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Tips for a Liveaboard Life

With many waterways on the Gold Coast (and beyond!), living aboard a new (or not-so-new) boat is all very appealing. Has the romantic idea of living on board a boat become a very tempting option for you? Sue Parry Jones provides a short list of things to consider.

Play by the rules

The first thing you must decide is where you will actually live when you are not travelling – at a marina, on a mooring, or at anchor.

While several marinas allow for liveaboards and provide facilities for their use, there is unfortunately very limited space available across the Gold Coast. Further, it is no longer possible to obtain one of the very few moorings that remain, though this situation may change if moorings that were removed and due to be relocated are returned to the water. Living at anchor then becomes the most viable option for those considering a liveaboard life.

There is no national or state legislative restriction on people living aboard a boat. It must be noted, however, that local councils have jurisdiction to apply locally appropriate rules. On the Gold Coast, the Gold Coast Waterways Authority currently has the task of monitoring all boating activity and has the mandate for enforcing all relevant rules and restrictions relating to the waterways use. It is imperative that liveaboards be well informed about their local rules and comply with them.

On the Broadwater, there are several anchoring zones and a requirement that vessels anchor for certain periods, and then move. Some anchorages have a limit of no more than 24 consecutive hours in any 30-day period, and others no more than 7 consecutive days in any 60-day period. Moving between anchorages is permitted to allow access to anchorages for all. So long as you are moving around as required, you will not incur any wrath.

Complying with other rules like the proper wastewater disposal is also mandatory. Pump-out facilities are available at Southport Yacht Club, Mariner’s Cove, Runaway Bay, and several of the Hope Island marinas. Composting toilets are becoming very popular with liveaboards making it easier to avoid pollution.

Be self-reliant

You have to be pretty resourceful to manage a life on board a boat. Things break and must be repaired or replaced. But, unlike in a house where nothing is going to happen while you wait for the plumber, you may find yourself needing to figure out a quick temporary fix so your home does not sink while you wait!

On a more day-to-day level, if you are halfway through cooking a meal, for example, and realise you do not have enough flour, you cannot just pop out to the car and run down to the shop. It is a much bigger ordeal, and often too big an ordeal! However, the boating community very closely resembles the old-fashioned village that many of our parents grew up knowing: you can drop by a neighbouring boat to see if you can borrow a cup of flour to complete the recipe! Still it’s true that, on the whole, liveaboard boating is going to require a little more resilience and creativity than living in a regular bricks-and-mortar property.

Be self-managing

Liveaboards need to be more independent and managing of their own lives. One of the things people often do not realise about liveaboards who live at anchor is how much they must do for themselves. There is no water supply, electricity supply, garbage collection or postal delivery. All these things must be arranged by and for themselves.

They often have to go to elaborate lengths to set up things like wireless Internet connections and have greatly limited access even then for Internet use and of course higher rates for the access they do have. “Home” delivery service can be quite a problem as many shops struggle with the idea of delivering to anything other than a house with a clearly visible number.

Those who choose this lifestyle must also be unfazed by the occasional difficulties that this life might throw at them, such as arriving at a jetty in the evening and finding that your dinghy’s outboard has been stolen.

To make this life work, it is important to maintain a high degree of self-sufficiency and a sense of humour!

Be not scared of bad weather

When you live in a house, bad weather impacts very little. For the liveaboard, this is not the case. Sometimes when the weather is bad, it is not possible to get off the boat for days at a time. Other times it is necessary to remain on board to manage the vessel during these conditions, and sometimes to protect your boat from neighbouring unattended vessels. All these things must be considered if the weather is less than blissful!

Many liveaboards also work on the land and must face difficult weather to get to work. Taking a change of clothes in a dry bag is often the solution, but it’s not a lot of fun arriving at work soaked through even if a dry set of clothes is at hand!

Be open to solitude and isolation

Here is an interesting contrast. On the one hand, living on board a boat is more physically isolating than living in a house with actual neighbours, where you have a sense of proximity with others. Yet, on the other hand, the reality is that you will likely have a stronger sense of community than in a suburban setting. The boating community is a lot like an old fashioned village. It’s not at all uncommon for others to drop by and say hi on their way home, or for friends to call past on their way out. There is (almost) always the camaraderie of the boating community. It is the other liveaboards who are most likely to hop on board their own dinghy to help other boaties in need. During bad weather, the liveaboards usually prevent unattended boats from causing damage to themselves or others, or fish floating debris from the waterways, or rescue stranded jetskiers who have come to grief.

If you are thinking of making a boat your home, then it would be true to say that, while it is not all a bed of roses – especially when the weather is difficult – the liveaboard lifestyle appeals to many and is still reasonably manageable on the Gold Coast.

Sue Parry-Jones has lived on board and sailed her boat for close to six years. She has made the Gold Coast her home while her son completes his training as a marine electrician.

Gold Coast marinas that allow liveaboards (LAs):

Southport Yacht Club (Operates a live-aboard quota and can only accept new LAs if and when other LAs leave)

Mariners Cove (Primarily operates for commercial vessels; has some LA but needs to limit numbers)

Marina Mirage

Runaway Bay Marina

Hope Harbour Marina (This is managed by a percentage of LA to other users and ratio is strictly monitored; welcomes LAs as being excellent for marina security)

Hope Island Marina

Horizon Shores (Jacobs Well)

(Feb-Apr2017)

Tips for a Liveaboard Life was originally published on Boat Gold Coast

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Funding for a GC boatie and surfer

Like many, Peter Bradley, lived for the ocean, a keen surfer, Master class 5 skipper and game fishing charter operator for 7 years that is until being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Now at 45 and with a young family – 7 year old daughter Sienna, 4-year-old son Caylem and wife of 10 years Teressa, MS is rapidly taking over his life.

As each day passes the MS grips at his body, he struggles with not being able to take his kids camping, fishing, bike riding and all the things a healthy family can easily take for granted.

“I want to watch my kids grow up to lead joyful and happy lives, not watch their daddy in hospital, wondering why I can’t be with them,” said Peter.

Peter needs to go overseas for advanced stem cell treatment to help repair the nerve damage that is occurring and disabling his life. It is a combination of aggressive chemotherapy and a transplant of his own stem cells that will reboot/ rebuild his entire immune system. This treatment is only available abroad and has been shown to be extremely successful in other MS sufferers.

“In the last 12-18 months my health has gone down significantly and now I can’t even walk my kids to school or do any activities with them. My heart breaks when they want to go to the park and play or ask to go to the beach as I know that I cannot actively participate with them,” said Peter.

“I now struggle to walk without falling over and most days have trouble talking. I am now finding it hard to swallow, which is scaring me. A simple thing like using a knife and fork is now a strenuous exercise for me. My life has become a shell of what it used to be and it is hard on my kids as they don’t understand.” Peter has started a Go Fund Me page, with the goal of reaching $45,000 for his treatment and is grateful to have received $11,000 in donations to date.

“I’m a positive person and I’ll do everything I can to beat this disease. There’s hope and with your help and support, be it through donation or sharing my fundraising campaign, it will enable me to experience this wonderful life I have been blessed with.”

The money raised will go towards paying for the treatment. Peter is hoping to go overseas by late May 2017 as the disease is progressing quickly and the longer he waits the more damage that is occurring to his nervous system. Having exhausted all medical and alternative therapy treatments in Australia, he is currently working with his doctor to slow the progression while awaiting his treatment.

“I hope to be able to participate in my family’s life again. To be here to watch and actively guide my kids as they grow up. I cherish the thought of that day, and hope it will happen soon.”

Peter in his earlier days.

Please visit Peter’s fundraising page for further information, videos and to donate https://www.gofundme.com/ourdadshealth

Peter can be contacted on 0412 708 008 or via email [email protected]

Funding for a GC boatie and surfer was originally published on Boat Gold Coast

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Superyacht Economic Impact Study (Australia)

The first economic impact study on Australia’s superyacht industry has revealed a high value niche sector, which contributed a total of $1.97 billion to gross domestic product (GDP) in the 2016 financial year.

But the AEC Group economic impact study also found the industry is held back by restrictive policy – if relaxed, the industry could contribute an additional estimated $1.12 billion to GDP by 2021, for a total contribution of $3.34 billion.

The study was commissioned by AIMEX and supported by the Queensland government to gain a clear understanding of the superyacht industry’s current and potential economic contribution.

“This study shows the significant economic potential of Australia’s superyacht industry. If the government fixes our legislation, so foreign superyachts have freedom to charter here, like they do in New Zealand, our local superyacht industry would grow substantially – we could see an extra 8,100 local jobs making a total of 24,400 jobs by 2021,” said MaryAnne Edwards, Chief Executive of peak body for Australia’s marine export and superyacht industries AIMEX. “We are seeking standalone legislation to relax regulations in the superyacht sector.”

Currently, very few international superyachts come to Australia because the current legislation makes charting in our waters unviable – a superyacht must be fully imported and 10% GST on its value paid.

“After the devastation of Cyclone Debbie, a change is legislation is more important than ever to allow superyachts to cruise in Whitsunday region, to help local businesses and families get back on their feet.” said Ms Edwards.

The study revealed for the first time a fuller picture of the economic benefits superyachts provide to the Australian economy, including:

Local jobs – the industry supported around 14,500 full time equivalent (FTE) jobs, paying $1.2 billion in wages and salaries in 2016.

Luxury goods and services – foreign guests on superyachts spend an estimated $15,000 to $25,000 per day on land in Australia, in the days before and after their cruise. This includes an average $7,500 for luxury goods and services, such as jewellery, clothes, food and drinks.

Local maintenance and construction of superyachts – contributed $400 million in gross product in 2016.

Tourism – foreign tourist, guest and crew expenditure provides near $190 million annually for the local tourism market.

Transport and warehousing of superyachts – $77 million in gross product in 2016.

Accommodation and food for superyachts – $50 million in gross product in 2016.

Professional services supporting superyachts – $44 million in gross product in 2016.

Local retail trade benefiting from superyachts – $42 million in gross product in 2016.

Forecasts gross state product from superyacht industry in 2021, with and without policy change.

Cairns (including Whitsundays) – $374 million; $577.7 million.

Southeast Queensland – $724.3 million; $1.13 billion.

Sydney – $546.2 million; $877.8 million.

Melbourne – $101.7 million; $173.3 million.

Perth – $228.9 million; $271.1 million.

Tasmania & rest of Australia – $243.4 million; $362.5 million

Other economic benefits of policy change

GST revenues from superyachts would grow fivefold to $118.3 million

Australian manufacturing would gain an extra $235 million in gross product

Other key industries benefiting from superyacht activity, including retail trade, transport and warehousing, professional services, accommodation and food services, would gain $70 million in gross product.

CLICK BELOW FOR THE FACT SHEET

ECO IMPACT – Fact Sheet

Superyacht Economic Impact Study (Australia) was originally published on Boat Gold Coast

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Houseboating in Noosa

“So where is our next destination?” I asked my husband and son. After a full week or so of driving up to the Capricorn Coast and back down to the Sunshine Coast, stopping where our noses told us to spend the night, we thought that our next destination should not really be a destination. Rather, we decided to book ourselves on a three-night trip where we can take the kitchen and the bed with us—not exactly a destination for sure, but a journey.

Our road trip took its toll on us on the way back from Capricorn Coast heading back down to the Sunshine Coast. We were exhausted from being strapped up in our seats for hours. So for our last stop before heading back home to the Gold Coast, a houseboat adventure awaited on Noosa River.

Without prior bookings, we headed down to the Noosa River in Tewantin, and consulted with Luxury Afloat Noosa down at the Memorial Park Jetty. My husband made an executive decision to take Happy Jack, a six-berth 33-foot houseboat with three decks. It was to be our first houseboat holiday as a family.

The boat had all the amenities necessary to live in it. Clean linen, complete sets of kitchenware and dinnerware, cleaning items, fishing tackle, full emergency gear, and an outdoor dining set on the top deck—all made it feel like home on the water.

Our itinerary set, we were driven upstream to our first anchorage across Make Peace Island. We did not feel so isolated yet at this point, as the resort was a stone’s throw away. The night was quiet and peaceful on the river, and my son and I looked out onto the horizon for a beautiful sunset as we waited for the eagle to visit its chicks on the nest on top of one of the trees by the riverbank on the side of Noosa North Shore.

For some reason, while we were there, catfish were abundant in this part of the river, so dinner was a barbecued one. I do not think that many people would think of eating catfish, but it is a common fish dish for Asians. We also caught a cod and similarly placed it on the barbie to grill.

Moving upstream, we ventured into a more serene anchorage, past Lake Cooroibah, close to the infamous John’s Landing camping grounds. Our second night was more relaxed as we already felt settled. Our five-year-old son was also more familiar with the boat, so he was behaving more confidently inside and outside. In the morning, we climbed into the dingy and headed to the campsite. We were told there was a small shop there for some groceries so we thought of visiting. The campsite is—let’s just say, it is what it is. We walked through the campers and up the road to the shop, which sold very basic items, but enough to get you by if you do end up using up your supplies.

Our third anchorage was downstream, right across Gympie Terrace—the heart of Noosaville. With sandbars and more tourist spots to visit on land, we enjoyed our dingy trips to the mainland to have satisfying meals, special sweet treats, and freshly brewed hot coffees—a more touristy experience for sure.

Our son was happy building his “ginormous” sand castle on a sandbar, and spent a whole afternoon on the sand. He loved the quick trips on the dingy and exploring the shallow banks where the pelicans were.

But as in all journeys, this one also had to end. Our last afternoon was spent on the sandbar and jumping in the water from our boat. We had dinner in one of the restaurants on the tourist strip, and enjoyed a nightcap in the boat under the star-filled sky.

Our first houseboat holiday is one that is more an experience than just another tourist activity. Life on board is not easy, but it is simple and enjoyable. Without the hard ground beneath you, floating in your own little “hotel” accommodation is what you may call a “rocking” adventure.

By Roselle Tenefrancia

(Feb-Apr2017)

Houseboating in Noosa was originally published on Boat Gold Coast

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Safety First for Kids

There are concerns within the community regarding young people and the way they operate their small tinnies on the Gold Coast waterways, particularly in the canal systems. Reports from the community have raised some serious issues concerning the ‘safe’ operation of small vessels, like a tinnie.

Water Police have a strong presence on the Gold Coast, and are very active in responding to complaints. But of course, they cannot be everywhere at all times. This leads to some boaties, in particular young people, pushing their luck and breaking the law on safe water practices.

There have been recorded incidents of failures in safety while operating a vessel in recent times. An example was in the news story that showed a boy operating a boat colliding into a residential jetty at significant speed. This example highlights exactly what behaviour young people are conducting on the waterways that need addressing. The young lad was lucky to have just come away with a broken arm. His impact with the jetty could have easily been a lot worse.

The young ‘skipper’ had broken several rules, including the most obvious – travelling over six knots. Other possible breaches of the boating rules include:

Rule 5 – Proper Lookout: You must use all available means to lookout (including sight and sound)

Rule 6 – Safe Speed: At all times, you must proceed at a safe speed so as to avoid a collision and be able to stop in an appropriate distance.

And most important is Rule 2, which states that, it is the responsibility of the skipper to know the rules.

At 16 years of age, a person can legally obtain a Recreational Marine Drivers Licence (RMDL) and a Personal Water Craft License (PCWL). Although a boat license is not required for the operation of vessels with an engine of 6hp or less, the unlicensed driver is still obliged to know and adhere to rules.

Parents need to take a positive role and a genuine interest in their kids’ boating experience. Parents should also educate themselves on boating rules and regulations, by taking up a boating education course and by researching online information from Marine Safety Queensland.

Parents should regularly talk with their kids about their boating experiences on the water so they are made aware of what is “going on” and guide their kids’ behaviour should there be any concerns. Talking will keep parents informed of potential safety risks, including current information on busy congested areas, new speed zones, changes of navigation, and temporary commercial operations.

Another good idea is for parents to check the boat regularly with their child. Make up a checklist. Ensure equipment is carried, and the vessel is seaworthy and regularly serviced.

It is also suggested that parents monitor who their kids are associating with. They can then assess whether there is any potential risk of unsafe boating practices, and be able to protect the kids from ‘risky’ behaviours by not allowing them to associate with those who do not practice safe boating.

Talk with other parents of kids who go boating, and inform each other of current behaviour, and encourage them to be safe.

If a person is under 16, he or she must only operate vessels with an engine 6hp or under. In case the engine on the vessel is over 6hp, it can be ‘governed’. Simply take your engine to a qualified engine mechanic for a ‘governor’ to be installed. This will limit the power of the engine. As a parent, you can have peace of mind.

Parents and young skippers, licensed or unlicensed, should remember that, the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act 1994 imposes a general safety obligation on all vessel owners and operators, masters and crew to operate vessels safely at all times. This responsibility includes making sure the ship is safe, equipped and maintained, and operated in a safe manner.

Safe boating!

By Capt Michael Paddison

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SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Both young skippers and their parents need to know the safety equipment required to be carried on board their vessels.

The following are required:

One lifejacket per person aboard the boat; in good condition, easily assessable and the correct type for the area the vessel is operating in; a sticker/label at the lifejacket location is very helpful

Persons under 12 years of age in a vessel under 4.8 metres must wear a lifejacket at all times.

All persons are required to wear a lifejacket/PFD 1 while crossing a coastal bar in a vessel under 4.8 metres (i.e. The Seaway, Jumpinpin Bar, Tweed Bar)

Fire equipment – capable of extinguishing a fire – for boats over 5 metres

It is ‘recommended’ to carry:

Anchor

Charts (or Beacon to Beacon guide), and a compass

Bucket or bailing equipment

Paddles

Drinking water

(Feb-Apr2017)

Safety First for Kids was originally published on Boat Gold Coast

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Love Your Boat, Love Its Location

The word is out, and passionate boaties have responded to the call of the Gold Coast’s hidden gem. As beautiful cruisers, yachts, Seawind Cats, and Maritimos line the berths of Hope Harbour Marina for the holiday break, it continues to exude an atmosphere unique to every other marina on the Gold Coast.

Hope Harbour Marina is in a class of its own. This peaceful and affordable lifestyle marina is located on the far eastern point of Hope Island just 2km from the beautiful Gold Coast Broadwater, 15 minutes from the Gold Coast Seaway, and adjacent to the unspoiled Southern Moreton Bay Islands National Park.

Its pristine waters are teeming with vibrant life. There are no commercial grinders blaring, no blow-off from the hardstand, no busy banter of tradesmen or vehicles zooming around – just the calm hum of boaties happy to be on board their boats. And who can blame them?

“The access by land and sea is ideal for people who want to spend as much time as possible on their boat. It’s just five minutes off the M1 for people escaping Brisbane for the weekend, or those flying in to airports,” says Russell Dickins, the marina’s dock master. “More importantly, it’s just two kilometres from the open Broadwater for those coming by sea, or hoping to get out there.”

Convenience abounds on arrival with marina fairways and berths specially designed to provide easy and unrestricted access for multihulls and super yachts.

One of the first marinas to implement the leading Bellingham composite rods, Hope Harbour Marina offers berthing for long and short term stays with 280 premium marina berths for sail or power boats (including multihulls between six and 40 metres).

A convenient fuel jetty is located near the harbour entrance, with unleaded and diesel fuel available seven days a week, as well as bait, tackle and ice.

Once you’ve settled in and discovered the tennis court and resort-style swimming pool access, convenient facilities, and cafes and restaurants close by, you’ll be forgiven for thinking this is a resort rather than a marina.

“It certainly is a lifestyle location, a place you can relax on your boat without any inconveniences, while further afield the Gold Coast waits to be discovered,” says Russell. “It’s close to all the popular anchorages and the Broadwater. We love seeing people setting out for the day on the water, or even just popping down to Paradise Point or around to Sanctuary Cove for lunch and a shop.”

If you do fancy a hotel room over staying on your boat, the Ramada Hotel Hope Harbour has recently been refurbished and offers luxury accommodation overlooking the marina. However, you don’t need to be a guest to indulge in the hotel’s luxurious day spa packages, or to enjoy the dining on offer at the restaurant.

To maintain that holiday feeling, bring along your golf clubs, as there are prestigious courses within seven minutes away.

At the end of a day on the water or on the green, sit back and watch the sunset over the marina with a glass of vino at the elegant Marlin bar.

It’s one thing to enjoy the time you spend on your boat, and it’s another to be completely confident in the safety of it while you are away. Hope Harbour Marina is arguably the safest harbour on the coast. The marina basin is sheltered and secure, safely branching off the Coomera River and not affected by strong river or tidal flows. You can store your vessel clear of the dangers of winds, weather and floods that can be a problem for other marinas to the north.

Experience the pristine environment, tranquility and quality of this unique and affordable lifestyle marina.

To discuss your berthing requirements and the most competitive rates on the Gold Coast, contact the friendly and helpful team at Hope Harbour Marina on (07) 5530 1333 or email [email protected].

(Feb-Apr2017)

Love Your Boat, Love Its Location was originally published on Boat Gold Coast

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The Stradbroke Island Galleon

“Is it a lost Portuguese or Spanish exploration ship, a caravel or carrack? Or is it the wreck a Mexican treasure galleon, a Manila Galleon, carrying millions of pesos in silver and gold coins, shipwrecked on Australia’s Queensland coast?” (www.unexplainedaustralia.com)

Under the peat of the 18 Mile Swamp on North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, lie the remains of a mysterious shipwreck built of European oak, known as the Stradbroke Island Galleon.

There exists a body of Aboriginal oral history and several artefacts found in the sand dunes, including a Spanish silver coin from 1597 and the blade of a 17th-century Spanish rapier. Some say it is merely folklore, while others swear a trail of historic artefacts, written reports, and anecdotal evidence are clear evidence of a 15th or 16th Century shipwreck. But there is yet no conclusive evidence.

In the 19th century, a few whites and certain Stradbroke Aborigines knew of the shipwreck’s exact location. But over the years, this important historic knowledge has been lost. Stradbroke oral history says that the shipwreck was a Spanish expedition ship exploring the edges of their Pacific domain. Marooned as the result of an “ancient storm”, the survivors of the shipwreck were helped by the Stradbroke Island Aborigines and, unable to return to Spain or Manila (Philippines), the shipwrecked Spanish sailors were absorbed by Stradbroke’s Aboriginal population. There are also suggestions that some North Stradbroke Island families are direct descendants of the shipwrecked sailors.

Since the British settlement of Australia, a number stories about mysterious pre-Captain Cook shipwrecks in Queensland have circulated, and a number of prominent Australian historians have questioned the claim that Captain Cook was the first European to discover Queensland. There is historic evidence that Captain Cook used Portuguese or Spanish maps such as recalled in the Dauphin, Dieppe, Vallard and Desceliers maps to aid his navigation of the Pacific and Australia’s east coast. The final answers to these important historic questions are likely to be found in the shipwreck still preserved in the peat moss of the 18 Mile Swamp.

The legend of the Stradbroke Island Galleon has polarised the archaeological fraternity for years. But a new search may soon begin for the long-lost shipwreck, which some say will rewrite Australia’s history books. The main bone of contention is not so much the existence of a wreck, but claims it could pre-date the east coast discoveries of Captain James Cook – that he was not in fact the first person to chart the Queensland coastline.

Lost Treasure?

No matter which side of the fence you sit, the story of “the ship in the swamp” on North Stradbroke certainly does get tongues wagging — and sparks questions about a long-lost treasure.

If it is a Manila galleon or a V.O.C. ship (which stands for Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie [United East India Company], the largest commercial enterprise in the world, with a fleet of more than a hundred ships, thousands of employees, dozens of offices in Asia, and six establishments in the Netherlands in the 17th and 18th centuries), there may be truth to the Stradbroke Island oral history of a vast treasure buried somewhere on the island, its location known by certain Stradbroke Aboriginal elders.

Redland City Council have warned weekend treasure hunters to stay away from the island. “We don’t need amateur archaeologists traipsing through the swamp – leave it to the professionals.”

The fact so many people are likely to have visited the site – timber-getters, would-be explorers, treasure-hunters, politicians and, of course, the North Stradbroke Island Quandamooka people themselves – the existence of a long-lost treasure is unlikely.

Fact and fiction

One university professor, Greg Jefferys, had dedicated “a lot of time and effort” refuting and even ridiculing his own exhaustive research that began in 1989, best detailed in his book, The Stradbroke Island Galleon – The Mystery of the Ship in the Swamp. However, there has been no serious research to determine whether pre-Cook landings were indeed fact or fiction.

There have been several unsuccessful attempts to find the wreck in the last century. The last well-documented sightings of the wreck were in the 1890s and in 1934. In the 1890s, before the Jumpinpin breakthrough, Matthew Heeb, a shipwright and a timber-getter, saw the shipwreck and described it as a “vessel with a high poop and forecastle”. In 1934, Jim Walker, a sailor and son of a boat builder, and two friends found the shipwreck, after a fire had burnt through the 18 Mile Swamp during a drought.

Many artefacts found are said to be directly linked to the Spanish/Portuguese Galleon – a bronze walking stick handle, a sailor’s dirk, ceramic bowl, a ship’s brass bell, and doubloons used by Aboriginal people to trade for European goods in the 1920s-30s. There are also historic records of people being shown the wreck, and anecdotal evidence of people who claimed to have seen and taken items of historical significance, including brass and copper fittings.

One lady, insisting on anonymity, is one of many North Stradbroke Indigenous residents. She said that she had heard of a wooden box “containing coins, books, a belt buckle, a couple of rings and other items”, and had been handed down through generations but was lost in a house fire at Dunwich in the 1980s. She recounted her family heritage so it would not be lost with the passing of her generation, but was unwilling to go on the record.

But to prove Jefferys’ theory and again rattle the archaeological “establishment” would be worth just as much as a chest full of gold coins for Jefferys’ dedicated team, including Capalaba GP Dr Cliff Rosendahl PhD and maritime engineer Brad Horton.

Visit www.stradbrokeislandgalleon.com for a wealth of information on the mysterious shipwreck.

Compiled by: Southport Yacht Club’s Maritime Heritage Ship Wreck Committee

(Editor’s Note: Here’s an interesting point that has been written about Jefferys’ book: “The book is the result of extensive research into early Australian and Queensland maritime history and archaeology and uses many local and international historic resources including extensive investigation of Spanish maritime histories and historians including noted Spanish historian Professor Francisco Mellen, an expert on the history of the Pacific. Most of these non-Anglo Saxon history resource are either deliberately ignored or casually overlooked by ‘establishment’ archaeologists and historians, defending the British biased status quo of Australian history that Cook, not the Spanish or Portuguese, were the first Europeans to discover Australia despite a mounting body of historic and archaeological evidence to the contrary.” [stradbrokeislandgalleon.com])

(Feb-Apr2017)

The Stradbroke Island Galleon was originally published on Boat Gold Coast

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The Leaking Compass

The importance of a liquid damped compass cannot be overstated, as Nic Welch narrates his experience with a faulty one.

Twenty years ago, I learned a very valuable lesson in Moreton Bay.

My friend, Paul, and I had just purchased a second-hand 6m shark cat, which we were very proud of. It had everything we needed – 150L underfloor fuel tank, all safety gear, rocket launcher, live bait tank, sleeping bunks, and ample fishing room. It even came with a Lowrance fish-finder/GPS-chartplotter combo with the latest CMAP charts. The only thing wrong with the vessel was that its liquid damped compass had a small leak, and half of the oil the compass card floats in had vanished. But it still pointed north when the compass was level, and who cares, we had the GPS chartplotter anyway.

We were keen to show off our new toy to the girls, so we invited them along on a fishing trip to chase some snapper at Harry Atkinson Artificial Reef in the middle of Moreton Bay. The weather forecast was light southwesterlies in the morning, followed by 20-25 knot southeasterlies in the afternoon. We had 80L of fuel on board, which was more than ample for the seven-nautical-mile trip to Harry’s from Manly Boat Harbour.

So we set off and fished the reef for most of the morning, before heading to Mud Island to try our luck there. By early afternoon the southeasterlies had just started to kick in, so we decided we should head back to the reef and fish there for an hour or so before heading back home.

Well, that extra bit of wind seemed to put the snapper on the chew at Harry’s and we started landing some nice sized fish. A storm front was approaching from the south, but it didn’t look very severe, so we decided to keep fishing – the 6m shark cat could handle the chop easily, and we still had ample fuel to get us home safely.

After half an hour more fishing, some heavy rain was approaching quickly so we decided to pull anchor and start the trip home, just as a yacht sailed past us heading towards Tangalooma. Within two minutes of driving, our GPS chartplotter gave up the ghost and lost power, caused by a bad earth in the chartplotter wiring loom (which we were unable to troubleshoot at the time without a multimeter, as we didn’t carry a multimeter on board). No problem, we’ll just head towards Green Island as Manly Boat Harbour is southwest from the island.

Then the rain hit. It absolutely teamed down! Visibility was reduced to about 100 metres or less. Oh great, where has Green Island gone? No worries, we’ll use the compass. We work out from our paper chart that a bearing to the southern end of Green Island is approximately 230 degrees magnetic. This would have been fine to use our compass in completely flat water, but our compass only had half its liquid, so the compass card got stuck every time we hit a wave – rendering the compass completely useless.

Ok, no problem. Instead of heading towards the southern end of Green Island, let’s just head west until we hit the mainland, then follow the shoreline down to Manly. It’s 3pm, so we can follow the sun to the west. Or we can do the boy scout trick and find north by pointing 12 o’clock on my watch clock face at the sun halving the distance between the hour hand and 12 o’clock. Good idea, except it’s bucketing down rain still, completely overcast, and impossible to determine where the sun actually is.

Don’t panic girls! The forecast is a 25-knot southeasterly, and it’s certainly 25 knots! All we need to do is keep the chop from the southeasterly dead square onto our port side, and we’ll be heading southwest. We’ll be at Green Island in no time!

So off we set. After half an hour we still hadn’t seen Green Island, and determined that we must have overshot the island. No worries, we’ll keep heading southwest and eventually hit the mainland, probably around Wellington Point. After another half an hour and still no mainland in sight, we suddenly came across the same yacht, which sailed past us at the reef, the one that was heading towards Tangalooma at the time! It suddenly dawned upon me that as the storm front passed over, the wind must have swung slowly around from the southeast, through the west, and was now a north easterly – a complete 180 degree wind shift, causing us to drive a very wide semi-circle keeping the chop on our port side. So instead of being on Southern Moreton Bay, we were now on Northern Moreton Bay!

At this point, we had about 30L of fuel left, and quite possibly had a fuel emergency if we were indeed on Northern Moreton Bay. It’s still pouring rain, there’s an hour or so of light left, and are now officially lost. Needless to say, the girls were not impressed. We had no alternative but to drop anchor and ride out the weather until the rain passed, so we could see land and get our bearings. When the rain did eventually clear, we found ourselves halfway between Mud Island and the Little Sand Hills on Moreton Island.

We made it back to Manly Boat Harbour just before dark, with about a litre of fuel spare. I slept on the couch that night.

To this date, I always ensure I have a well-maintained liquid damped compass in my boat. The simple fact is a liquid damped compass and a paper chart are virtually fail-safe navigation tools, which you should never leave shore without. It only takes a small electrical fault – such as a bad earth in our case, or a blown fuse, or a corroded connector – to render your GPS chartplotter useless. If you use a mobile phone with navigation software, it only takes a splash of water or a flat battery to make that useless too. If you subsequently find yourself in trouble and without a known GPS position, how are you going to alert marine rescue organisations to your vessel’s position if you don’t have a compass on board? Informing marine rescue with the compass bearings of two or more landmarks enables your vessel position to be plotted on a chart with a high degree of accuracy.

NOTE: A liquid damped compass is only a “recommended” safety gear under Queensland, but it is still important to always have functional one on board. Even though the “recommended” safety gear is completely optional, you can still be fined for not carrying the recommended gear if you are in a situation where you actually need that particular piece of safety equipment. For example, an anchor is only recommended, not required. If your engine breaks down and you start floating out Jumpinpin Bar and need rescuing, you will likely be fined for not having an anchor on board.

(Feb-Apr2017)

The Leaking Compass was originally published on Boat Gold Coast

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Nautinet

Nautinet is a new website providing a comprehensive central platform to make crew organisation and communication efficient and easy. It provides a well-organised and user-friendly place to keep all of the data involved in organising racing events as well as a wealth of really smart features and functionality.

Just a year since the website’s live launch, there are now some of the most competitive racing boats in the world using the software including J-Class ‘Velsheda’, RP100 ‘Wild Oats XI’, MiniMaxis ‘Caol Ila R’ and ‘Robertissima’, and TP52s ‘Spookie’ and ‘Alegre’. There have also been a number of smaller boats signing up.

How It All Works

Nautinet is basically a great little piece of online software where every member of a sailing team has an individual log-in to access boat and crew data as well as use all the features and functionality.

Once logged in, either you or an account administrator (such as a captain, owner or manager) can add your personal details such as uniform sizes, food allergies, mobile number, etc.

Hereafter, your personal details can be easily shared with any boat that you accept an invitation from and access almost all of the data, dependent privileges set by an account administrator or the captain.

Each time an event is added to a boat’s calendar, one can opt to invite any amount of crew from a list of all the current crew. All selected crew will then automatically receive an email notification announcing that they have been invited to an event and enquiring if they would like to attend or not. Should a crew member select “Yes” to attending, then his/her name will automatically appear on all of the smart lists and effect other features and functionality throughout the site.

An example of a smart list is the ‘Next of Kin List’. This is a list that pulls all of the next-of-kin data from all of your crew’s accounts and places it on one neat table. You can choose to show all of your crew or only crew attending certain events. As with any page on Nautinet, this table is available to download, print or share via email at the click of a button

One example of a function is the ‘Smart-Grouped SMS Messaging’ which allows you to write one message on-screen and then click “Send to All Crew” or “Send to All Crew Attending Maxi Worlds”. Perfect for informing all the crew of last minute changes at an event when the crew are geographically scattered about the place!

One example of a feature is the ‘Attendance Overview’ page. This shows a list of all of the crew and all of the events and shows whether or not the individual crew members are ‘Attending’, ‘Not Attending’, ‘Awaiting Response’ or ‘Not Invited’. It will also summarise below how many crew are attending, not attending, awaiting response or not invited and, of those attending, how many crew are race crew, shore/permanent crew, owner/guest or non-crew.

“Nautinet has proved a great tool for both the TP52 and the Etchells teams. We found it easy to learn, easy to use, and a great bespoke solution to the modern demands of professional sailing,” says Steve Benjamin, 2015 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and owner of TP52 ‘Spookie‘, Carkeek40 and Etchells.

All crew profiles are free but each boat pays an annual subscription of which there are four different types to choose from depending on which profile applies best to the boat and crew. Different deals can also be easily negotiated.

For More Information, please visit www.nautinet.com; or watch the YouTube Walkthrough Movie at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_E6RDeM5EQ; or email at [email protected]

Benefits for Captains, Management & Owners

A heavily reduced number of emails

Massive savings in administration time and labour, which in turn allows management to focus on other more important things that can often save costs for the program

Share and work on the same data simultaneously to someone else who might be in another country (not possible with Excel or Dropbox)

Benefits for Crew

Readily available information (event dates, flight details, etc)

One-time data entry – Once your personal details are in the Nautinet database, simply join other boats on Nautinet to share that data and put a stop to continuously providing the same personal data to multiple boats.)

Overlay calendars – See all of the events of all the boats that you race with on one calendar. (Highlights potential clashed or tight logistics between events)

Key Features

Shared calendar

Crew logistics sheets

Crew lists / “Smart Lists” (attendance, contact, passport, catering, medical, NOK, crew weight, etc.)

Email

SMS Messaging

Photo Storage

Document Storage

Discussion Forums

Jobs Lists

Uniform Lists

Invoicing

Nautinet was originally published on Boat Gold Coast

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From ski to sail: Kerry Noyes

Kerry Noyes is the current Commodore of the Southport Yacht Club, and is the first female commodore in the Club’s history. She moved to the Gold Coast from Sydney in 1978, and joined the Club 22 years ago after deciding to transition from ski racing. Prior to SYC, she was an active member of the Queensland Water Ski Racing Association, and spent a number of years as hostess/deckhand for local cruise companies. She has been the Secretary of the Nacra Catamaran Association of Australian Inc. and the Queensland Nacra Association for the last six years.

Here is a snapshot of her thoughts on the Club and boating in general.

What are the major challenges you face as Commodore of SYC?

One challenge is moving forward and building on the great work achieved by Past Commodore Phil Short in bringing all divisions of the club together as one.

The greater challenge is to continue to lobby governments, local and state, to ensure the Broadwater and surrounds are managed to ensure all watersport participants have quality areas to utilise.

How does the Southport Yacht Club participate in the community?

Southport Yacht Club runs a number of community events throughout the year, including hosting the Gold Coast Waterways Authority’s public forum at our Hollywell and Main Beach Clubhouses.

We regularly run a number of courses in conjunction with Yachting Queensland throughout the year, and provide pathways for youth and adults interested in sailing to join the sport.

The SYC continually offer members and the public quality programs, facilitated by leaders in the industry, such as Yachting Queensland, Australian Sailing, and community groups, such as Air Sea Rescue.

Your aspirations for the Club and the boating community?

We will continue to build on our youth and young adult membership base, and ensure the Club remains relevant to our younger members.

We must ensure that the general public have access to pristine waterways as the Gold Coast population continues to grow.

There should be consultations between power, sail and commercial users, and continued mutual respect in the use of the waterways

Boat owners should continue to support and buy from local business within the marine industry. Without support, we will lose some of our industry.

Your thoughts on the future of boating on the Gold Coast?

I believe the Broadwater is an asset that is not being currently used to its full potential. There is potential for significant public value in dredging the southern part of the Broadwater fully, creating a stadium area to be used not only for events but also as a large open space for all to use. It is imperative, with this as with any other project, to ensure that the biodiversity areas on and around Wave Break Island and the Seaway are maintained. I also believe the “Deep Hole” area of the Broadwater requires some serious maintenance to return it to what it was – a deep hole.

You are an advocate for?

I am actively involved in training programs, from fun sailing right up to elite youth level. Through our company, we sponsor boats for children to lease on a yearly basis once they are out of the junior level. We are currently starting a youth program with a view to developing local talent towards the youth Olympics/ISAF World Championships in the Nacra 15 class.

Your favourite boating activity?

I enjoy all forms of boating, but my passion is catamaran racing. I love catamaran racing on the Broadwater – very challenging and exhilarating! I own a Nacra 5.8 and compete in SYC events and Nacra events Australia-wide. I try to sail at least weekly. I also own a Nacra 4.5, and sponsor two Nacra 15’s for the ISAF Youth Worlds.

My partner and I enjoy relaxing weekends at the SYC Dux Retreat when we can spare the time.

Interview with Roselle Tenefrancia

(Feb-Apr2017)

From ski to sail: Kerry Noyes was originally published on Boat Gold Coast

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The Banana Prawn Run**

**IMPORTANT NOTE AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE**

The term ‘banana prawn’ refers to two species: the white- and the red-legged banana prawns. Both species live in our local waters and are short-lived and fast growing. When banana prawns run in South East Queensland, it is a common sight to see many boats grouped together, casting nets, and hauling in an abundance of prawns.

Prawning can be attempted in a few different ways. However, for our local waters, it is suggested to use a cast net from a boat. The technique is easy to learn and is a fairly inexpensive fun for the whole family.

Here are the things you need to know.

NET

The best type of net to catch banana prawns is a monofiliment top pocket cast net, with 12ft drop and chain bottom. The prices for these nets start from $250, and can range up to $550.

WHEN

The best time of the year to catch prawns is between January and May. Prawn catching during the day is safer, with less chances of nasty by-catch, such as stonefish or bullrout.

Some areas prove better for prawn catching on the high tide and others during the lower tides. The best time is usually an hour before or after the changing tides, as otherwise the current can be too strong to catch anything.

The depth varies from place to place. It can be as shallow as 6 feet, but it will be hard to make the nets effective. And it can go far down to 60 feet deep. Prawns move into deeper holes on low tide, as there is no water over the banks and over shallow areas at the bottom of each tide.

Water temperature is not a major factor during the prawn season.

WHERE

The best locations to catch banana prawns are from the Jacobs Well boat moorings to the Rudy Maas moorings, then north from the power lines at Rocky Point to the mouth of the Logan River. The areas of Redland Bay Channel, Karragarra Island, Lamb and Russell Island are also great locations for prawns.

Hunting for prawns is very popular in these waters. The prawning pack can be as little as one boat, if you are lucky enough to find them on your own, or up to 100 boats all throwing nets.

If you are a learner, the best way to catch prawns is by watching from a distance. Then, observe how the seasoned prawners work the area. Most prawners are easy to get along with, as they are all trying to catch a feed. Most times, you are working in close quarters with each other. Be aware of other’s boats and motors, as mistakes can be expensive.

LIMITS

Possession limit is 1 x 10-litre bucket of prawns per person at any time. This includes what you have in your boat, car, fridge and freezer at home at any given point in time. Certain areas of Moreton Bay have a green zone marine park status, so it is wise to acquaint yourself online of these important zones before heading off.

HOW

By using a fish finder, you will greatly improve your success rate. Any type of sounder will mark to locate prawns. It takes practice to know what they look like on your individual personal units. The prawns will show up anywhere from the surface right down to the bottom. Once located, be ready to cast your net using your preferred method (off the shoulder, wrist-grab, or other methods). Mastering your net cast prior to your fishing trip is essential to maximise the opportunity for a productive cast. (Ask your tackle shop to demonstrate, or go to youtube.com for details.)

Once you catch the prawns, place them in an ice-slurry mixture (ice and salt water) in a cooler to keep them fresh. They can also be kept alive in a live bait well/tank with lots of water flow. However, ensure the lid is closed at all times, as prawns are able to jump and escape.

COOKING

In a pot, place salt water that comes from the area where the prawns were caught. Allow the water to boil before adding the raw prawns. Once they are red and begin to float, remove them from the pot and immediately place in an ice-water slurry to stop any further cooking. Overcooked prawns can be quite tough and chewy.

AS BAIT

Prawns make excellent bait, if you are not intending on eating them. Almost all fish will eat/attack live prawn bait. It simply depends on the size of the prawn. Smaller prawns are best for whiting and bream, while larger prawns produce better results for flathead, trevally, mangrove jack, mulloway (jewfish), and threadfin salmon.

To rig a live prawn for fishing, place the hook in the second to last segment before the tail. This will allow the prawn to swim in a more natural manner, while also increasing the length of time with which it stays alive.

By Luke Rafton

**The Queensland government have issued statements regarding the recent “white spot disease” found in prawns in the Logan River and Moreton Bay. The disease is not known to be harmful to humans, but it is strongly advised to cook the prawns before consumption.

For up-to-date information, follow the link below.

https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/animal-industries/animal-health-and-diseases/a-z-list/white-spot-disease

The Banana Prawn Run** was originally published on Boat Gold Coast

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Book Review: Reflections on a Lost Island

Book Author: Lindy Salter

Reviewed by: Patrick Molnar

Back in the early days, the area covering Jacobs Well, Calypso Bay, Cabbage Tree Point, Norwell, Woongoolba, and Steiglitz was once considered an island. It was called the ‘Pimpama Island’, bordered by the Pimpama River to the south, Moreton Bay to the east, the Logan and Albert Rivers to the north, and many creeks and swamps to the west.

Many explorers crossed the area, but they left it behind because of its difficult access, until a Scottish Presbyterian travelled to Germany and Britain to look for possible settlers into the area. As a result, many German families migrated to Australia and started their new life down under, settling on the Pimpama Island.

Lindy Salter, a local historian, wrote the book Reflections on a Lost Island that provides the reader a peek into the time of first settlement in the area in the mid 1800’s. The book contains 28 chapters, featuring individual family stories mainly from the settlers’ great-grandchildren, who are mostly in their 80’s today. This extremely well researched piece puts you in a time machine and takes you among the first European families in the area who built their new life from scratch on the Pimpama Island.

Most of these families were from Germany. However, some chapters include stories of English families and also people who moved to the area more recently.

Lindy Salter’s unique writing style and original photographs from that time enables you to place yourself to the era when people had no access to electricity, when there were no roads, and when children had to walk hours to get to school, just to name a few.

Each story is different. Most of these families were starting their own businesses in agriculture, growing sugar cane, corn, sweet potatoes, and arrowroot. While coping with the new environment, some also started fishing, crabbing, and livestock farming. One example of a thriving business is the Rocky Point Mill in Woongoolba, which has been operating for more than 130 years, and is one of the oldest sugar mills in Australia, established by the Heck family in the late 1800’s.

Through the chapters, you can read about the hardness of processing raw material by hand at the beginning, and also the mechanisation of farming.

With each story, the reader can get an insight into the private life of these big families – having 10 children was common at that time – discovering their daily routine at work, their leisure activities, and how they formed a very strong community with their neighbours, helping each other in any way they could.

According to most of the reminiscences, the interviewees remember back then as the happiest time of their lives, growing up on the Pimpama Island, despite any hardships they encountered.

Thanks to the very detailed description of scenes, I am convinced that after reading this book, you will hop into your car and start discovering the streets where it all started, considering that many of the fields and houses are still there.

Reflections on a Lost Island is a must-read to get a hint on how the life was at the beginning of the settlement and how the area formed and evolved as the time passed by.

‘Reflections on a Lost Island’ is available for $25.00 from many local shops in Jacobs Well and Cabbage Tree Point; from Karen Lewis on 5546 1520 or 0405 177 713; or from Lindy Salter on 0407 695 340.

(Feb-Apr2017)

Book Review: Reflections on a Lost Island was originally published on Boat Gold Coast

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Drink Driving and Marine Licensing in Queensland

Any mariner worth their salt knows that alcohol and boats are not a good mix. Many marine incidents are attributable to the consumption of alcohol by one or more of the masters involved. Such incidents are even more regrettable because they would likely not have occurred if alcohol was not involved.

Like their land counterparts, marine authorities continue to be frustrated by the occurrence of incidents, damage to property, injuries and fatalities that have alcohol as a root cause. This frustration has resulted in the strict regulation of the use of alcohol by persons in charge of a vessel, which can result in heavy fines and loss of marine licences.

The loss of a marine licence is an embarrassment and an inconvenience to recreational boaties, but is a catastrophic loss of livelihood to the maritime professional. In this article, we briefly examine the legal processes behind a marine drink driving offence, and the potential consequences for boaties and marine professionals.

What is Marine Drink Driving?

In Queensland, the law for operating boats while intoxicated is the same for driving cars. Section 79 (1) of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 (the Act), makes it an offence for a person who is under the influence of liquor or a drug to drive a motor vehicle, tram, train or vessel. Vessel is defined under the act to include ships, boats, or any kind of vessel designed for use in navigation whatever the means of its propulsion. This definition has been interpreted very broadly by the courts, almost to the extent that if a person is in control of anything on the water, that person must not be under the influence of liquor.

The allowable blood alcohol content is generally the same for cars – .05 Blood Alcohol Concentration or BAC. However, if you are in control of a commercial passenger vessel, the allowable BAC is zero.

What are the consequences?

You must go to court after being caught for any drink driving offence, including marine offences. If found guilty by the magistrate, a person charged with marine drink driving will likely be fined and be disqualified from driving a vessel for a period of time. The severity of the fine and length of disqualification will depend on the circumstances, such as previous convictions and traffic history, and the maximum penalty is dependent on the BAC.

For example, a typical BAC reading of .075 could result in a maximum fine of $1706, or 3 months’ imprisonment, where a high-level BAC of over .15 could result in a fine of $3,413, or 9 months in jail.

Can my recreational marine licence be cancelled or suspended?

Your marine licence cannot be cancelled or suspended by the court as a result of a motor vehicle infringement. However, the court may disqualify you from holding a Queensland-issued marine licence if you are convicted of marine drink driving under section 79 (drink driving), or section 80 (refusing to provide breath sample) of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act. If your Queensland marine licence is cancelled or suspended, all of your Queensland issued marine licences are affected.

If disqualified, you will be provided with an order which you must present to a Transport and Main Roads Department office in order to remove the RMDL or PWCL indicator on your licence.

If you disagree with the disqualification, the order can be appealed or you may apply for a restricted marine licence.

What about a commercial marine licence?

Most commercial marine licences in Queensland are issued by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) pursuant to the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012 (the National Law). National Law licences are commercial Certificates of Competency such as Near Coastal Coxswain, Master and Marine Engine Driver.

The courts do not yet have jurisdiction to make orders about drink driving on Commonwealth Marine Licences, so there is no power for a magistrate to give orders to cancel or suspend a National Law marine licence.

Readers should note, however, that a marine drink driving offence is likely to be notified to Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ). MSQ may write to AMSA to seek the suspension or cancellation of a National Law Certificate of Competency on the basis that a convicted person is no longer a fit and proper person to hold a commercial marine licence. If AMSA chooses to take any action in response to a request by MSQ, there will be an opportunity for the licence holder to present their case pursuant to a fair process laid down in that National Law and Marine Order 505.

So…..what are the key messages?

If you return a positive breath test while in control of a boat in Queensland, you will most likely be charged and will be summonsed to attend court. It is likely that you will be fined, and your marine licence may be in jeopardy. If you hold a Queensland recreational boat licence, the court may disqualify you from holding that licence for a period of time, or MSQ may ask you to show cause why your licence should not be cancelled or suspended.

An expert legal representative can often engage with the magistrate to reduce the fine and period of disqualification, or make representations to MSQ concerning any show cause notice for suspension or cancellation.

If you hold a commercial licence, the magistrate in Queensland has no power to suspend or disqualify. However, MSQ will be notified and may ask AMSA to act against your licence. For any action to be taken, the regulator must demonstrate that the circumstances of the drink driving conviction indicate that you are no longer a fit and proper person to hold a commercial marine licence.

In this instance, the early appointment of a maritime lawyer can dramatically enhance the prospects of convincing AMSA that the commercial licence should not be suspended.

By Captain John Kavanagh AFNI MQLS

(Feb-Apr2017)

Drink Driving and Marine Licensing in Queensland was originally published on Boat Gold Coast

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Drones: Taking Boating to New Heights

In recent years drones have evolved from novelty toys into an essential device for bringing aerial photography into the hands of the general public. Instead of being stuck with awkward selfies from your phone, drones let boaties capture the sort of amazing aerial shots that were previously only possible with a helicopter. However, photography was only the beginning, as we’re now seeing drones revolutionise fishing, both above and below the water line, and there’s even talk of drones helping save people who have fallen overboard. Let us show you some of the most useful drones for boating.

Splash Drone

Price: $1,660

It is possible to get cheap camera drones for under a hundred dollars, but you will need to buy them by the dozen considering they sink without a trace when they hit the water. The Splash Drone was the first waterproof drone to hit the market – an essential feature for any serious boating use. It is also one of the most versatile drones on the market, with the ability to attach a wide range of devices. The most obvious attachment is a GoPro camera for filming. However, the drone can carry up to 1kg, making it possible to carry life vests to people overboard much further than you could throw, or to carry flares higher up to increase their visibility. Another very handy feature is that if the drone loses its connection to your controller, it will automatically return to its take-off coordinates. It is also possible to modify the Splash Drone to carry fishing equipment. Such a broad range of customization and features make the Splash Drone a great all-rounder. However, it will quickly get very expensive if you want all the attachments, so it’s worth looking at other choices if you just have a specific use in mind.

Aguadrone

Price: $1,790

Drone fishing has rushed from concept to reality in just a couple of years, and it is easy to see why when you realise the possibilities with the technology. You may have seen the popular YouTube videos earlier in the year of two local fishermen catching a huge 20kg tuna off Fingal Head by using a drone to carry a baited hook 350m out into the ocean then reeling the tuna back in with a rod. The Aguadrone is specifically made for fishing and will let you do everything they did and more. The drone is fully waterproof and it comes with a range of accessories you can twist on and off without tools. As well as a camera capable of filming above and below the waterline, it comes with two main fishing accessories: the fish finder and the main fishing pod. The fish finder uses sonar to check the water’s depth, temperature and find fish down to 40m, and all of this information is sent to your smartphone in real-time. The main fishing pod can carry your bait, hook and sinker (up to a weight of 2kg) out to the fish. You can watch a camera view of below the drone and then detach the bait as soon as you spot the fish.

Trident

Price: $1,200

For those who want to explore the ocean depths without getting wet, the Trident packs in a lot cutting-edge features. It is capable of travelling to a depth of 100m, while shooting HD footage that it sends back to your laptop or smartphone. The Trident is also built very strongly to withstand water pressure and collisions. And to get around the difficulty of sending data wirelessly through the water, it is tethered to a floating WiFi transmitter. Unless you are a professional treasure hunter, the Trident may be a very niche device. But it’s undeniably fascinating.

By Narayan Pattison

Images copyright by the drone companies.

(Feb-Apr2017)

*Our print edition where this article appeared included the Lily drone. In January 2017, the company that manufactured the flying drone cameras announced their closure due to their failure to secure financing.

Drones: Taking Boating to New Heights was originally published on Boat Gold Coast

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The Secret is Out -- A Video

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Secret 33 solar electric ferry for commercial or private use. Designed and built by Derek Ellard of Scruffie Marine in the spirit of tradition, the boat features the latest technology and modern underwater lines.