Paddling Through History Festival success
The Paddling Through History Festival was busy for organisers and participants at the weekend.
There were outrigger and kayaker activities on the water, a bush walk on South Molle and a reception and entertainment on Daydream Island. Shingley Beach Resort conference centre was an excellent choice for the celebrity speakers and historic films while Airlie Beach hosted the opening and closing ceremonies featuring a wide variety of music, dancers and speakers right on the beach. The Whitsunday All Over Cruises artistic fireworks on Sunday night were a fine finale.
Help came from all over with Volunteer Marine Rescue Whitsunday providing VMR1 as support vessel for the paddling and as a platform for the Channel Seven news crew. The sailing club gets thanks for the use of the grounds for the fireworks and the use of the tractor and a boat. The police, ambulance and fire service workers didn't have to do anything, so they could relax and enjoy the show. The weather held for a perfect, though warm September weekend.
The Paddling Through History Association thanks everyone who pitched in and sponsored the event. This year was the first time the annul event was focused on the mainland and the committee feels that allowed it to be more accessible and affordable to more people in the community.
Friday, September 27, 2002
Boat searched: No trace of three sailors
Police divers failed to find the three missing sailors under the hull of the stricken racing yacht Excalibur, now drifting about 170km off Newcastle, NSW.
A police spokesman said two water police vessels - Alert and Fearless - left Nelson Bay to rendezvous with Excalibur. He said weather conditions had improved but there was a 1. 5m to 2m swell. Water Police launched a RIB before reaching the yacht to make a full assessment.
After attaching air bags to the vessel as a safety precaution, two Police divers entered the hull where no trace of the bodies of the three missing sailors were found. Conditions prevented a search of the bow area because of the volume of sails and equipment floating there.
The 15.2 metre Lyons Extrem racing yacht Excalibur capsized off Port Stephens on Monday night after the yacht's keel snapped off. Authorities believe the boat had hit a semi-submerged object while returning from racing in the Whitsundays.
Two sailors, Brian McDermott and John Rogers, both wearing life jackets were on deck, wearing safety tethers at the time of the capsize. They were able to cut their tethers and escape to the surface. They survived for more than six hours in difficult conditions with 3m waves and 35-40 knot winds tethered together in the water.
Rogers activated his personal EPIRB and Search and Rescue aircraft saw the blue strobe light being held aloft by McDermott. They were rescued from the water by the 50,000 tonne Swiss bulk carrier Curia.
The body of a third crewmember, Christopher Heyes, 51, was found on Tuesday morning floating near the overturned hull.
Police divers risked their lives later that day to scramble on to the upturned hull of Excalibur and knocked to see if anyone was trapped inside in an airlock. But there was no reply.
The air and sea search was suspended on Wednesday because of the treacherous conditions and a final intensive search was made on Thursday morning before the search was finally abandoned today.
It was not until Saturday morning that the big seas had abated giving divers a safer chance in the search for three missing crew members.
Peter McLoyd, 51, Tracey Luke, 32, and Anne Marie Pope, 30, all from Melbourne were below decks when the capsize took place and water started flooding in the companionway.
A more complete search of the vessel is expected to be made when it is raised from the water by a salvage team in the next few days.
Surveys to protect dugongs
A boat ramp survey of recreational boaters will be held this week by the Hinchinbrook Local Marine Advisory Committee (HLMAC), in partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
The survey is part of a monitoring program designed to provide information on the effectiveness of voluntary measures in place to protect dugongs.
Voluntary vessel transit lanes are a key strategy for protecting Dugongs in Hinchinbrook Channel and Missionary Bay.
According to HLMAC, Chair Bill Whiteman, the survey sought to obtain information from recreational users about the distance they travel to make use of the Hinchinbrook area and the types of activities they undertake in the Hinchinbrook Channel and associated waters.
"The survey is also designed to provide information about the effectiveness of recent information campaigns to inform people about management strategies GBRMPA and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service have developed with HLMAC to reduce impact on dugong from watercraft," Mr Whiteman said.
Rock light unlit
Mariners are advised that the Fl(2)5s Isolated Danger Mark light in approximate position Latitude 19°46.2'S, Longitude 148°21.5'E which marks Nares Rock has been reported to be unlit. Mariners should use caution in the vicinity. Charts affected: AUS 371, 825, 826
"Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs."
-Henry Ford
Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan
Police divers failed to find the three missing sailors under the hull of the stricken racing yacht Excalibur, now drifting about 170km off Newcastle, NSW.
A police spokesman said two water police vessels - Alert and Fearless - left Nelson Bay to rendezvous with Excalibur. He said weather conditions had improved but there was a 1. 5m to 2m swell. Water Police launched a RIB before reaching the yacht to make a full assessment.
After attaching air bags to the vessel as a safety precaution, two Police divers entered the hull where no trace of the bodies of the three missing sailors were found. Conditions prevented a search of the bow area because of the volume of sails and equipment floating there.
The 15.2 metre Lyons Extrem racing yacht Excalibur capsized off Port Stephens on Monday night after the yacht's keel snapped off. Authorities believe the boat had hit a semi-submerged object while returning from racing in the Whitsundays.
Two sailors, Brian McDermott and John Rogers, both wearing life jackets were on deck, wearing safety tethers at the time of the capsize. They were able to cut their tethers and escape to the surface. They survived for more than six hours in difficult conditions with 3m waves and 35-40 knot winds tethered together in the water.
Rogers activated his personal EPIRB and Search and Rescue aircraft saw the blue strobe light being held aloft by McDermott. They were rescued from the water by the 50,000 tonne Swiss bulk carrier Curia.
The body of a third crewmember, Christopher Heyes, 51, was found on Tuesday morning floating near the overturned hull.
Police divers risked their lives later that day to scramble on to the upturned hull of Excalibur and knocked to see if anyone was trapped inside in an airlock. But there was no reply.
The air and sea search was suspended on Wednesday because of the treacherous conditions and a final intensive search was made on Thursday morning before the search was finally abandoned today.
It was not until Saturday morning that the big seas had abated giving divers a safer chance in the search for three missing crew members.
Peter McLoyd, 51, Tracey Luke, 32, and Anne Marie Pope, 30, all from Melbourne were below decks when the capsize took place and water started flooding in the companionway.
A more complete search of the vessel is expected to be made when it is raised from the water by a salvage team in the next few days.
Surveys to protect dugongs
A boat ramp survey of recreational boaters will be held this week by the Hinchinbrook Local Marine Advisory Committee (HLMAC), in partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
The survey is part of a monitoring program designed to provide information on the effectiveness of voluntary measures in place to protect dugongs.
Voluntary vessel transit lanes are a key strategy for protecting Dugongs in Hinchinbrook Channel and Missionary Bay.
According to HLMAC, Chair Bill Whiteman, the survey sought to obtain information from recreational users about the distance they travel to make use of the Hinchinbrook area and the types of activities they undertake in the Hinchinbrook Channel and associated waters.
"The survey is also designed to provide information about the effectiveness of recent information campaigns to inform people about management strategies GBRMPA and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service have developed with HLMAC to reduce impact on dugong from watercraft," Mr Whiteman said.
Rock light unlit
Mariners are advised that the Fl(2)5s Isolated Danger Mark light in approximate position Latitude 19°46.2'S, Longitude 148°21.5'E which marks Nares Rock has been reported to be unlit. Mariners should use caution in the vicinity. Charts affected: AUS 371, 825, 826
"Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs."
-Henry Ford
Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan
Tuesday, September 24, 2002
Two survivors in yacht tragedy
Two Melbourne sailors are the only survivors so far of a yacht that capsized off the north coast of New South Wales on Monday night while on a delivery voyage from the Whitsundays.
The sailors, reported to be life long friends, kept each other awake for six hours until they were pulled from the cold water. They owe their lives to an emergency beacon and their will to survive.
The two men were returning home from the Whitsundays with their four crew mates, two men and two women - all from the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron.
Last night, one man was confirmed dead and the other three sailors were missing, feared drowned.
"The emergency beacon, without any question was what saved their lives," said Ben Mitchell, of Australian Search and Rescue.
A rescue helicopter was unable to get close enough in the conditions to winch the survivors to safety. It was not until 4am that a nearby Swiss merchant ship, the Curia, got close enough to pick them up. It took the ship 10 attempts to get them on board in the stormy weather conditions.
Investigators suspect the yacht hit a semi-submerged object, a whale or a shipping container. The search for the missing sailors began at first light 42 nautical miles from Port Stephens. The body of a male sailor was found floating near the hull soon after.
Yesterday, Melbourne's yachting community expressed shock at the tragic accident. The boat had been returning to Victoria after competing in several sailing regattas in Queensland.
Excalibur, a 50-foot aluminium yacht, which complied with all safety requirements, was launched in July and was undergoing its first racing campaign before entry in the Sydney to Hobart later this year.
Paddling Through History
This weekend will be a busy one with the annual Paddling Through History Festival starting Friday evening on the Airlie waterfront at sunset.
The festival, sponsored by Whitsunday All Over Cruises and Whitsunday Reef Adventures celebrates the maritime culture of the Whitsundays and respect for the multicultural makeup of the region.
When Cook sailed through the area, he saw canoes amongst the islands. These days the Whitsunday Islands as he called them, are alive with watercraft of all kinds and is the focus of the modern popular outrigger culture. Seventy crews attended the Hamilton Island outrigger regatta this year.
If you would like to have a close look at - or even a ride in - an outrigger canoe come down to the Lions Club Airlie Beach Markets Multi-cultural Mardi Gras from 8.30 am on Saturday morning. Paddlers from Outrigger Whitsunday will attend an Aboriginal Canoe Blessing Ceremony at 9 am and display their canoes before heading to Daydream Island Resort and Spa for lunch.
A bushwalk will take about two hours on South Molle Island Saturday morning with traditional owners and the Whitsunday Volunteers. A special event & special price - book with Whitsunday All Over Cruises 4946 6900.
The Sunset Super Auction sponsored by Whitsunday Rent a Yacht on Saturday at the Whitsunday Sailing Club from 6 pm will have something for locals and tourists alike with a wide range of Whitsunday items up for auction by Christie Leet.
On Sunday at sunset the Airlie waterfront will come alive when the Whitsunday All Over Cruises Sunset Fire Ceremony begins on the beach stage.
Music is by award winning Jabaru sponsored by Woodman's Mitre 10. Featuring Karen Dorante of ABC Radio as MC and joined by guest speakers anthropologist Dr Bryce Barker & Ngaro Elder Irene Butterworth, Jan Jarratt MP - Member for Whitsunday representing the Queensland Premier Peter Beattie and Queensland Events Regional Development Program.
The whole family will enjoy the fluorescent outriggers on the water for the exciting Whitsunday All Over/Whitsunday Reef Adventures artistic fireworks feature.
A photographic competition focusing on the festival has $2,000 in prizes with entry forms available from Tropix in Airlie Beach.
All at sea?
The broad-minded vicar was invited by the broad-minded headmistress to talk to her older girls about religion and sex. Not wishing to compromise either his diary or his less tolerant wife, he entered the engagement as "Talk to girls about sailing".
A day or so after his talk the headmistress encountered the vicar's wife.
"So very good of your husband to talk to my girls the other evening. He was quite splendid and so helpful."
"I can't imagine what he knows about it," replied the vicar's wife, "he's only done it twice, and the first time he was seasick and on the second occasion his hat blew off."
Discrimination strikes
Without worrying whether lightning strikes twice, men are hit much more often then women. The percentage of men hit by lightning is calculated to be 83 per cent.
Light replaced
The lighted Port Lateral Mark buoy Fl.R.5s that marks Slade Rock has been replaced in position. Charts affected: AUS 249, 250
"The world is full of willing people; some willing to work, the rest willing to let them."
-Robert Frost
Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan
Saturday, September 14, 2002
Tragic start to summer boating season
With the loss of four people in two boating accidents last weekend as the summer boating season gets underway, the Boating Industry Association (BIA) is calling on boat operators to place a greater focus on the basics of boating safety.
Two Victorian men, aged 54 and 62, were seen leaving a beach in worsening weather on Friday. Their upturned boat was found on Chinaman's Long Beach. Police received reports of a flare being sighted off shore.
Another police search for a missing man after a speedboat accident that left one man dead at Lake Eildon, north-east of Melbourne. Two men were thrown from the speedboat, and witnesses raised the alarm as the men disappeared.
"This is the worst start on record to the beginning of the summer boating season!" The BIA's CEO, Mr Lindsay Grenfell said.
"Sadly four people have been lost because boat operators may have put to sea in craft unsuitable for the forecast conditions or their boat may have needed equipment maintenance. People in small boats should wear a lifejackets and despite boat operators being required to get a licence for the first time for the second part of this season effective from February 1 2003 and numerous practical boating courses being offered, it appears that in at least two cases the best safety practises are clearly not being applied."
It is recommended that before departing on a boating trip and when out on the water weather forecasts should be monitored and acted on. The BIA recommends that boat operators should check the weather conditions and have their vessel inspected and serviced by an expert.
Cold fact
The average iceberg might weigh twenty million tons. Now, if you put that much ice in drinks, how much booze would you need?
What gear?
Cruising sailors asked recently which electronic instrument would they rank as the most important for cruising. They chose the following: 6% Radar; 38% Depth sounder; 48% GPS; 4% Wind speed and direction gauge and 4% log for boat speed. Total sample: 1541
Gallipoli Yacht Rally 2003
A yacht rally along the Aegean Coast of Turkey to end in Anzac Cove for Anzac Day. The rally in chartered yachts is off the main tourist trail and the ports of call offer a special opportunity to visit unique historical sites and experience Turkish culture, hospitality and cuisine. The Anzac Day Dawn Service and the Australian Commemorative Service at Lone Pine will be followed by overland transportation to Istanbul for a two-night stopover, followed by an optional tour to Cappadochia in Central Anatolia. Non sailing partners can follow the route by air-conditioned coach. www.marinerboating.com.au
Writing Competition
Founder of Boating OZ and former Whitsunday resident Kathy McKenzie, is conducting a writing competition to encourage budding boating writers.
'We often receive stories from people about their experiences on a boat which are informative or funny and very personal. I would like to encourage these writers and reward them for it,' said Kathy.
" I am inviting readers to enter our Writing Competition sponsored by Boat Books Australia. I would like to encourage these writers and reward them for it. We want to hear from serious racers, Olympic campaigners, cruisers and anyone who just likes messing around in boats, whether power or sail."
The first competition closes on November 15 with prizes awarded by both a judging panel and Boating OZ readers. Boat Books Australia is sponsoring the competition with $300 of prizes.
Conditions of Entry are a limit of 1,500 words of a past or recent anecdotal story that is boating related. Submit a 60-80-word summary of your story. No references to commercial enterprises. Must be original unpublished work. Entries will be published on www.BoatingOZ.com.au and if it is a Whitsunday story, the Guardian.
There are hundreds of dollars of prizes you can win just by putting pen to paper.
Sailing Club AGM this Sunday
This Sunday morning at 10 am members of the Whitsunday Sailing Club will meet at the clubhouse for their AGM.
There will be the usual reports and elections and news about the proposed Port of Airlie marina development is expected.
Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan
Friday, September 06, 2002
Fun Race physics lesson for sailors
Fun Race skippers gave the world a physics lesson on Saturday to sail, on average, faster than the 6 to 8 knot wind during the annual Great Whitsunday Fun Race. Entries from Germany, China, Italy, New Zealand and around Australia were given a fair flogging for the rum prizes by heaps of local knowledge aboard the fleet of about 100 yachts.
While the maxi yacht fleet roared around the Pioneer Bay course, several smaller boats with considerable local experience aboard gave them a run for their money. Most yachts had a combination of speed and form with lots of experts and great white pointers on deck to enjoy the fine weather and light sea breeze.
Equipped with the infamous un-faired spotted gum 'secret weapon' rudder under the water, Craig Piccinelli and the crew of Wobbly Boot turned in an almost magical performance. Dubbed the mini-maxi chaser, the Whitsunday crew is reported to have averaged 7.65 knots on all points of the course.
Local Brian Gills drove the high performance Sydney 38 Hidden Agenda at an unbelievable reported average of 8.06 knots to win the Division 2 class.
There was plenty of fun on the water with participants and observer craft cranking up their fire hoses to dampen down the opposition in the bright sunshine. David Edge's Union Star is one formidable vessel when it's looming alongside, pump running. Schooner Atlanta proved that her pump could shift quite a lot of seawater and her crew did not lack the will or skill to gain the weather gauge to rain down on wet t-shirts, if worn.
Many local traders said they were fairly busy and that the weekend takings were up.
There is probably a report about drunkenness somewhere in the paper, but it seemed that everyone managed to have a good time and will no doubt do it all again next year.
Wetlands watch
Last weekend five horses, 14 people and a dog staged a protest at Bedford's Paddock near Mackay. They were opposed to the Mackay Port Authority's plans to fill and destroy 70 hectares of wetlands.
"Despite the MPA's suggestion that this is only one of several options for dredge spoil disposal, we believe that it is this wetland they have targeted for destruction," said Ian Sutton, spokesperson for MacWATCH a community group formed to fight for our coastal environment.
"It would be an act of extreme environmental vandalism, when they already have enough land."
"Motorists gave their support by honking and waving" Mr Sutton said.
On the beach . . .
The Minister for Defence Robert Hill was unable to tell the Senate whether the government knew about the US submarine 1km off the Gold Coast last weekend, or whether effective safety measures were in place.
Senator Hill said that he would not disclose details of the location or number of nuclear vessels close to Australia's coastline, nor would he comment on inadequacies in safety contingencies required in the event of an accident.
Senator Kerry Nettle asked the minister; ". whether he was aware of the movements of the USS La Jolla off the Gold Coast this weekend? Movements that led to a nuclear powered vessel surfacing just 1km of the populated coastline. Can the minister explain the current safety measures in relation to potential nuclear accidents at sea, and how this vessel would have been be covered by these plans?
"This does nothing to allay the concerns of the 396,000 residents of the Gold Coast who have been surprised to find that nuclear submarines are now anchoring off their beaches" Senator Nettle said.
"The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency has recognised that Australian emergency planning in regard to nuclear accidents at sea needs addressing, but still these subs are anchoring unsupervised close to populated areas." Senator Nettle added.
Heading south?
Mariners are advised that a military exercise involving live firing will be conducted in the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area from 0600 hours on Tuesday, 3 September until 2359 hours on Friday, 20 September 2002. The danger area is defined as the waters of Shoalwater Bay south of a line from Mooly Creek in approximate position Latitude 22°26.08'S, Longitude 150°19.15'E across to East Creek in approximate position Latitude 22°30.55'S, Longitude 150°33.85'E. Raspberry Creek, Oyster Creek, Shoalwater Creek, Georges Creek and Head Creek are in the defined danger area. All civil vessels are prohibited from entering the danger area during the above period. Charts affected: AUS 367, 370, 822
Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> race results >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Full Results: Hot FM Great Whitsunday Fun Race Overall winner, Southern Cross Sailing Team, Boomerang, David Haines; British Defender, Brendan Wickens; and Siska IV, Damien Suckling.
Fastest Monohull: Boomerang.
Fastest Multihull: Emultihulls Flat Chat, Keith Roberts.
Maxi Yachts: Boomerang 1, British Defender 2, Ragamuffin, George Canfield, WSC 3.
Div 1 Cruising: Sydney, David Sampson, NSW 1; Intrigue Of Stornaway; Gary Foster, China 2; Millennium, John Clayton, NSW 3.
Div 2 Racing Class: Hidden Agenda, Brian Gills, WSC 1, Sandpiper, Bob Spearman, WSC 2; Pianola, David McMahon, WSC 3.
Div 2 Cruising Class: BYO, David Turner, NSW 1; Kundiawa, Greg Drewer, Qld 2; Longnose, Andrew Stransky, NSW 3.
Div 3 Racing Class: Wobbly Boot, Craig Piccinelli, WSC 1; Breakaway, Rob Davis, WSC 2; Chrysalis, John Barry, Vic 3.
Div 3 Cruising Class: Out Of Africa, Dave Dellow, WSC 1, Bus Stop, Vic Brown, WSC 2; No Compromise, Chris Baillie, Qld 3.
Div 4 Racing Class: e Multihull Flat Chat, Keith Roberts, WSC 1, Wahoo, Neville Hooey, Qld 2; Sirocco, Michael Eaton, Qld 3.
Div 4 Cruising Class: Windsong, John Kestle, Qld 1; Spirit, David Mitchell, Qld 2; Freyja, Don Kitson, Qld 3.
Div 5 Gaffers and Luggers: Centurian 1, Solway Lass 2, Wyuna 3. (Schooner Atlanta sailed the course)
>>>>>>>> ends >>>>>>>>>>>
Fun Race skippers gave the world a physics lesson on Saturday to sail, on average, faster than the 6 to 8 knot wind during the annual Great Whitsunday Fun Race. Entries from Germany, China, Italy, New Zealand and around Australia were given a fair flogging for the rum prizes by heaps of local knowledge aboard the fleet of about 100 yachts.
While the maxi yacht fleet roared around the Pioneer Bay course, several smaller boats with considerable local experience aboard gave them a run for their money. Most yachts had a combination of speed and form with lots of experts and great white pointers on deck to enjoy the fine weather and light sea breeze.
Equipped with the infamous un-faired spotted gum 'secret weapon' rudder under the water, Craig Piccinelli and the crew of Wobbly Boot turned in an almost magical performance. Dubbed the mini-maxi chaser, the Whitsunday crew is reported to have averaged 7.65 knots on all points of the course.
Local Brian Gills drove the high performance Sydney 38 Hidden Agenda at an unbelievable reported average of 8.06 knots to win the Division 2 class.
There was plenty of fun on the water with participants and observer craft cranking up their fire hoses to dampen down the opposition in the bright sunshine. David Edge's Union Star is one formidable vessel when it's looming alongside, pump running. Schooner Atlanta proved that her pump could shift quite a lot of seawater and her crew did not lack the will or skill to gain the weather gauge to rain down on wet t-shirts, if worn.
Many local traders said they were fairly busy and that the weekend takings were up.
There is probably a report about drunkenness somewhere in the paper, but it seemed that everyone managed to have a good time and will no doubt do it all again next year.
Wetlands watch
Last weekend five horses, 14 people and a dog staged a protest at Bedford's Paddock near Mackay. They were opposed to the Mackay Port Authority's plans to fill and destroy 70 hectares of wetlands.
"Despite the MPA's suggestion that this is only one of several options for dredge spoil disposal, we believe that it is this wetland they have targeted for destruction," said Ian Sutton, spokesperson for MacWATCH a community group formed to fight for our coastal environment.
"It would be an act of extreme environmental vandalism, when they already have enough land."
"Motorists gave their support by honking and waving" Mr Sutton said.
On the beach . . .
The Minister for Defence Robert Hill was unable to tell the Senate whether the government knew about the US submarine 1km off the Gold Coast last weekend, or whether effective safety measures were in place.
Senator Hill said that he would not disclose details of the location or number of nuclear vessels close to Australia's coastline, nor would he comment on inadequacies in safety contingencies required in the event of an accident.
Senator Kerry Nettle asked the minister; ". whether he was aware of the movements of the USS La Jolla off the Gold Coast this weekend? Movements that led to a nuclear powered vessel surfacing just 1km of the populated coastline. Can the minister explain the current safety measures in relation to potential nuclear accidents at sea, and how this vessel would have been be covered by these plans?
"This does nothing to allay the concerns of the 396,000 residents of the Gold Coast who have been surprised to find that nuclear submarines are now anchoring off their beaches" Senator Nettle said.
"The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency has recognised that Australian emergency planning in regard to nuclear accidents at sea needs addressing, but still these subs are anchoring unsupervised close to populated areas." Senator Nettle added.
Heading south?
Mariners are advised that a military exercise involving live firing will be conducted in the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area from 0600 hours on Tuesday, 3 September until 2359 hours on Friday, 20 September 2002. The danger area is defined as the waters of Shoalwater Bay south of a line from Mooly Creek in approximate position Latitude 22°26.08'S, Longitude 150°19.15'E across to East Creek in approximate position Latitude 22°30.55'S, Longitude 150°33.85'E. Raspberry Creek, Oyster Creek, Shoalwater Creek, Georges Creek and Head Creek are in the defined danger area. All civil vessels are prohibited from entering the danger area during the above period. Charts affected: AUS 367, 370, 822
Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> race results >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Full Results: Hot FM Great Whitsunday Fun Race Overall winner, Southern Cross Sailing Team, Boomerang, David Haines; British Defender, Brendan Wickens; and Siska IV, Damien Suckling.
Fastest Monohull: Boomerang.
Fastest Multihull: Emultihulls Flat Chat, Keith Roberts.
Maxi Yachts: Boomerang 1, British Defender 2, Ragamuffin, George Canfield, WSC 3.
Div 1 Cruising: Sydney, David Sampson, NSW 1; Intrigue Of Stornaway; Gary Foster, China 2; Millennium, John Clayton, NSW 3.
Div 2 Racing Class: Hidden Agenda, Brian Gills, WSC 1, Sandpiper, Bob Spearman, WSC 2; Pianola, David McMahon, WSC 3.
Div 2 Cruising Class: BYO, David Turner, NSW 1; Kundiawa, Greg Drewer, Qld 2; Longnose, Andrew Stransky, NSW 3.
Div 3 Racing Class: Wobbly Boot, Craig Piccinelli, WSC 1; Breakaway, Rob Davis, WSC 2; Chrysalis, John Barry, Vic 3.
Div 3 Cruising Class: Out Of Africa, Dave Dellow, WSC 1, Bus Stop, Vic Brown, WSC 2; No Compromise, Chris Baillie, Qld 3.
Div 4 Racing Class: e Multihull Flat Chat, Keith Roberts, WSC 1, Wahoo, Neville Hooey, Qld 2; Sirocco, Michael Eaton, Qld 3.
Div 4 Cruising Class: Windsong, John Kestle, Qld 1; Spirit, David Mitchell, Qld 2; Freyja, Don Kitson, Qld 3.
Div 5 Gaffers and Luggers: Centurian 1, Solway Lass 2, Wyuna 3. (Schooner Atlanta sailed the course)
>>>>>>>> ends >>>>>>>>>>>
Thursday, August 29, 2002
Great support for local event
The assistance of many volunteers during Hog's Race Week indicates the high level of community support for local events.
The sailing club had a thank you BBQ for volunteers on Sunday afternoon. Club Commodore John Usher said he and the Hog's Race Week management recognised the great job done both on and off the water to make Race Week an excellent event.
"You can't do it without the valuable help of your volunteers. Many are not even sailors, they are just community minded people who always front up and help out and we certainly do thank them," Commodore Usher said.
Race Week co-ordinator Max Ryan told On the Waterfront that there were 48 volunteers involved in conducting the event.
"It's amazing really, when you consider that from our Olympic race official Tony Denham, the on water staff, boat crews and the like, to computer and support people and people cleaning up, they are all volunteers. In our first management plan there were 34 volunteers listed. We ended up with 48 who were all needed and who we thank for all their hard work," Mr Ryan said.
A little bit of figuring would come up with some numbers. Forty-eight volunteers working for one hundred dollars a day would be worth a minimum of almost five thousand dollars per day before the organisers give them lunch. There was five days of racing, so you could say the community donated twenty-five thousand dollars of 'time' towards the successful running of Race Week. Before Lunch.
However, people do it for the love of sport and the community benefits many times over for the work these people do. Last year may have been the Year of the Volunteer but the entire community benefits from the many activities toward which people put their time.
Maritime Festival
The annual Paddling Through History Festival will be held on September 20, 21 and 22 in Airlie Beach with many activities on the programme. Organisers still need a couple of support boats and drivers for one day. If you can help call 4948 0980.
Switched on sailors
Communication technology and the ever-increasing availability of personal computers is enabling clubs and race organisers to rethink the old ways of disseminating information to competitors.
This year, for the first time, the Notice of Race for Hamilton Island Race Week was only available electronically and all 179 entries were processed online. Apparently, only one skipper indicated he did not have Internet access, so Hamilton Island Yacht Club officials keyed in his details for him.
The print saving was immense, the results were immediate, and it spared the need for organisers to re-type the details into their computer system.
Sailing goes mobile
Mobile phones with SMS text messaging are being used in yacht racing overseas and may have a place in future events in Australia. In the UK recently, Cowes Combined Clubs undertook an experiment with over 500 of the 893 entries racing at Cowes Week using SMS texting of courses to their mobile phones.
Computer operators input the course that has been set by the race officers, the Sailmath software then converts this into a diagram and shows the estimated times of rounding each mark, as well as highlighting any course clashes.
At the 10-minute warning signal, the operator selects the class and presses "send". The list of telephone numbers for that class is sent via the web to an SMS gateway, together with the message string. Within 5 seconds of the operator sending the message, all the mobile phones for the class are beeping to show that the course has arrived.
It is also possible to send other messages, either to an individual boat, a class or the whole fleet, so competitors can be easily told of postponements etc. Competitor feedback was reportedly very positive.
News at sea
There is a number of radio 'nets' available to sailors as they voyage around the Pacific area. A net is a time and radio frequency where sailors can check in, get information and help, or just catch up with friends. Anyone with a short wave or Ham radio can tune in.
The Maritime nets operate on 14.315 MHz with the Pacific InterIsland Net at 0800 Z UTC each night and Tony's Net at 7.00am EST each day.
US enforces jackets
The United States Coast Guard will require all children under 13 years old to wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket, that fits, when underway on a recreational vessel: unless they are in an enclosed cabin or below decks.
The rule becomes effective December 23. Failure to have a child wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket will be treated the same as not having a life jacket readily available. Penalties may be assessed up to $1,100 maximum for each violation, but typically, they would be assessed in the $50 to $250 range per violation.
Captain Scott Evans, Chief of the U.S. Coast Guard's Boating Safety Office in Washington, D.C., pointed out, " Some States already have life jacket requirements in place and the age requirements may vary from State to State. The Coast Guard rule recognizes a State's requirements and accepts them as the Federal standard."
"Our latest report shows that 28 children perished while boating in just one year. Too many parents, families, as well as this nation are losing our most cherished gifts to a death that could be prevented in most cases," said Evans.
"Our youth are already wearing protective gear when roller blading, skateboarding and bicycling. Lifejackets are protective equipment for water related activities and must be worn to be effective. Statistics show that life jackets save lives."
In 2000, life jackets could have saved the lives of approximately 445 boaters who drowned." says U.S. Coast Guard
Cid Island light restored
Mariners are advised that the Fl.6s light at the southern end of Cid Island in the Whitsunday Group has been restored to normal. Charts affected: AUS 252, 253, 824.
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."
-Albert Einstein
Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan
.................................................................
Final Hog's Race Week results
Series Results [PHS] for Division 3.2 shows that local's did well.
1 OUT OF THE BLUE Frank Brace Cairns; - 3 IDLE TIME Kev Fogarty WSC; - 4 WOBBLY BOOT Craig Piccinelli WSC; 6 SPORTSCAR Aaron Smith WSC; 9 DEHLER MAGIC Charlie/Greg Preen/T WSC; 10 DECEPTION Murray Sanders WSC; 12 X2 Peter Millar WSC; 15 BREAKAWAY Robert Davis WSC; 16 BYO Dave Turner WSC/CYCA; 19 FALLEN ANGELS Murray Kennedy WSC; 21 JUNGLE JUICE Graham/Colin Jiggins WSC; 22 L J HOOKER C R Nicoll WSC; 23 RUSH HOUR Warren Smith APYC; 25 DADDY LONG LEGS Jim Garner Mackay.
Thursday, August 22, 2002
Big fines for fishers
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, and the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol have applauded record fines against an illegal fishing operation in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Commercial fisherman, Darren John May (master) and Corey James Juckes, an assistant fisherman were successfully prosecuted in Rockhampton Magistrates Court for intentionally fishing in a Marine National Park "B Zone" (May) and negligently fishing in Marine National Park "B Zone" (Juckes). Penalties were $27 500 and court costs.
According to the Chair of the GBRMPA, Virginia Chadwick, this was the first prosecution under a new provision, by the Federal Government, inserted in the GBRMP Act in July 2001. Maximum penalties under this new provision are $220 000 for an individual and $1.1million for a company.
The highest fine for illegal commercial fishing prior to this was $5000.
"We are very pleased with this outcome. It is a sign of our increased capability in the enforcement of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act. We have substantially increased our intelligence networks and our eyes and ears on the sea, in the air and on shore.
"Secondly, the fines reflect the significance of the threat posed to fisheries in the Marine Park by illegal fishing and lastly this case demonstrates that compliance is a high priority for the Authority in its management of the Marine Park," Mrs Chadwick said.
Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers in the Northern Swains Reef area detected the offences on November 29, 2001. The fishermen were operating from the commercial line vessel "Fram Too".
Acting Magistrate Mark Morrow said the fines should act as a deterrent to all illegal activity within a Marine National Park "B Zone" commonly referred to as a Green Zone.
Mr Morrow noted that the Master fisher had knowingly entered the Green Zone purely for commercial gain ignoring the serious impact such activity would have on the reef that had been protected for the past 14 years.
Cup embarrassment
Sailors have been surveyed as to the best reasons for sailors to be embarrassed by the America's Cup.
Forty per cent of respondees said too much legal bickering was the most embarrassing aspect of the Auld Mug contest. Extravagant expenditures embarrassed twenty-seven per cent of sailors while resulting poor publicity about boats that break and sink attracted twenty per cent.
Doin' in tough!
Sailors on Hong Kong entry Moonblue II sailing in the Hog's Race Week had a one horsepower blender on board. When you sail with twenty-four crew, drink time must be such a chore. Safety trainer and sailing master Teki Dalton pointed out to Waterfront that the blender was also gimballed so the fancy drinks would not spill if sailing.
Jellyfish
About 95 per cent of a jellyfish's body is composed of water. So on a percentage basis it suggests the dangerous jellyfish is only five per cent troublesome.
Cid Island light unlit
Mariners are advised that the Fl.6s light in approximate position Latitude 20°16.5'S, Longitude 148°54.5'E at the southern end of Cid Island in the Whitsunday Group has been reported unlit. Mariners should use caution when navigating in the area. Charts affected: AUS 252, 253, 824
"How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?"
* Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of Sherlock Holmes
Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan
...............................................................................................................................................
Hog's final results
Hog's Breath Race Week, Airlie Beach, Winners:
* IRC Division - Aftershock - Colin O'Neil, Sydney
* National Sydney 38 Class Championship - Another Challenge - Lou Abrahams, Melbourne
* Cruising - Panacea - Peter Helm, Sydney
* Multihulls - OMR - Trilogy - Keith Glover, Brisbane
* Multihulls - PHS - Zippy - Bernie and Dalwyn McErland, Whitsundays
* PHS Division 1 - Moonblue 2 - Peter Churchhouse
* PHS Division 2 - Out Of The Blue - Frank Brace, Cairns
Local boats scored well in stiff competition:
Sydney 38 - Asylum - Wayne Kirkpatrick - Hamilton Island - National titles 6th place.
IRC Div 2 - 5th SENSATION - James Ingle - Mackay YC
PHS - 6th ODYSSEY - Bill Gleeson - Whitsunday SC
Cruising - 2nd EARL GREY - Norm House - Whitsunday
7th TREASURE - Harold Menelaus - Whitsunday SC
8th RISQUE - Paul Johnson - Whitsunday SC
9th ELYARA - Jeff Brown - Whitsunday SC
Multihulls: 2nd HIGHLY STRUNG - Leo Rodriguez - Whitsunday SC
3rd EMULTIHULLS.COM - Keith Roberts - Whitsunday SC
Book review
Freshwater fishing in Queensland 2nd edition
By M Hollaway
A new and updated second edition of this guide has now been released. The first edition was very popular with anglers with requests for updated information frequent. The guide now covers 84 dams, weirs and rivers throughout Queensland that have been regularly stocked with native fish. Fishing locations range from the Dumaresq River on the Queensland-New South Wales border, north to the Endeavour River near Cooktown and as far west as Moondarra Dam, Mt Isa. This is much more than a guide to freshwater fishing locations within Queensland. Its 168 pages provide a vast range of information to make any fishing trip more enjoyable. For each fishing location, details are provided on local accommodation, picnic and recreational facilities, boating choices, the local fishing guide and local businesses where you can purchase your fishing permit. Additionally, there's information on what fish are being caught and data on the number of fish that have been stocked. Now there's 17 colour plates of fish that you are likely to catch, details about the new fishing permit - the Stocked Impoundment Permit, and helpful tips from some well-known freshwater specialist anglers to ensure a better-than-average chance of success. There's also an expanded section on exotic pest fish to help you identify these species, understand where you may catch them and what to do with them if you do catch them.
9999999 ends 00000000
Friday, August 16, 2002
PG0802 On the Waterfront
Racing despite lack of facilities
The lack of marina facilities is the number one problem faced by race organisers this week as a 107-boat fleet competes in Hog's Breath Race Week.
With the cream of Aussie and international yachts competing in Airlie Beach, there are just not enough marina berths or deep-water moorings to accommodate the yachts, say race organisers.
At least one owner of a large yacht considered retiring from the series because of the lack of facilities.
"Abel Point Marina have been great, but we would still be short of berths but for the help of the local marine community," says Hog's Breath Race Week coordinator Max Ryan. "They (Abel Pt) know the problem, that's why they want to build another marina."
"Private owners have helped by moving their boats out of the marina. Commercial operators such as Terry Kemp and Terry Hudson were fantastic. This event would have had more trouble without the help of these two and other community minded people."
" The most fantastic thing is that to these guys nothing is a problem. The attitude is; "Yes mate, what can I do for you?" says Max
"Another example is Tony Mahood who moved his boat out of the marina and gave his berth for two Sydney 38s" Max said.
"When boats are racing they have extra gear that they don't want on board, especially if they have sailed up the coast with all kinds of spare gear. They can't function on a mooring." Max added.
The organisers have had to arrange boats to take people out to their yachts anchored in the bay. Companies such as Ocean Rafting and Maxi Ragamuffin have been good enough to bring their tenders around to help, but they also have a business to run and time is precious. The thirty volunteers required to conduct the event are spread thin on the ground (water?) when extra jobs are demanded.
Two yachts, Aftershock and Hollywood Boulevard rafted up to the barge Major Dundee for a few nights, but the barge has other work and cannot hang about. The race officials were thankful for the assistance received from the barge operators and staff.
David Edge Salvage were busy with their own work, but anchored their tug Union Star out in the bay to help provide a mooring facility.
"The community support has been wonderful. Local business have been so supportive with Marine Tech Electrics, All Marine Services, Coral Sea Resort, Marlin Marine, Hospac, Airlie Engineering and Whitsunday Marine and Protective Coatings doing all manner of things at odd times to ensure the success of Race Week. Sorry if I have missed anyone. Add to this the thirty-plus volunteers and you can see that it is a real community effort" Mr Ryan told On the Waterfront.
Business people, shop owners, chandlers, bars, butchers, bakers and you know the rest, all miss out on trade because people with nice big yachts can't get a suitable berth in a marina in Airlie Beach. Big white super yachts sail right past - even though they would like to stop - because we do not have the facilities to accommodate them. They need deep-water berths, with a real power supply and something better than a concrete block dunny locked after hours.
Sailors meet
The Board of the Australian Yachting Federation (AYF) met in Airlie Beach last week taking advantage of the activities surrounding the Hog's Breath Race Week.
One issue raised and agreed too is that in future the AYF will align sail training to the requirements of the Australian National Training Authority and the Australian Quality Training Framework.
The Queensland Yachting Association (QYA) also held meetings during the week including a general meeting at the Able Point Yacht Club. The meeting was well attended by members with 'standing room only'.
On the agenda were competition, reports, Olympic matters and training. The QYA has been working on training for some years and has been leading the country, so it was good to have the AYF confirm that they would follow the National Training framework.
While in Airlie Beach the Executive Officer of QYA, Bruce Chapman, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Maritime Skills Whitsunday (operated by your Waterfront writer) to provide advice on training and assessment, quality assurance and to issue credentials attained under the Quality Training Framework. This was the first agreement of this nature signed by QYA.
Young Endeavour
Each year the Queensland Yachting Association sponsors a berth aboard the sail-training vessel STV Young Endeavour. This means some lucky person between the ages of 16 and 23 can sail the high seas on Australia's sail training vessel. The voyages embark in early 2003 so nominations should still be sent to QYA even though the application date has closed.
Little boat : big trip
Russian sailor Evgeny Gvozdev left Darwin this week on a 3.7m boat bound for the Cocos Islands to continue his second solo circumnavigation. He finished his first circumnavigation on a 5.5m Micro-class boat in 1997. In the current circumnavigation, Gvozdev did not go through the Panama Canal but passed through the Estrecho de Magallanes in Chile, says a Boating OZ report.
Pole to abandon Canada
The Magnetic North Pole is on the move and will soon abandon Canada, avoid Alaska and eventually wind up in Russia says Larry Newitt, a researcher with the Geological Survey of Canada.
Newitt says that the magnetic pole is on the move. It has steadily drifted for
decades and has picked up speed in recent years. He says that at its current speed, it could exit Canadian territory as soon as 2004. Moreover, says Newitt, if the pole follows its present course, it will pass north of Alaska and arrive in Siberia in a half-century.
If you are worried that you may soon have to trade in your old compass for a GPS to know where you are, don't. Researcher Newitt cautions that such predictions could be wrong.
Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan
Racing despite lack of facilities
The lack of marina facilities is the number one problem faced by race organisers this week as a 107-boat fleet competes in Hog's Breath Race Week.
With the cream of Aussie and international yachts competing in Airlie Beach, there are just not enough marina berths or deep-water moorings to accommodate the yachts, say race organisers.
At least one owner of a large yacht considered retiring from the series because of the lack of facilities.
"Abel Point Marina have been great, but we would still be short of berths but for the help of the local marine community," says Hog's Breath Race Week coordinator Max Ryan. "They (Abel Pt) know the problem, that's why they want to build another marina."
"Private owners have helped by moving their boats out of the marina. Commercial operators such as Terry Kemp and Terry Hudson were fantastic. This event would have had more trouble without the help of these two and other community minded people."
" The most fantastic thing is that to these guys nothing is a problem. The attitude is; "Yes mate, what can I do for you?" says Max
"Another example is Tony Mahood who moved his boat out of the marina and gave his berth for two Sydney 38s" Max said.
"When boats are racing they have extra gear that they don't want on board, especially if they have sailed up the coast with all kinds of spare gear. They can't function on a mooring." Max added.
The organisers have had to arrange boats to take people out to their yachts anchored in the bay. Companies such as Ocean Rafting and Maxi Ragamuffin have been good enough to bring their tenders around to help, but they also have a business to run and time is precious. The thirty volunteers required to conduct the event are spread thin on the ground (water?) when extra jobs are demanded.
Two yachts, Aftershock and Hollywood Boulevard rafted up to the barge Major Dundee for a few nights, but the barge has other work and cannot hang about. The race officials were thankful for the assistance received from the barge operators and staff.
David Edge Salvage were busy with their own work, but anchored their tug Union Star out in the bay to help provide a mooring facility.
"The community support has been wonderful. Local business have been so supportive with Marine Tech Electrics, All Marine Services, Coral Sea Resort, Marlin Marine, Hospac, Airlie Engineering and Whitsunday Marine and Protective Coatings doing all manner of things at odd times to ensure the success of Race Week. Sorry if I have missed anyone. Add to this the thirty-plus volunteers and you can see that it is a real community effort" Mr Ryan told On the Waterfront.
Business people, shop owners, chandlers, bars, butchers, bakers and you know the rest, all miss out on trade because people with nice big yachts can't get a suitable berth in a marina in Airlie Beach. Big white super yachts sail right past - even though they would like to stop - because we do not have the facilities to accommodate them. They need deep-water berths, with a real power supply and something better than a concrete block dunny locked after hours.
Sailors meet
The Board of the Australian Yachting Federation (AYF) met in Airlie Beach last week taking advantage of the activities surrounding the Hog's Breath Race Week.
One issue raised and agreed too is that in future the AYF will align sail training to the requirements of the Australian National Training Authority and the Australian Quality Training Framework.
The Queensland Yachting Association (QYA) also held meetings during the week including a general meeting at the Able Point Yacht Club. The meeting was well attended by members with 'standing room only'.
On the agenda were competition, reports, Olympic matters and training. The QYA has been working on training for some years and has been leading the country, so it was good to have the AYF confirm that they would follow the National Training framework.
While in Airlie Beach the Executive Officer of QYA, Bruce Chapman, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Maritime Skills Whitsunday (operated by your Waterfront writer) to provide advice on training and assessment, quality assurance and to issue credentials attained under the Quality Training Framework. This was the first agreement of this nature signed by QYA.
Young Endeavour
Each year the Queensland Yachting Association sponsors a berth aboard the sail-training vessel STV Young Endeavour. This means some lucky person between the ages of 16 and 23 can sail the high seas on Australia's sail training vessel. The voyages embark in early 2003 so nominations should still be sent to QYA even though the application date has closed.
Little boat : big trip
Russian sailor Evgeny Gvozdev left Darwin this week on a 3.7m boat bound for the Cocos Islands to continue his second solo circumnavigation. He finished his first circumnavigation on a 5.5m Micro-class boat in 1997. In the current circumnavigation, Gvozdev did not go through the Panama Canal but passed through the Estrecho de Magallanes in Chile, says a Boating OZ report.
Pole to abandon Canada
The Magnetic North Pole is on the move and will soon abandon Canada, avoid Alaska and eventually wind up in Russia says Larry Newitt, a researcher with the Geological Survey of Canada.
Newitt says that the magnetic pole is on the move. It has steadily drifted for
decades and has picked up speed in recent years. He says that at its current speed, it could exit Canadian territory as soon as 2004. Moreover, says Newitt, if the pole follows its present course, it will pass north of Alaska and arrive in Siberia in a half-century.
If you are worried that you may soon have to trade in your old compass for a GPS to know where you are, don't. Researcher Newitt cautions that such predictions could be wrong.
Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan
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