Volunteers wanted for local Sailability
Sailability Whitsunday is a local branch of an international organisation facilitating sailing for everyone, regardless of age or ability.
The local group has incorporated with Sailiability Queensland and is calling for help and volunteers to attend a meeting on Thursday, December 9.
Spokesperson Bruce Carter says they have had assistance from the state organisation to set up the group and now wants the community to get behind it.
"The organization's purpose is to facilitate sailing for everyone, regardless of age or ability with emphasis on opportunities for people with disabilities". Mr Carter told The Guardian.
"Nationally, Sailability Australia is a Yachting Australia Committee whose key objective is to encourage and facilitate sailing and boating throughout Australia for people with disabilities in social, recreational and competitive activities.
An important aspect of the organisation is that availability of the Access dinghy designed to appeal to that huge majority of the world's population who would love to have a go at sailing, but find it too difficult or uninviting to do so.
"Whether as a recreation, a competition sport or a therapeutic activity; the Access Dinghy design features allow total novices of any ability level to sail with little or no tuition, in safety" Mr Carter added.
Around the world, Access Dinghies are introducing whole new communities to sailing. Apart from the development of revolutionary sailing craft and supportive equipment, the Access Dinghy Sailing System also fosters the formation and development of the innovative "accessible sailing" network throughout the world.
An Access dingy will be available at the meeting for inspection.
People with disabilities are an entire segment of the community who want to enjoy and will travel to social and competitive events designed to include them.
Disabled people need the same thing as other tourists; facilities and access that are suitable to their needs.
The branch will soon have a web site and the meeting on Thursday December 9 at 5.30 downstairs at the Whitsunday Sailing Club will establish a plan for future training and events.
Further information: Bruce Carter 0407 632 887
Free boat festival
Entry to the Australian Wooden Festival on Hobart's waterfront in February will be free for the first time.
The State Government has given an additional $300,000 to the festival to make it free for the public and allow the perimeter fences to come down.
Premier David Bartlett says getting the fences down was an important part of getting more people involved and spreading the economic benefits of the festival.
Jessica Watson, the youngest person to sail solo round the world, will be a special guest at the festival in February.
Travellers radio Net
The Travellers Net, a voluntary service to the amateur radio community will run in a new time slot from 04:00 UTC to 05:00 on a frequency of 21.185 MHz
The Travellers net commenced soon after the introduction of the Novice Class licence in Australia to allow travellers with Novice calls a similar service to the 20 metre Traveller's Net which runs on 14.116 opening at 02:00Z for full calls.
The operators on both nets log call sign, name and planned overnight stop for all travellers who check in each day, pass any messages as requested to their family and friends.
Propeller injures
A woman was recovering in Rockhampton Hospital after she had to be evacuated from Great Keppel Island for medical treatment.
The woman suffered a large laceration to her lower leg from a boat propeller.
An ambulance representative said the woman was standing too close to a boat.
Mackay Harbour
Mariners are advised that an Iso R 2s light of lower intensity has been temporarily established on the port lateral mark No. 4 beacon, which marks the entrance into Mackay harbour on Bagley Point. AUS charts 249 & 250
Fair winds to Ye!
Cap'n Dan
