Whales, sandy beach, dugong, turtles, sundowners for you

 

Whales, sandy beach, dugong, turtles, sundowners for you

 

People living in Airlie Beach had a great show during breakfast one morning this week. Right outside their window were Humpback whales playing in the blue water of the bay.

Also, a workmate sent a note: "Just saw a whale on the way to work at Hamilton Island. Makes me feel a bit better bout getting up for work at 6am on a Sunday!"

With the whale population growing every year, they are easy to spot. Many have offspring alongside and spend their time floating up and down the passage with the tide, the pups feeding and frolicking.

Friends sailed over to Blue Pearl Bay on Saturday spotting two pods of Humpbacks that made the kids very happy so they came up with a couple of questions, as kids do.

Q. How do you weigh a whale? A. At a whaleway station

Q. What do you do with a blue whale? A. Cheer it up!

 

Thar be a sign

 

Be on the lookout for a new nautical flag that is sure to enhance some fun times on the water. Incorporating a swallowtail design, the colours are blue at the base rising up to a red sunset colour.

Adorned with 'C U @' and a setting sun, indicates that you are welcome to come aboard for a sundowner. Facebook friends Grotty Yachty are responsible for the 'See you at sunset' burgee.

 

Marine Stinger

 

Marine Stinger Awareness Week will start September 6 and continue through to September 10. The week will consist of various information talks at schools in Bowen, Proserpine and Cannonvale and will finish with a display at the Whitsunday Boat and Lifestyle Show. GBRMPA and QPWS have been kind enough to allow space for the Whitsunday Marine Stinger Management Committee at their boat show display.

 

Dugong spotting

 

The local co-ordinator of Seagrass Watch Whitsunday Jacquie Sheils is looking for adventurous people who would like to get up close to turtles and dugong in the seagrass meadows of the Whitsunday coast and islands.

Imagine yourself with your group of snorkelers observing these unique marine creatures in their habitat while you learn to record the health of the seagrass surrounds.

Jacquie says, "It is a fun activity that is quite different. Training is given and we are in need of more volunteers for the start of the grazing season, so give me a call on 0420 747959 or check out www.seagrasswatch.org/whitsunday

 

Life's a beach

 

News of the arrival of 200 tonnes of fresh clean EPA approved quality assured sand for the beach at Airlie as part of Council's maintenance program stirs a few memories.

The sand at one time was just average river sand from some unknown source and I think the old tourism association may have had it done before the council took on the task.

Years ago, there was effort put into getting rid of rocks that came to the surface; some were picked up and some pushed back down by the excavator during one tidy up.

Inevitably, some of the sand redistributes around the bay with a sandbar from outside the sailing club over to the creek. The late John De Vere of Golden Plover hired an excavator to dredge Airlie Creek and for many years there were two timber piles marking the entrance.

There is also the story about Hamilton Island in the Keith Williams' years sourcing nice sand from over Whitehaven way, but that might be a story for another time.

 

Mariner Notice

 

Mariners are advised the annual Multihull Solutions Whitsundays Multihull Rendezvous Race Week, a weeklong yacht race will be sailed from Sunday August 28 to Friday September 2.

Abel Point Yacht Club will conduct this Aquatic Event in the smooth and partially smooth waters of Pioneer Bay and Whitsunday Passage.

The race involves approximately 30-40 multihull sailing vessels. Mariners be advised to navigate with caution in the vicinity, especially at the party following each day of racing.

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

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

 

Smoke on the water - Race Week riff

 

Smoke on the water – Race Week riff

 

Sailing up Pioneer Bay midday Saturday I spied numerous colourful kites set across the horizon as the Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week fleet enjoyed sunshine and 15-20 knot puffs of breeze.

A bush fire in Funnel Bay was well alight and burning toward its inevitable snuffing at waters edge where it would run out of fuel.

Through the smoke on the water appeared another bright red flame-like image darting across the bay.

The big red multihull was taking advantage of the breeze, lifting her hulls like a dancer lifting her skirts in an exotic dance for the crowd.

But hark! There's no crowd about. The big red rocket sled; rooster tails splashing aft of whatever precious little was left in the azure waters of the bay; alone as she crossed the finish line.

Was it Christmas in August, Santa rushing toys to the girls and boys? No. Just a big boy's toy in the form of the record-breaking 18.48m New Zealand trimaran Team Vodafone; the quickest yacht to compete in the Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Week.

Ever.

Top speed 31 knots with an average of about sixteen knots to set the record of 1 hour 56 minutes in the 31 nautical mile Double Cone-Armit-Alden Island race.

'Smoke on the Water' by British band Deep Purple, released in early 1972 was number four on U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and also four in the BBC's 'Top 20 Greatest Guitar Riffs Ever' was played by Ritchie Blackmore on a Fender Stratocaster.

 

Don't damage dugong

 

Boaties are asked to take extra care due to an increase in dugong activity in Whitsundays waters.

Whitsunday Mayor Mike Brunker has echoed a Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service advice to be on the alert for dugong activity in waters around Airlie Beach and Bowen.

"QWPS has recorded an increase in dugong activity at Shute Harbour, Abel Point Marina area, Hill Inlet and in Edgecombe Bay, Bowen," Mr Brunker said.

"Dugong are migrating to feed on local seagrass beds but unfortunately these beds are close to shallow boating areas," he said.

"I ask all boaties to keep an eye out over the next few months, avoid shallow seagrass meadows, and when in shallow areas, reduce speed to below 10 knots, as well as observe harbour and marina speed limits."

"By applying a bit of commonsense, unfortunate situations involving accidental harming of a dugong can be greatly reduced," Mr Brunker said.

Report dugong and any marine animal strandings to the 24hr Marine Animal

Strandings Hotline 13 QGOV (13 74 68).

 

Lighthouse weekend

 

They throw a powerful beam and cut an often lonely and solemn figure above the rugged seascape while protecting the coastlines of the world.

The 14th International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend August 20-21 will light the way and celebrate their guardianship of seafarers through history.

This weekend Amateur radio operators will ensure attention is paid to these important heritage structures in recognition of the role played in the safety of seafarers and their charges over the years.

Around the Australian coast a record 59 entries adding to the over 400 participating around the globe.

 

This is a job?

 

The Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators and the Whitsunday Charter Boat Industry Association have successfully secured funding from the Queensland Government for a long term Crown of Thorns (COTS) Eradication Program in the Whitsunday area and Great Barrier Reef.

Twenty fully funded places available for youth between 17.5 and 24 years old to train in COTS control over six months.

A fantastic opportunity for youth in our region, those interested should apply for this award wages paid traineeship position.

Training includes courses in Open Water Scuba, Advanced Adventurer Diver, Stress & Rescue Divers, COTS Control, First Aid and Oxygen providers leading towards future employment as Dive Masters in the marine tourism industry.

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

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

 

 

Welcome to Record Fleet for Airlie Beach Race Week

 

Welcome to Record Fleet for Airlie Beach Race Week

 

Welcome to Airlie Beach and thank you for being  part of  a record fleet for our fun in the sun event. I thought I would pen a few lines about the race history to which you will no doubt add by your presence. Welcome aboard!

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 his board.

One idea Don had was to start a restaurant by the name Hog's Breath; other idea a bit later was to start a sailing series in Airlie Beach.

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

Originally titled Hog's Breath Cruising Classic the Airlie event was intended to be more irreverent featuring shirtsleeve sailing and onshore fun with reggae and calypso bands and the music of Jimmy Buffet.

Boss Hog Don and sidekick Miles Wood and the crew at the Whitsunday Sailing club lead by Commodore Jimmy Hayes would adjourn to Don's first Hog's Breath Café in Airlie and continue the plotting and planning over many beers and rums. Boss Hog Don was the type of guy and sponsor who would leave Hog's saying, "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 years, Airlie Race Week has developed, fended off competing series like Hayman Island Big Boat series, matured, changed sponsors to Meridien Marinas and generally become the tune up and play up week before the fleet heads to Hamilton Island.

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

Many others worked hard over the years and it could not have happened without all the fabulous volunteers. However, this regatta is still Don's party to me.

The post race party including lottery drawn with coconuts spewing from Mucka's concrete truck and the Competitors Marquee at Abel Point Marina, allowing yachties an hour or two of after race "lie-telling" over cool refreshment, before hitting Airlie for dinner has proved a great success.

While Hog's has developed into a world-class event on the water, is remains a wonderful social event on shore reflecting the founder and patron of the event, Don Algie when he states the philosophy, "have fun, good partying and oh yeah, great sailing."

 

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 paid. Nevertheless, volunteers do a vast amount of work 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. Want to help? Call the club on 4946 6138

 

Reality TV not new

 

Some viewers of Gilligan's Island apparently took the television show seriously in the 1960s. The U.S. Coast Guard received several telegrams from concerned citizens asking why they didn't rescue the Minnow's crew

 

Boat Haven Bay

 

Mariners be advised that the development works for the Port of Airlie Marina complex have been completed. All plant and equipment including special mark buoys Fl Y 5s are withdrawn. AUS charts 252 & 253

 

Only one month until the Rotary Meridien Boat and Lifestyle show Airlie Beach September 10 & 11

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

Sailors count in Census

 

Sailors count in Census

 

Special arrangements will ensure visiting sailors are counted as the national Census coincides with the build up to Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week

'You count with Meridien' was a phrase that came up during talks this week with Meridien manager Richard Barrett, marina staff and Census Officers.

"We are extremely busy with Race Week only a few boats shy of the record of 119 boats now, so working with Census Officers will ensure all goes smoothly."

Head of the Population Census program, Paul Lowe says it is vital that the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) captures an accurate snapshot of Australia on Census night.

"The Census aims to accurately count everyone in Australia on Census night August 9."

Mr Lowe says ships and boats moored in Australian ports and marinas will be visited by accredited Census Collectors in the days leading up to Census night.

"People staying on their boats in ports or marinas on Census night will have the option of completing the Census in two ways. They can complete the traditional paper form or complete the Census online using eCensus."

Staff and passengers on international cruise ships and other ships in Australian waters, Census night will be counted on Census night.

The ABS is expecting at least 30 per cent of the population will choose the easier eCensus option.

The eCensus should be completed on Census night, August 9; however, the eCensus website is open until September 5.

 

Pirate Talk Week

 

In accordance with The Pirate Code, International Talk Like a Pirate Day be extended to include Fun Race and the Rotary Whitsunday Boat and Lifestyle Show at the Port of Airlie beginning September 10 with International Talk Like a Pirate Week in Airlie Beach extending until Ashes Sunday September 18.

More time means more fun and Fun Race this year will include clashes with horned Vikings, off beach dinghy races and messin' about in boats with a big party afterwards.

 

Free tickets

 

Always looking after the local community, the Rotary Club of Airlie Beach has a limited offer for you to get a free ticket to the 2011 Whitsunday Boat and Lifestyle Show, Port of Airlie September 10 & 11. Details www.whitsundayboatshow.com.

 

Mayday fakes

 

South Australian Police have received many radio calls for help that are hoaxes, wasting time and resources for emergency services.

The calls have related to a range of fake emergencies and Local Service Area operations manager, Senior Sergeant Gerry Nicholson, has warned officers are investigating.

These include calls on both CB and marine radio that creates the belief the caller is in dire straits and requires immediate assistance.

Responding to hoax calls results in the use of large numbers of volunteer personnel, helicopters, marine vessels and other emergency services  like police, SES, CFS and ambulance.

 

Racing insured

 

The Whitsunday Sailing Club is calling on yacht racers to ensure all privately owned boats carry the necessary insurance for racing.

Club officials believe it is in everyone's best interest on the racecourse and will ask owners to supply their insurer and policy number.

"We ask that you work on getting this information together - dig through your filing cabinet / shoebox / under the bed for your insurance policy - and have this information handy."

 

Shute Harbour notice

 

Mariners are advised that the lighted steering mark beacon Fl WR 4secs in approximate position latitude 20° 16.75' S, longitude 148° 48.06' E, located adjacent to Molle Channel, has been reported unlit. Mariners should use caution when in the vicinity.

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

Fishers seek foreign crew for reef trout boats

 

Fishers seek foreign crew for reef trout boats

 

A severe lack of crew is forcing professional fishers to call for overseas skilled workers to meet the challenge of Queensland's two-speed economy.

While the Hong Kong Market price for live Coral Trout is hitting highs of $AUD85.25 a kilo, Queensland fishers have their boats tied up due to lack of crew.

Bowen fisher Greg Smith is Chairman of the industry Reef Line Council and tells Whitsunday Coast Guardian, "Most of the Coral Trout skippers up and down the East Coast of Queensland as well as the majority of our members, have approached me in recent times outlining the desperate need for skilled labour."

"At present, the Queensland Coral Trout industry is facing a multitude of problems; the greatest of which, is the supply of skilled crew for our fishing vessels. Many of our members are grounded through lack of crew and are loosing money hand over fist as we can not set out to fish in empty boats."

"We all feel that it would be the solution to many of our current industry problems, mostly the crippling plight we find ourselves in, when it comes to recruitment and retention in the two speed economy we are all suffering, in Northern Queensland.

"Currently, advertisements for crew members go either un-answered or applicants simply do not meet the requirements or have the aptitude for the work required of them," Mr Smith added.

 

Whale of a time

 

Friend took her Dad for a trip out to the Great Barrier Reef; here is her report. "We're not even 5 minutes from the mainland and we've seen whales already - feeling so very privileged!!!! And beautiful weather as well - love living in the Whitsundays."

 

Your own island?

 

What makes somebody want to own an island? "It's the sort of place that's on people's wish lists," says William Jackson, an estate agent who sells three or four islands every year.

Right now there are quite a few islands you could snap up around the world. Once the haunt of pirates, Sully Island is just 400 metres off the Welsh coast near Cardiff, could be yours for a mere £95,000.

There are several other islands for sale around the British Isles including Thorn Island off the Pembrokeshire coast, with a Grade II listed Napoleonic fort on two acres of grassy rock.

Last month, a local buyer bought Taransay, a Hebridean island with a wealth of history and once home to pagans, Vikings and TV's Ben Fogle.

"Owning an island is a kind of Shangri La wish, to have your own kingdom," says Jackson.

Closer to home Double Island is just 1.5km off the coast north of Cairns with an $8 million price tag for one of Australia's most exclusive resort island retreats, offering an endless source of unspoilt beauty and natural tranquillity, And only six minutes from Cairns Airport by helicopter.

On the other hand, you could rent Virgin tycoon Sir Richard Branson's Makepeace Island, located 20 minutes from Noosa. Once called Pig Island, a muddy patch of land floating in the Noosa River, this 9.2 hectares heart-shaped island has been transformed into an ultra-luxurious retreat to accommodate 22 guests.

Branson also owns Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands that only costs US$53,000 a night for your 28 friends.

 

Mariners be advised

 

Pioneer Rocks - that a lighted isolated danger mark buoy Fl (2) is temporarily established at Pioneer Rocks. The light is of reduced intensity and marks a large area of rock and reef. The lighted buoy will be in place until the permanent beacon light is restored to normal.

 

Unsafe Passage - that the front leading light F Bu (F day) bearing 240° which marks Unsafe Passage between Mid Molle Island and North Molle Island has been restored to normal.

 

Fair winds

Cap'n Dan

 

Working Together today for a Healthier Reef Tomorrow

Local Reef Guardian Schools are participating in the Future Leaders Eco Challenge (FLEC)with this year's event seeing students participate in activities focused on supporting healthy ecosystems and improving sustainability in their schools and at home.

The theme for this year's Reef Guardian Schools FLEC, Working Together today for a Healthier Reef Tomorrow, aims to help students connect sustainability and environmental initiatives within their community to a healthy Great Barrier Reef.

Students will have the opportunity to investigate a local ecosystem through field based activities that are translatable to their school based projects.

The Whitsunday Future Leaders Eco Challenge; Bring a hat, sunscreen, water bottle, raincoat and sturdy closed shoes next Wednesday at Cannonvale Beach from 8.45am

 

Whale Jail?

 

Is Australia a whale jail? Is overregulation killing tourism? Compare Canada and Australian whale tourism.

In eastern Canada – "But for a real thrill why not try sea kayaking to get up close and personal with whales. Where else in the world can you see humpback whales (some 5,000 pass this way each year) and 10,000-year-old icebergs only two hours from New York?

"The company offers snorkelling and diving with whales for $199 and "Iceberg Close Encounter" for $149."

However, in Australia the headlines read "FEDERAL agents will carry out secret surveys of Cairns tourist boats by land and sea to ensure they are keeping a good distance from migrating humpback whales.

"The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and officers from the Federal environment department, alongside officers from the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management, are starting compliance surveys, as part of a nationwide operation to enforce whale approach limits.

Boats are not allowed to be within 100m of a whale in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. A person in water must not move any closer than 300m to a whale. A person must not enter water closer than 300m to a whale.

A department of environment representative said officers would be involved in a various compliance and enforcement strategies, including land and sea patrols and covert surveillance.

"The public are encouraged to report suspected offences."

Your writer can confirm that the main problem with getting up close and personal with a humpback whale is that they have very smelly fish breath.

"Whale watching did not exist as an organized activity a half a century ago, yet today it accounts for some 3 million participants in thirty countries generating almost a half a billion dollars annually." Value of Life by Stephen Kellert (1997)

 

Thorny issue

 

Funding is sought to put in place a long-term eradication program for Crown of Thorns starfish (COTS) following recent research and assessment in the Whitsunday area by Projects Global.

The Whitsunday Charter Boat Industry Association and the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators are seeking letters of support for a Regional Crown of Thorns Eradication Program.

Local divers and Projects Global confirmed that some locations do have significant outbreaks and collected sufficient data to apply for government funding for a Whitsundays specific eradication program.

 

Mariner Notices

 

Boat Haven Bay - Mariners be advised that a sailing vessel has sunk midway between Abel Point and Mandalay Point, in the Small Craft Mooring Area. The vessel, exposed at all tides, lies in about three (3) metres of water. A Special Mark buoy is temporarily established to mark the sunken vessel. Mariners should use caution in the vicinity. AUS charts 252, 253 & 268

Going north? Admiralty publication Indonesia Pilot Volume 3 Fifth Edition 2011 be published and replaces previous editions. For further details, refer RAN Australian Hydrographic Service.

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

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

Funds needed for reef stars halt

 A Crown of Thorns Starfish control and assessment team operating in the Whitsunday region during June killed hundreds of the starfish on Bait and Knuckle reefs in the first significant outbreak in several years.

Col McKenzie, from the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators, says operators in the Whitsundays noticed an explosion in Crown of Thorns Starfish (COTS) numbers in the region, with Bait and Knuckle reefs damaged.

"We need to do something about it or it'll just eat all the coral out on those particular reefs," Mr McKenzie said.

Blame for the increase in the pest is the result of significant recent rainfall.

"Bait Reef operators have noted a significant increase in the number of COTS they see during their diving day," long time local diving expert Tony Fontes told The Whitsunday Coast Guardian this week.

"Dive operators are now working with the Whitsunday Charter Boat Industry Association to lobbying for a government sponsored eradication program.

The crown-of-thorns is a corallivore, a carnivorous predator that preys on reef coral polyps.

 

Mystery ship in port

 

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 when launched was 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.

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

Named Butterfly McQueen when launched, 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.

Claiming to be a target for the SIS and the CIA, cult leader Mogens Amdi Petersen disappeared one day in 1979 and not seen again for the next 22 years until he was arrested in the US. Released in 2006 during an appeal Petersen and four other directors of the 'charity' have been hunted by Danish authorities on allegations of money laundering, tax evasion, and fraud.

The Superyacht was originally named after Butterfly McQueen; the first black actress to win an Oscar - for her role as Scarlett O'Hara's maid Prissy 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.

 

Coral Sea battle

 

This week thirty warships are patrolling in the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef area as part of as part of Australia's largest joint military training exercise with U.S.

Joint Task Force Commander, Vice Admiral Scott Van Buskirk, Commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet, said the exercise was important for Australia and the U.S. to maintain close military ties.

"By exercising together we will increase interoperability, flexibility and readiness which will help us maintain peace and stability in the Pacific," Vice Admiral Van Buskirk said.

Exercise Talisman Sabre involves more than 22,000 troops at Shoalwater Bay near Rockhampton, and other sites in Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Talisman Sabre exercise is Australia's largest joint military training exercise and it is important to the security of the region.

 

Marine Notices

                

Lagoon Rock - Mariners are advised that the lighted west cardinal mark beacon Q (9) 15s, which marks Lagoon Rock off Whitehaven Beach, has been destroyed.

Spitfire Rock - Mariners are advised that the lighted west cardinal mark buoy Q (9) 15s that marks Spitfire Rock in Kennedy Sound, south-west of Lindeman Island, has been reported to be off station. AUS charts 252, 254 & 824

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

Farmers, fishers, school kids, councils - say "our reef"

 

The screening of the new Reef Guardian community announcements on television featuring fishers, farmers and graziers has surprised some; however, the programs aim to highlight the positive actions undertaken by primary producers along our Great Barrier Reef coast.

The Reef Guardian initiatives are voluntary programs that aim to promote new industry stewardship to improve capacity and facilitate the adoption of environmentally sustainable practices that will ultimately improve the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef.

Participants representing GrowCom, Canegrowers, Agforce, Regional NRM groups, Local Marine Advisory Committees, DPI, State and Commonwealth Government, as well as grower/producers expressed enthusiastic support for the Reef Guardian programs.

The overarching objective of the programs is to engage positively with farmers, fishers and graziers in the Great Barrier Reef catchment, through recognition of best practice management actions that contributes to reef resilience.

At a recent meeting of the Whitsunday Local Marine Advisory Committee members heard from Karen Vohland, GBRMPA Director of Reef Guardians and Regional Engagement,

"It is not an eco certification program, it is skill list recognition program," She said.

"It is about encouraging and recognising the work that is already happening; developing skills. Not just about environmental sustainability but includes economic sustainability for farmers, fishers and others who have a great knowledge and ability to do what they do."

Weather it is the soil or the sea it all affects the GBR and this program can generate positive outcomes and best management practices leading to a triple bottom line of social, economic and environmental of the various businesses.

The Project will strengthen the existing Reef Guardian School Program, which has in excess of 230 schools participating, and the Reef Guardian Council Program with ten councils involved.

 

Good TIPA

 

TIPA is Tourism in Protected Areas and is a framework for managing tourism on national parks that has been under discussion with the tourism industry, recently finalised, and released by then Minister for Environment Kate Jones MP and Jan Jarratt MP Minister for Tourism.

An information evening for tourism operators that run programs on many of our iconic National Parks in Queensland is on Wednesday July 13, 6pm Reef Gateway Hotel, RSVP or details - jane.graham@derm.qld.gov.au

 

Pirates are real

 

Yes, and there are two types of pirates. The popular type speaks a combination of West Country English and 1930s Hollywood called 'mid Atlantic,' sing songs about rum and waving their hook in the air. Seen in Airlie Beach during International Talk Like a Pirate Day (Note. Saturday September 10 this year)

Then there's the other type who, if they speak English, have a Somalian accent and are armed to the teeth, if they have any. They kidnap ships and crews and then ransom them. This type be giving 'type one' pirates a bad name.

Those sailors who are lucky enough to be roaming the high seas or considering it often ask about staying safe in a sometimes-unsafe world.

To be very safe, consider staying in a safe harbour sitting on a big fat armchair, where demanding that 'someone should do something about it' works a treat.

The next level requires doing something yourself where you find quickly that the Nanny State ends where the water gets rough.

Therefore, it pays to consider ways to protect yourself and your ship; the best idea is to not go where gunplay is the norm. So avoid some regions usually where your insurance coverage ends, be cautious and educate yourself about areas with lower, but existing risks.

Even on the waterfront, having a second wallet with small amount of cash, expired credit card and perhaps a cheap watch to give aggressive intruders might save your bacon.

Carpet tacks on deck in strange ports are reported to have some affect, leave a light and music on, buy some pepper spray but leave your guns at home.

 

Mariner Notices

 

While out sailing this week I saw that the leading lights on Daydream Island guiding vessels through Unsafe Passage between Mid Molle Island and North Molle Island be still in disrepair.

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

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

Short sleeves and sports boats get ready to race

Having turned 21 last year, the annual Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week has grown in stature by adding exciting class fleets to the tropical shirtsleeve sailing at Airlie Beach and around the Whitsunday islands.

The fast, furious and highly competitive sports boat class will be joined on Pioneer Bay by new fleets of junior sailors sailing International Optimists and the tried and true Sabot.

For the first time, junior sailors are to join the bigger boats in this fantastic regatta sailing with the rest of the world at the August 12-18 regatta.

While the August 12 start is nearing, teenage sailors Klaus and Eva Lorenz from Whitsunday Sailing Club have some serious sailing to do before then, as they will represent Australia in Optimists at the 2011 Asian Championships, taking place in Singapore in the last week of July.

The Whitsunday Optimist Regatta during Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week will eventually form part of a Queensland circuit, with its own perpetual trophy.

Over 100 boats will be racing across ten classes at Airlie Beach with racing from Friday August 12.

 

BVGYC

 

Yes, the 'BVGYC' Beaut Views Grotty Yachty Club is planning a rendezvous during race week that will mark twenty five years since John Bertrand AM fresh from skippering Australia II to victory in the 1983 America's Cup head-butted the platypus.

While at press time, it is not known if Bertrand will grace Airlie Beach for the Race Week reunion a usually reliable source says BVGYC Commodore and Boating Oz pioneer Kathy McKenzie will be in town for the event.

Susie Costello is tracking down some of the crew, Lawso is usually in Airlie at the sailing club and some others will no doubt float up, as they tend to do.

 

Holiday sailing

 

 The Whitsunday Sailing Club has a fun sailing program for kids who are looking for an introduction to sailing these school holidays.

Sailing instructor Roger Stewart says, "The whole idea of this holiday program is to introduce kids to the basic elements of sailing and sea safety. I try to focus on making every session fun and interactive."

 

Smile and wave!

 

Some Japanese tourists just asked me to take a picture of them. When I said "Wave" they ran off.

 

Old bubbly

 

Last year divers found intact bottles of champagne, believed to date from between 1782 and 1788, in the hold of a shipwreck on the Baltic seabed. In November, a bottle of the "world's oldest champagne" was opened and tasted by experts who judged it to be quite palatable. Last week two bottles of the shipwreck champagne went on auction in Finland. Despite expectations that each bottle might sell for as much 100,000 Euros (approximately $140,000), the winning bids were 30,000 Euros ($43,500) for a bottle of Veuve Clicquot and 24,000 Euros for a bottle of Juglar.   

The money is to go towards maritime history and environmental projects in the Aland Islands, located between Sweden and Finland. Experts are still trying to determine the identity of the 170-Year-Old shipwreck, believed en route to Russia and the Tsar's court.

 

Sabot sails

 

Recovering from the cyclone, Mission Beach Sailing Club is in desperate need of Sabot sails for their club boats. Sails in any condition would be appreciated, as they do not have five sails for their 'learn to sail' sabots. Contact: Judy Heath 40688201 jgheath@bigpond.com

 

Want a chance?

 

Racing and delivery crew wanted for Hamilton Island Race Week - www.hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au/forum

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan

 

And then there were none

 And then there were none

 

Submariners are known as a tough breed and they themselves will say "a bit crazy' to sail a boat below sea level.

However, as with any fighting force they need support and leadership and that appears to be the missing elements in both Australia and Canada.

Both Australia and Canada have naval headquarters in cities far away from the sea in Canberra and Ottawa and both places are described as full of admirals, politicians, bureaucrats and a waste substance that should not be published in a family newspaper.

Sure, an accident or mechanical breakdown will occur, that is why nations have more than one submarine.

Last week HMCS Corner Brook grounded leaving Canada without any operational subs.

Apparently the Canadians are not alone in this regard, as Aussie sub HMAS Dechaineux is in dock in Perth for inspection after limping home from Singapore leaving the Australasian fleet of six submarines also in no shape to put to sea.

Reports say that for the first time in a generation, Australia does not have a single submarine available to defend the nation today.

Sources say the entire fleet of six Collins-class submarines cannot be put to sea despite the navy's claim that two of them remain officially "operational" but insiders say the reality is that neither vessel could be put to sea today if required.

Not having a single task-ready submarine is an embarrassment for the navy, whose attempts to improve the performance of the $10 billion fleet have been stymied by breakdowns, accidents, lack of crew and the growing unreliability of the ageing vessels built between 1990 and 2004.

 

Wubbo Ockels

 

The Ecolution, an innovative sailing yacht built by former Dutch astronaut Wubbo Ockels, reached port near The Hague on Tuesday afternoon after a successful test voyage.

The futuristic boat was sabotaged and sunk by vandals last December. Mr Ockels says the first phase of repairs has been completed with more work needed to repair the state of the art electronics.

Mr Ockels called the test voyage with the Ecolution "fantastic". He said, "My wife and I shed tears when the sail was hoisted for the first time."

The hyper-modern yacht with its space-age design is able to generate its own energy and is built with sustainable material.

 

Ark bids

 

The Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Invincible was sold to Turkish scrappers last February. Now bids are open for the sale of HMS Ark Royal. While scrapping seems a likely outcome the tender allows that "alternatively the vessel may be purchased for re-use/refurbishment for non-warlike purposes."   Now a Devon based diver is bidding to sink the ship as an artificial reef off Torbay to promote sea life and provide a dive site for recreational divers.

In addition to the bid to sink the ship, there be plans to use the Ark Royal as a floating commercial helipad in London, turning it into a school, a nightclub or a base for security personnel during the Olympics." 

All bids are due by 1000 BST on June 13.

 

Port of Airlie update

 

Mariners are advised that actual channel depth below port datum (Lowest Astronomical Tide) in the Port of Airlie Marina development, as defined in NTM 1109 (P) of 2010, is declared to be 1.8m as of Thursday, 9 June 2011. AUS charts 252, 253, 268 & 824

Boat Haven note: A meeting of the Proserpine Shire Council on June 9, 1960 approved the adoption of 'Boat Haven' as the name for the bay at the eastern end of the Town of Airlie, till then known as Muddy Bay. The idea was to rid that muddy bay of the stigma of the earlier name. Source: Ray Blackwood.

 

Fair winds to Ye!

Cap'n Dan