Weekly Powerboats & Fishing Summary

Summary for w/b - 01 Feb, 2006 12pm

Acme Fibreglass Supplies Australian Offshore Powerboat Series - A post-race penalty cost current Australian champion Bill Barry-Cotter and his partner Steve Jellick an opening round win at the Hobsons Bay Classic Offshore Race. The defending champions in Maritimo boat AUS1 cut inside the allocated course on the opening lap, resulting in a two and a half minute penalty, handing outright victory to team-mates Ross Willaton and Luke Durman.

Bob Trask trumped the field and sounded a warning that he will be a force in 2006 with an emphatic triple at the opening round of the Australian Formula 1 Superboat Series at Taree.

The International Offshore Team Association has announced a ten race calendar with five new venues and races in eight countries for the 2006 UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship. The Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi and the picturesque Slovenian resort of Portorose will host a round of the championship for the first time.

NSW Maritime has issued a plea for those involved in towing activities like water-skiing to operate safely and defensively after eight serious incidents since the beginning of 2006. The most serious incident involved the fatality of a 12-year-old boy on the Murray River, near Moama, in a water-skiing incident on January 4.

The new 38 Sundancer, the latest addition to Sea Ray's Sport Yacht line, has a seamlessly constructed fibreglass arch that features a forward, moulded-in hardtop to shade the driver and companion seats and an aft canvas soft top.

Barramundi Season opens on Queensland's east coast on February 1.

Jess Sams Game Fishing Tournament on February 3 - 6 is the 68th anniversary of the late Jess Sam's Australian record 330lb striped Marlin caught off Ulladulla, NSW during the 1938 nationwide fishing contest.

More information at www.boatingoz.com.au