Weekly Powerboat and Fishing Summary

POWERBOATS

The Australian designed and built Palm Beach 50 was awarded Best New Power Boat in Show at the 2010 Newport International Boat Show at Newport RI, USA. Along with this award, the Palm Beach 50 also won the Powerboat 30ft and Over category.

Celebrating ten years of success, Bar Crusher has released a limited edition version of its most popular model, the 560C. Only 50 Bar Crusher 560C Apache will be built, measuring 6.10m LOA with a 2.25m beam. The boat is constructed from high-tensile 4mm (bottom sides) and 3mm (top sides) commercial marine-grade plate aluminium.

With OptiMax Pro XS, Mercury now has a strong performing family of direct injected engines with six engine variants (115, 150, 175, 200, 225 and 250hp).

POWERBOAT RACING

Welmax’s Jorn Tandberg and Kolbjorn Selmer’s post-race celebrations after their flag-to-finish win in the first race of the Class 1 Italian Grand Prix was cut short after being disqualified from the race and the Edox Pole Position, when the boat failed a post-race scrutineering inspection for an infringement relating to restrictor, blow off valve and airbox specifications. www.class-1.com

Fazza's Arif Al Zafeen and Nadir Bin Hendi won the second race of the Italian Grand Prix, becoming the 2010 UIM Class 1 European Champions, with Primatist-GSG Ceramic Design finishing second ahead of Skydive Dubai. The World Champions mastered the difficult conditions and poor visibility, completing a flag to finish 18th career win for Al Zafeen and Bin Hendi, and securing an eighth European crown for the Victory Team at an average speed of 180.25kmh/112.03mph. www.class-1.com

An estimated crowd of 70,000 witnessed an exciting duel between the two Mad Croc drivers Alex Carella and Sami Selio at the UIM F1 H2O World Championship's 14th Grand Prix of China in Linyi. But the young Italian pole sitter Carella never looked troubled by the challenge of his team mate, and led from pole to chequered flag. www.f1h2o.com

NEWS BRIEFS

Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (Hunter Region) has received a second donation from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race Safety of Life at Sea Trusts (SOLAS). A pledge of $17,752 was made to Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, with the first instalment of $10,025 being presented recently to purchase a new EAM Aviation T4S Sam series Life Raft for the Service’s existing BK117 Helicopter and ten floatation collars. www.cyca.com.au

NSW Maritime has switched on the first web camera to assist inland boaters on NSW waterways, allowing them to view live boating conditions at Lake Eucumbene. The other web cameras are located at Coffs Harbour; Narooma; Port Macquarie; Shoal Bay, Port Stephens; Tweed Heads; Manning River, Harrington; Swansea; Sussex Inlet; Moruya Heads; Merimbula Lake; Bermagui; Brunswick River; Richmond River, Ballina; Clarence River, Yamba; Nobby’s Beach, Newcastle. www.maritime.nsw.gov.au

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

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 24 –- Davistown Putt Putt Regatta & Wooden Boat Festival, Central Coast NSW. The focus is on the heritage fleet of Putt Putt boats that were a vital form of local transport in the early 1900s. Market stalls, on-and-off shore entertainment. www.visitcentralcoast.com.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

Dec 1 -- Murray Cod season opens

Photograph: Palm Beach 50