Island Arks meet first for Whitsunday Island

Island Arks meet first for Whitsunday Island

 

A symposium discovering and informing sustainable use of island ecosystems will be conducted on Daydream Island December 7 - 11.

Organiser Derek Ball, Operations Manager of Biodiversity Coasts and Marine for Reef Catchments said, "It is surprising that there has never been a conference of this type before in Australia. We are expecting that the symposia topics and location will attract major interest from around Australia and the South Pacific.

The island destination will attract scientists, island managers, ecotourism operators, students and others with a direct and indirect interest in island sustainability and management to identify, discuss and resolve management challenges; identifying pathways for long-term conservation of island ecosystems including sustainable use.

"The sustainable use of island ecosystems requires strong inter-disciplinary knowledge bases including terrestrial and marine ecology, coastal engineering, fire ecology, invasive species management, waste management, communication and marketing, and environmental economics."

"The symposium aims to bring together practitioners in these disciplines," Mr Ball added.

 

Hugh Williams Day

 

On December 5, 1664, a ship sank in the Menai Strait off the coast of Wales. Of its 81 passengers, the sole survivor was a lucky fellow named Hugh Williams.

On December 5, 1785, 121 years later, another ship sank in the Menai Strait. All 60 souls aboard perished… except one. His name was Hugh Williams.

On December August 5, 1820, 35 years later, yet another ship, a small 25-passenger vessel, sank in the Menai Strait. Once again, there was only one survivor. Once again, his name was Hugh Williams.

"So if you're ever going sailing in Wales on December 5, I won't be offended if you forget to invite me," says the modern day Hugh Williams who stays away from the sea.

"There are many versions of this story in circulation that have all three events taking place on December 5; I only recently found the source material that dates the third event in August, not December" Mr Williams added.

 

Spitfire Rock

 

Mariners are advised that the west cardinal mark beacon Q(9)15s in approximate position latitude 20° 28.59' S, longitude 149° 01.7' E which marks Spitfire Rock in Kennedy Sound has been reported to be unlit. Mariners are advised to use caution in the vicinity. AUS charts 252, 254, and 824

 

Important as anything

 

"When people talk about all the things needed to sail around the world they never seem to mention patience, but I'm fast learning that it's as important as anything." Teenage sailing adventurer Jessica Watson

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

Mutiny on the Bounty boat adventure revisited

Mutiny on the Bounty boat adventure revisited

 

April 28, 2010 marks the 221st anniversary of the Mutiny on the Bounty, when Fletcher Christian cast William Bligh and 18 of his men adrift in a 23-foot open boat, which marked the beginning of one of the greatest open boat voyages in maritime history.
During the following seven weeks, Bligh and his men sailed over 3,700 nautical miles, in an overloaded boat, with little food or water and no charts, from Tonga to Kupang in Timor.
It has become more than legend of leadership, small boat seamanship and survival.
On that same day, in the same place, at the same time of day 221 year later, Australian adventurer Don McIntyre, Mike Perham; the world's youngest solo circumnavigator and two other crew, will relive Bligh's nightmare.
They will attempt to sail the same voyage under similar conditions, no charts, no toilet paper, not enough food or water, in an 18th century traditional open timber whale boat.
McIntyre is not new to adventuring, but this challenge is like nothing he has experienced before.
They will have very good safety equipment, a strong risk minimisation program, and will have a GPS, charts, torches and the emergency food etc. onboard, sealed in a box and not used.
The hardships and human dynamics of the crew is part of the experience sought, to get close to Bligh and his men.
"Can we survive on of the greatest open boat journeys in Maritime History?" asks Captain McIntyre.
"Our odds are far higher than if you were a sufferer of Motor Neurone Disease (MND)."
"We are making this journey to raise funds for the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience. This landmark initiative will create the world's first, stand alone institute dedicated to bringing an end to MND." Captain McIntyre said.

 

Too much sun

 

Boat passenger could not figure out why she got sunburnt while out on a boat.
"I didn't think I could get sunburnt because the boat was moving"
 
Dugong Beach campground

 

New defined camping sites have been well received with their design reducing damage to vegetation caused by visitors shortcutting between sites, the new post and rail completes recent work to upgrade the site. Dugong is a good alternative to camping at adjacent Sawmill Beach, which will close to camping from December 8.

 

Rubber vine reduced

 

Park Rangers have targeted outbreaks of the Class 2 pest plant, rubber vine Cryptostegia grandiflora on Gloucester Island in an effort to protect habitat of the island's Proserpine Rock-Wallaby and reduce further spread throughout the Whitsunday islands.

 

Airlie Creek fireworks

 

Mariners are advised that the Fantasea Annual Cracker Night will be held on Friday, November 27. The event commences at 1800 hours at the market site on the Airlie Beach foreshore adjacent to the Whitsunday Sailing Club.
Fireworks are due to be set off from the point of Airlie Creek at approximately 2000 hours for an estimated duration of half an hour. AUS charts 252 and 268

 

Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan