Weekly Powerboat and Fishing Summary

POWERBOATS & FISHING

Bar Crusher’s 560XS Reef Sport was recently named ‘Boat of the Year, Aluminium Under 8 metres, in the 2009 West Australian Marine Awards. In a state where there is vigorous competition in the aluminium trailerboat segment, the award is a big honour for the Bar Crusher team and testament to the innovation and performance of the product. More details at Boating Oz.

Two men crossed Cook Strait, which separates New Zealand’s North and South Islands, in an amphibious van on 6 September. Aeronautic machinists Adam Turnbull and Dan Melling made the nearly ten-hour trip in a 1990 four-wheel-drive Toyota Tarago van they converted last month. More details.

The Victorian Government has allocated $1.05million over four years to operate an illegal fishing reporting line. 13FISH (telephone 13 3474) is a statewide 24/7 fisheries offence reporting line. More info.

Fishermen have always had a love-hate relationship with aquatic vegetation. They love the fish the plants attract but they hate getting their trolling motor stuck in the weeds. Now MotorGuide has given anglers the upper hand with the new MotorGuide Safari weedless propeller which is designed to deliver a weed-free performance as well as open-water power. More information.

The Victory Team will be looking to complete the first leg of the Grand Slam by lifting the European Championship in the Italian Grand Prix in Stresa in three weeks' time, when Class 1 returns to racing on Italian waters for the first time since 2002. More details.

NEWS BRIEFS

The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association will again be training and testing would-be boaties at Melbourne Leisurefest, when three of the Coast Guard’s top trainers will deliver daily sessions from 1-4 October at Sandown Racecourse. More information.

The OceansWatch Magic Roundabout team, led by Chris Bone, continues to make progress on its expedition through Papua New Guinea, this time returning to Karkar Island, where the yacht last visited local communities in September 2008. More details.

MARINE INDUSTRY

The National Marine Safety Committee (NMSC) this week released for public comment the draft revised standard for the National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) Part C, Subsection 7A – Safety Equipment. More info.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Sep 19 - 20 - Windsor Spectacular, conducted by the Upper Hawkesbury Powerboat Club. Boats are expected to reach speeds over 230 kilometres per hour. Classes racing include Blown Boats Unlimited, 6-Litre Injected, 6-Litre Carby, Outboards, 6-Litre Pro Stock, 5-Litre Carby/Injected as well as Yamato and Juniors. Mored details.

Sep 19 – 20 --Australian Offshore Powerboat Championship Round 8, Gold Coast, Queensland: AOPC.com.au

Oct 3 – 18 -- Sydney Harbour Island Hopping on Saturdays and Sundays for all ages on four islands. More details.

Oct 21 - 22 - Rodd Island Tea Dances, Sydney Harbour. Be transported to the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s with the New Trocadero Dance Orchestra. hMore information.

Oct 25 - Perfect Picnic - DJ Lady Tre will set the ambient mood for an afternoon chilling on Clark Island, Sydney Harbour. More details at Boating Oz.

Nov 6- 8 – Bundy Thunder – Queensland’s biggest powerboat racing spectacular at Sandy Hook, Bundaberg. Bundy Thunder.com.au.

Nov 14 – 15 - Club Marine Sail Boat Show, Sandringham Yacht Club. More details.

Nov 21 – 23 -- Club Marine Boating Extravaganza, Goolwa, SA - 150 on-water sites, more than 200 hard stand sites and a number of hands-on exhibitions and demonstrations. More information.

Nov 28-29 - Lake Mulwala Power Festival Lake Mulwala Power.

Photograph: Geoff Ellis and David Turner, from Perth (WA) Bar Crusher dealership – Offshore Marine