During Australia Day & weekend, be aware out on the water - MarineBusinessWorld Oceania newsletter
by Peter Rendle 25 Jan 2024 15:00 PST
Marine Rescue Illawarra Shoalhaven © Marine Rescue NSW
More than 400 volunteers will be ready to respond to boaters and paddlers in need across the Illawarra Shoalhaven this long weekend. Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said the Port Kembla, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Jervis Bay, Sussex Inlet, Ulladulla and Kioloa units are expecting a large number of people to hit the region's waterways.
"The Australia Day long weekend for Marine Rescue NSW is always a very busy time. We get a lot of vessels that are going offshore from Wollongong all the way down to Kioloa and we can't forget our inland waterways such as Lake Illawarra, Burrill Lake, Lake Conjola and St Georges Basin," he said. Marine Rescue NSW volunteers at the region's seven units responded to numerous incidents on 26 January last year, safely returning 33 people to shore.
Looking to the future, the Boating Industry Association Ltd (BIA) has announced a partnership with the Australian Institute of Engineering (AIE) aimed at enhancing support for boating industry businesses in regional areas, improving access to apprentice training.
"In our collaborative efforts to date with AIE, we've seen success in supporting training of apprentices in South Australia, addressing a historical scarcity of opportunities," said BIA CEO Andrew Scott. "By establishing a formal partnership with AIE, our goal is to extend this success to other member States as part of our commitment to promote education, skills and jobs."
Approaching quickly is Australia's first major boat show of 2024. Australia's largest marine lifestyle event, the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS), being staged May 23-26, is close to full capacity and attracting many of the biggest and best marine brands.
Mulpha Events General Manager Johan Hasser says: "With 85% of exhibition space already booked, we are thrilled to play host to the industry's finest. We encourage businesses who still want to secure space to submit their applications now as we expect to finalise allocations in the coming weeks. SCIBS is where the marine business does business, and our exhibitors have a great track record in securing strong sales at the event. We're extremely proud of our reputation as one of the leading showcases in the region for those in the marine sector."
With only a few booths remaining, the MIA makes a final call to businesses with an interest in the marina industries to exhibit at the Marinas24 International Conference and Trade Exhibition. Taking place on the 27-29 May at the Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane, Marinas24 offers an excellent opportunity for industry suppliers to connect and engage with key marina industry owners and operators.
If you are interested in exhibiting at Marinas24, or to secure your stay at the main conference hotel, Rydges Fortitude Valley, act now.
New to Australia, the Navan Boats range will launch in Australia in February. The newest boat brand from the Brunswick Corporation, the Navan range will be imported exclusively by Collins Marine, the local distributor for the Arvor and the Quicksilver range of boats. The initial models from Navan, the S30 and the C30, were officially launched at the Cannes International Boat Show with Benoit Verley, President, Venture Boat Group, highlighting the fact that the models were developed "after extensive consumer research and product development".
The start of 2024 opens a new chapter for the Australian and New Zealand sailing community. J/Boats Australia and Ensign Yachts have announced the launch of their partnership. Under the partnership, Ensign Yachts will become the exclusive dealer and distributor for J/Boats in Australia and New Zealand, and be in the wonderful position of continuing to benefit from the ongoing support of Ray & Sandra Entwistle.
Ray and Sandra commented: "Our journey with J/Boats commenced 15 years ago when many in the Australian sailing community were only familiar with the older J/24 and J/35. There was little awareness of the newer J/models and what they provide with superior handling, all-round performance, and quality construction which enable winning ways on the racecourse plus fast, safe passages whether cruising coastal or offshore."
Electric power continues to make advances and Yamaha is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement to acquire all shares of marine electric propulsion manufacturer Torqeedo, with the aim of strengthening its development capabilities in the field of electric propulsion, as well as supporting Yamaha's efforts to help achieve carbon neutrality in the marine industry.
Renowned as a pioneer in the field of electric propulsion, Torqeedo offers a wide-ranging line of products; from electric outboards to batteries and various other accessories, and would prove a huge asset to the Yamaha Marine family.
ePropulsion, the global leader in marine electric propulsion systems and services, is proud to announce the global launch of its latest innovation, the eLite electric outboard motor. This groundbreaking new product will be showcased at boot Düsseldorf, the world's largest indoor boat and water sports show, taking place January 20-28.
The eLite, which has been created for the tender and smaller boating market, represents a new era in clean, quiet, and eco-friendly marine propulsion. The direct-drive motor and advanced design propeller deliver high efficiency with near-silent operation. With a focus on minimal maintenance and cutting-edge technology, this addition to the ePropulsion range raises the bar in electric boating standards.
Mark Jardine, Managing Editor of Marine Business World caught up with Pierluigi Gambacorti of GINEICO at METSTRADE in Amsterdam. They discussed the benefits of fitting a gyro to a yacht, which was once seen as the preserve of superyachts, but the latest generation of MC2 Quick Gyros have changed the game. Quick gyros deliver up to 95% roll reduction which means improved vessel performance and improved safety, all in a small footprint.
Stabilisation is the product of the centrifugal force generated by a spinning mass (wheel) and that is then delivered to the hull structure of the vessel in the form of anti-roll torque. Just as the spinning tyres on a bicycle keep the bike upright, the spinning mass of the gyro in a vessel will keep the vessel flat. With a gyroscopic stabiliser, the disc is far heavier than a bicycle wheel, meaning it can exert its stabilisation over a far bigger platform.
People in the news: Flagstaff Marine have announced that Steve Austin, often referred to as Mr Multihull, is joining the Flagstaff Marine team where he will be opening up their Far North Queensland operation. Based out of Airlie Beach, Austin will be servicing the local market as well as continuing to provide advice and guidance to his many clients both in Australia and overseas.
Have a great Australia Day and long weekend,
Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@worldmarine.media