Weekly Powerboat and Fishing Summary

WATER SKIING

A FourStroke outboard powered a SMOC boat for the first time in an Australian water skiing competition. Silent Black, a LAB sports powered by a stock 250 Mercury Verado, started the Feros Hotels Sydney Bridge to Bridge ski race classic carefully, but once past the first bridge started to move up the field. When Silent Black was about to pass second place finisher Stalker, the propeller failed. Silent Black is scheduled to race next at the Southern 80.

Police continue their investigations into a boating collision that occurred on the Shoalhaven River at Nowra on Sunday 29 November. Two ski boats, one towing a wakeboarder, the other towing a ski biscuit carrying two 12-year-olds, were travelling on the river in opposite directions. It’s believed the two boats nearly collided head-on, however one of the boats took evasive action to avoid the collision, and came into contact with the ski biscuit. Both children were thrown into the water, one suffered a significant head injury and the other minor injuries. www.police.nsw.gov.au

POWERBOAT RACING

Slade Stanley won the tightly restricted International Group A category at the 2009 UIM Superboat World Championships at Temora NSW. The Wagga-based builder, ranked as one of the best drivers in the world, claimed the Australian title during September. www.v8superboats.com.au

Italian Guido Cappellini driving the Zepter sponsored boat took a 0.92 second victory in the Grand Prix of Qatar in Doha. Cappellini is within three points of Team Abu Dhabi driver Thani Al Qamzi who came home in fourth position earning just enough to stay ahead in the drivers table. Four races are still to be run in U.I.M. F1 H2O World Championship. www.f1h2o.com/

Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifah Al Nahyan has hinted at the possibility of entering a team in the UIM WPPA Class 1 Powerboat World Championship in the near future. Giorgio Manuzzi will return to racing in the final Grand Prix of the year in Dubai, 10-12 December, with Spanish Team Duemme Broker. Manuzzi started the year as driver of Maritimo 12 with Peter McGrath and enjoyed podium success finishing third in Norway, but their season came to an abrupt halt, crashing out in race one in Romania, and now teams-up with Giovanni Carpitella in the V8 Mercury-powered Sea Dubai - C.A.M. www.class-1.com

FISHING

The black cod (Epinephelus daemelii) is listed as a vulnerable species under the NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994. It is a large reef-dwelling grouper species that occurs in the warm temperate and subtropical waters of the south western Pacific, including off south eastern Australia, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, the Kermadec Islands and northern New Zealand. The species grow to about two metres in length and more than 80 kg in weight, although most are substantially smaller. It is a slow-moving, curious and territorial fish that may occupy a particular cave for many years. A draft recovery plan, developed to promote the recovery of black cod in NSW, can be viewed at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries

Recreational fishers once again have the chance to catch large snapper, known as ‘big reds’, which have arrived in Port Phillip Bay on their annual spawning run. A spokesperson from Fisheries Victoria said indications are that the snapper season is showing great promise, with good quantities of fish between 3-5 kg and a good run of smaller fish in the 1-2 kg range. www.dpi.vic.gov.au

Murray Cod season opens on 1 December.

SMALL INFLATABLE DINGHIES

Quicksilver has created a new range of dinghies which are small, light and easy to prep-and-store – but they are still safe, stable and heaps of fun. The dinghies are constructed with four air chambers – two on the sides, one for the keel and another for the floor. The 200 Dinghy weighs 19 kilograms and can carry a 255 kilogram load and a 2.5 hp outboard, while the 240 Dinghy weighs 22 kilograms and can handle a 315 kilograms load and a 3.5 hp motor. Both dinghies roll up into a bag which is only one metre long.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Dec 31 – New Year’s Eve on Sydney Harbour – Family fireworks at 9pm with the main show on at midnight. www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nye/

Jan 26 – Australia Day – Events on Sydney Harbour include a Ferrython, Awesome Forces displays, best dressed vessels competition, tall ships race,

174th Australia Day Regatta, Sydney Ports Jazz on the Water Concert. For details see www.australiaday.com.au

Feb 5 - 7 -- Melbourne International Boat & Lifestyle Show, Docklands. www.miblf.com.au

Feb 12 - 14 -- Club Marine Southern 80 - Water ski races are held on the Murray River in the border towns of Echuca - Moama. www.southern80.com.au

Feb 19 – 21 -- The Melbourne Wooden Boat Festival will be held at the Docklands precinct on Victoria Harbour. www.woodenboat.com.au/mwbf2010

Feb 25 - 27 -- Variety Splash - Participants will travel a round trip from Docklands’ Melbourne Yacht Club Hotel, with nightly stopovers at Sandringham Yacht Club and Royal Geelong Yacht Club. www.varietysplash.org.au

Feb 27-28 & Mar 6-7 -- 2010 Nautilus Boat Insurance Interclub Tournament, Port Stephens is where NSW Game Fishing Association clubs compete on various levels. It is expected that there will be up to 1000 anglers competing aboard as many as 200 boats. 

Photograph: Silent Black courtesy of Mercury Marine