Weekly Powerboat and Fishing Summary

British Jet Skier wins world champion, Madness Team Unlimited Displacement World Champions, Bundy Thunder preview

JET SKIING

Lee Stone, a British Jet Skier from Chesterfield, clinched his fifth world title having been crowned IJSBA Pro Freestyle World Champion for 2010 at the International Jet Sport Boating Association World Finals in Arizona. Wowing the crowds and judges, Lee manoeuvred his EME custom personal watercraft through a creative two-minute acrobatic routine which included a ‘Superman back flip’, a trick which had never been done before on flat water. Lee executed it perfectly and somersaulted home with a score of 58.6points with a maximum of 60 available. www.rya.org.uk

POWERBOAT RACING

The Madness Team from Australia piloted by Troy Marland and owned by Derek Marland are the 2010 UIM Hungry Jacks Unlimited Displacement World Champions. The weekend of thrills and spills, torrential rain and sunshine, was held at Gol Gol NSW, near Mildura. www.fastwater.com.au

About 70 drivers and teams from across the country are expected to compete at the 2010 Wide Bay Australia Bundy Thunder at Sandy Hook on the Burnett River in Bundaberg on 6-7 November. Newly-crowned U.I.M. World Champion, Troy Marland in Haier Madness will lead a strong class of compulsory cockpit boats in the top class, along with huge fields competing for the Trojan Cup, the new Sunshine Cup for 5.0-litre displacements and the Wide Bay Australia King of the River. www.bundythunder.com.au

In a blow to the 2010 Lake Mulwala Power Festival, the USA team of GP-12 Schellhase Racing has withdrawn. USA sponsors did not meet their obligations and team owner Bob Schellhase was unable to commit to continue the team’s journey down under. Three New Zealand Grand Prix teams, including past World Champion Warwick Lupton in his boat GP007 Annihilator, should be arriving in Melbourne early November. Lake Mulwala Power Festival will be held on 20-28 November. www.lakemulwalapower.com.au

John Derry, with navigator Brent Hefford, are the Kaiapoi ITM 2010 New Zealand Jetboat Marathon Champions after competing in New Zealand’s first gas-turbine powered Jet Boat. The boat was built by Rob Chrunyk from Bratt Jet in Canada. www.nzjbrra.co.nz

Italian Francesco Cantando took over the lead with just two laps to be run to take his first win of the season and the 12th of his career at the 16th Grand Prix of China in the fifth Round of the UIM F1 H2O World Championship for powerboating. www.f1h2o.com

POWERBOATS

Mercury Marine has been recognised for achieving 15 years of continuous Quality certification. Mercury was first accredited under ISO 9001 in 1995 by Standards Australia (now SAI Global) and has been proudly displaying the prestigious ‘5-Ticks’ logo ever since. Mercury achieved its initial accreditation to help open sales opportunities with the Australian Defence Force, but the system benefits everyone.

FISHING

The Murrindindi Mitchell Bushfire Tourism Recovery Group, a group formed to bring tourists back to Victoria's bushfire-affected regions, announced that the first of four $50,000-tagged fish were caught in Victoria's richest ever fishing competition called BIGFI$H. The MMBTRG encouraged safe and legal fishing behaviour throughout the competition, and the state fishing regulations applied to all entrants. www.watchusgrow.com.au/bigfish

SAFETY & RESCUE

NSW Maritime is investigating the grounding of a 12m timber motor cruiser at Broomes Head, on the North Coast. The vessel grounded on the beach on the evening of 17 October and the two people of board made it safely to shore. It is the owner’s responsibility to salvage the vessel and Maritime NSW will monitor the situation until it is recovered. www.maritime.nsw.gov.au

NEWS BRIEFS

The 23rd Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show on 19-11 May 2011 will feature a newly-configured space including one of the largest pavilion structures erected in Australia for an annual event. Applications by exhibitors for space will be available for registration online from 1 November at www.sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au

Sydney Ports Corporation has invited public comment on plans for a cruise terminal to
be built at White Bay on the south eastern arm of the Balmain Peninsula. The Australian Cruising Industry grew by 18 per cent per annum between 2002 and 2008 and is expected to continue to grow. www.sydneyports.com.au/whitebay5cpt

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

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

Dec 31 --New Year’s Eve - Spectacular fireworks are fired off the Sydney Harbour Bridge, barges, and city skyscrapers at 9pm and midnight. www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nye/

Photograph: Lee Stone in action courtesy of www.rya.org.uk

Weekly Powerboat and Fishing Summary

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