Editorial

by Bob Wonders on 6 Nov 2010 Step aboard, hang up the wet weather gear, slip off the sea boots and find a dry spot (you’ll be lucky!) to sit down.

There’s a certain ‘person’ hanging around Australia’s east coast at present and no one is too happy with ‘her’ presence.

‘Her’ name is La Nina, Spanish, we’re told, for The Girl-Child, and this is an event delivering consistent and heavy rainfall right along the coast and doing absolutely no favours to the boating industry.

All we can do weather-wise is ‘whinge’ and there’s plenty of that happening.

Happier news down south, on the mid north coast of NSW where respected boat manufacturer Stebercraft has unveiled a $500,000 extension to its Taree factory.

Heading north again and the people of Bundaberg, north of Brisbane, are preparing to welcome competitors and race fans to the 14th staging of the Wide Bay Australia Bundy Thunder powerboat racing weekend.

Ambitious news from across the ditch (also known as the Tasman Sea) where the New Zealand Boating Industry Association has revealed plans to grow the industry by 55 percent over the next five-years.

Promising news for the United States industry, too, with a positive vibe from the recent Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

On the home front, Victorian anglers can take advantage of an excellent Recreational Fishing Guide, while the lads at Marine Rescue NSW obviously know their marine electronics And have chosen Raymarine to provide the required navigational equipment.

Finally, and this is something every powerboat owner should be well aware of, NSW Maritime has issued a warning to be aware of the dangers associated with gasoline vapour in the engine rooms/bays of inboard powerboats.

So, safe boating people, and I wish you all the luck in the world (if you’re an Aussie east coaster) in trying to find some sunshine and clear skies.