Weekly Powerboat and Fishing Summary

Everist claims Victorian SMOC crown, new jet ski show, Morton Bay artificial reef, safety – lights, RFDs, EPIRBs and floods

SKIING

After 20 years in the sport, ski-racing stalwart Timothy Everist claimed his first Victorian SMOC crown with an outstanding win at the championships on Lake Charm. Behind the wheel of The Specimen – a 20-foot Velocity powered by a race bred Mercury OptiMax 250 Pro XS – Tim started in the second wave but fought past the ten boats ahead of him to win by just three seconds with Brett Williamson as observer and Rhys Duggan skiing.

Sea World has launched a new Jet Ski Show for a limited season from 16 December to 23 January 2011 on the Gold Coast. The star of the show will be 19-year-old Lee Stone who is widely recognised as one of the single greatest freestyle riders the world has ever seen. Australian Jon Cooke, Former X Games Gold Medal Winner and first Australian Flat Water Freestyle Champion, will also take to the water in the action-packed extravaganza.

POWERBOAT RACING

Following meetings at the UIM General Assembly in Malta and the subsequent OPC meeting in Dubai, new UIM technical rules governing Class 1 will come into effect 1 January 2011. The new set of UIM rules will ensure the collective wish for stability, affordability and reliability. www.class-1.com

FISHING

A new artificial reef in Moreton Bay has been completed in time for Christmas, following the release of 117 giant ‘reef balls' into waters off West Peel Island. The structures, weighing up to 800 kilograms, will provide the perfect habitat for fish popular among recreational fishers in Moreton Bay. www.marineqld.com.au

SAFETY

NSW Boating Safety Officers will be distributing the ‘Be Bright – Be Safe at Night’ brochure during a safety campaign in a bid to educate vessel operators about navigation light requirements. Twilight is one of the most difficult times to navigate a vessel as your eyes are constantly changing to adapt to the growing darkness. Navigation lights should be tested to see how visible they are at night, both at a distance and with background lighting on the shore and they need to be cleaned and serviced regularly. www.maritime.nsw.gov.au

Australia’s specialist safety distributor, RFD, has met the challenge of the new Australian Standard for the design and manufacture of PFDs with the release of a completely new inflatable jacket. The new RFD Cyclone 150 achieves the top-level 150N performance in buoyancy, is comfortable to wear and suitable for fishing, sailing, and all forms of boating.

RFD has also launched the Kannad Marine line of EPIRBs, PLBs and SARTs onto the Australian market at a time when the demand for these high quality units has never been stronger.

Recent flooding in NSW, especially in the Murray and Inland regions, means boaters need to take extreme care and should be aware of floating debris, navigation hazards, and submerged trees and fences. Boats should only be used on flood-affected waterways in emergencies. www.maritime.nsw.gov.au

NEWS BRIEFS

Bribie Boat Sales, on Queensland’s famous Bribie Island, has become the newest addition to Mercury Marine’s exclusive Dealership network. Dealer Danny Nichols has been in the marine industry for three decades and bought Bribie Boat Sales two years ago.

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 11-13 -- Club Marine Southern 80. Water ski races are held on the Murray River in the border towns of Echuca - Moama. www.southern80.com.au

Feb 11-14 -- Australian Wooden boat Festival www.australianwoodenboatfestival.com.au

Feb 16-Mar 20 -- Van Dieman’s Land Circumnavigation Cruise. www.ryct.org.au

Feb 19 -- The Wooden Boat Rally will be held on the Tamar River at the Seaport Marina in Launceston, Tasmania. www.woodenboatrally.com

Feb 19-20 -- Luhrs Billfish Shootout, Newcastle & Port Stephens Game Fishing Club. Over 30,000 in prize money. www.npsgfc.com

Feb 23-Mar 5 -- Australian Offshore Challenge Bass Strait Rally, a 700nm navigation rally for powerboats starts in Hobart. The fleet travels the east coast of Tasmania, before crossing Bass Strait via the islands of the Furneaux Group and then on to Westernport to the finish in Melbourne.

Feb 24-27 -- Variety Splash. A three-day rally on Port Phillip open to all sail and power boats, commencing at Waterfront City, Docklands, with as evening ‘Welcome’ function. www.varietysplash.org.au

Feb 26-27 -- South Australian Wooden Boat Festival at the historic River Port of Goolwa. www.woodenboatfestival.com.au/

Feb 26-27 & Mar 5-6 -- 2011 Interclub Tournament, Port Stephens is where NSW Game Fishing Association clubs compete on various levels. It is expected that there will be up to 1000 anglers competing aboard as many as 200 boats.

Photograph: 2010 SMOC Victorian title winners

Weekly Powerboat and Fishing Summary

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