Wednesday, July 28, 2004


Heading North: East coast sailing season starts

The 19th annual Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race will start this Saturday, 31 July, an event that is second only in status to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race among long ocean races conducted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.
The CYCA introduced the Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race in 1986 as "the great winter escape", taking advantage of the completion of the Gold Coast Seaway. Extensive harbour works funded by the Queensland Government had opened up an all-weather entrance at the Southport bar to deep keel yachts, large pleasure craft and fishing trawlers.
Appropriately, the Official Starter of the inaugural Jupiters Gold Coast Yacht Race was the then Premier of Queensland, Sir Joh Bjelke-Peterson, who fired the starting cannon to send a fleet of 83 boats north with the promise of much warmer weather. An equally colourful character in the late Jack Rooklyn sailed his famous maxi yacht Apollo to a double victory, taking line honours and first place on corrected time.
Since then the 384 nautical mile race has attracted fleets of between 60 and 70 yachts each year, with entries coming mainly from New South Wales and Queensland, but also from Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and New Zealand. In 1997, a record fleet of 86 boats took part.
The Gold Coast Race (sometimes called "the Southport Race" by yachties") is a prestigious race in its own right and is a feeder race north to the winter regattas in the Whitsunday Islands.
This year's Sydney Gold Coast Race has attracted a healthy fleet of 14 Sydney 38s that will go on from the finish at Southport to their Pan Pacific Championships at Hog's Breath Race week in Airlie Beach and National Championships at the Hahn Premium Hamilton Island Race Week.

Standing the test of time

Parents who threaten to read the riot act to their kids, an act that was passed 289 years ago in Britain, might try reading the real thing:
"Our sovereign lord the king chargeth and commandeth all persons, being assembled, immediately to disperse themselves, and peaceably to depart to their habitations, or to their lawful businesses, upon the pains contained in the act made in the first year of King George, for preventing tumults and riotous assemblies. God save the King."

Wordplay

Products no longer explode but instead undergo an "unplanned loss of containment."

Female record

The World Sailing Speed Record Council announces the ratification of the World Record "Transatlantic West to East, single-handed female" Sailed by: Ellen MacArthur on Castorama B&Q, 21st to 29th June 2004 for and elapsed time of 7 days 3 hours 49 minutes 57 seconds and average speed: 17.09 knots.
Ellen's story is not just about sailing, rather one of human endeavour - and here it is, from land-locked Derbyshire girl to 'Yachtsman of the Year', in a flash...
"An expert skipper, electrician, sail-maker, engineer, journalist, cameraman, doctor... unfortunately though, not yet a great cook!
Survival Eating: "Saving weight is critical, eating freeze-dried foodstuffs can significantly save weight on the boat - all Ellen has to worry about is not burning the water!
Race goes on: Ellen describes moments that ultimately make her endeavours immensely satisfying: "A beautiful sunrise welcomed the day in. Inky black clouds slowly lit by an intense yellow sun... A very strong feeling of pleasure to be out here on the ocean... The sheer joy to race again and the chance to be re-living this passion... I feel just lucky to be here."

Open and shut case

A new military radio system is jamming remote-control garage doors in communities near Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. During testing of a new $5.5 million two-way radio system, homeowners in the area reported that their garage door openers failed to work or went wild by themselves.
Complaints? A Federal Communications Commission spokesperson had some bad news for local homeowners. If the Air Force is running the system within its licensed frequencies then the users of garage door openers may have to change the operating frequencies of theirs.
So, shut it!

Hardly fair

We Have Seen the Present, and It Does Not Work: An employer in Liverpool, England, posting a help-wanted ad at a government unemployment office was told she would have to delete a reference to "hard-working" as it is discriminatory.
Are we falling behind in political correctness and sensitivity?

Uinervtisy rscheearch

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is that the frist and Lsat Ltteer be in the rghit pclae.
The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm.
Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Unexploded ordinance

Shoalwater Bay training area. A Marine Danger Area has been declared due to unexploded ordinance from 0001 hours on Thursday July 1st 2004 to Monday February 28th 2005, for all waters within a 2 nautical mile radius of Raynham Island, Latitude 22° 15.97' S, Longitude 150° 32.46' E.
Any person or vessel found within this danger area will be removed by Australian Defence Force personnel or by Queensland Police. Any costs associated with such removal will be borne by the owner, charterer, hirer or agent of the watercraft. Offenders will be subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction; a maximum penalty of 3 months imprisonment and $500.00 fine may be imposed. Charts affected: AUS 260, 367, 822

The Greek year

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled."

Plutarch, Greek historian/biographer

Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan

Wednesday, July 21, 2004

HMAS Wewak granted Freedom of Entry to Whitsunday

A well attended ceremony at Airlie Beach on Saturday welcomed the officers and crew of HMAS Wewak and dignitaries headed by Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill.
Whitsunday Mayor Mario Demartini officially granted the Wewak crew, complete with armed guard, swords drawn and bayonets fixed, Freedom of Entry.
Mario Demartini handed the scroll of the city to Chief Petty Officer David Leeming. The scroll bearer in turn then handed the White Ensign (naval flag) to the Mayor. The chief police officer of the town Sgt Andrew Dupere representing the traditional sherrif then gave official permission for the ship's company to march through the town which they did with gusto to the sound of the beating drums and the Proserpine Citizens Band.
The Freedom of Entry is a British heritage tradition centuries old, started in medieval times and often sees cities adopt military ships named after them.
As the adopted ship of the town of Whitsunday, or Airlie Beach as it's better known, HMAS Wewak is now bound to protect the township in a time of military crisis or unrest.
And where was the ship? In dry dock in Cairns getting a refit so the entire crew could visit.
At the RSL, Wewak captain Lieutenant Commander Ett Mulder and Mayor Demartini exchanged plaques. The sailors gave a Wewak crest and photo of the ship, while Mayor Mario gave a shire crest and ariel photo of the town.
RSL President Bill Rose was presented with a ceremonial life buoy to be displayed in the new RSL at the Reef Gateway.
Sen Hill had an enjoyable relaxed time and later presented two certificates to sailors who had finished their engineering course and two commanding officers commendations. The recipients were quite proud to get their certificates from The Chief.
Senator Hill was very impressed with the new RSL.
On Saturday night the Wewak crew and partners enjoyed a formal dinner. The partners of the crew were quite happy to discover how friendly the town is and are looking forward to spending more time here.
RSL member Col Deller told The Guardian the event was the culmination of two years of planning.
"The Wewak had been busy working for Australia and it took two years to organise this event. It was worth it, just looking at the turn-up on Saturday. It doesn't happen in small towns very often. Senator Hill commented on this and how enjoyable it was to spend the previous night with his wife relaxing in Airlie Beach without the commonwealth car and all the Canberra paraphernalia and weather.
" The crew and their partners really enjoyed Airlie and commented that it was a very friendly place they will visit again.
"Thanks to terrorists, ceremonial swords are not allowed on aircraft, so the swords and weapons used on the day arrived by road.
"I'd like to thank Darren from Gunnadoo and Alf Scully who supplied the sound gear and Proserpine Citizens Band. Kim and Dale Turner did the catering featuring home made treats savoured by the Defence Minister and the appreciative Wewak crew at the RSL.
"All in all it was a very good weekend. ABC Radio gave us good national publicity and Navy News will further show off our town.
"It was worth the work, so thanks to all those who participated" Col added.
So, what's next Col?"
"It looks like the Minister and the Captain have agree to an enthusiastic plan to take school kids out on the ship when it is here next . . ."
Three cheers for Wewak and Whitsunday

Bare boating banned

Canoeing while naked is now illegal on the Elk River in Missouri USA.
McDonald County Commissioners passed a law Wednesday banning nudity on the southwest Missouri County's waters. Violators can be fined up to $1,000.
Commissioners took the action after the sheriff's wife and another woman were offended over the weekend at a private beach in a subdivision along the Elk River, near Pineville.
A group of about 20 canoeists, including several topless women, rounded a curve on the river near the beach, authorities said.
Diane Smith, who was with Evenson's wife and owns property in the subdivision, asked the women to cover themselves because there were children present, authorities said.
Smith told authorities that some people in the group started cursing and assaulting them.
Prosecutor Steve Geeding and the commissioners had been discussing an ordinance banning nudity on the river for several weeks, but the incident prompted them to take action.
"It was a horrible experience, but at least something good came out of it," said Smith, of Bella Vista, Arkansas.
Michael Royal, 26, of Olathe, Kansas still faces charges and was released on $50,000 bond.

Call signs

Ever wondered why Australian call signs start with the letter V?
Radio call signs are allocated on an international basis - Australia was originally allocated the block of VHA-VKZ at the London Radio Conference of 1912.
Many former UK colonies such as Canada, Australia, South Africa and British India were allocated call signs from the V series at the 1912 conference.
The reason? Queen Victoria had recently died - the block was allocated in her memory.

Female record

The World Sailing Speed Record Council announces the ratification of the World Record "Transatlantic West to East, single-handed female" Sailed by: Ellen MacArthur on Castorama B&Q, 21st to 29th June 2004 for and elapsed time of 7 days 3 hours 49 minutes 57 seconds and average speed: 17.09 knots.
Ellen's story is not just about sailing, rather one of human endeavour - and here it is, from land-locked Derbyshire girl to 'Yachtsman of the Year', in a flash...
"An expert skipper, electrician, sail-maker, engineer, journalist, cameraman, doctor... unfortunately though, not yet a great cook!
Survival Eating: "Saving weight is critical, eating freeze-dried foodstuffs can significantly save weight on the boat - all Ellen has to worry about is not burning the water!
Race goes on: Ellen describes moments that ultimately make her endeavours immensely satisfying: "A beautiful sunrise welcomed the day in. Inky black clouds slowly lit by an intense yellow sun... A very strong feeling of pleasure to be out here on the ocean... The sheer joy to race again and the chance to be re-living this passion... I feel just lucky to be here."

Open and shut case

A new military radio system is jamming remote-control garage doors in communities near Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. During testing of a new $5.5 million two-way radio system, homeowners in the area reported that their garage door openers failed to work or went wild by themselves.
Complaints? A Federal Communications Commission spokesperson had some bad news for local homeowners. If the Air Force is running the system within its licensed frequencies then the users of garage door openers may have to change the operating frequencies of theirs.
So, shut it!

Maritime communications

The first meeting of the Advisory Committee of the Office of Maritime Communications was held in June via teleconferencing.
Concern was expressed regarding the standard operating procedures and conversations held on marine radios. Paul Hedgcock (Proserpine) expressed concern about people holding old certificates that were not up with current technology or procedures. J Mair, Manager, pointed out that AMSA were not issuing MMSI numbers to operators holding an MROCP older than 5 years.
Policing frequencies - The public are at liberty to report in writing to the Australian Communications Authority any incident of misuse or abuse of radio frequencies and channels. Once received the ACA is obligated to investigate the matter.

Hardly fair

We Have Seen the Present, and It Does Not Work: An employer in Liverpool, England, posting a help-wanted ad at a government unemployment office was told she would have to delete a reference to "hard-working" as it is discriminatory.
Are we falling behind in political correctness and sensitivity?

Abel Pt shallow

Mariners are advised that a shallow area has been reported in the southern entrance of Abel Point Marina in the approach to Shingley Beach in approximate position Latitude 21°16.07' S, Longitude 148°42.42' E. Charts: AUS 252, 253, 268

Fitzalan Pass unlit

Mariners are advised that the lighted Special Mark buoy Fl.Y.2.5s in approximate position Latitude 20°18.7922' S, Longitude 148°56.0571' E in Fitzalan Passage which is off Whitsunday Passage has been reported to be unlit. Charts: AUS 252, 253, 254, 824

Are you experienced?

"Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it."

Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan

Wednesday, July 14, 2004

Fifteenth Tropical Shirt Regatta only weeks away

As the weeks fly by in the lead-up to the Tropical Shirt Regatta, now a month away, organisers continue to work towards ensuring the fifteenth year at Airlie Beach is a memorable one.
"The event is renowned for the northern Queensland hospitality and Airlie Beach is ready to party!” says Hog's Breath Race Week Regatta Director Andrew Palfrey.
"Over the years, the "Tropical Shirt Regatta" has shown it can put on one hell of a party. The all-important Post Race Debriefing session will start at the Tooheys New marquee. Top yachtie rock'n'country band the Wolverines will be back to entertain the crowds. The Wolverines will be racing each day on Boardroom with her famous cow pattern headsail under the watchful eye of owner John Clinton. John will also back up on drums and vocals each day.
"Hog's Breath Race Week is renowned for its racing and the other important factor of a race week, the post racing entertainment. The laid back nature of Airlie Beach provides visiting yachties with an ideal playground." Mr Palfrey said.
Renowned yachting meteorologist, Ken Batt will be onboard for Hog's Breath Race week at Airlie Beach this year. Apart from working in key roles over many years at the Bureau of Meteorology where he is currently posted at Canberra, Ken has been involved in the Americas Cup, Volvo Ocean Race and Sydney to Hobart Races. Ken will be providing forecasts for competitors each morning in a briefing at the Tooheys New Marquee.
This year Race Week will feature the Australian Sports Boat Championships and the Australian Trailerable Championships. Sports boat President Ray Jones comments 'It's looking good for the Nationals, we are expecting a top class fleet with entrants coming from as far as WA. Brisbane in 2001 has been our most northerly location for our National titles and the usual Sportsboat wild wet ride will be warm and wet at Airlie Beach'.
Entries close - Friday August 6th racing starts Friday the 13th.

Best season

'The Best Mackerel season I can remember' would be the way I describe the bite in the Whitsunday at present says Capt Ken Bryant.
"All the usual haunts for Mackerel have been on fire and even during the wrong tides when they should be off the chew for six hours. I have not seen them so thick in a long time. The large schools of bait fish can take credit for this due to the big rains we enjoyed in January, February and March."
"Not only have the Macks been entertaining us but also the Sailfish and Marlin are showing up in big numbers. We fished a father and his two sons last Wednesday for a billfish charter on Marlin Blue and saw six free jumping Sailfish, raised 5 marlin and sails, hooked up 4 of them and tagged and released 2 sailfish in a double hook-up. Once again, the bait schools were everywhere."

All over tan

The skipper-owner of a nudist charter yacht was fined 4,500 pounds plus costs for running his boat without the correct certification.
Francois Haussauer, 52, had been chartering his 45-foot yacht Scintilla in the South of France for the niche naturist market reports Yachting Monthly.
He promoted the charter via the Internet, but at Horse Ferry Road Magistrates he was found guilty of not having a certificate of competence, and not having a load line certificate. The court heard he tried to pass off customers as 'friends'.

Fined for misleading

Two men have received heavy fines for giving false information to the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F).
The men pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Magistrates Court recently to providing false and misleading information to a Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) officer.
One man was fined $2000 with no conviction recorded. The other was fined $3000 and ordered to pay a further $1500 in professional costs with no conviction recorded.
QBFP field officer Graham Shield said the fines sent a strong message to people not cooperating with QBFP officers.
"The men deliberately gave me wrong and misleading information while I was investigating a separate fisheries-related matter," Mr Shield said.
"Not cooperating with inspectors who are investigating fisheries offences is taken very seriously by the Courts and the Department and these fines reflect that."

Ab-Fab

One day a man, stranded on a desert island for over ten years, sees emerging from the surf a drop dead gorgeous blonde woman wearing a wet suit and scuba gear.
She approaches the stunned guy and says to him, "How long has it been since you've had a cigarette?"
Ten years," replies the stunned man.
With that, she reaches over and unzips a waterproof pocket on her left sleeve and pulls out a pack of cigarettes.
He takes one and takes a long drag and says, "Wow! Is that good!"
And how long has it been since you've had a sip of bourbon?" she asks him.
Trembling, the castaway replies, "Ten years." She reaches over, unzips her right sleeve, pulls out a flask and hands it to him. He opens the flask, takes a long swig and says, "Wow, that's absolutely fantastic!"
She starts slowly unzipping the long zipper that runs down the front of her wet suit, looks at the man seductively and asks, "And how long has it been since you've played around?"
With tears in his eyes, the guy falls to his knees and sobs, "Oh, Wow! Don't tell me you've got golf clubs in there too."

Mackay welcomes multihulls

Mackay Marina caters for an ever-growing multihull cruising fleet. The marina offers 47 purpose built multihull berths ranging from 11-22 metres and has a current total berth capacity of 255 berths including six mega berths catering for boats of up to 50 metres.
A big boat berthing facility is planned for the marina. These larger berths will range from 28 -35 metres and a limited number will be available for purchase. A key attraction to the marina for larger boat owners is the deep-water access with a 4.5 metre draught. Stage one of a separate commercial fishing boat berthing facility is now complete. The marina development also includes four fuel wharves with 13 pumps and a five-lane public boat ramp.

The cure . . .

"The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity"

Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan

Tuesday, July 06, 2004

Aussie Paralympics team chosen for Athens

The Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) was proud to announce the 2004 Australian Team for the Athens Paralympic Games this week.
The APC selected the best 143 athletes from around the country to represent Australia at what is to be the largest Paralympic Games ever held. In Athens, our elite athletes will compete against the best 4000 Paralympians in the world from 130 countries.
After our team's successes in Sydney, where we posted our highest medal tally in Paralympic history (149 Medals, 63 Gold), the expectations on our 2004 team are high. Being host nation in 2000, we had the luxury of having our largest team ever of 278 athletes.
Sailing will be represented by: Jamie Dunross (WA) - Sonar class, Colin Harrison (WA) - Sonar class, Jeffrey Milligan (WA) - Sonar class, Peter Thompson (ACT) - 2.4mR class
Jamie Dunross, who will skipper the Australian Sonar team in Athens, was part of Noel Robins' gold medal winning crew from the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
Colin Harrison and Jeff Milligan under the guidance of Noel Robins placed 5th at the IFDS World Championships in 2002, qualifying Australia for the 2004 Paralympics. Harrison and Milligan will compete in Athens from 17th-28th September, at their first Paralympic Games.
Peter Thompson takes on the 2.4mR class again. Thompson was part of the Sydney 2000 Paralympic team, narrowly missing a medal after a starting line mishap in the last race.
The APC is confident we have chosen the best possible Australian team to continue Australia's reputation as one of the greatest nations in the world in Paralympic sport.

Government floats divers' code

People who dive for a living would benefit from better safety measures outlined in a new Queensland Government consultation paper say Premier Peter Beattie and Minister for Industrial Relations Tom Barton who released the consultation paper following Cabinet endorsement this week.
"We are proposing greater protection for occupational divers including crayfish and sea cucumber harvesters, people involved in aquaculture, researchers and underwater photographers," Mr Beattie said.
"Although only about 2,000 people dive in such industries, at least five people have died and 50 have been injured in the past five years.
"Divers have diverse jobs - from harvesting seafood and repairing boats through to retrieving golf balls - so a rigid set of regulations would not be practical.
"The government believes the industry needs a code of practice supplemented by regulations.
Minister Barton said the government now sought feedback from industry and the community on options in the Regulatory Impact Statement.
"Occupational dive operators are already subject to the Workplace Health and Safety Act and any breach can lead to large fines and prison terms. Three successful prosecutions have been completed and another six are under way.
In 2000, the government introduced the recreational diving and snorkelling code of practice to cover recreational divers and snorkellers and people employed in the recreational diving industry.
The code was amended in 2002 to introduce additional provisions for further protection of recreational divers and snorkellers.
The consultation paper will be sent to industry groups and other interested parties including Indigenous communities for their comment.
Comments on the consultation paper will close on August 20.

Knot ROPES

The Record of Practical Experience and Sea Service (ROPES) system has been instituted by Maritime Safety Queensland who says it is a new way for people to apply for reductions of up to 50 per cent of the sea service required for the issue of an open commercial marine licence (certificate of competency).
The maritime industry was concerned about the length of time involved in gaining the sea service required for a certificate of competency. To address this concern the National Marine Safety Committee (NMSC) developed the national Record of Practical Experience and Sea Service (ROPES) system.
The ROPES system utilises books that record tasks you have completed in addition to sea service. These books have a similar section to the Record of Service (ROS) books for recording sea service. However, the key difference is the ROPES books contain a number of structured, on-board tasks for the book holder to complete.
These tasks must be supervised and signed off by the master, engineer or a competent supervisor. People who partially complete a ROPES book may apply for a pro-rata reduction of sea service.
Participation in the ROPES system is voluntary. Should a person decide not to complete a ROPES book they can still complete the full amount of sea service normally required for the certificate of competency.
The ROPES system is not a competency based assessment and does not replace the need for people to complete the required training with an approved marine training provider.

News battle

An irate retired captain stormed into a newspaper office in a great fume. "In a feature you referred to me as 'battle-scared' instead of 'battle-scarred'."
"We are awfully sorry, captain," apologized the editor, "We'll rush through an urgent correction."
The correction read "In yesterday's article we called Captain James "battle scared", that was of course a gross mischaracterization. What we intended to say was that the good captain is a bottle-scarred seasoned sailor.

Mackay welcomes multihulls

Mackay Marina caters for an ever-growing multihull cruising fleet. The marina offers 47 purpose built multihull berths ranging from 11-22 metres and has a current total berth capacity of 255 berths including six mega berths catering for boats of up to 50 metres.
A big boat berthing facility is planned for the marina. These larger berths will range from 28 -35 metres and a limited number will be available for purchase. A key attraction to the marina for larger boat owners is the deep-water access with a 4.5 metre draught. Stage one of a separate commercial fishing boat berthing facility is now complete. The marina development also includes four fuel wharves with 13 pumps and a five-lane public boat ramp.

Holbourne Island Light

List of Lights Vol K/2004 Amend light range to 11Miles. Chart Aus825.

Weather report:

If you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain

Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan