Weekly Powerboat and Fishing Summary

POWERBOAT RACING

The first major Class 1 title of the season, the European Championship, will be decided at the Italian Grand Prix on 1-3 October on Lake Maggiore, Stresa. www.class-1.com

The results for the Windsor Spectacular, conducted by the Upper Hawkesbury Powerboat Club on 18-19 September are posted on www.uhpbc.net

Three Grand Prix in four weeks in China start on 2 October in the city of Linyi as they host their first UIM F1 H2O World Championship event on the Yihe River. There is no clear favourite for the title with six points separating the top six drivers. www.f1h2o.com

FISHING

Some of the Central Coast’s most disadvantaged children will learn a little about life and a lot about fishing when they take part in a learn to fish workshop at Terrigal on 21 September. The workshop, organised by Industry and Investment NSW in conjunction with the Haven Education Centre, is designed to teach children who have had little exposure to fishing a set of skills which can be used for the rest of their lives. www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries

The Bligh Government is delivering on its’ election commitment to continue the very popular ‘Living Queensland Lifestyle’ Free Kids Fishing Clinics by providing another 100 clinics. Through the clinics already delivered 2,727 youngsters have been provided with basic fishing gear and shown the fundamentals of how to fish, including an introduction to Queensland's fishing rules.

NEWS BRIEFS

A week long search for a missing 21-year-old Irishman lost at sea off the coast of Mackay was called off on 21 September. The backpacker had been working as a crewman on a fishing trawler, The Guiding Star, when he fell overboard.

The Marine Rescue NSW (MRNSW) and the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association (AVCGA) have signed an ‘in principle’ agreement supporting a unification process. This agreement, with the approval of the AVCGA National membership, will permit willing NSW AVCGA Flotillas, including all their assets, cash at bank, licences and leases to be formally signed over with them when each Unit transfers to MRNSW.
www.marinerescuensw.com.au

Ex-HMAS Adelaide is to be scuttled off Avoca Beach near Terrigal in NSW to create an artificial reef following an assessment by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

The 2011/12 Marina of the Year Awards are now open for entry. After the success of the Marina of the Year awards in 2009/10 an additional category has been added to specifically recognise excellence in club marinas. The two other awards categories are marinas under 140 boats and marinas 140 boats and over. The awards are administered by the Marina Industries Association of Australia (MIAA). www.marinas.net.au

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Sep 27 – Fishing Workshop, Apex Reserve in Narooma NSW from 10am to 2pm. Anglers aged between 8 and 14 years can learn how to fish or brush up on their fishing skills. www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries

Sep 30 – Oct 3 – Melbourne Leisure Fest, Sandown Racecourse - the latest in boats, RVs, camping, fishing, 4x4 and accessories. www.melbourneleisurefest.com.au

Oct 2 – 3 – Heaven Can Wait (HCW) 24 Hour Yacht Race and the associated One Lap Dash will be held on Lake Macquarie, near Newcastle, NSW. The event raises money for the NSW Cancer Council and Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie. www.heavencanwait.com.au

Oct 2-17 -- BIGFI$H COMPETITION at the Murrindindi and Mitchell Regions in Victoria. Keen anglers have the chance to win $50,000 as four tagged fish worth $50,000 each will be released into Lake Eildon and the Goulburn River. www.watchusgrow.com.au/bigfish

Oct 8 – 10 – Club Marine Mandurah Boat Show, Mandurah Offshore Fishing & Sailing Club WA www.mandurahboatshow.com

Oct 9 – 24 -- Sydney Harbour Island Hopping gives people access to the harbour islands of Sydney Harbour National Park via one looped tour, with tailored entertainment and experiences on each. Cruises will run each Saturday and Sunday. www.harbourislandhopping.com

Oct 15 - Barra Bounty, Rockhampton’s five-star fishing event staged on the Fitzroy River, where anglers compete to tag and release Barramundi. www.capricornholidays.com.au

Oct 15 - 17 -- Sunraysia hosts the first ever UIM World Unlimited Displacement Powerboat Championships at Gol Gol NSW, approximately ten kilometres north east of Mildura. www.fastwater.com.au

Oct 16 – 17 -- 2010 Classic and Wooden Boat Festival, National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Sydney - 100 boats from graceful yachts to streamlined speedboats, a festive marketplace selling all things nautical and an outstanding display of boating products. Discover the skills of traditional maritime craftsmen including blacksmiths, rope knotters, caulkers and sail makers. www.anmm.gov.au

Oct 30 -31 -- Australian Superboat Championships final, Temora, NSW. www.v8superboats.com.au

Nov 5 – 7 -- Wide Bay Australia Bundy Thunder, Bundaberg will be jammed packed with adrenalin pumping boat racing, water and boat displays and fun for the whole family. www.bundythunder.com.au

Nov 6 - 7 -- Australian Offshore Superboat Championship - Round 5, Geelong. www.superboat.com.au

Nov 13 - 14 -- Australian Offshore Superboat Championship - Round 5, Geelong. www.superboat.com.au

Nov 13 - 14 -- The Copper Cove Marina Festival in South Australia will combine the best products and produce from local boating, seafood and wine suppliers. www.coppercove.com.au/marina_festival

Nov 20 – 21 -- 2010 Lipton Cup Regatta, held on Port Phillip. www.liptoncupregatta.yachting.org.au

Nov 20 – 28 -- 2010 Lake Mulwala Power Festival in Victoria www.lakemulwalapower.com.au

Nov 26-28 - 2010 World Grand Prix Hydroplane Championships on Lake Mulwala, Yarrawonga. More at www.lakemulwalapower.com.au and www.gpworlds.vicapba.com.au

Photograph: Stresa, Italy courtesy of