Weekly Powerboat and Fishing Summary

Round 4 of the 2010 Offshore Superboat Championship held at Redcliffe had to be stopped not once but twice for a race-boat rollover. The first rollover happened to Trojan Steel, with Colin Craven and Simon Isherwood in the cockpit of the Class 1 boat, on the main straight on the first lap as three boats battled for the first marker buoy. The safety helicopters with the divers were on the scene within seconds. Both crew were uninjured and got themselves out of the vessel through the tunnel hatch. On the fifth lap, after the new start Saracen rolled over at the bottom-end of the course. Both Antony DeFina and Nigel Craven were not injured. www.superboat.com.au

The long-awaited new support Class of F4 boats will premiere at the UIM F1 H2O World Championship's 14th Grand Prix of China in Linyi on 2-3 October on the Yihe River. The new series will highlight young, upcoming drivers who are developing towards their dream of driving the ultimate class of racing on water, the UIM F1 H2O World Championship. These 400+ horsepower boats can reach speeds of over 230 kph (143 mph) while turning as much as six Gs in the corners on their multiple-turn race circuits. www.f1h2o.com

Guido Cappellini has confirmed an all-Italian line-up in his new team, MenMar Luxury Constructions, with Marcello Menegatto set to make his Class 1 debut at the Italian Grand Prix on Lake Maggiore, Stresa on 1-3 October. Cappellini and Menegatto will run the Michael Peters-designed Tencara powered by twin Mercury V8-powerplants, the boat that Cappellini drove to fourth and third places in the season-openers at the Brazilian Grand Prix in Rio de Janeiro in March. www.class-1.com

FISHING

Coral reef fin fish will be off limits for two periods this year to protect these fish during spawning. The upcoming closures, coinciding with the new moon, include coral trout, cod, emperor, parrotfish, sweetlips, tropical snapper and sea perch. The closures are from the tip of Cape York in the north, to approximately Bundaberg in the south from 5-9 October and from 3-7 November. The eastern boundary of the closure is the same as the eastern boundary of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Suspected illegal fishing should be reported to the Fishwatch hotline on 1800 017 116. www.marineqld.com.au

POWERBOATS

Mercury Marine’s new Facebook site was designed to provide a platform for people who love boating and fishing to interact with each other. “The reaction has been very strong,” said Anthony Brown, Mercury’s Marketing Services Manager (Asia Pacific). “Someone has posted a shot of a boat with five 350hp Verados on the back – I’m scared to think how fast that thing must go.”

MARINE INDUSTRY

SV Partners of Sydney has been appointed as Receivers/Managers to take control of Websters Twinfisher, the Orange NSW based aluminium catamaran boat manufacturer. Company founders and previous owners Ron and Heather Webster have been appointed by the Receiver to operate the company while new owners are being sought to purchase the entire company as a going concern. The company was sold by the Websters approximately five years ago.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

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 17 -- ORCV's Rip Tour shows yacht and powerboat owners how to approach The Rip at Port Phillip Heads in Victoria. The tour, which always sells out departs from Queenscliff and Sorrento and bookings are essential. www.orcv.org.au

Oct 29 – 31 -- Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic 2010, Mt Isa. Family-friendly event hosted by the Mount Isa Fish Stocking Group Inc. has events both on and off the water. www.mountisafish.org.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 – Bridge to Bridge Water Ski Classic, Hawkesbury River www.waterskinsw.com.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: Trojan Steel up side down at Redcliff courtesy of Andrew Gricks Photography