Weekly Powerboat and Fishing Summary

Van Diemen's Land Circumnavigation cruise in company, race date changes, minimising wash on Sydney Harbour

CRUISING

Since 1990, the Van Diemen's Land Circumnavigation has been conducted every two years or so by the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania. The event is a cruise-in-company involving an 800nm circumnavigation of Tasmania. Lois Ryan, an organising committee member is participating in this year’s cruise on Emeritus II. Read her blog and see the photos at http://blog.discovertasmania.com/

POWERBOAT RACING

Due to circumstances beyond the control of organisers of the Offshore Superboat Championships, the Victorian rounds (Williamstown and Geelong) will be re scheduled for later in the 2011 season with dates to be confirmed. The first round of the championship will now be in Newcastle NSW, on 31 April to 1 May 2011.

Working closely with the UIM, H2O Racing will organise and promote 16 Grands Prix across world powerboat racing's flagship series, F1H2O and Class 1, seven events in the spectacular multi-event Aquabike and Rally Jet World Championship and five events in the inaugural inshore circuit racing championship, F1 Nations Cup. These 28 events will be held in 13 countries across three continents in the next ten months. www.class-1.com

The UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship has eleven boats entered for the 2011 season-opener in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates on 14-16 April. The dates have been announced for ten races at five Grands Prix, with Norway, Italy, Brazil and Abu Dhabi joining Dubai as the season venues, with the possibility of a sixth event to be announced in the coming weeks. www.class-1.com

WATER SKIING

The board of Ski Racing Victoria and the Robinvale Euston 80 Ski Race Committee advise that due to circumstances beyond their control, the 2011 Robinvale Euston 80 Ski Race 2011 has been cancelled. The re-running of Point Score 4 will be held on the same weekend, 12-13 March at Lake Cooper. www.waterskiracing.com

MOTOR YACHTS

Clipper Motor Yachts is releasing the Cordova 45 for the first time at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show on 19-22 May. This is the latest model in the company’s semi-displacement Cordova series. The new model features walk-around decks, a large cockpit, elegant teak timberwork throughout the interior and comfortable two-cabin accommodation with a large bathroom. The Cordova 45 is powered by a single 305hp or twin 305hp QSB Cummins diesels offering cruising speeds from nine to 17 knots.

SAFETY

Saturday 26 February 2011 was a typical day for the rostered boat crew from Marine Rescue Shoalhaven. Good weather, reports of tuna in the area and scores of boats from a regional anglers club made it a busy day. www.marinerescuensw.com.au

Marine Rescue NSW’s first new offshore rescue vessel, a fast response Steber 38 with deployment capability for up to 30nm offshore, is the first of several to be ordered from NSW boat builder, Steber International of Taree. Marine Rescue NSW has embarked on a demanding replacement program for an ageing fleet of more than 70 craft to provide the NSW recreational boating community with a fleet of modern, Australian-built rescue vessels and ensure the volunteers have the right equipment for rescue work. www.marinerescuensw.com.au

NEWS BRIEFS

Due to the large amount of water traffic on Sydney Harbour it is important that skippers are aware of how much wash their vessel creates and ways of minimising it. Wash size and influence is affected by the amount of water a boat displaces, the boat’s speed, its planning attitude and other factors such as water depth. Ignoring a signposted No Wash area can result in a $500 on-the-spot fine, while producing wash that causes damage can result in a $250 on-the-spot fine. www.maritime.nsw.gov.au

Marine Queensland announces a new event on the boat show calendar -- the Mackay Marine Festival incorporating the Mackay Tinnie and Tackle Show and Mackay Offshore Superboat Championships, 25-26 June 2011.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Mar 5-6 -- Rosehill Trailerboat Show, Rosehill Racecourse, Sydney www.bia.org.au

Mar 5-12 -- Eden Amateur Fishing Competition. The annual week-long Eden-based fishing competition with $30,000 in prizes for those who catch the biggest fish! Competitors from all over Australia join in this annual week of fishing and fun with the competition divided into four categories: open, ladies, boys and girls. www.edenfishingclub.org.au

Mar 6 -- Clean Up Australia Day www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au

Mar 12 -- Blessing of the Fleet, an important ceremony at Bermagui, a NSW south coast town where fishing plays a vital role in the local economy. When the ceremony is over, it's time for the Bermagui Seaside Fair. www.bermaguiseasidefair.com

Mar 26-27 -- Australian Formula Jet Sprint Championships at Melton, Vic www.v8superboats.com.au

Apr 1-3 -- Club Marine Trailer Boat Fishing Tournament, Port Stephens NSW. 1500 competitors and 500 boats compete for around $100,000 in prizes. Entries available end of February at www.tbft.com.au

Apr 8-10 -- 2010 Brisbane Tinnie and Tackle Show, RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane www.tinnieandtackle.com.au

Apr 15-17 -- Club Marine Southern 80 -- Water ski races are held on the Murray River in the border towns of Echuca/Moama. www.southern80.com.au

April 16-17 -- Geelong Heritage Festival. This National Trust organised community event’s theme is 'Water'. The Royal Geelong Yacht Club will have all types of historic vessels from times gone by on show and sailing. Some rare film footage will be shown of yachting on Port Phillip Bay from the 1930s. The Enterprize will be berthing at the Club all weekend. www.rgyc.com.au

April 17-24 -- Gladstone Harbour Festival -- free entertainment, live music, street parades, fireworks and the spectacle of the yachts arriving after completing the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht race. www.gladstonefestival.com

April 22 -- Australian Formula Jet Sprint Championships at Temora NSW www.v8superboats.com.au

April 22-24 -- Burrum Heads Easter Fishing Classic celebrates one of Australia's favorite past times, as well as the magnificent Fraser Coast region. While prizes are awarded for both live and caught fish in a number of categories, the emphasis is on the random prize draws. www.burrumfishingclassic.com.au

April 23 -- Australian Formula Jet Sprint Championships at Griffith NSW www.v8superboats.com.au

April 23-24 -- Lake Macquarie Classic Boatfest, Toronto NSW www.classicboatfest.com.au

April 25-30 -- 2011 Cod Nationals, Lake Mulwala. The Cod Nationals is designed for the country’s most fair dinkum anglers to pit their skill against each other over a five-day period while chasing the legendary Murray Cod. www.codclassic.com.au

Apr 30-May 2 -- Australian Offshore Superboat Championship - Round 1, Newcastle. www.superboat.com.au

Photograph: Emeritus II

Weekly Powerboat and Fishing Summary

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