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 Boating News from the Asia Pacific
It seems that whatever I write or have written for this week's edition of Powerboat-World, it will pale into insignificance with the recovery task now facing the flood regions of Australia.
An area of Australia in the States of Queensland, News South Wales and Victoria, according to one US report ‘larger than Texas' , in fact much large than France and Germany combined has been underwater as torrential and unrelenting rain just kept tumbling down.
Tens of thousands of people were evacuated, thousands of homes flooded, many severely damaged or destroyed and lives lost; at this stage we still don't even know how many.
The boating industry has been hit as hard as any other; numerous marine dealerships in country town are submerged, marinas have been destroyed, hundreds of boats sunk or damaged beyond repair, some even washed out to sea!
Some rivers recorded their highest heights since 1893!
Nevertheless, it remains our duty to report the news and it is with deep regret and the sadness continuing that we announce the passing of Sharon Torrens, one of the most likeable ladies of the boating industry and a former water ski champion.
Sharon was the wife of prominent broker and former world record holding water skier, Grant Torrens, proprietor of prominent brokerage Grant Torrens International.
It seems bad news is the order of the day; the industry also lost former Outboard Marine Corporation and BRP Australia identity John Walker a week or so ago.
Needless to say, our thoughts are with all who are feeling hurt, either through loss or flood.
Weather will probably also play a part next week with the long-running New York Boat Show set to ignore freezing temperatures for its 106th staging.
Up in the Philippines, moves are afoot form a Superyacht Association, while across in the Middle East the United Arab Emirates jetski championships are underway.
A new sponsor has been welcomed into the New Zealand offshore racing ranks and there's news on the marine electronics front, too, with Navico offering an innovative cartography tool kit and Raymarine extending its warranties.
So there we have it, for much of Australia, tinnies became the new cars, some for days and others weeks.
Stick with us, there's bound to be some good news out there and we'll find it and present it right here on the pages of Powerboat-World.
Safe boating and good luck in hunting for the rare blue sky and sunshine.
Bob Wonders
Great Barrier Reef deluged with tonnes of toxic water
Jeni Bone, 
Queensland's Great Barrier Reef is being flushed with toxic, pesticide-laden sediment that environmental experts fear could devastate fragile corals and marine life, damage that may require as long as a century to repair.... [more]
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Sealegs rises to the occasion in Queensland floods
Helena Heidenreich, 
To offer vital support during the South East Queensland flood crisis, Sirocco Marine North has donated the use of a Sealegs amphibious craft for rescue and relief work.... [more]
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NSW Maritime urges towing safety
Neil Patchett, 
NSW Maritime urges towing safety - NSW Maritime recently checked around 1300 vessels as part of its statewide safety campaign ‘Operation Tow Smart', in a bid to ensure compliance with towing requirements, educate the boating community about new lifejacket laws when towing and warn about the dangers associated with prop strike.... [more]
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NSW Maritime Flood Alert for waterways in the Murray Inland Region
Samuel McKeith,
Boaters needed to be aware of the dangers of heading out on Murray where prolonged rainfall and flooding are impacting in some areas. Conditions are extremely dangerous within the Murray Inland region with most waterways in the area in some stage of flooding.... [more]
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Murray River safety review clarification
Maritime Media Office,
Murray River safety review clarification - The Murray River Safety review has been going on since early 2010 following an unusually high number of incidents over that summer.... [more]
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P1 Superstock rookie team of the year places first European order
Powerboat P1 Management, 
Powerboat P1 Management (P1) yesterday celebrated a highly successful launch of its revolutionary new P1-28SS race boat at Autosport International at the NEC Birmingham. The unveiling of the boat drew huge interest from motorsport fans and key industry figures who gathered to catch the first glimpse of the boat in Europe.... [more]
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British Antarctic Survey support field expedition to James Ross Island
British Antarctic Survey, 
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) will support a team of scientists from the Universities of Leeds and Aberystwyth as they embark on an ambitious three-month Antarctic expedition. Their fieldwork aims to uncover information about how the glaciers and ice sheets of the north-eastern Antarctic Peninsula behaved in past climates, and what we can expect in the future... [more]
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Marine Rescue NSW - Can all boaties Log On with their local volunteers
Ken McManus, 
Marine Rescue files are full of cases proving the value for skippers of Logging On with the local volunteer Marine Rescue base before going out for the day and Logging Off on return.... [more]
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Wild weather ahead: A land of droughts and flooding rains
Jeni Bone, 
Experts are forecasting a major Cyclone to hit the Queensland coast including the Far North, sometime around Australia Day, 26 January.... [more]
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Marine Rescue Sydney Roundup - Dont forget to log-off
Simon Denneen, 
Terrey Hills Unit Roundup – 29 December 2010 to 12 January 2011 - Three skippers had an embarrassing end to their day on the water between Christmas and the New Year when they forgot to log-off at the end of the day. Despite attempting to contact each vessel by radio, mobile phone and land line radio operators at Marine Rescue Terrey Hills were unable to make contact.... [more]
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P1 Superstock to unveil new race boat and engine partner
Powerboat P1 Management, 
Powerboat P1 Management (P1) is heading to Birmingham to launch its new race boat at Autosport International while many of the world's leading boat manufacturers are exhibiting at the London International Boat Show this week... [more]
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Vale Sharon Torrens: Memorial Service Friday
Media Services, 
Sharon Torrens' life will be celebrated by her close friends, family and colleagues, 11am Friday 14 January at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Clear Island Waters.... [more]
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Victorian Men facing charges over illegal net haul
Alan Everett, 
DPI - Men facing charges over illegal net haul - Three Melbourne men are facing charges after allegedly being caught with a huge haul of fish captured in an illegal net off Carrum.... [more]
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Bass Strait Rally entries closing soon
Roger Dickeson, 
The Bass Strait Rally, is asking you to join the elite band of Offshore Challengers as we again experience the ultimate city-to-city power boating event.... [more]
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ZAPCAT 2011 Championship structure - Size does matter!
ZCR Ltd, 
ZAPCAT 2011 Championship structure - The EVO or Z-10 hull will be allowed to race together in this One manufacturer championship (it is your choice), however if you start a round with a Z-10 you MUST finish with a Z-10... [more]
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NSW Maritime Murray River safety review outcomes
Sam McKeith,
NSW Maritime Acting Regional Manager NSW Maritime Chief Executive Steve Dunn today released the findings of the NSW Maritime safety review of boating on the Murray River.... [more]
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‘Hot-Bunking' bacterium recycles iron to boost ocean metabolism
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found that in the vast ocean where an essential nutrient—iron—is scarce, a marine bacterium that launches the ocean food web survives by using a remarkable biochemical trick: It recycles iron.... [more]
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Barz Optics launches new Maui model - ideal for all water activity
Barz Optics, 
Barz Optics has just this week launched its new MAUI model, fitted with polarised photochromic acetate lenses.... [more]
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Look to London: Celebrities attract the crowds
Jeni Bone, 
In the lead up to the recent Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show, plenty of column centimetres were devoted to the big names who would be on show - stars of the catwalk, TV, soaps, Olympics and extreme sports - all recruited to bring a broader range of people to a boat show.... [more]
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Snapper consultation extended due to flooding
Qld Fisheries, 
Due to flooding in key fishing areas, consultation on future management arrangements for the Rocky Reef Fin Fish Fishery, which includes snapper, has been extended and meeting dates postponed.... [more]
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Brisbane Tinnie and Tackle Show: largest ever scheduled for April 2011
Marine Qld, 
Save the date for Queensland's largest outdoor and leisure show, the Brisbane Tinnie and Tackle Show and National 4x4 Show and Outdoors Expo, 8-10 April 2011.... [more]
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Lake Nagambie Fisheries research gets underway
Alan Everett,
Lake Nagambie Fisheries research gets underway - Fisheries Victoria scientists have begun surveying Lake Nagambie and the anglers who fish there to determine the success of recent fish stocking.... [more]
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Creation of Superyacht Association for the Philippines
Chris Ashton, 
The world of sailing and superyachts has, up to now, been mainly focused around the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Several associations in Asia and Australia, however, have been created, in more recent years, to promote the area as an important third destination for superyachts.... [more]
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New Solas Life Jacket Light from Burke Marine
Colin Burgess, 
Burke Marine is now distributing the UML Sea Flash SOLAS life jacket light. A compact super light weight product that will be a must have for sailors of all levels.... [more]
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UAE Jet Ski Championships
Sharon Allison, 
The checkered flag was handed to the UAE's Nadir Bin Hendi after a convincing win in the Pro Runabout GP class today (Saturday) in the UAE Jet Ski Championship at The Walk Jumeirah.... [more]
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New sponsor for NZ offshore racing
Bob Wonders,
Veteran race boat with new name, new sponsor set for 2011 season. Dual 525hp MerCruiser engines power the boat, which previously raced as ‘A1 Homes' and ‘Fairview Windows and Doors', finishing third overall in 2009.... [more]
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Navico cartography toolkit for third-party developers
Sandman PR, 
Navico has launched its innovative Cartography Toolkit which enables third-party developers to create mapping content for its renowned range of navigation products. The software tools and documentation allow experienced GIS engineers to convert content data into a format compatible with Navico products including Simrad NSE / NSO and Lowrance HDS, as well as the recently-launched B&G Zeus system.... [more]
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Raymarine's Extended Warranty Program
Liza Sticpewich, 
Raymarine customers benefit from new Extended Warranty program, giving three years peace of mind... [more]
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New York Boat Show - The ‘Big Apple' goes boating
Bob Wonders, 
All is set for the 106th staging of the New York Boat Show, which opens at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Centre next Wednesday (January 19) on West 34th Street, right in the heart of the 'City that Never Sleeps.'... [more]
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Phuket International Boat Show - USD $100 million in boats on display
Andy Dowden, 
Phuket International Boat Show (PIMEX) 2011 - The show opened today to a packed in-water display and Exhibition Hall. 47 boats fill the marina basin, an increase of more than 25% on last year, and the Exhibition Hall is packed with marine products, luxury cars and high-end real estate.... [more]
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