Grandest Ocean liner to visit Airlie Beach

Grandest Ocean liner to visit Airlie Beach

 

The most exciting, the grandest, most magnificent ocean liner ever built; Cunard's Queen Mary 2 is due at Airlie Beach on Sunday February 28 on a two-month around the World cruise.
The Airlie Beach visit is the first stop in Australia for the luxury liner and its 3000 passengers, so we should make sure they get a great welcome.
Of course, one of the best ways to do that is to join the Volunteer Ambassador Program has been meeting and greeting cruise ships for some years now with Judi Dunn at the helm.
"Our volunteers are a critical ingredient in the successful experience for the passengers and therefore ensuring the cruise ship companies continue using Airlie Beach as their 'port of call' in the Whitsundays," Judi said.
If you like meeting and greeting people and helping to show off our destination you may contact Judi Dunn 0408 285 915.
What about a charter boat operator taking passengers out to have a closer look? A mate suggests that people would come from around the region to go out and have a turn around the great ship.

 

33rd America's Cup

 

Starting this week, the 33rd America's Cup will be raced for by two giant multihulls. The speeds of these mammoth multihulls are much greater than have ever been seen in the history of the America's Cup before. They are predicted to change the usual boat-against-boat match racing tactics.
The multihull crews have reported speeds over 25 knots in just over ten knots of wind.
The 33rd America's Cup will be held under the strict Deed of Gift rules. It is specified that the match be sailed in yachts 90 ft by 90 ft ,and so the Golden Gate Yacht Club developed their trimaran BOR BMW Oracle Racing 90, now USA 17, whilst the Société Nautique de Genève have opted for a giant catamaran.
The Deed of Gift Match is decided over just three races across two course types. Races 1 and 3 will be contested over a simple upwind-downwind loop totalling 40 miles, whilst Race 2 will be 39 miles long and around an equilateral triangle course comprising a 13-mile beat and two 13 miles reaches.
Among the Challenger and Defender crews, there are many of the best sailors in the world, charged with competing with craft, which have effectively brought a quantum leap in speed and technologies since the 32nd America's Cup.
STOP PRESS: Race one was postponed on Monday due to a lack of wind.

 

Coincidence?

 

Sunday February 14, 2010 marks both Valentine's Day and the beginning of the Chinese Year of the Tiger. Note: Nothing about sailing or golf here.

 

Tracking ships from space

 

Two new receivers will be tested on the International Space Station to help keep track of large ships at sea.
VHF radio signals from a ship's transponder regularly transmit the vessel's identification and location, but this data can only be picked up line-of-sight by other ships or when near land.
To improve the tracking of ships, these signals will be received on the space station to see if it can provide greater real-time tabs on shipping movements.

 

Smidgen of trivia

 

Until recently, no one thought a smidgen was an actual unit of measure. However, kitchen supply stores in North America and elsewhere are now selling sets of "minispoons" in which the smallest spoon is labelled "smidgen."
It is designed to hold exactly 1/2 pinch or 1/32 of a teaspoon, which is roughly 0.005 of a fluid ounce or 0.15 of a millilitre.
Moreover, where did the word 'smidgen' come from? Well apparently, it is a diminutive of "smutch" or "smudge"; it originally meant a small spot.

 

Fitzalan Passage light

 

Mariners are advised that the lighted special mark buoy Fl Y 2.5s in Fitzalan Passage, east of Henning Island, has been reported to be unlit.
Mariners should use caution when in the vicinity. AUS charts 252, 253 & 254.

Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan

Whitsunday Swim to raise awareness of Barrier Reef

Whitsunday Swim to raise awareness of Barrier Reef

 

 Two marathon swimmers, Rob Hutchings and Todd Cameron, have set their sights on swimming the full length of the Great Barrier Reef a distance of 2300km in late 2010.

"I have always dreamed of doing an extreme expedition like climbing Everest, but I'm not a mountain climber. Swimming is my passion and the Great Barrier Reef is my Everest," Rob Hutchings said.

Swimming in tandem, the men will have a support team of kayakers, sailing and semi rigid boats supported by a mother ship. It is anticipated that the Swim will take between 3-4 months.

"Based on current training we anticipate swimming 20-30km per day," says Todd, who has recently travelled from Toronto, Canada to train with Rob in Adelaide.

Swimming off the coast of Adelaide, they have had the opportunity to test out their sponsored Shark Shields Freedom 7 units. Their other concern is marine stingers.

A promotional 14km swim from Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island to Hamilton Island, Queensland is set for the Saturday February 20 to campaign for this epic expedition later in 2010 and will be preceded by a fundraising cocktail party dinner on Friday the 19th at the Coral Sea Resort.

The GBR Swim will be a four-month feat of human persistence and commitment; not only as a physical challenge, but also in sending a message of ocean conservation. It aims to raise awareness and bring about change to the plight of our oceans due to climate change and present facts about the nature of sharks and the need for their protection.

Find Great Barrier Reef Swim on Facebook or gbrswim@yahoo.com.au

 

Off beach 2010

 

Whitsunday Sailing Club Rear Commodore Off Beach Terry Archer Reports on the 2010 racing calendar and club championships.

"Thanks to a fantastic offer from the Mairs Family, I am excited to present to you the 2010 Sail Iceberg Series.

"The series will run from February 21, with races each fortnight, incorporating the Easter Regatta, May Day regatta at Tinaroo and the June Regatta in Townsville, with the last round on June 27, just before the Tasar Nationals.

"First Prize of $1000 has been offered by Sail Iceberg, with $500 second Prize from the Home Loan Specialists, and $250 third prize from Ullman Sails / Airlie Sail and Shade.

"The series will encompass ten rounds, with two drops allowed, and will be a yardstick handicap open to all classes from all clubs, with adjustments for longer courses for bigger boats, so everyone is in with a chance to win the prize.

We will hold a second series later in the year after Hamilton Island race week, from September to December. Details will be developed over the year.

Other big news is that we have been asked to host the Tasar State Titles again in conjunction with the Easter regatta, as well as the International 505 State Titles at the Easter Regatta.

 

Hoax mayday: jail

 

A 25-year-old former West Australian sea rescue volunteer has been ordered to repay more than $54,000 to police and serve six months in prison, after making a false distress call, which prompted a massive sea search.

In Joondalup Magistrate's Court the former sea rescue volunteer, was sentenced for creating a false belief after pleading guilty to making a hoax distress call on October 17 last year.

Using the marine radio, the man claimed that a vessel, Sea Dolphin 2, was sinking 40 nautical miles north of Rottnest and the crew were abandoning the boat.

The man then listened as 30 volunteers and seven boats conducted a two-day search.

Magistrate Martin Flynn said man needed to be made an example of and described his actions as an affront to fundamental strengths in society of helping a stranger and volunteering. He said the bogus call had put the lives of volunteers in danger.

The court was told the defendant had previously been convicted in 2004 of making hoax calls to air traffic controllers and pilots at Perth Airport.

 

Dam poll

 

A poll now being conducted on the Peter Faust Dam website asks, "Would a floating pontoon be an added value to the dam?"

The 'Yes' vote gets a resounding 91% of a Total Vote of 55 dam users.

The dam is currently at 70% capacity.

The Faust Dam Fish Stocking Association Inc. meet on the Last Wednesday of the month at the Proserpine Ex-Services Club at 7.00pm.

 

Nara light out

 

Mariners are advised that the Fl.R.2.5s light on the Port Lateral Mark beacon in approximate position, which marks the entrance into Nara Inlet at Hook Island, has been reported to be unlit. Mariners should use caution in the vicinity. Chart AUS252

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

Teen sailor passes half way mark in South Atlantic

Teen sailor passes half way mark in South Atlantic

 

Queensland teen sailor Jessica Watson has passed both the half way mark and the Falkland Islands in her around the world solo adventure.
Jessica writes "after looking over all the latest charts, I can't help being a bit surprised at how small the South Atlantic seems after the never ending Pacific!
"My quite sunny conditions ended with a bit of a bang, Ella's Pink Lady and I have been having a very interesting time out here.
"The wind was expected to rise to a near gale, but none of the computers or forecasts picked that it would reach the 65 knots that I recorded, before losing the wind instruments in a knockdown!
"So in the middle of all the drama, back at home Mum received just about the worst phone call possible from the Australian Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC), telling her that one of my EPIRBs (emergency signalling devices) had been activated.
"One of the knockdowns had caused the automatic EPIRB mounted under the dodger to turn on without me knowing. Luckily, I called in only a few minutes later before anyone could really start to panic. I was pretty annoyed at the stupid thing for going off and giving everyone such a scare!
"When the wind had finally calmed down, I was treated to a pretty incredible sunset and as I was clearing things up on deck, a couple of dolphins stopped by just as if they were checking that we were all OK."
Jessica has now been sailing for 100 days and is about 1,500 nautical miles ahead of where we thought she would be at this stage of her voyage.

 

Fish Feeding

 

By following some simple responsible park practices, you and your guests can help protect our parks.
Most food fit a human to eat, particularly bread and meat, is generally not suitable for fish and may damage their health. Be aware that feeding fish may result in undesirably aggressive behaviour in some fish and can be dangerous to people in the water.
You need a permit to feed fish as part of your tourism operation and this permit will contain some important requirements about how you go about the activity. These include keeping fish feeding away from people who are in the water, not handfeeding fish. Also, don't feed bread, cooked seafood and processed food to fish - use raw fish or prawns or approved fish pellets.

 

Olympic sailing success

 

Yachting Australia and the Queensland Academy of Sport, supported by Yachting Queensland, are developing Queensland's future Olympic sailing champions with the formation of the Queensland High Performance Sailing Program.
The new program is a major step forward for high performance sailing in Queensland as the Australian Sailing Team heads down the long road to success at the 2012 London Olympic Games and beyond.
The Australian Sailing Team had great success at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games bringing home two Gold and one Silver medals and the formation of the Queensland High Performance Sailing Program is designed to see Queensland athletes add to Australia's sailing success tally at future games.

 

Brampton Island

 

Mariners are advised that the Fl 6 10m 3M light on the western side of Brampton Island has been reported to be unlit. Mariners should use caution when in the vicinity. Charts affected AUS 251 & 824

 

Enjoy the rain

 

"Rain may pour down from the heavens, but if you only hold up a thimble, a thimbleful is all you will receive" Ram Dass

 

Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan

Luxury cruise ship visits Whitsunday islands

 

Luxury cruise ship visits Whitsunday islands

 

Visiting Hamilton Island on Friday this week will be the six-star luxury ship Silver Whisper on an 18-day sailing Sydney to Singapore.

The ultra luxury all-suite ship features diversions such as historian and writer Professor Geoffrey Blainey whose lecture topics focus on Australia's geography, legends, history, heroes and current culture.

For the Art Aficionado Opera director Thomson Smillie will tell a most entertaining story of opera and through its exclusive partnership with Relais & Châteaux, ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises is introducing L'École des Chefs, a new interactive cooking school.

With almost 300 crew and 382 guests, Silver Whisper takes luxury to the next level while maintaining Silversea's trademark intimate ambience.

Passengers will visit Hamilton Island and the Great Barrier Reef during their stay.

 

Fishing event

 

This weekend the Whitsunday Game Fishing Club will hold its annual Sweeties & Squires Tournament. There will be the usual get together at the clubhouse on Friday evening to talk about the fish they will catch and a weigh-in and presentations for the ones that didn't get away on Sunday.

 

Get ready

 

With the first low of the season possibly developing off the north Queensland coast, it is a good time for boaties to get into gear and ensure they have a cyclone plan. Some good advice is available from the Meridien Abel Point Marina with their cyclone procedures available on the website.

 

Mooring checks

 

QPWS rangers will be undertaking mooring maintenance throughout the Whitsundays. The assistance of boaties in keeping mooring areas safe for scuba diving during this period is appreciated.

 

Park Guide out

 

A new edition of the parks visitor Whitsunday islands and Ngaro Sea Trail Visitor Guide with updated information on day-use, camping and walking track facilities has been produced. Copies are available from QPWS office, corner of Mandalay and Shute Harbour Roads, Jubilee Pocket.

 

Kon Tiki Knut dies

 

Knut M. Haugland the last surviving member of the crew that crossed the Pacific Ocean in 1947 on board the balsa wood raft Kon Tiki has died at age 92.

Haugland was a former Norwegian resistance fighter and explorer who was honoured with Norway's highest decoration for military gallantry, the War Cross with sword. Similar honours  were also bestowed upon him by Great Britain and France. 

He joined the Kon Tiki ocean going raft expedition of Norwegian anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl, as one of its radio operators. The Kon-Tiki eventually sailed / drifted 4,900 miles from Peru to Polynesia in 101 days to prove Heyerdahl's theory that ancient mariners may have migrated across ocean stretches.

Despite the tiny radio with an output of only six watts, they managed to contact radio operators in Norway, even sending a telegram to congratulate King Haakon VII on his 75th birthday.

 

Bird Island light

 

Mariners are advised that the south cardinal mark beacon Q(6) + L Fl 15s about 0.5 nautical miles south-east of Bird Island. Langford Reef in the Whitsunday Group has been reported to be unlit. The light beacon has been repositioned south-eastwards to 20 05.790 S - 148 52.590 E, Mariners should use caution in the vicinity. AUS charts affected: 252 & 254

 

Travel is a passion

 

"For us, travel is a passion, and every one of our journeys is a voyage of discovery. Benvenuti a Bordo." Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio, Chairman, Silversea Cruises

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

Centaur discovery an emotional experience

Lest We Forget: Centaur 1943

 

The discovery and positive identification of the Australian Hospital ship 'Centaur' torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in 1943 has been an emotional experience for many and not least for Whitsunday resident Ian Hudson.

Pictures of the sunken ship, its Red Cross still visible, has stirred plenty of emotion.

The Centaur Association's Queensland president, Ian Hudson this week told The Guardian exclusivly, "An extremely emotional day yesterday – I got the first pics at 0750."

"Devastation" and a "mangled mess" were used yesterday to describe Centaur, particularly the aft section of the ship, which is split from the forward section, just behind the main superstructure, and where, on first indication yesterday, was probably where the torpedo struck, rather than further forward as first thought."

"But more pictures in the next two days will reveal much, much more.

"Getting towards the finale, apart from the on and off shore memorial services, of what was Queensland's biggest maritime disaster, and I am suitably humbled for the experience, when I read and see the expressions and heartfelt thanks from relatives and descendants for the eventual finding of Centaur."

"There was one woman who said 'Finally, I know where the gold ring I gave my husband is'. If that doesn't bring a tear to the eye, I don't know what will," Mr Hudson said.

The Centaur was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine off the Queensland coast in 1943. Just 64 of the 332 people onboard survived.

The wreckage lay undiscovered for 67 years until world-renowned shipwreck hunter David Mearns located the Centaur on December 20, 48km east of the southern tip of Moreton Island at a depth of 2,059 metres.

On Sunday, his crew aboard the 'Seahorse Spirit' sent a submarine robot down to capture footage proving beyond doubt that this is her resting place.

Artefacts identified include the Centaur's inscribed bell, a distinctive star on the bow, and a corroded identification number, the Red Cross.

After completing a third mission down to the wreck on Monday, Mr Mearns said a test had shown the memorial plaque would quickly be covered with mud if it were placed on the seabed.

He said he had written to Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett on Monday morning seeking permission to lay the plaque directly on the wreck, which is protected under the Commonwealth's Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976.

"Just shows you that Peter Garrett can make a decision – within 2  hours of our application to place the plaque ON THE SHIP, (probably on or near the bow,) we got it…………It will be placed tonight or tomorrow." Mr Hudson told The Guardian.

The memorial plaque reads: "In memory of shipmates, relatives, colleagues & friends who paid the supreme sacrifice on a mission of mercy, 14 May 1943. 2/3 AHS Centaur Association 2010, Lest We Forget."

  

Pioneer River light

 

Mariners are advised that a port lateral mark No.12 light Fl.R 2.5s has been permanently established in the position of latitude 21°08.644'S, longitude 149°09.254'E in the Pioneer River. The light marks the end of a fishing platform. AUS charts affected: Outside pilotage area

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

 

Jellyfish potential aphrodisiac?

Irukandji jellyfish love you long time

 

It's strongly recommended you don't try this at home, but a jellyfish expert says there's potential for the deadly irukandji to be an aphrodisiac.

Director of the Australian Marine Stinger Advisory service Dr Lisa Gershwin says some male victims have prolonged erections after being stung.

She says funding for research has been limited, but the side effects could justify further study.

"I strongly recommend against using an irukandji to prepare for a date," she says.

"I don't think that is appropriate please but I do think that the research should be there to isolate that particular component that's causing that particular reaction."

A great subject for funding?

 

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Soggy Santa

 

A few years ago now, Santa arrived at the Whitsunday Sailing Club for the offbeach kids break-up party and created quite a splash.
Santa made a great entrance into the boat harbour aboard the club speedboat, pulled up to the beach with his bag of goodies on his shoulder and Ho! Ho! Ho!-in for all he was worth.
Perhaps the boat nudged the beach. Perhaps the gunwale rail was slippery with spray from the hight speed manoeuvres. Perhaps he had a small libation to steady the nerves before fronting a hoard of cheeky sailor kids.
Betwixt the boat and the beach there is the sea, yes, the soggy Santa slipped into the drink much to the merriment of all.
Nobody seems to remember who that Santa was although the occasion will not leave the memory.

 

Croc in marina

 

OK, we do have salt-water crocodiles and it is only a matter of time before a photo of the croc in Abel Point Marina is taken say marina workers.

 

Shark

 

Although Australia continues to have a bad reputation concerning the threat of shark attacks to swimmers, the statistics do not support these claims. In the last 50 years, there have been 53 human fatalities (1.06 per year) in Australian waters from shark attack. Some years there are no fatalities recorded, other years there have been up to three in a year, but the average remains around one per year. Yet each year 100,000s of swimmer-days take place on our beaches, harbours and rivers and the number is increasing with both increasing population and tourism.

 

The Australian Shark Attack File is coordinated at Taronga Zoo and is associated with the International Shark Attack File managed by the American Elasmobranch Society.

 

A winner

 

From a dusty shed on a cane farm in Calen to TV studios, fame, and the glitz and glamour of Sydney, Colin Chamberlain has been on a wild ride of late.
He has invented a boat propeller that won't sever limbs or cause injury to marine life, something modern day propellers fail to achieve.
The invention not only sounds good but also after winning the best invention gong on ABC TV show - The New Inventors, the patented idea could potentially make the former Calen resident a multi-millionaire.

 

Brampton Island sold

 

A private investor has brought the Brampton Island resort for $5.9 million.
Australia's biggest property trust the GPT Group announced the sale this week, with settlement expected to be finalised in February.
GPT chief executive Michael Cameron says the sale reflects a shift from the volatile tourism sector and a refocussing on retail, office and industrial properties.
Brampton Island is an island mostly designated as National Park in the Cumberland Group, off shore from Mackay south of the Whitsunday Islands within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
The Ayers Rock Resort is now GPT's only tourism asset.

 

Marine notice

 

A chart update for AUS252 is available showing the infrastructure; pipeline routes in Dent Passage between Hamilton Island and Dent Island. Mariners need be aware of this and the restrictions on anchoring in the passage.
The Australian Hydrographic Service advises that the plan may be accessed and printed from their website http://www.hydro.gov.au/

 

"Open your presents at Christmastime but be thankful year round for the gifts you receive" 

 

Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan

 

 

Plastiki on voyage to Great Barrier Reef

Unique message in a bottle

 

We have all heard of a ship in a bottle, but what about a ship made of bottles.

In the future, we could sail the seas in a yacht made entirely of recycled plastic bottles.

 This is exactly what environmental storyteller David de Rothschild and his intrepid crew of scientists, sailors and adventurers are doing on the Plastiki, an ocean going one-of-a-kind 60-foot catamaran on a mission to beat waste.

Following the launch in California, Plastiki will sail across the Pacific to Australia.

It is hoped that the plastic fantastic will provide support for another awareness-rasing event, The Great Barrier Reef Swim, a record-breaking ultra-marathon ocean swim of 2300 kilometres calling attention to ocean conservation and awareness.

Two open water swimmers Rob Hutchings and Todd Cameron plan to embark on the world's first swim of the entire length of Australia's Great Barrier Reef in 2010.

 

Sea Trail tracks open

 

From this week rangers welcome visitors to explore the new walking tracks constructed on Hook, Whitsunday and South Molle Islands as part of the new Whitsunday Ngaro Sea Trail. An official launch in 2010 will complete the two-year project, which has seen the investment of more than $1 million into our islands walking tracks. Information about the walks can be found online at www.derm.qld.gov.au or collect a visitor guide from QPWS Airlie Beach.

 

Lucky, Not Lonely!

 

"For the first time in over two weeks I saw something man made other than Ella's Pink Lady. It was a small white piece of plastic that floated by this morning while we were becalmed for a short while. Not all that exciting, but it made me think about just how completely in the middle of nowhere I really am and about how every mile is taking us further into a pretty much empty stretch of ocean" writes teenage sailor Jessica Watson.

Jessica's position is East of New Zealand and SW of Pitcairn island heading across the south Pacific to Cape Horn and after sixty days at sea she has sailed over 6,000 miles on her voyage around the world.

 

There be monsters

 

Monsters are found in Queensland, Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin said this week.

Those keen fishers who want to land a metre long monster barramundi should be dropping a line in one of Queensland dams.

"The easiest way to catch one of these monster barramundi is by fishing in one of the State's dams," the Minister said.

"Stocked barramundi in Queensland reach the golden length of one metre in five years compared with 10 years for wild fish.

"To reach the legal minimum size of 58cm* stocked fish take just two years as opposed to four years for wild caught barra.

A recent study found barramundi released into freshwater dams reached the 'magic metre' twice as quickly as wild barramundi.

Mr Mulherin said the study used data from more than 120,000 tagged fish.

"The study was developed with the help of anglers through fish tag collection and monitoring research conducted since 1987," Mr Mulherin said.

 

Make my day

 

"I don't believe in pessimism. If something doesn't come up the way you want, forge ahead. If you think it's going to rain, it will,"  - Clint Eastwood

 

Fair winds to Ye!

 

Cap'n Dan

The World comes to Airlie Beach

The World comes to Airlie Beach

 

Arriving in Airlie Beach this Sunday, The World is a cruise ship serving as a residential community owned by its residents. The residents, from about 40 different countries, live on board as the ship slowly circumnavigates the globe. Some residents live onboard full time while others visit their floating home periodically throughout the year.

The World flies a Bahamas flag and has a gross tonnage of 43,524 tons. The vessel is 644 feet (196m) long, 98 feet (30m) wide, and has a 22-foot (6.7m) draft, 12 decks, and a maximum speed of 18.5 knots (34.3 km/h). The crew numbers 250.

The ship has 165 residential units (106 apartments, 19 studio apartments, and 40 studios), all owned by the ship's residents. The ship carries between 100 and 300 residents and their guests.

The World was the idea of Knut U. Kloster Jr., whose family had a long history in the cruise ship industry. The ship was built in Rissa, Norway and launched in March 2002.

In October 2003, the residents of the vessel purchased The World. ResidenSea in Miramar, Florida, remained the management company responsible for operations and administration of the ship. The residents, through their elected board of directors and a network of committees, provide guidance to the management about the ship's itinerary, finances and lifestyle.

 

2011 Around Australia

 

The 2011 'Around Australia Ocean Race and Ocean Rally' feature a multi-stop anti-clockwise circumnavigation of Australia's coastline. At last count this week, 211 yachts have taken up Race or Rally.

"Australia is the only country in the world that has a continuous coastline you can freely sail around. From the tropical north to the rigours of the southern ocean, it has a magnificent coastline. Rather than dreaming about it, sailors can now do it in an organised event." Bob Williams, CEO of Ocean Events said.

The Race will take a yacht capable of averaging 130 NM per 24-hours at sea around 110 days to complete the circumnavigation including stopovers.

The Rally is for the experienced ocean going cruising yacht owner and is based around the considered 'prime times' to be circumnavigating Australia. There are many excellent Rally events that take place around the Australia coastline and where practical the 'Around Australia Ocean Rally' will incorporate many of these excellent rallies.

Participants can select where on the Coastline of Australia they start and finish in The Race or Rally.

 

The Reef

 

A controversial $3.5 million Australian-made film, 'The Reef' tells the story five young travellers who are sailing in tropical waters when their yacht sinks, stranding them in open ocean to be harassed by a Great White shark, a species seldom seen on the Great Barrier Reef.

The Association of Marine Park Operators is worried the film would turn off foreign visitors who could not distinguish fact from fiction.

Shark attacks are not the reef experience most tourists seek; indeed the shark footage had to be filmed in South Australia, as there aren't any up here.

Producer of 'The Reef' Michael Robertson says, "I think in most cases people that go to watch these films understand that the horror genre is part of fantastic cinema and the aim of these films is to scare an audience."

And hey, even after 35 years many still hum the theme of 'Jaws' when someone is entering the water.

The Reef is set for release in late 2010.

 

Navigation hazard

 

Mariners are advised that a steel pile is located in Shute Bay at position latitude 20° 17.524' S, longitude 148° 46.903' E and a timber pile is located in position latitude 20° 17.498' S, longitude 148° 46.898' E on the northern shoreline of Shute Bay. These piles could be covered at high tide and should be considered hazards to navigation at those times. Mariners should navigate with caution when operating in the vicinity. AUS charts 252 & 253

 

That's life

 

"Living is strife and torment, disappointment and love and sacrifice, golden sunsets and black storms," observed actor Sir Laurence Olivier

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

 

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

Australian Radio Alphabet

Australian Radio Alphabet

 

 The Americans have forced their radio alphabet on the rest of the world
 but we prefer this Aussie radio alphabet, it comes courtesy of ALEX vk2fpol;

 

 A - AUSSIE
 B - BARBIE
 C - CARTON
 D - DUNNY
 E - ESKY
 F - FOOTBALL
 G - GROGSHOP
 H - HOTEL
 I - IDIOT
 J - JACKAROO
 K - "K"
 L - LONGNECK
 M - MEAT PIE
 N - NUMBSKULL
 O - OCKER
 P - PINCH
 Q - QUID
 R - RIGHT OH
 S - SICKY
 T - TROOPY
 U - U-TURN
 V - VEG OUT
 W - WEEKEND
 X - XXXX
 Y - YABBIE
 Z - ZILLIONS

 

 

Ambassadors meet and greet cruise ships

Ambassadors meet and greet cruise ships

 

With ever-increasing visits by cruise ships to Whitsunday, our cruise ship volunteer ambassadors need a hand.

The Volunteer Ambassador Program has been meeting and greeting for some years now with Judi Dunn at the helm and they need some help.

"Great news!" writes Judi.

"Yet another cruise ship added to our schedule in December.

"We have just been advised the residential cruise ship, The World, will be visiting Airlie Beach on Sunday December 13.

"The World is an apartment complex on water. You purchase your own apartment and permanently live onboard, continually travelling the world. There are 165 apartments, catering for 300-400 residents and their guests.

"This of course gives us six ships within 12 days in December, so our volunteer

Ambassadors will need extra help to keep up their enthusiasm and good spirits.

"Our volunteers are a critical ingredient in the successful experience for the passengers and therefore ensuring the cruise ship companies continue using Airlie Beach as their 'port of call' in the Whitsundays," Judi added.

If you like meeting and greeting people and helping to show off our destination you may contact Judi Dunn 0408 285 915.

 

Teenage adventurer

 

Teenage adventurer 16-year-old Queenslander Jessica Watson has almost reached the equator.

Jessica is attempting to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe non-stop and unassisted; Jessica left Sydney on October 18 to embark on her 38,000km trip and has passed the 2500 nautical mile mark.

"Progress had been a little on and off over the last few days". Jessica writes, "No wind."

"This afternoon (Monday) was pretty cool, a pod of dolphins spent a couple of hours hanging around and I had a great time sitting in the shade of the sails on the bow, feet dangling over the side (and yes clipped on!!) watching them play in clear water. I'm not sure what kind they were (small and completely grey) but they hung around for ages, so they can't have thought my music was too bad! I loved the way the dolphins would play around riding and shooting along the swell and can only imagine how much fun they must have in a big sea."

 

Reef record swim

 

Two swimmers want to raise awareness of ocean conservation and aim to set a new record in open water swimming next year.

The two swimmers Rob Hutchings and Todd Cameron will embark on the world's first swim of the entire length of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. This will be a record ultra-marathon ocean swim of 2300 kilometres. They will be calling attention to ocean conservation and awareness.

In the first week since the launch of the Facebook page 'Great Barrier Reef Swim', over 300 members had signed on.

The swim will highlight the GBR and show it to be generally in good health. The organisers would like to hear from boating people who would consider helping out with their time, experience and vessels.

 

Oil spill?

 

Following a report of an oil spill at Shute Harbour, fully geared-up officers from Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) arrived to inspect the unknown offensive and possibly dangerous material at the waters' edge.

The officers would not have noticed the smell, they being enclosed in their self-contained oxygen breathing apparatus.

The smell was that of the naturally occurring oceanic cyanobacterium Trichodesmium commonly known as 'sea sawdust' and often mistakenly called 'coral spawn'.

Thankfully the smelly slick, though often confused with oil spills, wasn't.

 

Notice to Mariners

 

The Australian Hydrographic Service advises a chart update for the Historic wreck on Carlisle Island. Chart AUS824 insert stranded wreck, with magenta legend Historic Wk 20 46.730 S 149 16.620 E.

The Howard Smith Ltd iron steamship 'Geelong' 432 gross tons, built 1856; registered Melbourne; On the Sydney - Queensland ports service was at anchor off Carlisle island when run ashore, in a cyclonic gale, to save life, 17th February 1888. Two crewmen perished.

 

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 adventurer Jessica Watson

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

America's Cup for Whitsunday?

America's Cup for Whitsunday?

 

With America's Cup defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland suggesting holding next year's event in Queensland, perhaps Whitsunday should be put forward to host the world's most iconic yacht race.

While trying to resolve a legal battle with American Challenger BMW Oracle Racing it emerged the Swiss were happy to move the event to the east coast of Australia.

The American challenger, Oracle, had previously challenged the Swiss choice of the Persian Gulf, on safety grounds.

However, it is unlikely Whitsunday could host the international event, as it does not yet have sufficient facilities required despite boasting some of the best waters in the world for yacht racing at Edgecombe Bay, Bowen or Pioneer Bay at Airlie Beach.

Legendary Australia II skipper John Bertrand has tipped Southport as the location in Queensland to probably host the event, although the Swiss team has not revealed its preferred location.

Other than Queensland, Valencia in Spain is the only venue mentioned to host the America's Cup racing.

 

Remembrance Day

 

Originally called Armistice Day, this day commemorated the end of the hostilities for the Great War (World War I), the signing of the armistice, which occurred on 11 November 1918 - the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Armistice Day was observed by the Allies as a way of remembering those who died, especially soldiers with 'no known grave'.

Lest we forget

 

Fishing closure

 

The final Coral reef fin fish closure for 2009 is on (or is it off?) this Saturday November 14 until Wednesday November 18.

There is no Christmas closure this year (Yea!) the next being October 5 to 9 2010.

 

2011 Around Australia race and rally

 

The 2011 'Around Australia Ocean Race and Ocean Rally' feature a multi-stop anti-clockwise circumnavigation of Australia's coastline. The Race and Rally events were launched late June 2009. As at 25 September 2009, 164 yachts have taken up Race or Rally (Race 54, Rally 110).

"Australia is the only country in the world that has a continuous coastline you can freely sail around. From the tropical north to the rigours of the southern ocean, it has a magnificent coastline. Rather than dreaming about it, sailors can now do it in an organised event." Bob Williams, CEO of Ocean Events said

The Race will take a yacht capable of averaging 130 NM per 24hrs at sea around 110 days to complete the circumnavigation including stopovers.

The Rally is for the experienced ocean going cruising yacht owner and is based around the considered 'prime times' to be circumnavigating Australia. There are many excellent Rally events that take place around the Australia coastline and where practical the 'Around Australia Ocean Rally' will incorporate many of these excellent rallies.

Participants can select where on the Coastline of Australia they start and finish in The Race or Rally.

 

Marine radio call

 

Responding to concerns about declining standards in the use of VHF marine radio and compliance with the requirement to hold an operators' certificate of proficiency, the Australian Communications and Media Authority has released a discussion paper about regulatory arrangements for VHF marine radios used by recreational boat operators.

The discussion paper invites comment from marine radio users about safety and the use of VHF radio by recreational boaters and follows concerns expressed by the National Marine Safety Committee and representatives of the maritime community.

The ACMA is interested in hearing all views across the spectrum of interested parties - from individuals who operate marine radio on a recreational basis, to marine industry representatives and regulatory bodies throughout Australia.

The close of submissions for this paper is Friday, December 18.

 

Rattlesnake Island

 

Mariners are advised that military units will be conducting live firing activities between 0800 and 1400 hours this Friday, November 13. The active area is within a five (5) nautical mile (approximately 9260 metres) radius of

Rattlesnake Island, and will not exceed a height of 22000 feet above sea level.

Mariners are warned to keep well clear of this area throughout the above times.

AUS charts 256 and 827.

  

"The wise man in the storm prays to God, not for safety from danger, but for deliverance from fear. It is the storm within that endangers him, not the storm without" Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

 

NQ Junior Championship Regatta in Bowen

NQ Junior Championship Regatta in Bowen this weekend

 

Off beach sailors will converge on Bowen this weekend with junior class to the fore and some assistance from others would be appreciated.

Event organiser Jeremy Cooper told The Guardian "We hope to attract boats other than Sabots to this regatta, and look forward particularly to meeting sailors from the Open BIC, and other fleets."

"For Sabot families, the event will incorporate the AGM of NQ Sabot Association, and selection trials for the 2009-2010 National competition to be held in Gosford over the Christmas-New Year holiday.

Queensland's first Sabot sailor David Steen will be on hand to present the trophies.

"We look forward to seeing as many junior sailors as possible. Registration will open and close on October 31; however, an early indication of numbers would be appreciated, so that division prizes may be obtained. Further information 0429315939 or the Sabot website at http://sites.google.com/site/nqsabot/

 

Ambassadors meet and greet

 

With ever-increasing visits by cruise ships to Whitsunday - four ships in four days scheduled for early December - our cruise ship volunteer ambassadors need a hand.

The Volunteer Ambassador Program has been meeting and greeting for some years now with Judi Dunn at the helm and they need some help.

Judi just sent an updated program that shows visits by new ships such as the Holland America Line MS Volendam whose first visit is on December 3.

MS Volendam will cruise around Australia and New Zealand before returning to cruise Alaska's Inside Passage with Ports of Call at Hong Kong, Shanghai returning to Vancouver for the northern summer season.

The most exciting, the grandest, most magnificent ocean liner ever built; Cunard's Queen Mary 2 is due here on Sunday February 28 on a two-month cruise from New York with about 3000 passengers. She will be a sight to see and it would be good if a charter operator took sightseers out for a turn or two around her.

Royal Caribbean Rhapsody of the Seas will visit six times with 2435 passengers.

So add those new visitors to the usual Princesses, Suns, Dawns and Jewels and you can see that our volunteers could really use some friendly help. If you like meeting and greeting people and helping to show off our destination you may contact Judi Dunn 0408 285 915.

 

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.

 

Let's dance!

 

"Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain"

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan