2013 - lucky for some

 

2013 - lucky for some:

Fun in the sun revealed

 

Airlie Beach Race Week, Reef Festival and Fun Race 2013 were announced this week with the added bonus of funding from Events Queensland to promote our 'winter' destination to those poor sods in colder climates.

 

"We're thrilled to have received funding from Events Queensland for 2013, which will go towards increased marketing efforts," Rob Davis, Commodore of the Whitsunday Sailing Club said this week.

 

"Events Queensland funding not only promotes the event, but helps deliver tourism benefits to the region and to a wider audience. We have also had tremendous feedback from stakeholders from this year's event and we are now working to ensure 2013 is bigger and better."

 

The date for Airlie Beach Race Week 2013 is August 8-15, includes six days of racing, opening and closing parties and a lay day party on Monday August 12.

 

Building on the successful Whitsunday Reef Festival this year, in 2013 the weekend of August 15-18 will see the community celebrate all things Whitsunday.

 

The Great Whitsunday Fun Race will be sailed on Saturday 17 August.

 

"The Reef Festival will round off a week of fantastic sailing and provide additional events, fireworks and entertainment for the support crews, spectators and visitors and encourage them to stay a bit longer in Airlie Beach," the Commodore said.

 

Airlie Beach Race Week is a major regional Queensland event with support from the Whitsunday Council and Tourism Queensland through the Queensland's 'Season of Sailing' campaign.

 

The Whitsunday Sailing Club held the most successful regatta this year with over 120 yachts and over 40 sponsors supporting the event. "We're already talking to businesses regarding next year's event and we would be happy to hear from anyone who would like to come on board," Commodore Davis said.

 

It is time to tell your friends in cold places to get ready and book a berth for all the fun in the sun. Further info on accommodation and more www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au or the sailing club.

 

Silly boat challenge

 

In Vancouver Canada the local community enjoys The Silly Boat Challenge, where they say "Gather your friends, family & co-workers, come up with an idea for a boat and then .... Build your boat on site out of recycled or recyclable materials. Then sail it around a simple course."

Sound familiar? During Reef Festival in Airlie we have had the Airlie Beach Hotel Recyclable Regatta for the last few years and what fun that is. So, start designing now aiming for Sunday August 18 at the Lagoon.

 

Girls adrift

 

Here is an idea that might be a good learning and fund raising activity.

In the UK, eight marine industry girls spent 24 hours in a leaky liferaft to raise money for the Sail4Cancer charity.

What would be more of a fun challenge than 24 hours of rationed food and water, lack of toilet facilities (Or 'no loo' as the girls delicately put it) cramped conditions, virtually no sleep in the cold and damp climate of November in the Solent. For the fashionistas the girls were dressed in bright orange immersion suits complete with "amazing multi-coloured life jackets" and have almost reached their target of £5000.

Was it worth it? Lesley Fitt from Sailing Networks described her feelings afterwards "It was a humbling experience to realise that my worst hours in the liferaft were nothing compared to the long term suffering of the people we are raising funds for."

Perhaps some local sailor gals (or guys) might like to give it a go?

 

Salty Ocean

 

The salinity of ocean water is approximately 3.5%, which equates to one cubic square mile of sea water containing 166 million tons of salt. If you could manage to extract all the salt from all the oceans on Earth, you'd have a layer of salt that would cover every continent, 500 feet deep.

 

Marine Notices

 

Chance Bay, Whitsunday Island - Mariners are advised that a 14.5 metre vessel has sunk in Chance Bay, Whitsunday Island. It is marked with a lighted yellow special mark.  Mariners, give the vessel a wide berth to seaward. AUS charts 252 & 253

 

Bowen Boat Harbour - Mariners are advised that the Port Lateral Mark No.6 with light Fl R 1.5s in position latitude 20° 01.1776' S, longitude 148° 15.4022' E  is reported as having diminished intensity. Navigate with caution. AUS chart 268.

 

What?

 

"The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity"

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

Crimson tides, coral spawn

Crimson tides, coral spawn;

Wonders of the natural world

 

"That's coral spawn," say the uninitiated when spotting a colourful blanket on Whitsunday waters. Others think it is an oil spill, probably as that is what they are used to where they come from.

Both groups of people are just wrong, and here's why.

 

Hot breezes and raised sun intensity this week brought the occurrence of noticeable algae blooms on the waters of Pioneer Bay and around the Whitsunday Islands.

 

So if it is not coral spawn or oil, what is that slick?

 

When good hot growth conditions exist, blooms of a simple floating algae called Trichodesmium are often confused with oil and coral spawn slicks.  Blooms can be easily identified by their rusty brown colour as they occur in wind rows along the surface of the water. 

 

Slicks of real coral spawn generally do not last more than two days after coral spawning on the inner and outer reefs, probably occurring on only a few night per years – and interestingly on Tuesday and Wednesday night this week.

 

Some years ago while sailing a dive charter ship to the outer reef, we spied an algae bloom. One passenger said it was an oil spill and even though we discussed it, at the end of the day wrote on the guest comments form that "the captain ignored an oil spill."

So now when I have passengers onboard I tell them about the difference between algae and oil. We stop and take onboard a bucket of the (sometimes smelly!) algae and do a finger test. If it is oil, it will stick to your finger. If algae is will not. Of course if it is oil a sample should be taken, the position logged, size estimated and reported to authorities.

 

Red tide closes beaches

 

Ten Sydney beaches were closed this week due to an outbreak of a thick algal bloom known as noctiluca scintillans - commonly called "red tide" or "fire in the sea" - capable of causing skin rashes and eye irritations, that began washing up.

 

Turn on the lights

 

While the silly season looms with lights glowing along our streets, on houses, fences and trees an idea has arrived from – where else? – but California in the good old U.S.of A.

New for our thinking, not for theirs. Announcing the 36th Annual Lighted Yacht Parade on the Oakland/Alameda Bay. Presented by Oakland Yacht Club and Marina Village Yacht Harbor. This year's theme is 'Lights, Camera, Action'.

So what is a Lighted Yacht you ask? Well, in typical American form they put as many Christmas lights on their boats as they do on their houses and sail around in the mid winter weather. Here is their take on it.

"The lighted yacht parades are a great way to kick off the holiday season in style and so much fun to participate in, as well as watch. So whether you're on a boat or watching from shore, suit up in your best foul weather gear, pack some Thermoses full of spicy hot beverages and invite your hardiest friends for a holiday parade they'll never forget (depending on what's in the Thermoses)!"

And they have these parades all over the bay to show off enough Christmas lights to be seen from space, powered by generators big enough to keep a small country well lit up. Only in America.

 

Mariner Notices

 

Unsafe Passage between North Molle and Mid Molle Islands - Mariners are advised that the rear leading lights F Bu (F Day) on Daydream Island that mark Unsafe Passage are unlit (again!). Mariners should use caution. AUS charts 252 & 253

 

Port Newry, Victor Creek and Seaforth Creek - Mariners are advised that work will be undertaken on the navigation beacons in the Port Newry, Victor Creek and Seaforth Creek area north of Mackay. The work will be undertaken from the barge 'Slade Point' until Wednesday, December 12. Operations be restricted to daylight hours only, a listening watch will be maintained on VHF 16 at all times. AUS chart 251

 

Make sense?

 

"There are people who think that everything one does with a serious face is sensible"

 

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

Cap'n Dan is a regular broadcaster on ABC Radio Tropical North and 4MK

Turtles under threat

Turtles under threat

 

While it may be hard for the average person to regard sea turtles as cute, they remain a source of near endless fascination for anyone on or in the sea.

Sitting aboard watching their feeding behaviour, on the ocean surface for some breaths of air, then they are gone to the sea floor for a nice feed of seagrass.

Or, spying a coupled mating pair drifting with the tide for a mile or so along Whitehaven Beach; intent on bringing new life to their endangered world.

The joy of spotting a darting creature while snorkelling or scuba diving along the reef edge. The spooky-ness of a night scuba dive; keeping your light away from the sleeping turtle aware that if awakened they may get flustered and drown while disorientated.

 

Of the six marine turtle species found along the Queensland coast, all are listed as either endangered or vulnerable, the most common around the Whitsunday coast is the Green turtle.

 

Marine turtles are unique in spending most of their life at sea but making use of land to lay eggs and reproduce. The sea turtle is vulnerable to changes in both their ocean and terrestrial habitats, threats which have caused a gradual decline in the population numbers.

 

In 2003, the Commonwealth government developed a Marine Turtle Recovery Plan designed to identify threats and develop strategies to reduce population impacts.

 

Marine turtle fatalities are recorded along the Queensland coast. In 2011-12 about 1800 marine turtle strandings were recorded. In June 2012, 76 turtles were recorded as dead or partially alive between Ayr and Bowen. Most of the strandings can be linked to one or more of the known threats.

 

The Whitsunday Region Marine Turtle Management Plan documents the current knowledge of marine turtles in our region, identifies local threats and seeks to develop measures aimed at reducing these impacts. It is hoped that the actions listed in the Plan when implemented will lead to improvements in marine turtle habitats and reduced impacts on individual creatures.

The Whitsunday Region Marine Turtle Management Plan has been coordinated by the Whitsunday Regional Council and includes input from a broad range of people and organisations.

The plan and further information is available from Scott Hardy or Monica Stoinescu at Whitsunday Regional Council.

 

Eco occasion

 

Tonight (Wednesday Nov 21) Community education night at Eco Barge Clean Seas Environment Centre, Jubilee Pocket. Info 4946 5198

 

Cocaine, corpse; coroner

 

The corpse in the cockpit of a 42-foot yacht JeReVe containing 200 kilos of Cocaine worth $120 million answered a mystery for authorities baffled by the disappearance of the vessel they had tracked since leaving South America bound for Australia.

 

Revelations that two people were aboard the yacht when it departed the Cook Islands have added to the story of seagoing secret smuggling of coke across the Pacific. A report is going to the coroner when cause of death is established.

 

Actually the smuggler and his plot would have been doomed even if he hadn't navigated so poorly. The Australian Federal Police have confirmed that the yacht, a 1991 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 44 originally named Jonathan, was under surveillance all along by relevant authorities including those of the usually sedate Kingdom of Tonga where the yacht was found high and dry.

 

Indeed, coke smugglers have had a rough time as this is the fourth yacht found in the last couple of years, with a combined coke cargo weighing in at over a tonne

 

Mariner Notices

 

Surprise Rock east of Hamilton Island - Mariners are advised that the temporary isolated danger mark buoy Fl (2) 6s established to replace the destroyed beacon on Surprise Rock in approximate position latitude 20° 21.277' S, longitude 149° 01.572' E has been restored to normal.

 

Platypus Rock, off southern end of Shaw Island - Mariners are advised that the temporary west cardinal mark buoy VQ (9) 10s, that was installed to replace the destroyed beacon on Platypus Rock, has been re-established in approximate position latitude 20° 31.192' S, longitude 149° 02.283' E and the light restored to normal. AUS charts 252, 253 & 824

 

Dear All,

 

"Dear optimists, pessimists, and realists, while you were all arguing over the fullness or otherwise of the glass of water... I drank it," Sincerely, An Opportunist.

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

A regular broadcaster on ABC Radio Tropical North and 4MK, Cap'n Dan is celebrating ten years online @ http://waterfront.blogspot.com/

 

Loss of HMS Bounty

Loss of HMS Bounty

 

Hurricane Sandy claimed a well-known victim, the loss of historic tall ship HMS Bounty southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

In 1789, the original HMS Bounty played a role in one of the most famous stories in maritime history. Bounty was roiled by tension between its crew and Captain William Bligh. After landing in Tahiti the Bounty set sail for the West Indies. It never reached that destination. Instead, mate Fletcher Christian led the men in a mutiny; Bligh and his loyalists were allowed to sail off in a longboat.

The ship that sank Monday was a replica of the original Bounty, built for the 1962 "Mutiny on the Bounty" movie, which starred Marlon Brando as Christian. It was constructed from original Royal Navy plans in Lunenburg Nova Scotia, but was made one-third larger to accommodate cameras and other filming equipment.

Over the years the ship starred in a number of sailing movies, including the "Pirates of the Caribbean" film series, in which it was the pirate ship 'Black Pearl'. In 1990 Bounty played the 'Hispanola' in Treasure Island starring Charlton Heston and later featured in 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'.

Crew described the chaos as they abandoned the storm ravaged ship when the Bounty was slammed by a huge wave. "It was [like a] washing machine in an earthquake, while going down a giant slide," crewmember Laura Groves told reporters.

The 14 survivors are chiefly concerned with honouring those who didn't make it, their captain, Robin Wallbridge, and deckhand Claudine Christian, "The great-great-great-great-great granddaughter of Fletcher Christian, the master's mate who took command of the original Bounty from William Bligh in the mutiny of 1789". Ms Christian talked about her deep pride in the ship and relished her family's connection to the story of Bounty.

"I was at the helm the first week and said, "Captain, are you sure you're comfortable having a Christian at the helm?

Hours after being hurled into the water and struggling into life rafts, the crew heard the rotor beat of helicopters. Still far from safe, weather rough, uncertain, treacherous; one of the most daring Coast Guard rescues in memory underway.

The reader may remember a Bounty replica visiting Whitsunday in 1988 and sailing for many years on Sydney Harbour. That ship was built in 1977/78 for the movie 'The Bounty' starring Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins. She is now a tourist destination in Hong Kong, China.

 

Falling Overboard

 

American poet and sailor Robin Beth Schaer who served as a deckhand aboard the HMS Bounty has written, 'Falling Overboard', a beautifully evocative essay which she describes as "My love letter and my farewell for my ship Bounty and her captain, lost in the storm." 

Published in the Paris Review Daily. The first paragraph: "At first, I couldn't sleep on the ship. At night, bunked beneath the waterline, I put my hand against the wooden hull and imagined dark water on the other side pressing back. I lay awake holding my breath, picturing the route I would swim through a maze of cabins and hatches if the ship went down. In port, Bounty had looked tremendous: one hundred and eighty feet long, three masts stretching a hundred feet into the sky, and a thousand square yards of canvas sails. But underway, with ocean spreading toward horizon in every direction, she was small, and inside her I was even smaller."

     

Beer Island

 

Beer consumers are invited to submit suggestions as to what fantasia could be built on the 15-acre island, on the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Winners may win an island stay for themselves and three beer drinking friends.

A spokesperson for the brand said: "Men are not getting away from it all and spending enough time with their mates. This is a chance for them to do that. Responsibly, of course." However, Women are eligible to enter the competition as well.

The island is leased and is actually called Pumpkin Island. Described as "One of Australia's hidden gems and best-kept island secrets, nestled in the Keppel Islands, seven and a half nautical miles off the coast from Yeppoon.

 

Mariner Notices

 

Bird Island, east of Hook Island - Mariners are advised that the light on the West Cardinal Mark beacon on Bird Island east of Hook Island has been restored to normal. AUS charts 252, 254 & 825

 

Ability in demand

 

"Ability will never catch up with the demand for it" concluded Malcolm Forbes

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

Celebrating ten years online @ waterfront.blogspot.com.au

 

What floats a boat in Canberra may struggle on our waters

What floats a boat in Canberra

may struggle on our waters

 

2013 is an election year federally and the government wants at least some of its policies to take effect.

 

There is less than two months until 1 January 2013, an important date in the Government's transport plan, according to The Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport of the Department of Infrastructure and Transport.

"That is the date when Australia finally gets three national transport regulators; one for rail, one for heavy vehicles and one for the maritime industry. This will see the number of transport regulators operating across Australia reduced from 23 to 3."

 

While workable reforms are to be applauded, especially the overhaul of century-old maritime laws. But, will the establishment of a national system for commercial domestic vessel safety, replacing eight existing sets of regulations affecting all commercial vessels in Australian waters be ready on 1 January? Some think not.

 

Over fifty local marine industry people attended the Airlie Beach meeting last Thursday evening. The meeting, one of the first nationwide, heard that while the legislation may be in place, regulations and on water solutions are not according to several in attendance.

The meeting organised by the maritime regulator, Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is taking the opportunity to meet Australians who work in the maritime sector and advise of changes that will be taking place in 2013.

AMSA is the national regulator responsible for shipping safety and management, protection of the marine environment and land and sea search and rescue.

For the maritime industry, this means that for the first time in its history, Australia will have a single national regulator for commercial vessel safety.

"This will ease the burden of red tape, increase regulatory confidence, remove inconsistency in the law applying to Australian commercial vessels and streamline new maritime safety plans," the Minster says.

"We will have one maritime safety regulator—and one law—Commonwealth law—applying to all commercial vessels in Australian waters.

In terms of sheer numbers alone, this increases AMSA's responsibilities from around 6,000 to 30,000 vessels.

See what happens in the New Year.

 

GBR Ports say

 

The Newman Government's approach to future port development and planning in the Great Barrier Reef region is outlined in the draft Great Barrier Reef Ports Strategy now released for public consultation.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, and Planning Jeff Seeney said the Strategy presents the principles that will guide the Government's approach to future port development over the next decade.

"Port development is essential for growth of the State's economy, but so too is protection of our greatest environmental asset – the Great Barrier Reef," Mr Seeney said.

"Through this Strategy the Government will balance environmental protection and economic prosperity.

 "We will confine future development to the existing major ports where there is considerable scope for future development at Abbot Point, at Dudgeon Point in the Port of Hay Point.

Mr Seeney said the draft Great Barrier Reef Ports Strategy supports the strategic assessment of the Great Barrier Reef Coastal Zone being undertaken jointly by the State and Federal Governments.

It also responds in part to the UNESCO report of June 2011 expressing concern at the rate of proposed port development within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

Mr Seeney said the draft strategy was out for public consultation until mid-December www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/gbrportsstrategy

"I encourage all interested parties to make a submission and have their say on this strategy."

 

Noah's Ark in Japan

 

Japan's Ministry of Land has announced that it will develop an enclosed lifeboat in which it says coastal residents could ride out a massive tsunami.

According to the ministry's Shikoku bureau, the vessel will accommodate 25 people and measure about 6.5 metres in length with a beam of 2.3 metres and weighing 2.5 tonnes. Say, what is the coastal population of Japan?

The craft will feature a structure to protect the passengers from expected severe swaying. Sea trials at sea are planned for 2013.

 

Hazard to navigation

 

South West of Shaw Island - Mariners are advised that a semi-submerged steel post has been reported in approximate position latitude 20° 32.615' S; longitude 149°03.460' E and poses a hazard to navigation. Mariners are advised to navigate with caution in the area and report further sightings to VTS Hay Point via channel 14. AUS charts 252 & 825

 

Question of balance

 

"My problem lies in reconciling my gross habits with my net income"  

    Errol Flynn (1909 - 1959)

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

Waterfront311012

 

Wild weekend on Reef

 

Wild weekend for Great Barrier Reef; Linked to the phases of the moon. The most common timing is 3-5 days after the full moon in late spring/early summer. There are many factors involved including relatively little tidal movement, water temperature and lighting. Although there are no guarantees of the exact night, experts have predicted the 2012 coral spawning for the nights of 03-04 November.

So, what is coral spawning? Essentially, it is the sexual reproduction of a coral reef. It usually occurs as a mass event, lasting up to a week, and it happens once a year on the Great Barrier Reef. As it's a natural phenomenon, predicting timing for the Great Barrier Reef's annual coral spawning is difficult and depends on a few factors.

Water Temperature. To trigger coral spawning the water temperature needs to be around 27 degrees Celsius, which is achieved during spring in Tropical North Queensland (September - December).

Moon Cycle. Interestingly, the Great Barrier Reef times its sexual reproduction around the cycle of the moon: nothing to do with romance, everything to do with the tides. To ensure maximum fertilisation there needs to be minimal tidal movement. Therefore, coral spawning generally occurs three to five days after the full moon in October or November, sometimes even December. The 2012 Full Moon dates are 30 October and 29 November.

At Night. The coral spawning always occurs at night.

First witnessed by researchers in 1981, the Great Barrier Reef coral spawning event attracts hundreds of scientists, researchers and recreational snorkelers and scuba divers each year.

Why do they come? Other than to enjoy the warm waters of the Coral Sea, they come hoping to be in the water when the over 400 different types of coral on the Great Barrier Reef release their eggs and sperm in a mass reproductive event.

Marine Biologist Stuart Ireland said the coral spawning helped the Great Barrier Reef to evolve.

"Coral spawning allows for cross-breeding and hybridisation, which helps the Great Barrier Reef corals evolve and become stronger," Mr Ireland said. "By having a mass spawning event, there is a greater chance of successful reproduction and survival from the predators in the water (fish etc), that like to eat the corals' eggs and sperm," he said.

 

Free boat book

 

The BoatSafe Workbook contains all the information you need to prepare for the BoatSafe course to get your recreational licence, check you knowledge or have a handy reference. The workbook has exercises (test) at the end of each chapter to test your knowledge. Download the BoatSafe Workbook from the Maritime Safety Queensland web site.

 

No wait for tide

 

Planning for 2013 is easy now that Queensland Tide Tables 2013 is available.  The Queensland Tide Tables is a complete package of boating safety information and practical tips to make your time on Queensland's waterways safe and enjoyable. The tide tables include a lot of  information.

Agency contact details for Maritime Safety Queensland, Queensland Water Police, Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol, and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

Tidal predictions for Queensland standard ports as well as instructions for calculating tides at many other intermediate locations, plus the sun and moon rise and set tables, moon phases and locations of standard ports (PDF, 631 KB).

Public ramp, jetty and pontoon listing that is separated into coastal (tidal) and freshwater impoundment facilities.

Boating safety information on licensing and registration, safety equipment table, water limit maps, marine radio communications and volunteer rescue stations listing, ship navigation areas guide, and sewage discharge requirements.

Fish and crab guide outlining rules and regulations, fishing permits and size/take/possession limits.

 

Mariner Notices

 

Holbourne Island- Mariners are advised that the Holbourne Island light in approximate position latitude 19° 43.45' S, longitude 148° 21.52' E is reported to be operating at reduced power and displaying irregular characteristics.

 

Queens Bay, Bowen - Mariners are advised that North Rock light in approximate position latitude 19° 58.32' S, longitude 148° 15.66' E is reported to be operating at reduced power and displaying irregular characteristics. Mariners are advised to navigate with caution in this area. AUS charts affected: 268, 825 & 826

 

Two ways

 

"There are only two mantras, yum and yuck, mine is yum."
— Tom Robbins

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

Paddle against Plastic plods across paddock

Paddle against Plastic plods across paddock

 

The weekend weather held for the 2012 Naish Paddle Against Plastic across the lonely paddock down to Mackay with a few stops along the way.

Friday saw four paddlers depart Airlie with a quick run down the bay to Pioneer Rocks then turning into the wind slowing the boards right down allowing the Sunsail support boat to come into its own. Later, the full moon greeted the boys into Hamilton Island.

Saturday dawned with fifty or so nautical miles ahead for Ocean Crusader Ian Thompson and his two remaining mates.

The dawn breeze died mid morning making progress easier but duty called at Blacksmith Island to clean plastic from the beach.

"Out here in the middle of the magical Whitsunday Islands, there were ropes, a herbicide container, bottles and bottle caps," organiser Ian Thomson said.

Continuing in a style reminiscent of the Tour de France the lads paddled till, as the sun set the boys were rounding Slade Point.  Paddling with smiles on their faces as they caught each wave, Thommo falling off every so often, the boys finally entered the marina just on dusk. It was a massive achievement. They had managed to cover the 50nm in under 14 hours, albeit with a little help from the chase boat.

'We're not claiming any records; however it's nice to be here. Compared to my solo sail around Australia this was easy as I had two good mates, Luke and Tris to paddle with," Thomson said at day's end. The paddle raised money to visit schools at Hamilton Island and Cannonvale to present the Ocean Crusaders Education Program. 

Tinaroo titles

 

Whitsunday kids are getting ready to race at the Queensland State Titles November 17 & 18 at the invitation of the Tinaroo Sailing Club, in conjunction with the Australian International O'pen BIC Association for two days of non-stop, fast and furious racing in the Far North.  

Simply referred to as the Open Bic, the nine-foot single handed sailboat designed is for younger sailors. The quick and cost effective international class began in 2006 is recognized by the International Sailing Federation and features a thermoformed polyethylene self-draining hull with an open transom and a fair sized sail.

 

Pitch battle saves Victory

 

Hemp and pitch came to the rescue of HMS Victory employing the skills used by sailors 300 years ago after modern methods failed.

Synthetic mastic, the modern caulking material commonly used in yachts could not cut the mustard so the folks restoring Nelson's HMS Victory have returned to using hemp oakum and pitch, the caulking technique used when the ship was new. 

The modern caulking materials could not adequately cope with expansion and contraction of the planking and the large spaces between the planks, allowing rainwater to seep through, causing rot in the ship's structure. 

Visitors to man o' war HMS Victory will see the ship caulked just as it was by Nelson's men before the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

 

Shanghaied cat

 

A container, originally loaded in Shanghai, was opened at Compton, California, near Los Angeles.  Inside was a 3-month-old kitten that had survived without food or water for the 21 days that it takes to make the 6,500 mile journey from China.  Remarkably, the kitten appears to be in reasonable good health, despite the ordeal and is nicknamed Ni Hao (NEE'-How), which means "hello" in Mandarin,

 

Somthin' fishy?

 

Australia has the third largest fisheries zone in the world and the lowest harvest rate, at only about three per cent of the global average. "We import 70 per cent of the seafood we eat, all of it from resources far more heavily impacted than our own," says marine scientist Walter Starck.

"The Law of the Sea Treaty under which we exercise exclusive economic zone (EEZ) rights to this resource provides that if a nation does not utilise their EEZ resources other nations may petition for access to them. 

"Locking up vast areas of EEZ and restricting fishing to absurdly low levels while imposing heavy demands on resources elsewhere is not a "use" likely to be upheld in any petition to the World Court.

"This may well lead ultimately to our under-utilised EEZ being opened to Asian fishing companies," Starck emphasised.

 

Broken glass

 

"The next time someone asks you if your glass is half full or half empty just tell them you are glad you have a glass"

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

History in Abell hands

History in Abell hands

 

With news of the marketing and proposed sale of Abel Point marina in Airlie Beach, local identity Ian 'Stack' Hudson approached the selling agents Jones Lang LaSalle to finally set the record straight suggesting it is time to correct the spelling to 'Abell' Point.

In correspondence to Jones Lang LaSalle this week Stack wrote: "I understand you have the responsibility to sell the above marina on behalf of receivers."

"I would like to bring your attention to the matter of the misspelling of the marina [name], a simple mistake made many years ago and regrettably perpetuated ever since, but with the sale, the new owners have the perfect opportunity to right the original wrong, when they re-do all the signage, office stationary etc."

"The mistake was dropping the second "l" off the name ABELL."

"The point on which the marina stands is still called Abell Point, so it's time for the new marina owners to revert to that."

"The Abell family, with Dick, Jim, Arthur, Tom and Alf took up land in Airlie Beach and Jubilee Pocket in 1904, followed by Morrie in 1906. They were one of the original pioneers of the beach area. Their name is correctly spelled on Abell Road and Abell Road East in Cannonvale. A book of their lives and adventures was published by Colin Abell in 2007."

"I won't hark on this, but believe in your negotiations that this matter be brought to the attention of the prospective owners. I am certainly not on my own in wanting the correct spelling returned to the marina's name."

"Incidentally, I have nothing to do with the Airlie Beach Abells, but my maternal grandmother's maiden name was Abell." Mr Hudson added.

Ian, an Access Consultant, received a reply from Jacob Swan, Director – JLL Queensland Retail Investments.

"Hi Ian, Thank you for your note. You have an impressive knowledge of the history of the Abell family and Airlie Beach."

"We will convey your point to all potential purchasers throughout the process and encourage them to act on same." Cheers, Jacob Swan.

Ian told The Whitsunday Coast Guardian "I thought I'd check this morning with three of the lessees at the marina to determine if they had a negative reaction to extra costs involved with a revert to ABELL. No names, no pack drill, but one was the GM of a grog shop, another a dive shop and the third a mob of marine mechanics.  .  .

"One was highly enthusiastic for the change from the historical and heritage point of view, one said he had "no worries" and the third said it would be "great to have it as it should be."

"OK, it's only three of the lessees, but if that is any indication . . . I have given this info to Jones Lang LaSalle," says Stack.

The error was recognised in 1994 by the (then) Whitsunday Shire Council, but not before the spelling gained general currency. (Additional source: Ray Blackwood, The Whitsunday Islands)

So, what do readers think?

 

Prince passes

 

Patrick Roy Bates, better-known as Prince Roy of Sealand – the title he awarded himself  – died recently age 91 in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, UK. In 1967, Major Roy Bates, a veteran of WWII, occupied a derelict concrete offshore WW2 anti-aircraft gun platform in international waters off the east coast of England. He declared it the Principality of Sealand.  Being only about half the size of an Olympic swimming pool, Bates declared it to be "the world's smallest independent state." He also declared himself "His Royal Highness, Prince Roy of Sealand." His son was dubbed Prince Michael, and wife and daughters became Princesses Joan and Penny. Even though Prince Roy is gone, one may still purchase a noble title from the principality as well as other goods including coffee mugs, tee shirts, identity cards and email addresses.  Becoming a Lord, Lady, Baron or Baroness starts at £29.99, while becoming a Count or Countess will set you back £199.99.

 

Mariner notice

 

Hay Point Pilotage Area - Mariners are advised that Exclusion Zone has been established in an area bounded by imaginary lines from:

The prohibited area is depicted on the attached map 'S9-174 I' prepared by Maritime Safety Queensland and held at the Maritime Safety Queensland office in Mackay. Until further notice unauthorised ships are prohibited from anchoring, berthing, mooring, or operating in the Hay Point Berth 3 construction area, within the waters declared as the Exclusion Zone. AUS charts 249, 250 & 823

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

Marina for sale

Marina for sale

 

Abel Point Marina is to be placed on the market this week by receivers and managers McGrath Nicol. Jones Lang LaSalle will handle the 507-berth marina sale with expressions of interest closing on November 22.

The marina, with commercial and retail space and future development potential, is expected to attract widespread interest locally and from South-East Asia as one of the major gateways to the Great Barrier Reef.

Sources say the receivers were working on a development application for future development over the site allowing for a master planned marina and tourist development including residential, resort, commercial and retail uses.

Meridien Marinas and A P Marina Pty Ltd (formerly Meridien Marinas Abel Point Pty Ltd) were placed into receivership by the Bank of Scotland in mid-2011. Since then it has been business as usual for the busy well managed marina. Price point mentioned is around $20 million.

There are 356 marinas in Australia, with most owned by smaller or family companies.

 

ACCC Reviewed

 

Meridien Pty Ltd (Meridien) acquired Abel Point Marina at Airlie Beach in Queensland in December 2006. Meridien was also constructing the Port of Airlie Marina. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) assessment considered whether, when the Port of Airlie Marina opens, there will be a substantial lessening of competition for commercial and recreational users as, at that time, both marinas will be owned by Meridien, rather than separately owned.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Informal Review result announced on 29 April 2008, says the ACCC formed the view that the proposed acquisition was unlikely to substantially lessen competition in the relevant market. Factors informing this conclusion included:

1. Meridien plans to sell berths at the new Port of Airlie Marina in conjunction with apartments. Berths are unlikely to be available to users who do not want to purchase an apartment in the marina complex. The ACCC formed the view that this would have likely been the case with or without the acquisition. In contrast, berths at Abel Point Marina are available for separate lease. As a result, the ACCC formed the view that it was unlikely that there would have been close competition between the marinas for the business of local recreational users at Abel Point Marina who are only interested in a marina berth, rather than a berth and apartment bundle.

2. Many of the recreational boat users who are interested in buying an apartment and marina berth bundle at the Port of Airlie Marina are likely to live outside the region. The range of substitutable bundles for these users is likely to be considerably broader than just the two marinas in the Airlie Beach region. As a result, they are likely to be more responsive to changes in price than local recreational users, for whom the convenience of a berth in Airlie Beach is important. Source: ACCC

 

PM visits troops

 

The 4600 Singaporean troops at the Australian Defence training ground Shoalwater Bay received a warm welcome from the local community and had a visit from Singapore's PM Lee Hsien Loong.

The Prime Minister of Singapore wanted the local community to know his country deeply appreciates the generous welcome shown to troops and described Australia as a warm and gracious host and a "trusted friend" of Singapore.

"I spent yesterday at the Shoalwater Bay training area to watch our annual SAF training exercise, a live-firing exercise called Exercise Wallaby," PM Lee said.

"We deeply appreciate Australia's strong support for our armed forces to train here and we wish to thank both the Australian government as well as the local communities for welcoming us so generously."

Mr Lee said the relationship between the two countries was not just about defence, but also education, trade, tourism and culture.

 

Marine Notices

 

Shoalwater Bay - live firing activities will be conducted in the marine component of the Shoalwater Bay Training until November 3.

The Marine Danger Area of the Gazetted Defence Practice Area has been expanded and may be inconsistent with the area currently represented on some available marine charts and land maps. Mariners are requested not to approach within 500m of any military vessel involved in the exercise.

 

Fitzroy River - Mariners are advised that the Port Alma No. 10 buoy has been re-established in position. AUS charts 247, 265

 

Really Rude

 

"Rudeness is the weak person's imitation of strength"

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

Celebrating ten years online at - waterfront.blogspot.com.au

 

Local Eco Warrior drafted

 

Local Eco Warrior drafted

 

Whitsunday eco-warrior Libby Edge is drafted into the Green Army with a funding promise from the Liberal National Coalition.

Libby's environmental clean-up operation, Eco Barge Clean Seas Inc, and her mission to clean up marine debris from the Whitsunday islands and Great Barrier Reef waters impressed visiting Shadow Environment Minister, Greg Hunt accompanied by Federal Member for Dawson, George Christensen.

Mr Hunt discovered the work Eco Barge Clean Seas is doing and promised that, if elected, the Liberal National Coalition would fund the Eco Barge under the Green Army program with a coordinator and nine trainees for 25 weeks.

Liberal National Coalition Leader Tony Abbott, who has also crewed on Eco Barge, announced the Green Army as a means of helping the environment while training young people in preparation for work.

"The work that Libby and her volunteers do for the Whitsundays makes an immediate positive impact on the marine environment," Dawson MP Mr Christensen said.

"That fits in perfectly with the Liberal National Coalition's policy for Direct Action for the environment."

 "I have had the pleasure of going out with Libby and the Eco Barge and cleaning up some of the beaches and you've only got to look at the volume of debris that comes back on the vessel to understand what a difference it makes," Mr Christensen added.

 

Arctic passage; again

 

Three men who sailed from Newfoundland through the arctic's Northwest Passage are to be congratulated. However, their claim that they "for the first time navigated the once-frozen Northwest Passage, a perilous Arctic route made accessible only because of melting caused by global warming" is clearly wrong as is their further claim that it was "the first time a vessel other than an icebreaker had breached the passage."

The Northwest Passage, the northern-most waterway on the edge of the Canadian Northwest Territories, was first sailed by Roald Amundsen during his 1903-06 voyage. Later, Canadian schooner St Roch set out from Vancouver in 1940 and reached Halifax, Nova Scotia, 28 months later. The 1944 return journey by the St Roch was accomplished in one season, taking only 86 days.

They failed to mention they followed U.K. maritime legend Captain David Cowper; age 70, solo navigating aboard Polar Bound through McClure Strait while on his fourth Northwest Passage through the ice chocked 2012 Arctic.

In 1986-89 Captain David Cowper did it single-handed on his yacht as part of a circumnavigation of the world and in 1990 was voted Yachtsman of the Year.

In 2009 Cowper completing the Northwest Passage single-handed for the third time. He is also the only person to have done it solo in a single season (in 2009) and the first person to have completed an east to west and west to east single-handed transit.

In 1979-82, Kenichi Horie in 'Mermaid' was the first person to do it solo, but took two years having been frozen in.

So, basic history puts the heat on their stated objective of their journey "through the Canadian Arctic on their quest to document the rapidly dwindling polar ice and to bring awareness to the effects of global warming," a theory that might be on thin ice.

NASA officials say the passage known as the Parry Channel, connecting Baffin Bay to M'Clure Strait is the route through the Arctic "most conducive" to large-scale shipping.

 

Stowaway cats

 

Cat mentioned last week is not the first feline to surreptitiously take to the sea as a stowaway. In April 2011, a cat that vanished from his home in New Zealand was found stowed away in a container in Australia after a voyage of 18 days and more than 2,200 miles.  Likewise in November 2009, a cat was found in a container unloaded in the British port of Felixstow after a after a 3,000 mile journey from Egypt.

 

Notice to Mariners

 

Hay Point pilotage area - Mariners are advised that diving operations will continue at the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal until December 23. The dive team will be operating from the vessels 'MV Shadows' and 'Landing Barge Clam' undertaking clearance of the seabed of debris and the replacement of the cathodic Anode System.

A report of activities and daily position to Hay Point VTS and maintain a listening watch on VHF channels 14 and 16. AUS charts 249, 250 & 823

 

Just give me the facts!

 

"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored," British author Aldous Huxley, "Proper Studies", 1927

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan