Weekly Powerboat and Fishing Summary

POWERBOAT RACING

Round 3 of the Offshore Superboat Championships was held at Townsville on 4th July. The two race format was again used and has had a positive response from race crews and the public.

Missing from the day’s event were The Good Guys after Brendan and Chris Frier rolled their Supercat coming into a corner in the pole position shoot out on Saturday. The boat finished up side down and the brothers were able to exit the craft uninjured as divers and emergency crews arrived at the accident. Maritimo won the first race, Qatar 96 pulled out. In the second race Qatar 96 lead from start to finish with Maritimo second. SuperBoat.com.au.

POWERBOATS 

Peter Bethune who in 2008 broke the official global circumnavigation speed record in his boat, then known as Earthrace, using only 100 per cent biofuel, received a two year sentence, suspended for five years at a court in Japan. Bethune was in court to defend charges that arose after he boarded the Shonan Maru #2, a Japanese whaling vessel, to perform a citizen’s arrest warrant on the captain for ramming and sinking the Ady Gil (Earthrace) in the Southern Ocean in January this year. EarthRace.net.

Mercury Marine continues to display the ‘five ticks of quality’ after passing its gruelling ISO 9001 triennial audit. The ISO 9001 standard covers every aspect of Mercury’s business to do with customer and service support, along with warehousing, distribution and training.

Honda Australia has launched a customer loyalty program, Team Honda Marine (THM), promoting environmentally-friendly fishing and boating. THM brings together like-minded anglers from all over the country via its interactive website and encourages their active participation through fishing photo competitions, member blogs, special offers and more. Membership is free to all owners of Honda outboard engines, both new and used. TeamHondaMarine.com.au.

SAFETY

New lifejacket rules to improve boating safety and reduce deaths from drowning will be introduced in NSW from 1 November 2010. Twenty three lives were lost in boating incidents over the past 12 months, and too often lifejackets were on board but not being worn. Lifejackets will now be required during high risk boating activities. Maritime.nsw.gov.au

Personal flotation devices made to the new Australian Standard AS 4758 are now for sale. It is important for retailers and the general boating public to understand how to identify the markings on the new PFDs. The new standard identifies PFDs for different uses according to “Levels” rather than “Types” and the new Level 150 PFD has increased performance characteristics compared to most PFD Type 1’s. NMSC.gov.au.

IN BRIEF

Yachting NSW has issued a statement to the state’s affiliated member clubs with a message from the president, Geoff Davidson, that signals a total restructuring of the organisation – to be amalgamated into Yachting Australia offices – but also heralds a new national system to be revealed in the next 12 months. Yachting.org.au.

Sabre Yachts celebrated their 40th anniversary with a rendezvous on 9-11 July in Boothbay Harbour, Maine (USA). Emarine Australia’s Jed Elderkin, who represents the Sabre brand throughout Australasia, made the journey from Sydney to attend the celebration. Sabre Yachts currently builds three sailboats ranging 38 to 45-feet in length and six powerboats from 36 to 52-feet in length.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

July 15 - 18 -- Adelaide Boat Show, Adelaide Convention Centre. AdelaideBoatShow.com.au.

July 23 – 25 -- Australian Formula Powerboat Grand Prix, Round 5, McInherney Park, Port Macquarie. FormulaPowerBoats.com.au.

July 29 - Aug 2 -- 2010 Sydney International Boat Show, Darling Harbour. SydneyBoatShow.com.au.

Aug 6 - 11 -- Moreton Bay Fishing Classic, conducted by the Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club, is designed to be fun for everyone while promoting responsible resource conservation and environment fishing practice. Anyone can enter and the estimated prize pool is $200,000. MBTBC.com.

Aug 7 - Hervey Bay Whale Festival. HerveybayWhaleFestival.com.au.

August 11 - 15 -- Perth Boat & Leisure Expo, Perth Convention Exhibition Centre. PerthBoatShow.com.au.

Aug 20 – Sep 5 -- Festival Cairns. FestivalCairns.com.au.

Aug 21 - Traditionally run on the dry bed of the Todd River in the Northern Territory’s Alice Springs, the Henley-on-Todd was cancelled in 1993 due to the uncharacteristic flooding of the river. But it will be business as usual at this year’s event, when residents and visitors alike congregate for the quirky race. HenleyOnTodd.com.au.

Aug 22 - 24 -- Marine Safety Conference 2010, Burswood Entertainment Centre, Perth. NMSC.gov.au.

August 26 - 29 -- Brisbane International Boat Show, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. BrisbaneBoatShow.com.au.

Aug 27 - 29 -- The Great Tropical Jazz Party on Magnetic Island features internationally acclaimed jazz musicians. MagneticIslandJazz.org.

Aug 28 - 29 -- Australian Formula Powerboat Grand Prix, Round, Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith. FormulaPowerBoats.com.au.

Photograph: Andrew Gricks Photography and