Weekly Powerboat and Fishing Summary

New Port Phillip pilot boats, ferry and speedboat collision, Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide available, new lifejacket laws for NSW

POWERBOATS

Hart Marine was awarded the contract to build an ORC 14.3m and ORC 18.1m Fast Pilot Craft for the Port Phillip Sea Pilots to replace their existing fleet. The Pantocarene designed pilot boats are known for superior self-righting abilities, suspended wheel houses, the Ocean 3 fender system and engineering excellence. There is also the appeal of unrivalled technology in vacuum-consolidated, epoxy-laminated construction that minimises replacement costs. www.biavic.com.au

Six people were injured after a ferry and a speedboat collided on the Parramatta River in Sydney on 7 November. Two people from the speedboat were thrown into the water and were rescued by passing vessels, but four people were trapped in the speedboat wedged under the ferry. A female police officer swam under the hull of the ferry to assist and comfort those trapped within the confined space. The ferry was moved to the Blaxland Road boat ramp where the trapped people were freed and treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to hospital. www.police.nsw.gov.au

POWERBOAT RACING

Class 1’s eight-boat fleet is on the high seas heading east to the United Arab Emirates where the remaining three trophies of the season will be decided in the Abu Dhabi (24-26 November) and Dubai (9-11 December) Grands Prix. Having already secured a seventh European title for the Victory Team after taking maximum points in both races in the Italian Grand Prix in Stresa, World Champions Arif Al Zafeen and Nadir Bin Hendi now turn their attentions to retaining their World, Middle East and Edox Pole Position crowns. www.class-1.com

FISHING

The Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide 2010-2011 is available in hard copy, free of charge, so that you can take it fishing with you or leave it in your tackle box or boat. Hard copies can be obtained from most fishing tackle shops that sell recreational fishing licences, Department of Primary Industry offices, or by ringing the Customer Service Centre on 136 186. www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fisheries

The ‘Get Hooked…It’s Fun to Fish’ program is funded by the NSW Government using funds from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust to improve fishing across the state. Every year $435,000 from the Trust is allocated to providing this program to all NSW schools as part of the NSW Government’s commitment to teaching the community about sustainable recreational fishing. More than 77 schools are registered in the program. www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries

Recfish Australia released a report into the level of recreational fishing occurring in Commonwealth Waters. The report found that in some regions 47 percent of fishing trips occur in waters further than three nautical miles from shore and generate about $27 million for the local community. Fishing in Commonwealth Waters is also not restricted to large gamefishing boats or fishing charter vessels with more and more fishers venturing out in trailerboats under six metres. www.recfish.com.au

SAFETY

A lifejacket only saves your life if you’re wearing it. New lifejacket laws for NSW recreational boaters came into effect 1 November. Under the new laws, all boaters on vessels less than 4.8m must wear lifejackets at night, on open (ocean) waters, on alpine waters and when boating alone. Stronger protections apply to children under 12 who must wear lifejackets on boats less than 4.8m or when they are in open areas of vessels less than eight metres that are underway, which means all deck areas including fly bridges and anything attached to the stern. The new laws also give skippers the legal authority to require passengers to put on a lifejacket in risky situations such as in rough water or after a break-down. www.maritime.nsw.gov.au

Mackay Rescue 5, a $700,000 purpose-built 38-foot Steber rescue boat, was officially launched on 7 November. VMR skipper Dale Atkinson said the boat, which has a top speed of 28 knots and a fuel range of 300nm, was yet to conduct its first rescue. However it has spent a bit of time out at sea training the six skippers, who are rostered on for a week every six weeks. www.marineqld.com.au

MARINE INDUSTRY

Australian cruising catamaran builder Seawind has purchased the trailerable trimaran manufacturer Corsair Marine. Announcing the purchase during Seawind’s 12th annual Pittwater Regatta in Sydney, Seawind Managing Director Richard Ward said: “This is a marriage made in heaven. The two companies have products and manufacturing processes that strongly complement each other. For both Seawind and Corsair, it will signal new growth opportunities in both the manufacturing and sales areas.” www.seawindcats.com

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

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. Charter vessels participate in a themed parade following the 9pm fireworks. A special area is set aside for charter vessels in the Harbour. www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nye/

Photograph: New Port Phillip pilot boat built by Hart Marine courtesy of

www.biavic.com.au

Weekly Powerboat and Fishing Summary

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