Cap'n Dan Van Blarcom on ahoy@whitsunday.net.au

 

Carbon contained

 

With a view to cut carbon emissions by up to 50 per cent by the end of 2015, France-based shipping company CMA CGM Group has finalised the purchase of 50,000 containers with bamboo flooring.

"CMA CGM reaffirms its long standing commitment to global environmental policy," Jacques R Saadé, CEO of the Group said.

"The preservation of the oceans, and the ecological solutions offered to customers are an essential part of the Group's activity and organisation," Saadé added.

The company is planning to use the containers on the world's largest container ship, the 'CMA CGM Marco Polo'. This ship employs electronically controlled engines that significantly reduce CO2 emissions, as well as an exhaust gas bypass system that improves the energy efficiency of the vessel when slow steaming. This reduces CO2 emissions by up to 1.5 per cent at low speeds. A twisted leading edge rudder, meanwhile, improves the hydrodynamics of the vessel by optimising water flow and thereby reducing energy expenditure and further cutting emissions.

"Ever cleaner ships will be a requirement in the near future for cargo transportation," Ludovic Gérard, vice president of CMA Ships said.

These container solutions allow savings of up to one or two tonnes of fuel per day, representing a reduction of up to three to six tonnes of CO2 emissions.

           

Two happiest days

 

Yarr! Well, it be said that the two happiest days of a boat owners life are the day they buy a boat and the day they sell it. Welcome aboard for the adventure of a lifetime. Enjoy all the fun of tearing up $100 dollar bills standing under a very cold shower in the dark. BOAT = Bring Out Another Thousand. Ye be warned! It is an addiction, but it can be cured.

 

Mariner Notice

 

Unsafe Passage between North Molle and South Molle Islands - Mariners are advised that the front and rear leading lights 2 F Bu, F Day, on Daydream Island which mark Unsafe Passage are reported unlit. Mariners should use caution in the vicinity as this seems to be an ongoing problem. AUS charts 254 & 825.

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

Sea art tourist attraction mooted

Sea art tourist attraction mooted

 

The three mast sailing ship 'Magic' firmly aground just off Cannonvale beach just needs the sails put up to become a major tourist attraction.

People who know more about art and photography that sailing would find they could get great photos without the worry of the yacht stirring and spoiling their shot. It would be easy to wait and get the right light on the stationary white sails without the disappointment of the ship moving on.

 

Of course, one could imagine it as monument to poor seamanship or the high cost of anything to do with yachts, but that would be a churlish, ill-natured spoiler really. We should make the best with what we have.

 

Comedian, writer and classic boat owner-sailor Griff Rhys Jones gave out the prizes for inaugural Classic Boats awards ceremony in London last week.

 

Griff made light of some of the absurdities of boat ownership as he quipped: "I bought a boat for £70,000, spent £500,000 on her over the years and I find she is now worth... £70,000."

 

Marine radio exam change

 

The Office of Marine Communications at the Australia Maritime College is advising boating people of important changes to VHF Examinations, especially that from April 1 the exams are 'Open Book'.

 

Why open book examination for VHF only? In 2012 AMC had 4169 applications for the MROCP (full licence) and 1629 applications for the MROVCP (VHF). Both qualifications show an average fail percent of 5%. In the past VHF was mainly used by people working in the marine industry, but over the years leisure boat operators began purchasing VHF marine radios. As more and more people move from 27Mhz marine radios to VHF marine radios it has become extremely important that VHF marine radio users are aware of the correct channels, terminology and procedures as well as being aware that large ships also use the VHF radios.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and AMC have new videos showing correct use of VHF radio and they and others are now on YouTube.

 

Marconi Day

 

In December of 1901, using an antenna held aloft by a kite, Guglielmo Marconi sat quietly in the former fever and diphtheria hospital on Signal Hill, St. John's, Newfoundland, now part of Canada and received the first successful transmission of a trans-Atlantic signal, the letter "S" in Morse code, sent from a transmitter in Poldhu, south Cornwall, England.

 

This Saturday, radio operators around the world and in space on the International Space Station will be making contact to commemorate the birth of Marconi on 25 April 1874.

 

Last year, Guglielmo Marconi's daughter, Princess Elettra Marconi, was contacted in Italy via short-wave radio and Skype.

 

The radio operators on board the Titanic were employed by Marconi - and using his equipment they were able to alert the Carpathia, the ship which rescued around 700 survivors. The Titanic sank to the south east of Newfoundland.

 

In Ireland the Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio will be celebrating International Marconi Day. The tower was the site for an experimental Marconi Station in 1905. The museum is located in the Martello Tower, Howth Harbour, County Dublin.

 

For younger readers, Morse code was the original digital form of communication. As this is a High Frequency event using various modes, it will be shared all over the world by radio operators with the right HF gear.

 

Look! Up in the sky!

 

No not Superman, but the Lyrids meteor shower that has been viewed for the past 2600 years of and you may catch a glimpse from in the night sky until April 26. As a result of light pollution, observers in the country will see more. The Lyrids are an average shower, usually producing about 20 meteors per hour at their peak. These meteors can produce bright dust trails that last for several seconds. Look for meteors radiating from after midnight. Full moon rising.

 

Mariner Notices

 

Unsafe Passage -. Mariners be advised that the front and rear leading lights 2 F Bu, F Day, which mark Unsafe Passage between North Molle and South Molle Islands, are reported unlit. Mariners should use caution in the vicinity.

 

Shute Harbour South Channel - Mariners are advised that the No. 3 Green lateral Buoy, Fl G 2.5s has been reported missing from location.

Mariners should use caution in the vicinity.

AUS charts 252, 253, 254 & 825

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

Warrior to visit Whitsunday

 

Warrior to visit Whitsunday

 

The 58-metre Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior III will visit Airlie Beach on Wednesday, April 17.

As well as ship tours and onshore activities during the day, the Whitsunday Sailing Club has changed the weekly Twilight race to include the green ship as a mark of the course.

During the afternoon race, sailors will navigate around the ship as a mark of the course, and the club is hoping to attract a big fleet for this special event. Scuttlebutt that the traditional race prize of a bucket of rum will be replaced with a bucket of green tea is unsubstantiated at this time.

Rainbow Warrior III was purpose built and launched in October 2011 at a cost over $28 million Aussie dollars. The ship was in part funded by a crowd funding project. Supporters were encouraged to buy parts of the ship through a website and over 100,000 did. Classed as a sailing yacht with diesel-electric auxiliary, thirty passengers and crew can sail at 15 knots in good conditions with the 55-metre mast carrying 1,255 square metres of sail.

 

Bowen visit

 

The Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior will visit Bowen on Sunday April 14, before going on to Holbourne Island.

 

Mates @ sea

 

Former Airlie Beacher Libby Carrier writes, "Hi Ho... Hi Ho.... it's off across the Atlantic Ocean again I go!! We leave lovely Antigua in the morning. Good weather report & great crew!! See some of you in the Azores & see the rest of you in Palma!! No internet for a while. See ya on the flip side!!"

 

Ship-to-shore

 

The first Australian ship-to-shore wireless message occurred on April 9, 1903. The receiving station was at Kangaroo Point, Brisbane and the message was sent from HMQS Gayundah off Moreton Island.

HMQS Gayundah was a flat-iron gunboat operated by the Queensland Maritime Defence Force and later the Royal Australian Navy (as HMAS Gayundah). Built in 1884 and decommissioned in 1921, she then served as a barge for Brisbane Gravel Pty Ltd until 1950, when she was scrapped. In 1958, Gayundah was run aground at Woody Point at Redcliffe, to serve as a breakwater structure.

 

Koala Island

 

A tropical Whitsunday Island may seem a strange home for a colony of koalas and St Bees Island is an untouched paradise, has a beautiful climate and, best of all, no people; a perfect home for koalas.

The koalas were brought to the island in the early 1900s by the Busuttin family for purely aesthetic reasons. It is believed that the original colony had about 17 koalas. During the 1960s, koalas from St Bees were taken unofficially to establish populations on both Newry and Brampton Islands.

 

Live firing

 

St. Bees Island - Mariners be advised that this week a feral animal (goats) control program requiring the use of live firing of weapons will take place on St. Bees Island in the Mackay National Parks Management Area of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Exclusion zones will be placed around St Bee's Island. The exclusion zone extends seaward of the High Water mark by 500 metres; all vessels are to remain clear. VHF security calls will be made on channel 16 by Queensland Park & Wildlife vessel 'Tamoya'. St Bee's Island is 15 nautical miles north east of Mackay Harbour. AUS charts 251 & 824

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

Pearls of the Coral Sea

Pearls of the Coral Sea

 

Pearls of the Coral Sea Festival is planned for Townsville in September and will feature pearling luggers and traditional timber ships of a bye gone era.

Centred on the major restoration of pearling lugger ANTONIA, organisers are talking with various lugger owners about heading to Townsville for one of the largest gatherings of luggers for some time.

The Australian National Maritime Museum will present all lugger owners that are on the Australian Register of Historic Vessels with their flag and certificate during the festival.

The plan includes a multi-venue precinct between the Townsville Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Centre, Museum of Tropical North Queensland, Townsville Maritime Museum, Reef HQ and more… lugger and traditional rig movies, markets, children's activities, and hopefully a lugger race and a sunset sail.

 

Learn to Sail

 

Don't worry if you missed the Whitsunday Sailing Club Registration Day for young sailors or 'tackers' you might just get you child into the course that starts this Sunday at 0830.

The course will be sailed in the new Opti Tackers, specially designed for training younger children. The age range is about seven to 12 years.

Any parents wishing to assist are welcome if you have any sailing background. Contact, Heidi Walton, Whitsunday Sailing Club 4946 6138

  

Boat fall, fine

 

A huge $100,000 fine has been copped by a NSW university following an injury to a student falling off a boat during a field trip.

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) was fined after a 23-year-old science student was injured in a boat incident during a course work-related field trip.

The woman suffered severe leg injuries and a broken wrist after falling from an inflatable vessel owned by the University near Darling Harbour on July 2009

"The incident occurred when a research assistant, who held a boat licence and was employed by the University, lost control of the inflatable vessel while doing a turn, causing three passengers who were not wearing lifejackets, to fall off.

"An inspection of the inflatable vessel revealed too much weight in the bow caused 'bow steering' or inadvertent steering to the left or right."

UNSW was found guilty by the NSW Industrial Court of a breach of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 (NSW)

 

Mariner Notice

 

Tongue Point, Whitsunday Island - Mariners are advised that a heli-lift operation is planned to take place in Tongue Bay, Whitsunday Island in the Whitsunday National Parks Management Area of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. This operation will be conducted from 1330 hours to 1700 hours on Wednesday, April 24.

This program will require the use of a barge platform and helicopter for multiple lifts during the stated times. A temporary exclusion zone will be placed in Tongue Bay from the public moorings east to Tongue Point during this operation. Mariners are advised to remain clear of exclusion zones and surrounding islands during the operation. Marine VHF security calls will be made morning, midday and afternoon on channel 16 and a Marine Parks vessel will be patrolling the area. AUS charts 252, 253, 824 & 825

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

Dent Island Light Plan

Easter weather enjoyed

 

Most long time locals will say that Whitsunday often gets rainy, windy 'Easter weather' but not this Easter weekend.

 

Fabulous weather for everyone except sailors a the Whitsunday Sailing Club Easter Regatta who could have used a bit more wind, not that it cramped their style much with the regatta going off in fine style.

 

With a fleet of cruise ships lining up in Pioneer Bay to enjoy Airlie - roadworks and all - the Lions Markets are looking like a Beach Bazaar with near permanent tent souk city.

 

Local traders would have had their hands busy with what looked like a bonus crowd maxing out the parking and filling the footpaths. Ditto for the Lagoon.

 

The new boat ramp at Port of Airlie was full to overflowing with a long weekend of flat seas and full moon meaning all the best that Whitsunday and the Great Barrier Reef have to offer was there to enjoy.

 

It is easy to see why we can put up with living here in paradise.

 

Friends depart

 

Dear friends and writing colleagues Ian 'Stripey' Grant and his "child bride" wife of some 53 years Marie both passed away in recent weeks, so it is fitting that their ashes will be scattered together on the water they spent their life on and near.

The couple's oldest son, Mark, said the double loss had hit the family hard, but it was "comforting to know they're going to be together".

I had the pleasure of their friendship for many years and enjoyed working with them at sailing events.

Ian's childhood nickname came from the blue and white striped pyjamas he got at a Brisbane orphanage.

For almost seventy-years, whether writing about a sailing weekend with kids or the Olympics, their smiling faces and encyclopaedia-like knowledge of the sport made them firm companions to all who came in contact with them.

We will all miss their familiar faces at both Hamilton Island and Airlie Beach Race Week regattas, events they covered since they began. Their many friends will have a QLD – quiet little drink in their memory.

Fair winds you two.

 

Dent Island Light Plan

 

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority have prepared a draft Dent Island Lightstation Heritage Management Plan. The plan describes the Dent Island Lightstation heritage values and proposes measures to ensure those values are managed and protected.

 

Lighthouse weekend

 

A trend emerging with the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend in August is to find a lighthouse location that has not previously been activated by amateur radio.

While organisers of the friendly annual event like to see amateur stations returning year after year to the same location, it's pleasing that some new lighthouses or those not registered for some time, being included.

Already quite a few enquiries around the world have been received about new lights, lightships and maritime beacons.

In the Port Douglas area of Queensland Australia two lighthouses dating back to the 1870s, are to be heard for the first time.

The International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend takes place on the weekend of August 17/18. www.illw.net for info or to register.

 

Calamari surprise

 

In a bizarre incident, a Chinese fisherman caught a squid that was discovered to be concealing a live bomb.

The bloated looking squid was caught off the coast of the Guangdong province in China and taken to the fish market in Jiaoling County.

Only when the cephalopod was cleaned at the market, was it revealed that there was in fact a live bomb inside it that could detonate at any moment if handled improperly, according to China Daily.

"This sort of squid lives close to the shore and normally makes a meal of small fish and prawns," the discoverer Mr. Huang, told Guangzhou Daily newspaper.

Local police suggested that the rusted bomb may have been dropped by a fighter jet, but its age was unknown. After Huang called Chinese authorities about the bomb's discovery, it was promptly taken away by police to perform a controlled explosion.

 

Mariner notice

 

Macona Inlet, Hook Island - Mariners are advised that the destroyed lighted starboard lateral mark beacon Fl G 2.5s, which marks the entrance into Macona Inlet at Hook Island, has been re-established in the position of latitude 20° 10.308' S, longitude 148° 55.138' E. The lighted buoy temporarily established to mark the destroyed beacon has been withdrawn. AUS charts 252 & 824

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

Complacency kills hero

Complacency kills flood hero

 

Complacency led to the death of Brisbane's tugboat flood hero, an investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has found.

Tugboat engineer Peter Fenton, 67, was killed when a crate being loaded onto a barge came free of its slings and fell on top of him on December 15, 2011.

Months earlier, during the January floods, he prevented potential disaster on the Brisbane River when he and colleague Doug Hislop successfully steered a 200-metre section of the Brisbane Riverwalk clear of the Gateway Bridge.

Mr Fenton, operations manager for Bowen Tug and Barge, was performing a routine exercise transferring crates from a ship to a barge on the day of his death.

In its investigation, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau found the crew of the crude oil tanker British Beech had, over time, removed safety barriers which would probably have prevented the accident.

"The ship's crew did not view the storing operation as dangerous," the bureau said in its final report released on Thursday morning.

The bureau discovered the container had not been properly rigged on board the ship and the ship's crew had not warned the barge crew of its return.

"The fatal shipping accident ... demonstrates the dangers of complacency, even when undertaking routine tasks," the bureau said.

Mr Fenton received a medal for his bravery during the 2011 floods, when he tackled the swollen Brisbane River on the tugboat Mavis, and steered the 300-tonne walkway clear of one of the city's main bridges.

He was a reluctant hero, saying afterwards "it was something we had to do and we did it".

 

Mariners be advised

 

Hook Reef - the West Cardinal Mark No.2 beacon which marks the north-western end of Hook Reef has been altered to a pile beacon in the position of latitude 19° 44.448' S, longitude 149° 09.549' E. The structure exhibits a radar reflector. AUS charts 254 & 825

 

Nara Inlet, Hook Island - the destroyed lighted port lateral mark beacon Fl R 2.5s which marks the entrance in to Nara Inlet at Hook Island, has been re-established in the position latitude 20° 09.859' S, longitude 148° 54.017' E. The Fl R 2.5s light has been altered to a Fl R 3s synchronised light. AUS charts 252

 

Macona Inlet, Hook Island - Mariners are advised that the destroyed lighted starboard lateral mark beacon Fl G 2.5s, which marks the entrance

into Macona Inlet at Hook Island, has been re-established in the position of latitude 20° 10.308' S, longitude 148° 55.138' E. The lighted buoy temporarily established to mark the destroyed beacon has been withdrawn. AUS charts affected: 252 & 824

 

Theory and Practice

 

"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice; In practice, there is"

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan