Southern 80 water-ski fest

World's biggest water-ski weekend on the Murray

Now in its 48th year, the wildly popular Club Marine Southern 80 water-ski race gets underway this weekend between Torrumbarry and Echuca on the mighty Murray. The event is a two-up water ski race, with the expert classes negotiating more than 120 bends in this famous stretch of the river.

Each year, the huge meet and race attracts some 400 entries from all over Australia, with international representation from New Zealand, Great Britain and the USA. More than 30 classes compete, ranging from Unlimited to Outboard, Boys to Girls, Tadpoles (under-10s) to Veterans.

Organisers are chuffed they have 599 entries this year, with the most entries into 60 mph Social, 60 mph Expert and Unlimited Inboard Expert. Boats and teams are coming from 416 towns across Vic, NSW, QLD and SA to compete in what's is the world’s biggest ski-race event.

Saturday Morning is the Total Tools Static Display in Hare St, Echuca. A selection of boats will be on display for public viewing, along with some of the teams. A great morning out with the kids to show them the boats up close! While the display is happening down the main street, the social classes will be taking off from Torrumbarry and finishing at Victoria Park Boat Ramp.

The finish line is the best place to watch the boats screaming around the corner. To access this action-packed area, cost of entry is $20 per day or $30 for a weekend pass. Children under-13 are free. During the racing throughout the weekend, the finish line will have the Aspen Parks Playground to keep the children amused, plus oodles of hot performances and exhibitions.

Saturday Afternoon racing consists of Veterans, Tadpoles (under 10’s) and Senior Social, who take off from Five Mile Boat Ramp at 12 noon. Once the boats have completed their race, the Bakers Blitz and Presidents Dash will take off at 3.30pm, also from Five Mile Boat Ramp. The Bakers Blitz and President’s Dash are racing for the starting positions for Sunday’s racing -- so a good time to be down on the water at the finish line!

Sunday’s racing is for the expert classes, starting from Torrumbarry Weir at 8.30am, racing the 124 bends through the serpentine river to the finish line at Victoria Park Boat Ramp. Classes 14-20 take off during the morning, whilst classes 1-13 starting at 12.30pm. Make sure you don’t miss out on all the fun and excitement down at the finish line, with great entertainment throughout the whole weekend.

Official Southern 80 Results and updates from the weekend will be “twittered” on the Southern 80 Twitter page http://twitter.com/southern80 as boats cross the finish line. Full final results will be available from the Southern 80 web page at the conclusion of presentations.

SAFETY CALL

Meantime, Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) is reminding skippers to put safety first during the Southern 80 waterski race on the Murray River this weekend.

Maritime Principal Manager South, Craig Whitmore said RMS had granted an exclusive use aquatic licence for the safe staging of the race which covers 80 kilometres from Torrumbarry to Echuca.

“Safety will be the utmost priority as the race involves power vessels and skiers travelling at high speed,” Mr Whitmore said. “Boaters are reminded this is an exclusive-use event, meaning no vessels other than those competing are to be on the course during the event.

“Under no circumstances should anyone attempt to swim across the river. When the river is opened to the public, boaters must remember to keep to the right, travel at a safe speed and keep a proper lookout," Mr Whitmore warns.

RMS Boating Safety Officers will be coordinating joint patrols with NSW Police for random breath testing to take place across the weekend. Skippers should remember the blood alcohol limit on the water is the same as on the road -- 0.05.

Control vessels will mark each end of the course and advise spectator craft of the river closure. For safety reasons, occupants of moored vessels in the race area are urged to vacate their vessels during the event.

Exclusive use areas will apply on both days:

Saturday

• 6am to midday from Torrumbarry Weir to the 1712 kilometre river marker at Victoria Park at Echuca, then...

• Midday to 7pm from the 1690 kilometre river marker at Perricoota Marina, Goldsborough Road at Moama to the 1712 kilometre river marker at Victoria Park, Echuca.

Sunday

• 6am to 7pm from the Torrumbarry Weir to the 1712 kilometre marker at the Victoria Park Boat Ramp at Echuca.

Photo courtesy of Roads and Maritime.

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Southern 80 water-ski fest

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