POWERBOAT RACING
Plymouth-based CPR team principal, Chris Parsonage, is optimistic that they will complete the repairs being carried out on Negotiator in time for the final two races of the season in the Emirates/Dubai Duty Free Dubai Grand Prix. After a collision with Skydive Dubai the amount of work needed is considerable. Skydive Dubai will not run in the final two races of the season. www.class-1.com
PWC CHARITY RIDE
NSW Maritime has provided an exemption from the speed restriction on the Young Adult Personal Watercraft (PWC) Licence for a charity ride on the Murray River to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation. An exemption from the 10kt speed restriction has been granted to Coen Ashton, a 13-year-old cystic fibrosis sufferer, in order to reduce fatigue and shorten the overall trip time. Coen hopes to cover about 2000 kilometres of the Murray River from Yarrawonga Weir in Victoria to Goolwa in South Australia by PWC, arriving in time for 2011 Australia Day celebrations. www.maritime.nsw.au
SKIING
The Moama Water Sports Club Committee has again postponed the 2010 Barrie Beehag Ski Race Classic due to the height of the Murray River and further rain expected. A date has yet to be decided, but it will be after the 2011 Southern 80. www.southern80.com.au
POWERBOATS
Award-winning fibreglass boat manufacturer Haines Hunter has appointed two new dealers in southeast Queensland. Servicing the Brisbane and northern Gold Coast region, Leisure Marine is located at Capalaba on the doorstep of Brisbane’s boating playground, Moreton Bay. Dolphin Marine at Buderim has been servicing the greater Sunshine Coast region since the mid-1990s.
Bar Crusher has updated the model numbers across its entire range of award-winning plate aluminium fishing boats having recently achieved CE certification. Inline with ISO standard for CE compliance, Bar Crusher’s model numbers now reflect the overall length (LOA) in metres.
OUTBOARDS & ENGINES
Boat owners wanting to repower their boat with a new outboard or engine can save time and get a quote online from a selected Mercury Marine dealer. Requesting a quote on-line takes just a few minutes, with boat owners only having to fill in a few details about themselves, their boat and the engine they are interested in. www.mercurymarine.com.au
Mercury’s Four Stroke Portables, starting at just 2.5 hp and 19kg, provide clean, quiet, fuel-efficient outboard power… and they are easy to use. An exclusive all-in-one multifunctional tiller handle gives drivers total control with easy, one-handed shifting, stopping, steering, throttle, tilt and start on all Mercury FourStrokes from 8hp and up. There’s also an easy-to-use steering co-pilot and the tiller arm can fold up or down for added convenience.
SAFETY
Victorian Water Police issued a warning to boat users after they were called to recover a boat with a flat battery. In calm conditions boats can drift large distances and a wrong position call results in time searching in the wrong area which is a waste of resources and could lead to loss of life. Inexpensive GPS devices are readily available and could ultimately mean the difference between being rescued and not being found. www.vicpolicenews.com.au
NEWS BRIEFS
About a dozen people were injured on Sydney Harbour on 4 December when the charter vessel Katika suffered a control failure as it approached the Casino Wharf, hit several unmanned vessels berthed in the area and collided with Wharf No. 9, Pyrmont at 11.46pm. The most serious injury was a person with suspected spinal injuries. The vessel, approximately 18m in length, was on a harbour cruise and sustained serious damage. There was minor damage to the wharf. www.maritime.nsw.au
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Dec 26 -- Rolex Sydney Hobart starts on Sydney Harbour at 1.00pm on Boxing Day. Charter boats of all shapes and sizes and a variety of costs are available to watch the start of this iconic event. http://rolexsydneyhobart.com
Dec 31 -- New Year’s Eve. Spectacular fireworks are fired off the Sydney Harbour Bridge, barges, and city skyscrapers at 9.00pm and midnight. Charter vessels participate in a themed parade following the 9.00pm fireworks. A special area is set aside for charter vessels in the Harbour. www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nye/
2011
Jan 16 -- Grafton Bridge to Bridge conducted by the Big River Ski club Inc. www.graftonb2b.org.au
Jan 26 -- Australia Day. Events on Sydney Harbour include a Ferrython, Awesome Forces displays, best-dressed vessels competition, tall ships race, 174th Australia Day Regatta, Sydney Ports Jazz on the Water Concert. For details see www.australiaday.com.au
Feb 4-6 -- Melbourne International Boat & Lifestyle Festival, Docklands. www.miblf.com.au
Feb 11-14 -- Australian Wooden boat Festival www.australianwoodenboatfestival.com.au
Photograph: The damaged Negotiator courtesy of
