POWERBOAT RACING
F1 Powerboat Champion Craig Bailey was taken to Bundaberg hospital with suspected spinal injuries after an accident in race three of the annual Bundy Thunder Powerboat Classic.
The 47 year old was competing in the national F1 class when a gust of wind lifted the boat into the air, it then did a 360 degree flip coming down hard, severely damaging the boat. Bailey was able to free himself from the cockpit and swim to the surface where rescue divers took him to an ambulance on shore.
Bailey, a marine mechanic from Sydney, is the most successful Australian Powerboat racer, winning the French F1 Grand Prix in 1990 and having over 20 national titles. Check out f1h2o.com for more.
The Class 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 19-21 November will see some driver changes. Spanish Team, Duemme Broker, has confirmed that Ahmad Al Hameli will make his Class 1 debut and with Kurt Olsen unavailable to race for the remainder of the season, Giorgioffshore throttleman, Nicola Giorgi, will rekindle his partnership with Christian Zaborowski for the remaining two Grands Prix of 2009.
Maritimo 11 throttleman, Pal Virik Nilsen, was voted Norwegian Motorsport Personality of the year at a ceremony in Norway. See the Class-1 website for more details.
POWERBOATS & FISHING
The Country Fire Authority in Victoria is ready for the bushfire season with its new Lake Eildon-based Marine Fire Rescue vessel. Powered by twin Honda BF225 four-stroke outboards, the vessel can transport firefighters at an approximate top speed of 75km/h to areas inaccessible by road and go right up against the shore to deploy crew quickly via a folding bow ramp.
The latest addition to the Savage aluminium range, the 495 Piranha, is available in two variations; the side console and centre console. Features include a plumbed live bait tank, large plumbed kill tank, underfloor fuel tank, transom backrest for fishing in comfort, plenty of seating and a raised front casting platform for fishing ease.
SAFETY
A discussion paper canvassing new categories for compulsory wearing of lifejackets has been launched in NSW. The reforms are aimed at recreational boaters in situations of heightened risk, especially children and boaters in tinnies. Of the 174 boating fatalities in NSW in the last ten years, just over half resulted from a person falling overboard or a vessel capsizing. Drowning has been the primary cause of death and only seven per cent of victims were known to have been wearing a lifejacket. Comments close on Friday 8 January 2010. See the official website for details: Maritime NSW.
GUILTY OF CULPABLE NAVIGATION
A Sydney man charged over a boat crash that killed a 34-year-old woman has been found guilty. Adnan Safwan, 40, was charged with culpable navigation causing death after the crash near Sans Souci in October 2007. Georgina Kalergis suffered fatal injuries when the six metre fibreglass boat she was travelling in hit a pylon of the Captain Cook Bridge. The Prosecutor argued the boat was travelling at a dangerous speed. See the ABC Sydney website for further details.
MARINE INDUSTRY TRAINING
Mercury has launched its new world-class LEARN on-line training system for Mercury technicians in Australia and New Zealand. The LEARN system offers more than 90 on-line learning courses and examinations, ranging from basic marine engine technology through to the latest computer diagnostics and MerCruiser Axius joystick docking system. See the Mercury Marine website for more details.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
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 Vittorio Ubertone/Idea Marketing: Craig Bailey competed for Team Qatar recently in the World F1 Circuit in Liuzhou China