Boating - is it really that dangerous?
by Peter Rendle 19 Apr 2018 15:00 PDT
Downwind Sailing - Goose Winged: Michelle Howell's entry in the 2018-19 ilovesailing calendar competition © Michelle Howell
There is no doubt that anything to do with the ocean or involving boating carries a certain amount of risk. But let's not get carried away. There are lots of other occupations that could end in disaster, driving a car for example. So it is important to keep tragedies at sea, in perspective.
I've noted a number of boating media agencies using incidents that involve accidents at sea as 'click bait', a bit like some magazines of dubious origins using anything dramatic to attract readers. I am not saying that we should not report incidences that involve loss of life at sea, groundings or loss of a boat, but we need to keep in mind that it is not the norm and that anything that may deter people from becoming involved in boating should not be used as a means to attract readers no matter how much that may add to the 'like' button.
This week's e-news letter has a couple of postings from marina operators. Marinas are a crucial development in the growth of boating especially in remote locations in Australia. A recent judgement in the NSW Land and Environment Court has upheld an appeal by Eden Marina against the Bega Valley Shire Council and in the process Eden Marina has been granted development consent. Commissioner Bish found that an out of court agreement between Eden Cattle Bay Marina Pty Ltd and Bega Valley Shire Council was one which the Court could have made in the proper exercise of its function.
Further North award-winning marina precinct, Abell Point Marina, welcomes new General Manager, Kate Purdie, to the team. Ms Purdie replaces Luke McCaul as General Manager of the largest marina on the east coast of Queensland. With 517 wet berths and berthing to accommodate vessels up to 80m in length, Abell Point Marina has over recent years experienced an $18million redevelopment to become an award-winning marina precinct and tourist destination in the Whitsundays.
On the sailing front the International Laser Class Association (ILCA) announced a new rule, effective January of 2018, which enables Laser race participants to use an electronic digital compass during competition. As a result, Laser competitors worldwide may now take advantage of the valuable tactical information reliably delivered by Raymarine's Wireless Micro Compass.
As a market leader in wireless racing instruments, Raymarine introduced the first ever self-charging electronic compass twenty years ago. Ever since, world champion one-design sailors and racing yacht competitors around the world have benefited from the accurate and reliable data delivered by Raymarine's T060 Micro Compass and T070 Race Master.
Apps are rapidly becoming part of all boaties inventory and marine mobile app Nebo continues to impress skippers the world over with a new feature in its latest update making it even easier to enjoy a safe and carefree boating experience.
Nebo's new "Pre-Start Checklist" feature enables users to create a customise start-up list for their particular boat. Users can select and save their own pre-Start instructions or choose from a range of suggestions, including Shore Power Off, Check Fuel Levels, Check-in with Coast Guard and much more.
Zhik, the Australian clothing manufacture, introduce the bright new Z-Cru™ jackets that breathe new life into the myriad of crew jackets on the market and feature some neat technical detailing, in line with Zhik's ethos of disrupting the status quo in order to move technical clothing design forwards.
Designed for milder sailing conditions and casual boating, the Z-Cru is versatile, warm, fully waterproof and an ideal crew or team jacket. Z-Cru is breathable and made from a light two-layer laminate fabric with fully taped seams. Well worth consideration.
Aveagooden
Peter Rendle Sail-World