POWERBOAT RACING
Sami Selio from Finland held off defending World Champion Jay Price to win by one second the China Grand Prix, part of the UIM F1 H2O World Championship. Five drivers are now within 23 points of the championship and there are still 120 points available before the 2009 campaign comes to an end. The next race will be Doha, Qatar on 27-28 November. F1H20 website.
Giorgioffshore throttleman, Nicola Giorgi, is confident that the team can challenge for a podium place when the Class 1 World Powerboat Championship heads to the UAE for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, 19-21 November. The team is currently carrying out repairs to the damage sustained to their boat following the collision with Victory 77 on the opening lap of the second race in the Italian Grand Prix, which put Giorgi and Norwegian driver Kurt Olsen out of the race on lap 4.
“It was a racing incident and one that can easily happen when the boats are so close in performance and all arriving at tight turn buoys together,” said Giorgi. “Maybe we should go back to having real offshore races rather than inshore races with offshore boats?”
Giorgi suffered a neck injury in the high-impact shunt when his head slammed against the side of the cockpit. Class-1 website: www.class-1.com.
FISHERIES
The NSW Government has listed the European green crab as a noxious fish and anyone selling them in NSW will face a penalty up to $11,000. The European green crab is a medium sized crab with three blunt spines between the eyes (rostrum) and five pointed spines either side of the eyes. Adult colours range from an olive to dark green, often with yellow or orange patches underneath, while juveniles can be a lighter pale sandy colour. They have a broad triangular shaped shell usually five to six centimeters in width but have been known to reach nine centimeters. They do not have flattened swimming flippers.
A permanent closed season on the take of abalone from central Victorian waters is underway, except for 60 nominated open days which are centred around weekends and public holidays between 21 November 2009 and 2 May 2010. For dates see DPI Victoria.
NEWS BRIEFS
Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) and Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) met for the first time in Stresa, Italy, in early October to discuss the opportunities related to a joint effort on environment, alternative fuels, sustainable development and new technologies in motor sports. UIM website: Ultimate Power Boating.com.
CSIRO scientists have produced the first preliminary predictions of the potential impact of climate change on the Australian seabed. The results of the five-year study predict potential high-risk areas due to seabed movement, erosion and changes in reef growth. CSIRO website: www.csiro.au.
A maritime exclusion zone has been established on Iron Cove in Sydney to ensure safety during construction of the new bridge for the Inner West Busway project. RTA website.
Defence Materiel Organisation announces a $3.15m contract to RFD Australia for the supply of highly specialised immersion clothing to protect ADF pilots and aircrew from possible death or injury, resulting from an aircraft being forced to ditch into cold water.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Oct 17 – 30 -- The Western Australian Maritime Museum’s major new exhibition of French exploration of Australia, details eleven specific journeys to our shores from 1766 through to 1817. www.museum.wa.gov.au/maritime
Oct 21 - 22 -- Rodd Island Tea Dances, Sydney Harbour. Be transported to the 20s, 30s and 40s with the New Trocadero Dance Orchestra. Harbour Island Hopping.
Oct 24 - 25 -- The Copper Cove Marina Festival in South Australia will combine the best products and produce from local boating, seafood and wine suppliers. Copper Cove Festival.
Oct 25 - Perfect Picnic - DJ Lady Tre will set the ambient mood for an afternoon chilling on Clark Island, Sydney Harbour. Harbour Island Hopping.
Oct 31 - Love of Seafood at the Sydney Fish Market is part of the city's International Food Festival. Features cooking demonstrations, chef challenges, oyster appreciation and interviews with food experts and fishermen. Sydney Fish Market.
Nov 6 - 8 -- Bundy Thunder – Queensland’s biggest powerboat racing spectacular at Sandy Hook, Bundaberg has a record entry list with over 80 boats. Bundy Thunder.
Nov 21 – 23 -- Club Marine Boating Extravaganza, Goolwa, SA - 150 on-water sites, more than 200 hard stand sites and a number of hands-on exhibitions and demonstrations. More details.
Nov 28-29 - Lake Mulwala Power Festival Lake Mulwala Power.
Photograph by Paul Lakatos/Idea Marketing: Sami Selio of Finland of the Mad Croc F1 team Woodstock in action during the race of the UIM F1 Powerboat Grand Prix of China, at the Shenzhen Bay Inner Lake, Shenzhen, China.