Famous or infamous

Fun Race sails yet again this Saturday

 

Famous or infamous, love it or hate it, after more than 30 years the Great Whitsunday Fun Race is on again this Saturday with all the usual entertainment both on and off the water at Airlie Beach.

Presentations are at the Saturday evening party for first, second and third in each division as well as prizes for Best Theme Boat, Best Dressed Yacht, Best Dressed Crew and Yacht from Furthest Away.

Registration is $10 with a briefing Friday night and Saturday morning; Division 1 warning signal goes off at high noon.

 

Turtle voyaging

 

A green turtle discharged from the Reef HQ Aquarium Turtle Hospital in June and bon voyaged off the Townsville's Strand has travelled over 400km south along the GBR Coast.

'Torres' the turtle was fitted with a satellite tagging device as part of a study  supported by James Cook University and the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM).

Weighing a tiny 366 grams Torres came to Reef HQ Aquarium in 2006 after being discovered by a member of the public and has called the Reef HQ Aquarium predator tank home.

A regular "Star" of the Reef HQ Dive Show, Torres has touched hearts with its larger than life personality and repertoire of cheeky antics and after four years of rehabilitation, Torres is now a healthy 45 kilograms and has grown faster and larger that green turtles of similar age due to the optimal conditions provided at the Aquarium.

At the time of release, Torres showed no external indicators that would determine whether Torres is male or female.

 

City of Adelaide

 

The world's oldest passenger clipper ship the 145-year-old City of Adelaide, is currently resting on a slipway on the west coast of Scotland, faced being broken up.

Built in Sunderland, northeast England the ship predates the Cutty Sark and took people and wool between Australia and Britain on more than 20 round trips.

Historic Scotland says the ship is considered by naval experts to be one of the most significant historic vessels to survive to the present day, for its age, rarity and historic connections.

Later known as the Carrick, the ship was left to the elements at Irvine, North Ayrshire, where it faced deconstruction.

The trust aims to preserve the vessel on a land-based maritime precinct at Port Adelaide in time for the 175th anniversary of settlement next year.

  

Servicing PFDs

 

Sailors may not be aware that Inflatable Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs) need be serviced by the manufacturer or manufacturer's agent before the expiry date

Inflatable Personal Floatation Devices are permitted as a source of buoyancy for personal flotation device type 1 for body mass of 40 kilograms or over.

If they are out of date, the boat is deemed by legislation not to be equipped with the required safety equipment and you would be liable to prosecution for failing to carry the required safety equipment.

 

Rattlesnake Island

 

Mariners are advised that military units will be conducting live firing activities and flare shooting on Friday, 17 September 2010 between the hours of 0630 and 1700 hours.

A range safety radius of five Nautical Miles is to be established and monitored by radar and visual means. Mariners are warned to keep well clear of this area throughout the above times. AUS charts 256 & 827

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

Pirates? Ye just Aarrrrrgh!

Whitsunday celebrates International Talk like a Pirate Day

 

Yarr! Avast! Shiver me timbers is not something you expect to hear in everyday conversation, but it'll be more commonplace this Saturday, as centres around the world celebrate International Talk like a Pirate Day.

Tri-corner hats, scarves, eye patches, parrots and strange accents will be part of the special event in the Airlie Beach, complete with plank walking and pirate jokes.

Organiser of the Airlie Beach event, Cap'n Dan, says all pirates will be on their best behaviour.

"We're the polite pirates and we always use our manners and say please and thank you and ensure our visitors always come first," Cap'n Dan says.

"That's pretty important in a town like Airlie Beach, which is a tourist destination and we want people to come here and have a good time.

"We'll be here waving our hooks in the air and having a jolly good time talking about booty and rope burns."

Those who don't enjoy themselves will have to walk the plank.

Anyone can have their own party, dress up and talk like a pirate. If raising money for charity is your thing, send the treasure to VMR.

Or is that VMAAARRRRRRRR!

Details http://piratesofwhitsunday.blogspot.com/

 

Déjà vu

 

"The more things change the more they stay the same," wrote George Bernard Shaw. And it was Déjà vu this week for your Waterfront writer.

Firstly the background, remembering the near miss Category 5 cyclone Joy at Christmas 1990, sailing back to Airlie from Hamilton Island in the still testing conditions it was time to refresh the crew of one.

Lunchtime found me hiding in Hunt Channel sheltered by Cid Island from the nor'westerly wind and soaking cloud bands.

For lunch, the fridge gave up a few beers. Yeah! However, the only food was a chocolate Bavarian desert.

Turned out to be a memorable and much needed lunch.

Later that day I watched a houseboat turn turtle and submerge in Cid Harbour and found a pod of unattended bareboats sheltered in the tight anchorage of Dugong Inlet. 

Landlubbers will remember that the Peter Faust Dam filled to almost capacity after this weather event.

What brought this to mind? This week brought a nice new big bareboat back from Hamilton Island and found the fridge contained imported beer and . . . a chocolate Bavarian.

 

Crew holiday

 

The crew and the MV Magellan Star ship management company kept their heads and their sense of humour when Somali pirates boarded the ship last Wednesday.

When pirates boarded the 8,000-tonne Magellan Star, the officers and crew disabled the engine and retreated to a hidden safe room. 

After searching the Antigua flagged container ship for three hours, the pirates were unable to locate the crew, say the ship's German owners, Quadrant.

The pirates then phoned the shipping company in Hamburg to ask where the crew were hidden.

"They were told the crew was on holiday," said representative Juergen Salamon.

"They then asked how to switch the engines back on, but were told they were broken."

Knowing the crew was safe 24 U.S. Marine commandos stormed the ship off the Somalia coast reclaiming control from pirates and took nine prisoners without firing a shot.

 

Cape Upstart hazard

 

Mariners are advised that a fishing net with two buoys attached was reported adrift 1.6 nautical miles off Cape Upstart in approximate position latitude 19° 41.74' S, longitude 147° 43.53' E. Mariners are advised to navigate with caution whilst operating in this area. AUS chart 826

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

"The day will be hugely emotional"

 

At-Sea National Thanksgiving and Remembrance Service

 

An at-sea Service this Friday will honour the 268 men and women of the AHS Centaur who gave their lives for their country, and the 64 who survived the torpedo sinking of the Australian Hospital ship.

Local 2/3 AHS Centaur Association Committee member, Ian (Stack) Hudson of Jubilee Pocket will attend the service aboard HMAS Kanimbla for the only off shore memorial service that will be held over AHS Centaur.

"I am off down south to Brisbane to join HMAS Kanimbla at 0600 this Friday." Mr Hudson reports.

"The day will be hugely emotional since there will be many relatives and descendants of those who were aboard, but who survived, wishing to cast ashes over Centaur."

"There will also be an unopened bottle of beer from 1943 sent over the side of Kanimbla, that bottle having a wonderful story going with it. 

"A longish day will finish at 2100 when we get back." Mr Hudson added.

The service, a collaborative undertaking between the Federal and Queensland Governments and the Australian Defence Force, is an important milestone in remembering this wartime tragedy.

 

Pacific Dawn visits

 

P&O Pacific Dawn with up to 2050 passengers 690 crew is scheduled to visit Airlie Beach on Monday.

Supported by Tourism Whitsundays, the Volunteer Ambassador's meet and greet the passengers and crew and guide them to an enjoyable day onshore.

Being a Volunteer Ambassador is fun as you meet new people from both the ship and other ambassadors.

Want to get involved? The contact for Volunteer Ambassador Program is Judi Dunn 0408 285 915

Cruise ship updates - What's On – www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au

 

Dutch Teen Set Sail

 

Laura Dekker 14, aboard her 38-foot Jeanneau Gin Fizz ketch, 'Guppy' is in the Canary Islands freed from the nanny state hassles of Dutch courts to pursue her dream of sailing the globe.

Laura is enjoying her stopover at Lanzarote, the easternmost of the autonomous Canary Islands 125 km off the coast of Africa.

She is not sailing as Australian Jessica Watson did and American Abby Sunderland attempted, but cruising primarily through the tropics - via the Panama Canal rather than Cape Horn - with many stops along the way.

Laura Dekker was born on a boat in the port of Whangarei, New Zealand during a seven-year trip by her parents. Her father is Dutch and her mother German, thus Laura has Dutch, German, and New Zealand citizenship.

In May 2009, she made a solo crossing from the Netherlands to Lowestoft, England where local authorities demanded that her father come and accompany her for her return voyage on her previous full keel Hurley 700 (22-foot) yacht.

 

Tiger Shark; Body Found

 

In a scene straight out of the movies, last week an investment banker (who else?) made a grisly discovery while fishing in the Bahamas.

As he was landing a 12-foot tiger shark, the banker noticed something sticking out of the shark's mouth — a human leg! Authorities ashore cut the big fish open to find the right leg, two severed arms and a torso from a human.

Fingerprints identified the victim as Judson Newton, 43.

Official reports say Newton had been boating with four friends on August 29 when the engine on their 20-foot powerboat conked out; ironically, just off Jaws Beach on New Providence Island where 'Jaws' scenes were filmed.

Newton and another friend decided to swim for shore and were never seen again. Rescuers saved three others.

Proving once again, that people are in most danger between the boat and the beach.

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

Vote Fun Airlie Beach Race Week

Vote Fun Airlie Beach Race Week

I remember one day spying a beautiful yacht in Shute Harbour. What drew my attention was the shape of a perfect clipper bow.

I later met the owner of 55-foot Storm, Don Algie and found that he had already had quite a chequered career and was destined to draught a few more checkers to the board.

One idea Don had was to start a restaurant the other a bit later was to start a sailing series in Airlie Beach.

Hamilton Island Race Week had been going for a few years with the leadership of Keith Williams and Dave Hutchen and their team building 'Hammo' into a serious series attracting the top yachts.

The Airlie race week titled Hog's Breath Cruising classic was meant to be a bit more irreverent and to feature shirtsleeve sailing and onshore fun with reggae and calypso bands and the music of Jimmy Buffet.

Don and sidekick Miles Wood and the crew at the Whitsunday Sailing club and in the early days after a long planning session at the club we would go down to Don's first Hog's Breath Café in Airlie and continue the plotting and planning over many beers and rums. Don was the type of guy and sponsor who would leave and say, "Drink as much draft beer as you want and close the door when you leave."

Those were the days, and that was the atmosphere of "infectious enthusiasm" that prevailed in Airlie Beach when we started race week.

Over the last 21 years, the Airlie Race Week has developed, fended off competing series like Hayman Island Big Boat series, matured, changed sponsors and generally become the tune up and play up week before the fleet heads to Hamilton Island.

Don sold the original Storm and had the 20-metre Storm II built for about two million or so and is still a competitor to be reckoned with in the Whitsunday waters he now calls home.

 So while there are many others who have worked so hard over the last twenty-one years, it could not have happened without all the fabulous volunteers, to achieve success for this regatta in many ways it is Don's party

Ahoy Sailors

Without the volunteers, these events would not exist let alone prosper for the good of sailing and our community. Sure, there are professionals who get payment. But, a vast amount of work is done by volunteers and we should give them our gratitude and a few beers. Perhaps a rum or two and a hug and kiss would be better than the traditional pat on the back.

Middle Island, Percy Isles

Mariners are advised that the tide gauge and Fl Y 3s light temporarily established off the western side of Middle Island in the Percy Isles be withdrawn. AUS charts 822 & 823

Yongala Wreck

Mariners are advised that the safe water mark buoy located at the Yongala wreck site, in position latitude 19° 18.2077' S, longitude 147° 37.2472' E, has been re-established. AUS charts 371 & 820

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

21st Airlie Beach party welcomes a thousand sailors

21st Airlie Beach party welcomes a thousand sailors 

 

Bigger yachts with more crew have pushed the numbers for the 21st Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week to over one thousand sailors.

 

One-hundred and twenty plus yachts ready to race on Friday the 13^th proves that winter sailing in Whitsunday waters is snubbing both financial worries and the federal election with a big 'Vote Fun Airlie Beach'

 

Long time Regatta Director Denis Thompson announced this week that sailboats and sailor numbers are both up by over twenty per cent.

'This year will be a new record for crew numbers - we will top 1,000 sailors for the first time and this is another great success for the 21 year old regatta.'

 

'We had 120 boats entered as at Friday afternoon for Airlie Beach Race Week 2010 but we are accepting late entries and with a numbers of boats still scrambling to complete their paperwork we should exceed the 2005 number, certainly with much bigger boats and much bigger crew numbers.

Regatta Director Denis Thompson said.

 

Abel Point Marina General Manager Richard Barrett is happy with new facilities developed at the marina.

'It is all happening here now. The first of the southern boats have started to arrive and the trickle will soon turn to a flood."

"The marina is looking superb. There has been a lot of progress over the last year with more frequent buses, an ATM and more shops and the landscaping has continued.'

A thousand welcomes for the Airlie Beach Race Week 21^st party.

 

What's on land and sea

 

Social Events mean Party Time for sailors, their families and the community; so come and join the party.

Thursday 12th Welcome party at Regatta HQ Meridien Marinas Abel Point starts 4:00 pm featuring "Damon Stone & MTV"

Fantasea Adventure Cruising Friday 13th after race celebration at the Race Marquee 4:00 pm with "Mike M"

Fantasea Cracker Night Airlie Beach Foreshore from 6:00 pm  

Fireworks Airlie Beach Foreshore 8:00 pm  

Saturday 14th after race celebration at Race Marquee from 3:30 pm      

Reggae Party the Esplanade 6:30 pm "Jahbutu"

Sunday 15th after race celebration Race Marquee 3:00 pm "Barbary Coasters"

Monday 16th Lay Day – no racing – check out all the racing boats at Abel Point Marina.

Bareboat Charter Open Day Abel Point Marina (Northern end-Arms B, C and G) 9am-4pm  

Tropical Shirt Party Whitsunday Sailing Club    1:00pm "Barbary Coasters"

Tuesday 17th after race celebration Race Marquee 4:00 pm    "Wolverines"

Hutchinson Builder's Wednesday 18th after race celebration Race Marquee 4:00 pm "Kieran McCarthy"

Thursday 19th after race celebration Race Marquee 3:30 pm "Wolverines"

Presentation of Prizes & Trophies   Race Marquee      5:30 pm

 

Bareboat Open Day

 

The Whitsunday region has the largest commercial bareboat charter boat fleet in the southern hemisphere and it will be on show on Monday.

Want to find out about cruising the Whitsundays without buying a yacht? The Whitsunday bare boat industry is holding an "open day" at Abel Point Marina on Monday the August 16, the lay-day for Meridien Marina's Airlie Beach Race Week.

Around 200 bare boats are offered for charter in the Whitsundays, making it one of most popular means of having an aquatic holiday in Australia.

 

Coming up . . .

 

August 20–28 Hamilton Island Race Week -

August 28 September 3 - Multihull Solutions Whitsunday Multihull Rendezvous, Abel Point Yacht Club

Saturday September 11 - Whitsunday Fun Race - - Whitsunday Sailing Club

Saturday September 18 - International Talk Like a Pirate Day in Airlie Beach

 

St Bees Island light

 

Maritime Safety Queensland advises mariners that the light Fl 2.5s on the southern end of St Bees Island be restored to normal. AUS charts 823 & 824

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

Yacht with mystery history sails Whitsunday waters

Yacht with mystery history sails Whitsunday waters

 

A three-mast schooner with an interesting history has been in port recently.

Now known as 'Southern Cloud' the white 39.62m (130-foot) sailing yacht was launched in 1989 in Denmark designed to cruise in style and was once the biggest fibreglass composite luxury vessel in the world.

Accommodating up to 12 guests in seven cabins, 'Southern Cloud' is here for the winter sailing season before returning to Sydney for the summer.

If you fancy chartering 'Southern Cloud', expect to pay US$9,000 per night with a minimum of three nights or US$60,000 per week.

Cabins are fitted out with cherry wood and Italian marble, with multi-system entertainment centres. The master stateroom has a king size four-poster bed and en-suite bath. The salon boasts four Italian leather sofas and the dining room has an ebony-framed table.

However, it is the history of the Superyacht that is of interest here.

Originally named Butterfly McQueen, the Bermuda rigged schooner was until recent times owned by a secretive Danish cult charity organisation whose directors have been in and out of court for years, when they could be found.

Their locations unknown, the top five directors are currently wanted by Danish authorities and Interpol. However, they are known to be cashed up and have access to luxury homes and locations dotted around the world.

Some of the charges have included embezzling $11.3 million from a charity and evading $13.8 million in taxes.

One management member was recently been jailed in Denmark for his part in tax avoidance schemes and charity fraud.

The Superyacht was named after Butterfly McQueen; the first black actress to win an Oscar - for her role as Scarlett O'Hara's maid in the 1939 American epic-romance-drama movie "Gone With The Wind". Her Oscar award had to be picked up by somebody else because of the racial discrimination which existed at the time.

 

Lighthouse weekend

 

Amature radio operators are looking forward to the 15^th annual International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend coming up on August 21-22.      

Over fifty Australian Lighthouses have registered so far with Pine Islet and Cape Cleveland lighthouses listed in this area.

 

Bareboat Open Day

 

What to find out about cruising the Whitsundays without buying a yacht?

The Whitsunday bare boat industry are holding an "open day" at Abel Point Marina on Monday the August 16, the lay-day for Meridien Marina's Airlie Beach Race Week.

 

Fish Feeding

 

By following some simple responsible park practices, you and your crew 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 a 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. Consider not feeding bread, cooked seafood and processed food to fish - use raw fish or prawns or approved fish pellets.

 

Half Tide Rock

 

Mariners are advised that the beacon at Half Tide Rock Keppel Islands has been destroyed. Mariners are advised to navigate the area with caution. AUS charts 366 & 819

 

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

Plastic bottle boat survives Pacific adventure

Plastic bottle boat survives Pacific adventure

 

A true message in a bottle, or many bottles, the Plastiki and crew have reached the end of their epic voyage that has taken them across the Pacific Ocean on an 8,000 nautical mile adventure lasting over 130 days.

Made entirely out of recyclable and recycled materials including 12,500 plastic bottles, the 60-foot catamaran departed San Francisco in March.

The dream of environmentalist and adventurer David de Rothschild, Plastiki is a unique vessel-with-a-mission inspired by Thor Heyerdahl's epic 1947 expedition, The Kon-Tiki.

"It's about recognizing that waste is fundamentally a design flaw, it does not appear in nature. It's about re-thinking waste as a resource." Mr de Rothschild said.

The team arrived this week at Sydney's Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour to an excited crowd of friends, family and supporters.

The Plastiki cabin has been home to ten crew over the four-month journey. They have witnessed the polluted waters of the Pacific, affirming their mission to share their experience with the watching world and highlight solutions to protect our oceans and beat waste.

The Plastiki will be moored at Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour for a month.

 

Junk rig

 

Others have found novel ways of highlighting junk in the ocean. One, the Junk Raft, is 30-feet long, built on six pontoons filled with 15,000 plastic bottles. The deck is made of salvaged sailboat masts, and four sails speeding it along at roughly 2 knots, to make about 50 miles per day. It took three months to sail to Hawaii from California. Note from crew: Most dangerous moment was driving through traffic to the dock on the day of departure.

 

Local in Magnetic swim

 

Whitsunday local Christie Leet participated in the 56^th Magnetic Island to Townsville Swim on July 17 taking 7^th place in his age group

Known as the longest competitive open water swim in Queensland and northern Australia the eight kilometres are swum without a shark cage after over fifty years with cages.

The committee has some shark cages for sale.

 

In port

 

Australia's national sail training ship Young Endeavour was in port for a crew change with local and visiting Rotary Club members welcomed aboard. The Rotary Club of Airlie Beach sponsors young citizens on the ship's voyages.

Early on Sunday morning after breakfast the Youth Crew were mustered and introduced to the traditional ceremony of Colours, the raising of the ships flags and the singing of the National Anthem. After this they had the morning (not so) brief-ing and on completion it was straight into cleaning stations, an activity known as our 'Happy Hour' that even has its own little song.

The ship then cast off all lines and departed the marina berth shortly after 0900, enroute to Cairns.

Young Endeavour is supporting the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2010 and needs a young, motivated and experienced crew. If you are 18-25 years old and completed a voyage from 2008 onwards, then this is your chance to sail again.

 

Aussie ship builder

 

Austal USA new Module Manufacturing Facility (MMF) hosted a keel-laying ceremony at its shipyard in Mobile, Alabama this week, to signify the first modules on the US Department of Defence's next generation multi-use platform, the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) part of a 10-ship programme potentially worth over US$1.6 billion.

The ceremony signified the initial components that will form part of a 103-metre aluminium catamaran capable of transporting troops and their equipment, supporting humanitarian relief efforts, operating in shallow waters, and reaching speeds in excess of 35 knots fully loaded. This is the first of a class of ten ships for the US Army and Navy.

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

Meridien Race Week signs 100 yachts

Meridien Race Week signs 100 yachts

 

Whitsunday Sailing Club member Allan Sneddon's yacht 'Pacific Phoenix' is the 100^th entry in the 2010 Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week. 

Organisers expect more yachts to enter the 21st annual regatta before the start of a week of sailing and fun from August 12.

"We could still see more than 120 boats enter," Race Director Dennis Thompson told the Whitsunday Coast Guardian this week.

Allan Sneddon is looking forward to his third Airlie Beach Race Week.

"We will be sailing in the Cruising with spinnaker division. Looking at the entry list there are some great boats, but there are a few smaller, slower boats like us too so we expect to have a great time on and off the water."

"This year we will be sailing with a crew of seven," says Allan. "Just a good group of mates having fun, half of these guys I taught how to sail so I know exactly what I'm in for' he said. My wife Jean is also involved in race week as volunteer on the starter's boat".

"This area really is just a slice of sailing heaven. Where else in Australia in the middle of winter, can you sail in a glorious 15 knot south easterly and under blue skies?" Allan added.

Indeed, there are some great boats already entered in the Cruising Division including Geoff Pettifer's luxurious Oyster 66 Miss Molly, Airlie Beach Race Week founder Don Algie's Warwick 66 Storm II and Mal Robertson's Sydney 60 Eureka II.

 

Yacht Magnet

 

Four years ago, Townsville Cruising Yacht Club sailors realised the sheltered waters around Cleveland Bay, Magnetic Island would be the perfect setting for another Australian winter season regatta, and so Sunferries Magnetic Island Race Week was born.

Hundreds of yachts sail north to compete at Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week and Audi Hamilton Island Race Week.

This year Sunferries Magnetic Island Race Week runs from Friday September 3. Last year's event attracted 50 boats and as many as 75 could be on the water this year.

"As more and more good reports about the regatta filter south, the numbers of sailors adding Sunferries Magnetic Island Race Week to their winter schedule has been growing rapidly," says Regatta committee member Mark Vickers.

One sailor venturing to Magnetic Island for the first time in 2010 is George Snow, who raced the legendary 'Brindabella'. These days George has moved into the Cruising fleet and he and his family will be sailing their Beneteau 50 Oceanis 'Argo Blue'.

"We had a hand powered cocktail maker on 'Brindabella' but with the Beneteau we have 240 volts from the inverter, so we'll have a cocktail maker and a case of rum."

 

Thar be lots o' whales

 

More whales each year mean that it is easier than ever to enjoy seeing these magnificent mammals in the wild and in our case that means just a few miles down the bay.

A good tip to those who want to go out for a look, VHF channel 81 is a great source of position information to find a pod or two courtesy of our Volunteer Marine Rescue.

Your Waterfront writer had his daughter out for a couple of days on the water and of course, a whale sighting would really make the weekend.

We heard a mention of a pod on channel 81 and with a minor course change, there before us was a mother and calf happily cavorting near South Molle.

Thanks VMR!

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

National Tasar Championship cheers Airlie

National Tasar Championship cheers Airlie

 

Hosted by the Whitsunday Sailing Club, a fleet of 93 Tasars representing all states and territories spent over ten days here enjoying tough sailing conditions on the bay and fun times onshore.

Whitsunday Sailing Club Rear Commodore Offbeach Terry Archer told The Whitsunday Coast Guardian that the big fleet brought excitement and business to Airlie Beach.

"This was the largest international class regatta held in Queensland for some time. To register its huge success in a regional area demonstrates the ability of our club and volunteers to attract and conduct major events rivalling any venue in the state."

"Locally, bringing over 300 people to the town for ten or twelve days surely gave Airlie a needed boost." Rear Commodore Archer added.

Competitors support those comments, "Racing was very fair today with nice breezes and not too much in the way of holes in the wind or massive shifts" and "Great race management and nothing to complain about except the quality of the fleet making it real tough out there."

"The racing has been extremely competitive. The depth in the fleet seems to go much further back than I can remember of previous regattas so you get punished for the slightest mistake." Finally, "Bottom line is it's a very tough fleet and tough conditions to master. Funny how the cream is still rising to the top though."

In the final results of the 10-race Championship, the highly competitive and medalled father and daughter crew of Robert and Nicole Douglass from NSW won another trophy with only two points over the sensational local crew of Aaron Linton and Jamie Jochheim. Representing Whitsunday Sailing Club, Aaron and Jamie showed their ability by finishing 13 points ahead of previous National champions Shane Guanaria, Craig McPhee and Paul Ridgeway.

 

Recipe for success

 

The winning Whitsunday Australian Tasar Championship recipe starts with 93 two-person sailboats. Add to those 186 sailors their families and friends, sprinkle in race officials, add some media. Then sift in local volunteers; sail it on the bay at Airlie Beach in challenging conditions, then get back on shore for some fun and a bucket of rum, and you have the recipe for another great event.

 

Why Airlie Beach?

 

"It's the lay day here so here's a little snippet. Forget about the sailing; the bottom line is I'm sitting on our deck looking at the club twilight race underway just off shore, in shorts and t-shirt sipping on a nice cool Heineken. Sun is going down and all is well with the world, (apart from the yacht racing we are involved with. That's another story!)

 

Ready for 21^st

 

Airlie Beach Race Week is turning 21 in one month's time, so it will be time for another celebration on the waterfront.

Almost one hundred yachts are already entered for the Meridian sponsored event and the social event dance card is filling.

Originally established with Don Algie as the Hog's Breath series, it has fulfilled the originators dream of a fun regatta to tune up for Hamilton Island. It has become a serious event with a full slate of entries across ten classes.

A growing fleet in the regatta is the sports boats that hotrod around the fleet with crew hanging on yelling "yahoooo"

Starts August 13 with the series including bay and island races and social events that anyone can enjoy.

 

Taylors Beach light

 

Mariners are advised that the buoy at Taylors Beach has been restored to normal. AUS charts 827 & 828

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

Big fleet National Titles sail in changeable conditions

Big fleet National Titles sail in changeable conditions

 

The Invitation Race on Sunday saw ninety Tasars front the start line in the gusty conditions at the Tasar National Titles being sailed at the Whitsunday Sailing Club.

This big fleet style of racing gives a start with plenty of excitement and seeing bold manoeuvres paying off better than messing about in the tricky sailing conditions on Pioneer Bay.

The 90-minute race resulted in 80 boats crossing the finish line, a few dropping by the wayside.

Visitors (well the adults anyway) enjoyed the Whitsunday tradition of the bucket of rum and with 300 sailors at the welcome night there was a lot of rum downed in the increasingly friendly atmosphere.

The racing has been close with boats over at the start, recalls, plenty of wind, no wind, shifty wind, variable wind during the two races on day two. The fleet of 93 were happy to get back to the beach. And more rum buckets with which to recover.

After three races, it is nice to be able to report that local sailors Aaron Linton and Jamie Jochheim are at the head of the 93-yacht fleet, possible due to their knowledge of the conditions on Pioneer Bay

Wednesday is a lay day

 

Faith in charts?

 

How accurate are Nautical Charts? How much faith can be placed in them?

Yachting Australia has recently met with the Australian Hydrographic office to discuss recent changes in the use of charts and chart plotters.

Michael Prince, Director of Charting and Information Management at the Australian Hydrographic Office provides enlightenment on this question. http://www.hydro.gov.au/important-info/accuracy_of _charts.pdf

 

Sailor says

 

Sailor said his partner owned half the yacht; "hers is the side that is always nearest to the rocks." Your writer is not entering into that one.

 

SOS Hoaxer jailed

 

A 53 year old pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in California to broadcasting a fake distress signal and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison.

At that time he made the transmissions the man told would-be rescuers that he was in a kayak off the coast of Santa Cruz and having difficulty getting to shore. However, it was found that he was actually at his home.

The man also pleaded guilty to making two other fake mayday calls to the Coast Guard. In all, the court found that he had made 51 false distress messages over six months and costing the Coast Guard $102,000 in search and related costs.

 

Plain talk Act

 

The Navigation Act 1912 is about to undergo a re-write to recast it in modern, plain language and remove outdated provisions. The re-write will create a modern framework for maritime safety and marine environment regulation. It will introduce greater flexibility to allow amendments to international treaties to be readily adopted; and provide confidence and certainty for industry.

The Department for Transport and Infrastructure seeks your views, as stakeholders in the maritime and shipping industries, on the proposed changes.

 

Reef updates

 

Chart update for Bait Reef, Insert underwater rock and extend danger line W to enclose 19 48.430 S 149 03.730 E. Reference Aus254 (plan: Hook Reef) [31/2010]

Heading to the reef? 716(T)/2010 refers Barb Reef west cardinal beacon (19° 49'.07 S 149° 07'.45 E) has been destroyed. Chart Aus254

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

Whitsunday welcomes Tasar sailors at National Titles

Whitsunday welcomes Tasar sailors at National Titles

 

Airlie Beach welcomes over 180 sailors here for the Australian Tasar National Championship that starts with an invitation race on Sunday afternoon and includes five days of racing, a lay day of fun activities and a range of onshore social events.

The Whitsunday Sailing Club is hosting the event for the one-design Tasar dinghy with 91 entries from all Australian states and the Northern Territory.

Regarded by many as the best family class boat in the world, crews consist of father and son, father and daughter, husband and wife, boyfriend-girlfriend, or just special friends, blending a strong family fellowship within the class.

When the winner's trophy is decided on Saturday July 10 it may feature 2009 world champions and former Australian title multiple champions, Robert and Nicole Douglass, a NSW father and daughter duo. Also, keep an eye on the Whitsunday Sailing Club crew of Aaron and Amy Linton who have grown up with the often interesting conditions on Pioneer Bay.

The 4.52 metres (14-feet 10-inch) Tasar was designed to be sailed by a man and a woman and delivers exciting performance without using either spinnaker or trapeze. The wide beam and a cockpit designed for comfortable hiking make the Tasar easy, fun and very exciting to sail in winds up to 25 knots.

The Tasar is constructed to the same specifications by licensed builders in Australia, Canada and the UK thus ensuring a true one design class.

"A group of us dreamed of a boat which would not only be more suitable for men and women than any existing boat but one which would be much better than anything else then available" said Australian designer Frank Bethwaite.

 

Unique Airle event

 

Usually events such as the Tasar Nationals will have a dinner where competitors, race officials and volunteers get together and have the meat or fish in a set affair.

The Tasar dinner next Wednesday evening will be a unique social event where dinners take their pick from the variety of eateries on the Airlie Beach Esplanade.

Offering a wide range of restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets, they are all within arm's reach of one another with tables that spill out onto open-air dining areas or on balconies.

Many of the eateries sport a view over the water through shady trees, the mood enhanced with live music played from across the road.

 

Thar be whales

 

Plenty of whales, some with calves, are being reported by boat crews and passengers returning from Whitsunday island trips this week. Figures collected through Southern Cross University's Cape Byron Humpback Whale Project suggests there are now about 5000 humpback whales taking part in the annual migration to breed in our warmer waters.

 

SOS Hoaxer jailed

 

A 53 year old pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in California to broadcasting a fake distress signal and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison.

At that time he made the transmissions the man told would-be rescuers that he was in a kayak off the coast of Santa Cruz and having difficulty getting to shore. However, it was found that he was actually at his home.

The man also pleaded guilty to making two other fake mayday calls to the Coast Guard. In all, the court found that he had made 51 false distress messages over six months and costing the Coast Guard $102,000 in search and related costs.

This is not the first time that he has been convicted of transmitting a false distress message having been convicted in 2004, sentenced to two years in federal prison, and ordered to pay more than $29,000 in restitution to the Coast Guard.

 

Shute light on

 

Mariners are advised that the F.Bu Leading Light bearing 261° that marks the entrance into Shute Harbour has been restored to normal. AUS charts 252 & 253

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

Plenty of breeze for Seawind Rally

Plenty of breeze for Seawind Rally

 

The fourth annual Seawind Whitsunday Rally sailed from Airlie Beach on Sunday with a record flotilla of twenty Seawind catamarans prepared for a week of breezy social racing, parties and onshore activities around the Whitsunday islands.

The fleet of luxury cruising catamarans, all built in Wollongong NSW, came from far and wide for the now famous cruising event that rivals the best regattas of its kind elsewhere in the world.

Seawind's Brent Vaughan says about 85 crewmembers join the fun filled week flying in from all around Australia plus international guests.

"The rally will have a fleet race from island to island with a party or event at each of the seven destinations."

"Points are gained for not only the racing results, but also the extracurricular onshore activities including such challenges as Island Karaoke and the Blind Man's Dinghy Race just to name a few." Mr Vaughan said.

 

Bligh voyage safe

 

The Talisker Bounty Boat has landed in Kupang, West Timor, having completed an expedition that set sail to re-create Captain Bligh's epic 'Mutiny on the Bounty' journey.

The official landing marks an historic occasion: it is the first time anyone has ever successfully re-created the mutiny voyage, under the same conditions and with the same navigational equipment as Captain William Bligh, who embarked on the 4000-mile open boat journey through the Pacific Ocean 221 years ago.

The four-man crew have undertaken one of the greatest open boat voyages in history, embarked on the seven week expedition, which set sail on the April 9, aboard a 25-foot long, 7-foot wide, open wooden vessel, have followed the original journey across the Pacific from Tonga to Timor.

The crew even faced the same deprivations that included no navigation charts, two weeks of water; hardly any food and no luxuries like a torch and toilet paper.

Led by Australian adventurer Don McIntyre, the expedition included another Aussie Dave Pryce joined by English sailors, David Wilkinson and Chris Wilde.

Not content with just taking on this huge challenge, McIntyre and crew raised  funds for The Sheffield Institute Foundation for Motor Neurone Disease (SIF), which is building the world's first research Institute into Motor Neurone Disease (MND), Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

 

Bowen Sail training

 

Sailing coaches Ben Callard, Martin Watson will join local coaches at the North Queensland Cruising Yacht Club (Formerly the Port Denison Sailing Club) for a sail training youth camp on Thursday July 8 – Sunday July 11.

The Queensland Identification & Development Program is provided in partnership by Yachting Queensland and the North Queensland Cruising Yacht Club to enable all junior and youth sailors access to skills and knowledge coaching and identification

All junior and youth sailors who have completed a Basic Skills 1 course are welcome to take part.

There is room available for sailors and families to camp at the club and this is encouraged. In the evening there will be coaching lectures and fun activities.

In trying to help families, there is some help if you have three or more children please contact Ben Callard at Yachting Queensland on 3393 6788 or ben@qldyachting.org.au

 

Hammo outriggers

 

Mariners are advised that an outrigger canoe regatta will be conducted near Dent Island, Hamilton Island and Pentecost Island between 0630 hours and 1700 from Thursday June 24 until Sunday June 27. Mariners are advised to use caution in the vicinity. AUS charts 252, 253, 254 & 824

 

Seaforth Creek buoy

 

Mariners are advised that the lighted port lateral mark No. 4 beacon Fl R 2.5s at the entrance to Seaforth Creek, has been destroyed. A lighted temporary port lateral buoy Fl R 2.5s has been established to mark the destroyed beacon. Mariners are advised to use extreme caution in the vicinity as remnants of the beacon remain. AUS chart 252

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

Sailing? Must be another Whitsunday 'winter'

Sailing? Must be another Whitsunday 'winter'

 

As it cools in the southern climes, the racing scene warms up in the Whitsunday islands with a full sailing calendar looming on the horizon.

In just two weeks sailing starts in the 2010 Tasar Nationals at the Whitsunday Sailing Club, July  2 - 10.

Whitsunday Sailing Club Flag Officer Terry Archer is keen to host the Australian Tasar championships on Pioneer Bay with an eye on having the popular sailing venue accepted to host a future Tasar World series when an Australian venue is considered.

The club has secured the services of the highly respected Victorian race management team of twin brothers Ross and Kevin Wilson who have been calling the Whitsundays their 'winter address' in recent years, with official roles in the successful Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week and Audi Hamilton Island Race Week events.

The Tasar was designed to be sailed by a man and a woman delivering exciting performance without using either spinnaker or trapeze. The 4.52-metre (14 feet 10 inch) hull has a fine angle at the bow to reduce wave impact drag with unusually clean and sharp chines aft to ensure very free planning and outstanding stability. The foam-cored hull is stiff and light and the advanced hull shape, together with an innovative rig, which combines a rotating mast with a fully battened main sail, allows the Tasar to plane upwind with the crew normally hiked. The wide beam and a cockpit designed for comfortable hiking make the Tasar easy, fun and very exciting to sail in winds up to 25 knots.

 

Winter sailing calendar

 

* 21st Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week August 12-19th with the first race on Friday 13th and the final race day & presentation of trophies on Thursday August 19th. There are also plenty of social happenings with the program nearing completion.

* Audi Hamilton Island Race Week is now in its 26th year and going from strength to strength with a range of sailing and social events unequalled in this or most other countries. Aussie winter sailing around the Whitsunday islands - August 20 - 28.

* Multihull Solutions Whitsunday Multihull Rendezvous - August 28 to September 3th organised by Abel Point Yacht Club provides a great format for multihull sailors. Of course, there is a social calendar with something for everyone.

* Since 1977, the Whitsunday Fun Race has provided a day out for sailors. It continues into the night for everyone. Saturday September 11 at Whitsunday Sailing Club

* International Talk Like a Pirate Day in Airlie Beach is a just for fun day to top off another winter of sailing in the Whitsunday Barrier Reef islands. Everyone has fun and talks like a pirate. Details - Saturday September 18, http://piratesofwhitsunday.blogspot.com/

 

Bare boats

 

Bare boating is not necessarily sailing without clothes, the term means chartering a yacht or ship without a crew.

Whitsunday hosts the largest bareboat fleet in the Southern Hemisphere and with years of experience have a quality product capable of competing in the international marketplace.

Thinking of buying a sailing or motor yacht? Monohull or multihull for racing or cruising? Sailing with friends or family? Don't buy when you can try.

Check out how reasonable it is to charter a bare boat when friends visit or you want a  week away.

Its right in your backyard, so don't fly to some overseas destination - your quality and exciting (or relaxing) holiday is right here.

 

Seaforth Creek entrance

 

Mariners are advised that the lighted port lateral mark No.4 beacon Fl R 2.5s which is the second beacon from seaward marking the entrance into Seaforth Creek, has been destroyed. Mariners are advised to use extreme caution in the vicinity as remnants of the beacon remain. AUS chart 252

 

St Bees Island

 

Activity: light reported unlit

Mariners are advised that the light Fl 2.5s on the southern end of St Bees Island has been reported as unlit. Mariners should use caution in the vicinity. AUS charts 823 & 824.

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan