Weekly Powerboats & Fishing Summary

Summary for w/b - 24 Jan, 2006 12pm

AUSTRALIA DAY CELEBRATIONS
Public Holiday January 26

Sydney
In the morning hundreds of paddlers race from the Opera House to Blues Point Reserve, and a ferry race is held. At midday all types of boats are invited to join a parade around the harbour. In the afternoon the regatta starts, tall ships race and the Australian Defence Forces conduct aerial displays. At 4pm boaties drop anchor in Johnstons Bay for Jazz on the Water starting at 5pm, followed by the Australia Day Spectacular at 8.45pm.

The Australia Day Parade starts at 12pm. The procession heads under the bridge before turning east, past Bennelong Point and Farm Cove. The parade moves around Clark Island, past Bradleys Head and back up the Harbour to the Bridge where it concludes by 1:30pm. You can join in at any time along the parade route in Sydney Harbour and there are prizes for Best Dressed Vessels.

POWERBOATS & FISHING
The first round of the Australian F1 Superboat Series will be conducted on Taree's Manning River on January 29.

The Acme Fibreglass Powerboat Series will be held in Melbourne on January 28 - 29.

Australian Offshore Challenge - In the light of the relatively short notice and the crowded events calendar at this time of year, the organising committee has reluctantly decided to postpone the event for this year. The navigational rally for cruisers across Bass Strait is rescheduled for 2007.

A tiger shark caught at 'Hells Gate' off Cairns during last years Marlin Season set a new Junior World Record. It was caught by Graham Johnston's son off Graham's vessel Sharaki. The shark weighed a massive 1180lbs and is a new world record claim on an 80lb line by a Junior. The jaws were taken and are on display at the 'Cock and Bull' restaurant in Cairns. Ken Bryant, Marlin Blue.

The Whitsunday's has been fishing very average for the past months. The sharks are in the breeding period and are taking most fish hooked at the reef. The water temp is still over 29 degrees. This has had the effect of sending the fish deeper to the cooler water which gives the sharks more time to get them on the way up. The surface fishing has also been slow with the occasional sailfish and Spanish mackerel showing up at Edward Rocks. Ken Bryant, Marlin Blue.

NEWS BRIEFS
NSW Maritime has announced $1.32 million in State Government grants to support 32 boating infrastructure projects across NSW - under the Maritime Infrastructure Program (MIP).

MARINE INDUSTRY
A summary of a report on China's boating industry is now available online prior to the Boat Tech China, a trade exhibition and conference for the international boatbuilding industry, scheduled for April 3 - 5 in Guangzhou.

The Oceanic Whitsunday Boat & Leisure Show, June 10 - 11. Plans are being put in place to showcase the Whitsundays as a premier destination, not only for a holiday but to find that dream boat.

Honda Marine has appointed Glenn Gibson to the position of Queensland Territory Manager. Mr Gibson has extensive experience in the boating industry having worked at Brisbane's Northside Marine in a variety of service and management roles since 1999 and at a marine mechanical workshop for seven years. He is a keen fisherman and water skier.

More information at www.boatingoz.com.au

Photo: Formula 1 Superboat