Weekly Powerboat and Fishing Summary

Second US award for Palm Beach Motor Yachts, super motor yachts at Hamilton Island, undersized snapper infringements on Port Phillip

MOTOR YACHTS

The Palm Beach 50, built by Palm Beach Motor Yachts in Australia, has been awarded Motor Boating magazine's Best of the Year for 2011 at the Miami International Boat Show in Florida USA. The boat was also awarded Best New Power Boat in Show at the 2010 Newport International Boat Show in Rhode Island USA. Palm Beach Motor Yachts was founded in 1995 by Mark Richards, a qualified shipwright and the successful yacht racing skipper of Bob Oatley’s series of yachts called Wild Oats.

Organisers of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, which will be staged from 19 to 27 August, have announced that following the successful introduction of a superyacht sailing division last year, a superyacht division for motor yachts will be an additional feature at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2011. www.hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au

FISHING

Fisheries officers are reporting an unwelcome surge in the numbers of people taking undersize snapper in Port Phillip Bay. In recent weeks the officers have issued more than 40 infringement notices during patrols from Mornington, Geelong and the metropolitan area of Melbourne. www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fisheries

POWERBOATS

A factory-installed hardtop is now available for the CruiseCraft Explorer 685. The hardtop is a two-piece moulded system with a smooth gelcoat interior liner that makes it easy to clean and maintain. The two components are bonded together to form a very stylish hardtop shell. Boaters have the choice of two hardtop variations as well as the standard SST Targa Bimini when they order a new Explorer 685.

Melbourne-based Streaker Boats has released the Streaker 5250 Sports model, a classic runabout configuration. The cockpit is open, there are two forward bucket seats on short pedestals and an ample rear lounge topped off with a walk through screen to the bow. With an overall length of 5.25m and beam of 2.13m, this is a big little boat, for the first-boat buyer or perhaps a family trading up from a smaller aluminium rig. It is rated to carry six adults.

OUTBOARDS

Mercury Marine has engineered a more robust gearcase to further enhance its six-cylinder Verado outboards and deliver even greater durability and reliability. The new gearcase, with a 5.44-inch torpedo diameter, is 14 per cent larger than the existing 4.8-inch gearcase, and contains a range of strengthened internal components.

Following a rationalisation of dealers in the Brisbane metropolitan area, Wynnum Marine is the only dealer on Brisbane’s south side authorised to carry out warranty and service work on Evinrude E-Tec outboards.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

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 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 pastimes, 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

May 19-22 -- Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, Gold Coast. www.sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au

Photograph: Palm Beach 65 courtesy of Andrea Francolini

Weekly Powerboat and Fishing Summary

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