Weekly Powerboat and Fishing Summary

POWERBOATS

Starting from Hobart on 23 February 2011, the second edition of the Australian Offshore Challenge will send competitors on a navigational rally along the coastal passages, islands and bays of eastern Tasmania, on to the islands comprising the Furneaux Group, before continuing an island-hopping crossing of Bass Strait. Having crossed this challenging stretch of water in company as a convoy under escort, Offshore Challenge crews will have accomplished what countless boaties often talk about, but rarely do. If you have a production-standard power boat over six metres in length and would like to enter, go to Offshore Challenge.com.au.

Austal has successfully launched a new 107 metre high speed vehicle-passenger catamaran at its Western Australian facilities. Intended to address increased heavy cargo traffic between Malta and Italy, the vessel has the capacity to carry 800 passengers and 156 cars at a speed of approximately 39 knots and is on schedule for delivery in August. The ferry will be Austal’s 24th commercial delivery to operators in the Mediterranean region.

FISHING

Two custom-built sport fishing charter boats will be displayed by Assegai Marine at Sanctuary Cove Boat Show on 20-23 May. Only 11 boats have been built since the first Assegai hit the water in 1992. Built at Hemmant in Brisbane and more recently at Meredien Marinas by Barry Martin and his team of perfectionists, most Assegai boats have left the south-east Queensland region, operating out of places such as Fiji, New Zealand, Sydney or Cairns. Assegai Marine hulls are composite construction, with western red cedar strip planked then hand-laid with fibreglass and epoxy resin.

POWERBOAT RACING

A Big Boat Race will be held in conjunction with the final of the 2010 Rayglass Offshore Powerboat Championships, on Saturday May 8th in Auckland. Large powerful cruising powerboats or game fishing boats are invited to enter. NZoffshore.co.nz.

NEW PRODUCTS

At Sanctuary Cove Boat Show on 20-23 May Adit Marine is launching its Australian designed and manufactured fresh water inlet device to protect and extend the life of an inboard motor’s heat exchanger. Salt water resting in and around critical engine components leads to salt and scale build up. This increases susceptibility to the motor cooling system overheating and shortens the life of zinc anodes. The company recommends the inlet device be installed between the sea cock and the power plant pump. This allows fresh water to be admitted into the salt water side of any power plant cooling system to avoid scale build up.

NEWS BRIEFS

Increased traffic on Sydney’s Middle Harbour around The Spit has made it necessary to reduce the speed limit from eight knots to four knots. The new speed limit takes effect immediately and applies to an area bound by Clontarf Point and the Middle Harbour Yacht Club on the east and d’Albora Marina and the Seaforth shoreline on the western side of The Spit Bridge. Maritime.nsw.gov.au.

Following a high number of incidents and fatalities, safety on the Murray River and Lakes Hume and Mulwala is under review. Since 1992 there had been 287 incidents, resulting in 28 fatalities and 115 serious injuries on the waterways. This summer there were a further four deaths and seven serious incidents and 80 per cent of boating incidents in the area involve Victorian registered vessels. Maritime.nsw.gov.au.

The marine industry has hit back at a recent media release by the Queensland Transport Minister Rachel Nolan where she calls on greater financial contributions by industry to marine infrastructure maintenance and development. Marine QLD.com.au.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

May 20 - 23 -- Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, Gold Coast. Sanctuary Cove Boat Show.com.au.

May 20 – 23 -- 1770 Festival, Town of Seventeen-Seventy, Queensland. Celebrating the "Birth Place of Queensland”, commemorating the visit of the Endeavour and landing of Lt. James Cook and his crew in May 1770. 1770festival.com.au.

May 21 – 30 -- Port Douglas Carnivale, Tropical North Queensland. A celebration of music, arts, sport, food culture and entertainment. Carnivale.com.au.

May 27 – June 21 -- Vivid Sydney, a festival of light, music and ideas, featuring the spectacular illumination of the Sydney Opera House sails. EventsNSW.com.au.

June 13 - 14 -- The Oceanic Whitsunday Boat & Leisure Show, Meridien Marinas Abel Point Marina, Airlie Beach. Whitsunday Boat Show.com.

June 26 – 27 -- Australian Offshore Superboat Championship - Round 2, Mackay. AOPC.com.au.

July 1 - 5 -- Melbourne Boat Show, Melbourne Exhibition Centre. Melbourne Boat Show.com.au.

July 3 – 4 -- Australian Offshore Superboat Championship - Round 3, Townsville. AOPC.com.au.

Photograph: Entrants in the 2007 Australian Offshore Challenge approaching Melbourne