Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Whitsunday resident receives bravery medal

Whitsunday resident receives bravery medal
 
A Whitsunday resident will today be awarded a silver medal for bravery by Her Excellency Ms Penelope Wensley, AO, Governor of Queensland.
Senior Constable Brett Norris of Whitsunday Water Police receives a silver medal that gives public recognition for an act of bravery to those who risk their own lives to save the lives of others.
The Whitsunday Water Police Officer, of Airlie Beach, receives the silver medal in recognition of going to the rescue of 37 passengers and crew of the two-mast schooner "Romance" wrecked on rocks at Caves Cove, Hook Island, on February 12, 2008.
President of Whitsunday Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) Michaela Moss was on radio duty that night.
"At 1.20 a.m. the call from the 'Romance' indicated they had broken their mooring and were in distress and heading for the rocks."
"A water police boat and the VMR vessel were dispatched from Airlie Beach.
"However, when the boats reached the site they found the ship on the lee shore rocks at a 45-degree angle and in a position too dangerous to come alongside to attempt a rescue.
The passengers onboard, mostly foreign backpackers, were terrified as they endured the storm conditions.
Around 3 a.m., police contacted the CQ RESCQ helicopter.
This crew and another from Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) in Townsville both took part in the rescue described as 'an example of extreme teamwork under very challenging conditions'.
The police boat was unable to approach the stricken ship because of three-metre breaking waves driven by high nor' westerly winds described by Senior Constable Norris, an eight-year veteran of the Whitsunday Water Police, as "the worst conditions I had seen inside the islands."
Senior Constable Norris "grabbed a pair of fins, put on a wet suit and swam."
At 7.30am the CQ RESQ helicopter crewed by Messrs Dowler, Scanlon, Hinder and Hoare deployed to the wreck of "Romance" and searched the scene where the sea state was 2-3m swells and winds blowing at 30-40 knots. The monsoon trough created at times a cloud base at 500 feet.
Wedged on jagged rocks and listing at a 45-degree angle the rigging of the two steel masts on the schooner were hazards for winching operations.
CQ RESCQ crewman Phillip Dowler was winched down onto the rocks to join Snr Const Norris who had swum from the police tender through the surf in the dark onto the rocks and secured ropes to the vessel.
The two men were joined by a crewman from the EMQ helicopter and decided that winching from the vessel, rather than trying to bring the 37 people by rope from the ship to the rocks was the practical and safer rescue procedure.
The rigging was secured, minimizing dangers in winching; the 37 onboard were briefed on winching procedures and despatched the passengers, two at a time up to the aircraft. The final winch carried Messrs Dowler and Norris who had spent two and a half hours organizing the winching from the yacht.
The action is recognised as the largest helicopter rescue operation from one vessel in Australian history.
CQ RESQ crew members Phillip Dowler, Heath Scanlon, John Hinder and Daniel Hoare will also receive bronze bravery awards from The Royal Humane Society of Australasia in Brisbane. Phillip Dowler is General Manager of CQ RESQ.
The Royal Humane Society of Australasia, formed in 1874, is concerned with giving public recognition to acts of bravery by making awards to those who risk their own lives to save the lives of others.
Over forty boats sank, ran aground or were damaged around the Airlie Beach foreshore on that disastrous night and early morning in February 2008.
A family of six were rescued that night by three brave police officers as their uninsured family boat disintegrated on a rock wall at Airlie Beach.
 
Meet danger
 
"It is better to meet danger than to wait for it. He that is on a lee shore, and foresees a hurricane, stands out to sea and encounters a storm to avoid a shipwreck" Charles Caleb Colton (1780 - 1832)
 
Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan

Easter Regatta and State Titles in Airlie

Easter Regatta and State Titles this weekend in Airlie
 
Easter weekend is often windy so Pioneer Bay at Airlie Beach this weekend should show some exciting small boat actions for the annual Easter Regatta and Queensland State Tasar Titles at the Whitsunday Sailing Club.
"So far we have over sixty confirmed entries with a great variety including two Sharpies, two 505's, many Lasers, 20+ Tasars, a variety of multihulls and even a couple of Moths," reports Off Beach Rear Commodore Terry Archer.
"We also have boats to charter if a sailor wants to fly in for the weekend," Rear Commodore Archer added.
"Currently we have about 21 entries to the Voice2net Telecom Tasar State Titles and one Tasar left to hire
"We'd love to see even more company for the Concept Tiles Easter Regatta in
some of our more unusual classes - we know the Moth guys in particular would love to get enough boats together to hold their own division, so come out and race" Rear Commodore Archer said.
The new and very sporty X3s are available with either a fun rig, or the smaller educational rig. If you have children in your family who sail, you may be happy to learn that the sailing club have a number of X3 dinghies available for use in the regatta at a modest rental rate.
By registering on the website, www.easterregatta.com.au you can be kept up to date on the latest news and results.
 
Going fishing over Easter?
 
If you're heading out on the water over Easter, don't forget to pick up your free Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Map so you know where you can go and what you can do.
Mick Bishop from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority says Zoning Maps were useful to keep onboard boats or in tackle boxes and should be checked regularly when out on the water.
"It's a good idea for fishers to check their maps while out on the water to ensure they aren't illegally fishing in areas where fishing isn't allowed or is limited," he said.
"We're stepping up patrols over Easter so people should be particularly mindful that they can't fish in Green Zones and there's limited line fishing in Yellow Zones.
"It is important people know where they are and what the zoning is for that area, otherwise they could risk getting a fine for illegal fishing."
Green Zones are no-take areas where extractive activities like fishing or collecting are not allowed. Anyone can enter a Green Zone to anchor and participate in activities such as boating, swimming and snorkelling.
Stowing fishing gear on board the boat or in rod holders with a hook still attached is also allowed in a Green Zone, provided the fishing apparatus is out of the water.
There's limited line fishing in Yellow Zones - this means fishing with one hand-held rod or one hand-held line per person, with one hook attached to that line.
Free Zoning Maps are available from bait and tackle shops, visitor information centres, ship chandlers and Environmental Protection Agency and Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol offices.
 
Rescue launched for two
 
Wellington - A rescue operation was launched Monday to save two Italian sailors stranded on a crippled yacht in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, about halfway between New Zealand and Chile.
An oil tanker was diverted to their aid, but New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre (NZRCC) said it was 800 nautical miles from the 10-metre yacht and would not reach them for nearly three days.
They were identified as father and son, Pietro Fresi, 64, and Vittorio Fresi, 34, who reportedly sailed in their yacht Onitron from Italy in September planning to retrace the clipper route of sailing ships in the 19th century on a voyage expected to take up to 300 days.
NZRCC told Radio New Zealand the yacht capsized in a storm in the early hours of Monday and although it righted, the mast broke in winds of 45 knots and 7-metre sea swells.
Once the sailors are found, the 151,000 ton tanker 'Spetses Hellespont Trooper' will take them to Argentina.
 
Shute Harbour light restored
 
Mariners are advised that the lighted port lateral No.8 buoy Fl.R.3s, which marks the entrance into Shute Harbour, is restored to normal. AUS charts 252, 253 & 824
 
The sea is dangerous
 
"The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore" Vincent Van Gogh
 
Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan
 
 

Aussie sailors pass fifty-knot milestone

Aussie sailors pass fifty-knot milestone
 
Last week Australia's 'Macquarie Innovation' made world speed sailing history by maintaining an average speed of 50.43 knots over a 500 metre shallow inlet course at Sandy Point, Victoria.
Sailing in 24 knots of sou' westerly wind, Macquarie Innovation reached a maximum speed of 54.23 knots (100km/hr) and became the first sailing boat in the world to complete an official 500m run in excess of 50 knots.
The Macquarie Speed Sailing Team will now claim the record for ratification by the sport's governing body, a claim that realises the team's long-term goal to sail their craft beyond 50 knots - sailing's equivalent of the 4-minute mile for running.
Their goal set fifteen years ago has achieved a major milestone in world performance sailing.
Perhaps there is even more speed in their futuristic looking winged contraption.
 
Landsailing Speed Record Broken
 
Ivanpah Dry Lake located on the California and Nevada border on the West Coast of the United States was last week the venue for British engineer, Richard Jenkins to smash the world land speed record for wind powered vehicles.
The engineer's land yacht 'Greenbird' clocked  109.56 knots (202.9 km/h) , eclipsing the old, American held, record of 100.8 knots set by Bob Schumacher in the 'Iron Duck' in 1999 at the same location 40 miles south of Las Vegas.
The 'Greenbird' is two vehicles: a land craft and an ice craft, powered only by the wind. Their aim is to break both the land and ice world speed records.
 
Park News
 
Cyclone Hamish passed with minimal impact to island beaches and campsites. Whitsunday National Park islands were closed for a short time in response to the Category 5 Tropical Cyclone developing off the Queensland coast. An inspection of the campsites and recreational infrastructure carried out by QPW rangers reported minimal damage.
*Whitsunday's beaches are glistening like new thanks to the efforts by local residents and volunteers to clean up the shorelines as part of Clean-up Australia Day. A big 'thank you' to the Whitsunday community for their contribution to the annual Clean-up Australia Day campaign. The day was made possible with the generous support of Fantasea, Cruise Whitsundays, Local Marine Advisory Committee, SES volunteers and Eco-barge.
*Whitehaven Beach is set to take on the country's most beautiful beaches
in an effort to secure the celebrated title of Australia's Cleanest beach!
After taking out the state awards Whitehaven beach has now moved on to the competition's national level.
*The Whitsunday Great Walk will reopen to visitors on April 1. Minor damage to several tracks has occurred from the flooding rain in February with repair works completed over the next three months.
 
Good oil
 
Costing only $485 million, a new royal yacht has been delivered to H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi emirate and the president of UAE. This ocean worthy yacht contains 12 bedrooms, several Jacuzzis, three swimming pools, a helipad with helicopter, a cinema hall, and a discothèque.
 
Live firing, flares
 
Mariners are advised that the Army School of Transport, Maritime Wing will conduct a flare demonstration and live firing on Wednesday April 1, from 0800 to 1400 hours. The active area is within a circle of 4.8 nautical miles with the radius centred on Rattlesnake Island and not exceeding a height of 20000 feet above sea level. The firing point is at approximate position latitude 19° 20.27' S, longitude 146° 36.43' E, with firing bearing of 305° (T). Mariners are warned to keep well clear of this area throughout the above times. AUS charts 256, 371 & 827
 
Round Hill Creek
 
Mariners are advised that due to shifting sand bars the unlit starboard hand buoy at the entrance to Round Hill Creek has been altered in position approximately 60 metres due north. AUS charts affected 366 & 818
 
Lost at sea
 
"Goodbye meant forever, so we always said, 'See you later', says Stacy Greene, her fisherman fiancée lost in the cold Atlantic Ocean.
"He died doing what he loved. He was a man at peace when he was on the ocean."
"You could say we had saltwater in our veins," said another scallop fisher. "It's what we do and what we've always done."
 
Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan
 
 

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Australian makes world speed sailing history

Australian makes world speed sailing history
 
Last week Australia's 'Macquarie Innovation' made world speed sailing history by maintaining an average speed of 50.43 knots over a 500 metre shallow inlet course at Sandy Point, Victoria.
Sailing in 24 knots of sou' westerly wind, Macquarie Innovation reached a maximum speed of 54.23 knots (100km/hr) and became the first sailing boat in the world to complete an official 500m run in excess of 50 knots.
The Macquarie Speed Sailing Team will now claim the record for ratification by the sport's governing body, a claim that realises the team's long-term goal to sail their craft beyond 50 knots - sailing's equivalent of the 4-minute mile for running.
Their goal set fifteen years ago has achieved a major milestone in world performance sailing.
Perhaps there is even more speed in their futuristic looking winged contraption.
 
Landsailing Speed Record Broken
 
Ivanpah Dry Lake located on the California and Nevada border on the West Coast of the United States was last week the venue for British engineer, Richard Jenkins to smash the world land speed record for wind powered vehicles.
The engineer's land yacht 'Greenbird' clocked  109.56 knots (202.9 km/h) , eclipsing the old, American held, record of 100.8 knots set by Bob Schumacher in the 'Iron Duck' in 1999 at the same location 40 miles south of Las Vegas.
The 'Greenbird' is two vehicles: a land craft and an ice craft, powered only by the wind. Their aim is to break both the land and ice world speed records.
 
Park News
 
Cyclone Hamish passed with minimal impact to island beaches and campsites. Whitsunday National Park islands were closed for a short time in response to the Category 5 Tropical Cyclone developing off the Queensland coast. An inspection of the campsites and recreational infrastructure carried out by QPW rangers reported minimal damage.
*Whitsunday's beaches are glistening like new thanks to the efforts by local residents and volunteers to clean up the shorelines as part of Clean-up Australia Day. A big 'thank you' to the Whitsunday community for their contribution to the annual Clean-up Australia Day campaign. The day was made possible with the generous support of Fantasea, Cruise Whitsundays, Local Marine Advisory Committee, SES volunteers and Eco-barge.
*Whitehaven Beach is set to take on the country's most beautiful beaches
in an effort to secure the celebrated title of Australia's Cleanest beach!
After taking out the state awards Whitehaven beach has now moved on to the competition's national level.
*The Whitsunday Great Walk will reopen to visitors on April 1. Minor damage to several tracks has occurred from the flooding rain in February with repair works completed over the next three months.
 
Live firing, flares
 
Mariners are advised that the Army School of Transport, Maritime Wing will conduct a flare demonstration and live firing on Wednesday April 1, from 0800 to 1400 hours. The active area is within a circle of 4.8NM with the radius centred on Rattlesnake Island and not exceeding a height of 20000 feet above sea level. The firing point is at approximate position latitude 19° 20.27' S, longitude 146° 36.43' E, with firing bearing of 305° (T). Mariners are warned to keep well clear of this area throughout the above times. AUS charts 256, 371 & 827
 
Round Hill Creek
 
Mariners are advised that due to shifting sand bars the unlit starboard hand buoy at the entrance to Round Hill Creek has been altered in position approximately 60 metres due north. AUS charts affected 366 & 818
 
Lost at sea
 
"Goodbye meant forever, so we always said, 'See you later', says Stacy Greene, her fisherman fiancée lost in the cold Atlantic Ocean.
"He died doing what he loved. He was a man at peace when he was on the ocean."
"You could say we had saltwater in our veins," said another scallop fisher. "It's what we do and what we've always done."
 
Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan