Weekly Powerboat and Fishing Summary

POWERBOAT RACING

Australian Offshore Superboat Championship is preparing a calendar of events for 2010. The proposed round one on Sydney Harbour on 16-17 April is still to be confirmed following controversy over the last event held in March 2008. More details at AOPC.com.au.

Rio de Janeiro is the setting for the first Grand Prix of the 2010 UIM-WPPA Class 1 World Powerboat Championship. The Brazilian Grand Prix will take place at Marina da Gloria, Guanabara Bay on 26-28 March. Uddevalla in Sweden is confirmed as a second new venue for the Championship. Check out Class-1.com.

FISHING

The Government has announced it will move to introduce amendments ensuring international changes to the status of mako sharks would not affect recreational fishing activities in Australia. The listing of longfin mako, shortfin mako and porbeagle sharks as migratory species under national environmental law will take effect on 29 January 2010. This is a mandatory legal requirement following their listing under the Convention on Migratory Species - an international conservation agreement to which Australia is a party. Find more at Environment.gov.au.

SAFETY & RESCUE

Boaters are reminded of the need to exercise extreme caution when involved in towing sports such as waterskiing, aquaplaning and wakeboarding, following an accident in which a youth was seriously injured while aquaplaning. The 16-year-old boy hit a submerged branch in Wandandian Creek, at Bewong NSW, as he was being towed while lying on a wakeboard. Maritime.NSW.gov.au.

NEWS BRIEFS

The Ningaloo Coast has been nominated for World Heritage listing by the Australian Government with the support of the Western Australia Government. It was included in the National Heritage List on 6 January 2010. Environment.gov.au.

James Packer's new 24-metre cruiser arrived in Newcastle from Italy chained to the deck of a cargo ship. The Leopard motor yacht has an estimated price tag of between $25 and $30 million and a top speed of 36 knots. The unnamed vessel replaces Packer's $50 million Mangusta 165 Carpe Diem.

NEW PRODUCTS

FinScan have released the Bio eStart Solo for single diesel or gasoline engine boats. The Bio eStart Solo was developed to bring a cost effective fingerprint engine starting solution to boats under 28-feet. A programmed finger is simply presented to the fingerprint sensor for matching, then a press of the green button starts the engine. When the stop button is pressed, the engine will be shutdown and the system armed, all without the worry of keys left in an ignition. See FinScan.com.au for more info.

MARINE INDUSTRY

Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show will introduce a dedicated sea trial area at the 2010 Show from Thursday, May 20 to Sunday, May 23 on the Gold Coast. Exhibitors at the show can book a berth on the sea trial dock within the marina display area. The opportunity is restricted to one berth per exhibitor with a limited number of berths up to 45-feet and some berths possible for longer vessels, depending on configuration. Other initiatives for the 2010 event include a Prestige Brokerage and Charter Display. SanctuaryCoveBoatShow.com.au.

John Temple, Mercury Marine General Manager - Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, went to Regal Marine in Melbourne to congratulate Peter Kent on being Mercury dealers for thirty years. “It was fitting because John was at Mercury when I joined 30 years ago,” Peter said.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Feb 5 - 7 -- Melbourne International Boat & Lifestyle Show, Docklands. More details.

Feb 6 – 7 -- Australian Formula Powerboat Association, round two on the Clarence River, Grafton, NSW. Racing will include Formula Futures, Mono Hull, Formula 1, 2 and 3, with each class contesting three races each on Saturday and Sunday.

Feb 12 - 14 -- Club Marine Southern 80 - Water ski races are held on the Murray River in the border towns of Echuca - Moama. Southern80.com.au.

Feb 19 – 21 -- The Melbourne Wooden Boat Festival will be held at the Docklands precinct on Victoria Harbour. More information.

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. 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.

Mar 6 - 7 -- The fourth Whyte, Just and Moore Lawyers Wooden Boat Festival of Geelong will be held at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club. More details.

Mar 6 – 7 -- Rosehill Trailerboat Show, Rosehill Racecourse, Sydney BIA.org.au.

Mar 19 – 21 -- 2010 Brisbane Tinnie and Tackle Show, RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane TinnieandTackle.com.au.

Mar 26 - 28 -- Club Marine Trailer Boat Fishing Tournament, Port Stephens NSW. 1500 competitors and 500 boats compete for around $100,000 in prizes. More details.

April 2 – Good Friday

Photograph courtesy of www.aopc.com.au