Weekly Powerboat and Fishing Summary

POWERBOAT RACING

Class 1’s official photographer, Simon Palfrader, won top honours in the 12th UIM annual photographic competition, lifting the gold medal in the Offshore category with his dramatic aerial shot of Maritimo 12 crashing out during the Romanian Grand Prix. Find out more at Class-1.com.

A strong field contested the third round of the 2010 Rayglass NZ Offshore Powerboat Championship on 20 February on Gulf Harbour, north of Auckland. Line honours in the 100-mile race went to Sam Fillmore and Cary Gleeson in Doosan, with Steve Whitford and Warren Lewis in Fairview Windows and Doors coming home second. Third was A1 Homes driven by Scott Lewis and Murray Tuffin. All three superboat crews are Auckland-based. NZoffshore.co.nz.

FISHING

Recreational fishers will soon benefit from more fish on the bite as construction begins on the first artificial reef promised as part of the Bligh Government's $1 million trial artificial reef program. The first site is being developed at the depleted Harry Atkinson Artificial Reef which was first established in the mid 1970s. The other trial artificial reefs are planned to be developed north of Moreton Island and east of Bribie Island. More details at MarineQLD.com.au.

Fisheries Queensland’s barramundi monitoring program is celebrating ten years of collecting information from commercial and recreational fishermen about the species. Most barramundi caught were between three and five years old and the age is determined by examining banding patterns in the ear bones (otoliths). The large variation found in fish growth between different river systems relates to environmental conditions such as water temperature and food availability. For more information on barramundi and other species monitored by Fisheries Queensland or to become involved in the monitoring program contact 13 25 23 or visit Deedi.qld.gov.au.

SKIING

A man died following a water skiing incident near St Georges Basin, on the New South Wales South Coast. The 56-year-old man was skiing behind a boat on Wandandian Creek, Bewong, when he struck a partially submerged tree. Police.nsw.gov.au.

SAFETY & RESCUE

Given the benefits and growing popularity of LED lighting on vessels, NSW Maritime cautions vessel owners/operators to make sure they fit only LED lights which comply with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, the Colregs. Simply placing a LED light bulb into an existing incandescent light fitting on a vessel does not necessarily mean that your navigation lights will be displayed over the correct arc of the horizon. Maritime.nsw.gov.au.

NEW BOATS & PRODUCTS

The 22nd Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show on May 20 to 23 has attracted more than 35 world and Australasian marine product launches. Exciting new boats displayed for the first time include the world release of Mustang’s 550 Sports Euro; the world release of the Cordova 48 semi-displacement motor yacht by Clipper Motor Yachts; the Asia Pacific launch of Fountaine Pajot’s Summerland 40 Trawler power catamaran and the Lipari 41 sailing catamaran; and the Australian launch of the Fleming 65. SanctuaryCoveBoatShow.com.

The new SmartCraft MercMonitor with ECO-Screen constantly monitors engine RPM, boat speed, engine trim and fuel consumption to automatically calculate the best fuel economy settings for the boat’s current activity. It’s fully compatible with NMEA 2000 systems, which means MercMonitor’s engine management data can be displayed on the screen of NMEA 2000 compatible instruments – fish finder, depth sounder, chart plotter etc – allowing the user to focus on just one display.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Feb 25 – Talk: History of the Royal Navy by Colin Burring, formerly with the Cutty Sark Trust, at the National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Sydney from 6.15pm - 8.00pm. The Royal Navy was created in the 16th century during the reign of Henry VIII. It had its own secretariat, dockyards and a permanent core of purpose-built warships. ANMM.gov.au.

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 2 – Information night on the 2011 Van Diemen’s Land Circumnavigation at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Rushcutters Bay, Sydney at 6.30pm. Jeremy Firth and Penny St Leger from the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania will talk about the 800 nautical mile cruise in company, including places visited and the boat preparation required to make the trip in comfort and safety. The CYCA’s Cruise to Hobart 2011 is timed to allow participants to attend the Wooden Boat Festival and to join the VDL-C. All welcome. Please book at CYCA reception on 8292-7800 or reception@cyca.com.au.

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

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

Mar 11 - 8th Phil Renouf Memorial Lecture at the National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Sydney at 6.15pm -8.30pm. Young men mucking about in old boats will be presented by Warwick Turner, one of the founders of the Sydney Heritage Fleet (SHF) who was instrumental in saving and restoring the Lady Hopetoun back in the 1960s. Turner has had a life-long passion and interest in steam vessels and their restoration, in particular the inland paddle-steamers of previous centuries. ANMM.gov.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. TBFT.com.au.

April 10 - 11 -- Australian Offshore Superboat Championship - Round 1, Newcastle. AOPC.com.au.

April 16 – 18 -- The Croatia city of Split will host the opening round of the 2010 Powerboat P1 World Championship season. PowerBoatP1.com.

Photograph: Simon Palfrader’s winning photograph of Maritimo 12 crashing out.