Monday, May 30, 2005

Whitsunday hosts State Marine Rescue Council meeting

Whitsunday will host the State Council meeting of Volunteer Marine Rescue Association Queensland this weekend.
"The Council meets every three months for a weekend and is responsible for the Management of VMR State wide," says Whitsunday representative Michaela Moss.
"The meetings are moved around the State to the various VMR units, so this is an important event for VMR Whitsunday" Mrs Moss told Waterfront this week.
"The regions include the Southern, Moreton Bay, Central, Northern and Gulf of Carpentaria Zones."
There are ten volunteer Councillors and the Vice President, President and Secretary Manager of the State Association. The Vice President and President from each region are represented on the Council
Our regional representatives are Dave Hodge from Mackay and Michaela Moss from Whitsunday.
The meeting is at the VMR base in Altmann Ave all day Saturday and Sunday morning.
VMR Whitsunday is providing a barbeque lunch catered by the Lions Club of Airlie Beach for the Councillors, members and observers
VMR Whitsunday Publicity Officer Malcolm Priday advises that on Friday June 3 there will be a search and rescue exercise at Cid Harbour.
"The exercise will involve a Rescue Helicopter from Hamilton Island and VMR1. It should be quite spectacular with orange and white pyrotechnic smoke markers and liferafts being dropped and hoisting operations from the helicopter. VMR1 will assist with the recovery of dropped equipment and secure surface operations and communications."

Mackay crabbers do the right thing

Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries officers at Mackay have undertaken a series of surveillance operations in response to numerous complaints about unauthorised people interfering with and stealing from set crab pots.
DPI&F district officer Dan Stampa said that during the past two months, known hotspots where crab pot "share farming" had been rife during the summer season had been monitored over a number of tides.
"The good news is that no persons have been apprehended doing the wrong thing," Mr Stampa said.
"Our patrol officers set up discreet surveillance operations in the Seaforth area and targeted problem areas around Plane Creek and the Sarina inlet, Rocky Dam Creek and Boundary Creek in the Armstrong Beach district."
Mr Stampa said the peak mudcrabbing season from the New Year though to May was ending.
He said that while it was acknowledged that mudcrabs were less active during the winter months, the patrol's surveillance activities would be on-going.
Mr Stampa said the Fisheries Act rules were very clear regarding interference with commercial or recreational crab pots. The offence carried a maximum fine of $75,000.

Slade Rock buoy

Mariners are advised that the lighted Port Lateral Mark buoy Fl.R.2.5s adjacent to Slade Rock in approximate position latitude 21°05.1245' S, longitude 149°14.2808' E has been replaced in position. Charts: AUS 249, 250

Mackerel, trout and Mighty Maroons

The water temperature decrease has not only brought the Mackerel on the chew but the reef fishing during the past weeks has been excellent reports Captain Ken Bryant.
"Coral Trout has been on the reef menu along with Sweet-lip and the odd Red Emperor. The trout are prime table fish and you can pay up to $40 per kilo in most fish shops and more in NSW (The state that do not know how to play football.)
"The Boat Show at the Gold Coast was excellent and the next show is at Airlie Beach in June and then in Sydney. C U there. Go the MIGHTY MAROON'S. Cheers, Ken.

Dingo Beach light out

Mariners are advised that the west cardinal light marking exposed rocks located in the vicinity of Dingo Beach, Latitude 20° 04.8' Longitude 148° 30.3' E, is not operational until further notice. Mariners are advised to proceed with caution when navigating in this vicinity. Chart: AUS 825

Miracles

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
-- Albert Einstein

Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Learn about life along the water's edge

Life is on the Edge right on our doorstep. Organisers say you will encounter an environment that is as strange as it is complex during an activity planned for Airlie Beach.
"It is at the land/sea interface that you will find plants and animals that are equally at home above and below the water," say Order of Underwater Coral Heroes volunteers.
OUCH have issued an invitation to join them "for a day of enlightenment and (to) discover for yourself the complexities and mysteries of life along the water's edge."
"The focus of the day is to raise awareness regarding the importance of mangroves and seagrass and to highlight the vulnerability of the dugong and sea turtles, says OUCH Secretary Tony Fontes.
"The day will particularly benefit those who work in the area as they will gain important knowledge that can be integrated into their interpretive programs."
Guest speakers will be presenting topics ranging through mangroves, seagrass, dugongs, and sea turtles.
You will have the opportunity to participate in a guided Pioneer Bay Excursion to see first hand the complexities of this intertidal environment. You might even get lucky and spot a dugong or turtle.
The Mangrove Walk sounds interesting, what can be more fun than a bit of mud and a few bugs while joining an guided interpretive walk through the mangroves.
Where: Shingly Beach Resort from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday, May 28, 2005
What to bring: An unquenchable thirst for knowledge and some bug spray.
Sponsored by O.U.C.H Volunteers and the Department of Natural Resources and Mines. Information at info@ouchvolunteers.com
"The day will be educational, entertaining and just plain fun," promises Mr Fontes.

Whale cruises

A 20-metre whale was found impaled on the bow of the 90,090-ton cruise ship Jewel of the Seas when it arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick, on the Bay of Fundy in Eastern Canada.
The ship's crew spotted the finback whale about the same time as officers in a small utility boat who had been dispatched to help tie up the 961 Foot ship, said Bruce Fiander of the coast guard's traffic operations centre.
Tides in the Bay of Fundy are the highest recorded in the world 16m (53 ft). Imagine bobbing in a small boat on water that is deeper than a five-story building and in exactly the same place in less than six hours . . . you can walk on the ocean floor.

Jet Ski rules

Following a recent Community Cabinet meeting in Caboolture, Premier Peter Beattie and Transport Minister Paul Lucas announced Cabinet had approved a Jet Ski Management Plan for Queensland.
"There are 7291 jet skis currently registered in Queensland," Mr Beattie said.
"Ownership has exploded by an average 30% each year for the past four years.
"Such a rise in popularity has caused some 'growing pains' for the broader community and complaints about amenity, noise and safety have escalated.
Mr Lucas said the government plan promoted increased safety for jet skiers, by improving skills and knowledge.
"Although jet skis make up only 4% of registered recreational boats, since 2001 jet skis have accounted for up to 7.6% of all reported recreational marine incidents and 10% of accidents causing serious injury," he said.
"In the first six months of this year, four of the 13 serious or fatal recreational boating incidents in Queensland involved jet skis."
Proposed new measures in the Jet Ski Management Plan include:
* A new class of licence specifically for jet skiers:
* Exclusion and restricted-use zones
* Increased "distance off" zones.
* Increased education and enforcement activities.
* Increase the minimum size of registration numbers.
Mr Lucas said the Jet Ski Management Plan was developed following a 12-month extensive review that received 237 submissions.
For the year ended September 30, there were 14 boating fatalities and 31 serious injuries. Of the five reported serious boating injuries to children, three involved jet skis.
"The vast majority of jet skiers are responsible people - and no wants to cramp their reasonable recreational pursuits," Mr Beattie said.
"However, we have a responsibility to ensure liveability, safety and sustainability of our waterways for everyone who uses or lives near them."

Sensitive sailors

Just before their first long deployment, two Navy buddies were talking about the stress of leaving their families.
A senior officer, a veteran of many deployments, overheard the conversation and offered the following advice:
"You must be sensitive to your wives' emotional needs," he said.
"Never, ever, ever, whistle while you pack!"

Mackay crabbers do the right thing

Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries officers at Mackay have undertaken a series of surveillance operations in response to numerous complaints about unauthorised people interfering with and stealing from set crab pots.
DPI&F district officer Dan Stampa said that during the past two months, known hotspots where crab pot "share farming" had been rife during the summer season had been monitored over a number of tides.
"The good news is that no persons have been apprehended doing the wrong thing," Mr Stampa said.
"Our patrol officers set up discreet surveillance operations in the Seaforth area and targeted problem areas around Plane Creek and the Sarina inlet, Rocky Dam Creek and Boundary Creek in the Armstrong Beach district."
Mr Stampa said the peak mudcrabbing season from the New Year though to May was coming to a close.
He said that while it was acknowledged that mudcrabs were less active during the winter months, the patrol's surveillance activities would be on-going.
Mr Stampa said the Fisheries Act rules were very clear regarding interference with commercial or recreational crab pots. The offence carried a maximum fine of $75,000.

Slade Rock buoy

Mariners are advised that the lighted Port Lateral Mark buoy Fl.R.2.5s adjacent to Slade Rock in approximate position latitude 21°05.1245' S, longitude 149°14.2808' E has been replaced in position. Charts: AUS 249, 250

Pretty as . . .

"It is no coincidence that in no known language does the phrase 'As pretty as an Airport' appear."
Author Douglas Adams

Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Join the Blessing of the Fleet Airlie Beach this Whitsun Day

The annual Blessing of the Fleet is held each Whitsun Day or Pentecost Sunday with the sail past blessing at the Whitsunday Sailing Club this Sunday May 15 at 11 am until 11:30.
All vessel owners are invited on the water and on shore people will hear the service by minister Terry Ayling and see the ships close up.
Following the Blessing, the Traditional Ships will sail down the bay to return at about 3 pm for a get together at the sailing club.
A Blessing of the Fleet is part of the activities of many seaside and fishing communities around the world. Here in Whitsunday, we celebrate Whitsun Day and the naming of our area by James Cook in 1770.
Whitsun or Pentecost Sunday is on different dates each year as is Easter. Cook and his crew sailed through the magnificent passage he named Whitsunday on his voyage of adventure and discovery. In addition, Cook named Pentecost Island for the religious occasion.
If you saw the movie "The Perfect Storm," then you know how dangerous it can be to fish for a living or work on the sea.
Indeed, traditional services of songs, prayers and scriptures focus on the reality reflected in the ancient Breton fisherman's prayer "O Lord, the sea is so wide and my boat is so small. Protect me."
Special thanks, recognition and prayers are given to those who serve on the sea, those of the Navy, merchant service, and the Water Police and rescue services who do a dangerous job to benefit all.
Father Keith Felgate was inspired to conduct an annual blessing of the fleet here at Whitsunday in 1989.
"As we conduct the sixteenth Blessing of the Fleet on Whitsun Day my thoughts turn to Father Keith who in his retirement is no doubt also thinking of us." Says your Waterfront writer and event co-founder Cap'n Dan Van Blarcom
"Father Keith gave me 'the call' so we formed the Blessing committee of two," Cap'n Dan recalls. "We knew the committee was too big, but it was a nice number to get together over a couple of beers and plan the Blessing."
Rev John Williams also contributed as an organiser and a sailor. In 2003, Rev Father Don Fernance of the Mission to Seafarers in Townsville conducted our service when Whitsun coincided with the Airlie Beach Rotary Boat Show.
Event details: Onshore at the Whitsunday Sailing Club, music and getting together from 10 AM with the Blessing of the Fleet conducted from 11 AM til 11:30 by Terry Ayling, minister of the Uniting Church.
On the Water, VMR Rescue One will lead the Fleet past the Blessing viewing point at 11 AM. Vessels motoring will leave the club to starboard. Sailing ships should note that low tide is at 11:22 with 1.24 metres.
Following the Blessing, at 11:30 Traditional Rig ships will congregate outside the mooring area north of the sailing club. At about 11:45 ships will sail in company on a close reaching course enjoying the day, the camaraderie and photo opportunities. At about 13:00 - 13:30, a call will be made on VHF channel 77 to come about on a reciprocal course to broad reach back to Airlie, again in company to provide a spectacle for those on shore.
A get together will be held afterwards, say from 16:00 on the lawns of the sailing club. The downstairs bar will be open and a basic BBQ will be set up.
Further information: Cap'n Dan on 4948 0980

Muddies fine

A man copped a fine of $6000 this month for unlawfully taking and selling mud crabs without a licence and falsely representing to be the holder of a commercial fishing licence.
Two other people who unlawfully bought the black market mud crabs from the unlicensed fisherman were each fined $4000 and $750 respectively.
The convictions were the result of investigations by Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) officers who were targeting black market fishing operations involving mud crabs.
DPI&F officer Nicholas Dennis said fraudulent activity of this type seriously undermined the legitimate commercial and recreational fishery and threatened the sustainability of Queensland's fishery resources.
"You have to be authorised to operate any kind of commercial fishing business in Queensland, this includes any fishing for profit or buying and selling fish by wholesale.

Mackerel moon

The New Moon this week sees the official start of the Mackerel Season.
"This Friday the 13th will see Spanish to 10 kilo frequent their usual haunts of Dolphin Point, 17 Fathom patch, Lepper Shoal, Evit Shoal and out at the Great Barrier Reef," says Captain Ken Bryant of Marlin Blue.
"The water temp has dropped a little to 26 degrees but will come down ever further to 21 degrees over the next few months."
"High winds have all but cancelled fishing over the past month, however with winter about to set in the weather should improve a little. I have only two small spots available for the Giant Black Marlin Season in Cairns this year."
Cheers, Captain Ken.

Teenagers Adrift

While it was good news to hear of the rescue near Cape Fear of teenagers Josh Long, 17, and Troy Driscoll, 15, after six days adrift, their lack of preparation proves they were just lucky.
One can only imagine the torment their families went through thinking perhaps the worst while they were missing at sea, you can't help but feel thankful for the boys and their families and friends.
Having said that, on a safety scale of 1-10, the two were approaching negative numbers when they set out to go fishing.
They had no PFDs, no water, no snack, no mirror, no whistle, no sail and one oar when a rip tide carried them far offshore.
Overall, they are incredibly lucky to be speaking about their ordeal. Let us hope that in addition to talk of luck and faith, some small emphasis is placed on the role a near-total lack of safety played in this story.

The Blessing of the Fleet is for those who go down to the sea in ships as, 'All sailors are atheists, except when in a storm at sea.'

Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

International yacht training in Whitsunday

International Yachtmaster Training (IYT), through their locally accredited centre, the Whitsunday Marine Academy, last week completed the first IYT Yachtmaster Offshore / STCW95 course in the region.
Recognised by the MCA [Maritime Coast Guard Agency] these courses are acknowledged worldwide and are a highly sought after qualification in the "White Boat" top end yachting industry.
Local resources used included the state of the art Sydney to Hobart yacht "Eureka II" for advanced vessel handling, Uplan Pty Ltd for First Aid training. Cannonvale Fire Service supplied fire fighting equipment training with local Fire and Emergency services staff that delivered nationally accredited training on self-contained breathing apparatus and advanced fire fighting techniques.
"The course has set new standards for marine training excellence in the region" says Malcolm Robertson of Whitsunday Marine Academy.
"One of the reasons for the respect world wide for the IYT courses and what sets them apart from their competitors are the high standards they set in quality."
"The IYT program requires outside final examination of the course participants by a professional Master Mariner." Said Mr Robertson
" In this case respected sailor and Master 1 Reef Pilot Wel Gamble put the eight course participants through their paces in a two day, one night examination which followed three weeks of intensive theory and practical training.

Slade Rock light

Mariners are advised that the lighted Port Lateral Mark buoy Fl.R.2.5s adjacent to Slade Rock in approximate position latitude 21° 05.1245' S, longitude 149° 14.2808' E has been reported to be off station. Mariners should use caution in the vicinity. Charts: AUS 249, 250

Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan