Marine Queensland is proud to announce a new event on Queensland's boating calendar - the Sunshine Coast Marine Festival incorporating the Sunshine Coast Sailing Expo, November 19th and 20th 2011.

"This is an exciting addition to the association's event portfolio" said Marine Queensland Events Manager Jason Plant, "It is a great opportunity to highlight just how popular boating in the region is and to support our members in the area".

The Sunshine Coast region boasts an impressive boat ownership ratio with one boat registered for every 17 residents.

"By putting on a festival that is solely dedicated to the on water lifestyle we aim to bring to the region the new product releases and the talks and demonstrations that have been enjoyed by visitors to the metropolitan based shows for years" said Plant.

Mooloolaba Marina has been confirmed as the venue for the first Sunshine Coast Marine Festival.

"Mooloolaba Marina & The Yacht Club have been extremely supportive in helping us put together this event" said Plant, "The facilities available allow us to incorporate trailer boats displays with on water displays and demonstrations."

"This venue also gives us the opportunity to focus on our industry's sailing sector.  We are very happy to be teaming up with Yachting Queensland to present the first Sunshine Coast Sailing Expo incorporating displays, presentations and interactive demonstrations.

There will be opportunities for people to get out on the water too".

"The Fishing Expo Stage will also travel to the Sunshine Coast and there will be activities to keep the kids entertained".

The Sunshine Coast Marine Festival is supported by Mooloolaba Marina & The Yacht Club.

For information on participating in the festival contact Marine Queensland on 07 3390 4657 or email >.

For further information:

Jason Plant, Events Manager, Marine Queensland
P: (07) 3390 4657  M: 0417 775 554
E: >

Nicholle Smith, Marketing and Communications, Marine Queensland
P: (07) 3390 4657  M:  0427 267 545
E: >

A spate of fines have been handed out to boaties who failed to heed warnings to slow down and protect Queensland's vulnerable marine life which is still suffering the fallout of the state's summer of disasters.

Environment Minister Vicky Darling said five boaties were caught ignoring Go Slow zones in the Great Sandy Marine Park off Hervey Bay at the weekend and issued with $500 fines as the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers cracked down to protect vulnerable turtles and dugong.

Ms Darling said the summer floods had had a devastating effect on coastal seagrass beds - the main food source for the animals - leaving them in a weakened condition and more vulnerable to boat strike.

"Rangers will not hesitate to target those people on the water who are ignoring go slow areas and the fines handed out on the weekend should stand as a warning," she said.

"With extra boating traffic during the school holidays, Marine Park rangers have stepped up their patrols of the designated ‘go slow' areas in the Great Sandy Strait.

"The go slow regulations are there for a simple reason - going too fast can cause death or serious injury to our marine wildlife.

"We obviously want to ensure our marine life remains healthy and protected which is why marine park rangers will be patrolling the ‘go slow zones throughout the school holidays and beyond.

"Since we introduced the ‘go slow' zones in the Great Sandy and Moreton Bay marine parks we have seen far fewer injuries to our marine wildlife caused by boats.

"Unfortunately this year we are seeing an increased number of dugong and turtle Strandings the length of our coastline.

"The impact does not appear to have been as severe in the Great Sandy Marine Park as in other areas, and certainly nowhere near as severe as the impact that the floods in the Hervey Bay area had in 1992.

"But I still urge everyone to take care, to slow down and to watch out for marine animals."

The ‘go slow' areas are clearly marked on the Great Sandy Marine Park zoning mapwhich is readily available from a wide range of sources including the DERM websitewww.derm.qld.gov.au

Ms Darling said an investigation into the death of a dugong, which washed up onto a beach at Hervey Bay on the weekend, indicated it had died from a ruptured bowel.

Reports of sick, injured or dead marine animals can be made by phoning 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 685).

The 2011 World Waterski Racing Championships, presented by the Moreton Bay Regional Council continues to be dominated by the Australian competitors, in all classes except the Women’s F1 category, where it is the American’s sharing victories in Rounds One and Two.
 
Round Two of the four round, week long competition were practically unchanged from round one in most classes, however it is the women’s F1 class, that is becoming a team USA showdown, between competitors Kaitlin Wendt and Erin Saunders, each sharing a victory after Saunders finished the victor in yesterdays 45 min + 1 lap contest.
 
Locked in a four way dual with aussies Lauryn Eagle and Maddi Boyer, were side by side for around 30 minutes of the race, with Saunders, holding on for an emphatic victory over compatriot Wendt. Maddie Boyer finished third, with Australia’s number one qualifier Eagle bowing out with a mechanical failure in her boat, ‘Superman.’
 
Having now having shared victories in each of the Women’s F1 races, the pressure will be on both Saunders and Wendt, to lead Team USA to possibly their only class win of the event.
 
Racing commences with ROUND THREE scheduled for tomorrow at 9:00am. For more info and to watch the 2011 Waterski Racing World Championships LIVE go to www.skiracingworlds.com.au.

MEDIA RELEASE – INTERNATIONAL COMPETITORS PREPARE TO HIT THE WATER IN REDCLIFFE FOR WATERSKI RACING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PRACTISE

Waterski Racing competitors from around the world have begun final preparations for the upcoming 2011 World Waterski Racing Championships, presented by the Moreton Bay Regional Council. Teams are preparing their machinery and equipment, ready for pre event practise tomorrow morning.

The very best open water racers, will battle over four days of racing off the shores of Pelican Park, Redcliffe, beginning this Saturday September 10 at 8:00am sharp with the Womens F1 and F2 class competitors. The women will be closely followed by Junior Boys and Girls classes, before the Men hit the 5km course at 12:00PM.

Teams from New Zealand, Belgium, Austria, France, Spain, Great Britain and the USA are all raring to take on the best of Australia’s ski racing teams, at speeds of up to 160 kph. Race event days are Saturday September 10th, Monday 12th, Wednesday 14th and Saturday 17th. Major activities will take place throughout the race days AND both weekend days. The second weekend will run in conjunction with the regional ‘Celebrate Redcliffe’ festival,  with shuttle buses running between venue sites.

An official event opening will take place this Friday September 9, with teams marching along the foreshore to from Sutton’s Beach to Settlement Cove, Redcliffe. from 1:50PM.
Lillian van Litsenburg MP, Member for Redcliffe will be in attendance representing the premier’s office as will Cr Rae Frawley, from the Moreton Bay Regional Council and International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation president Kuno Ritschard.

On land at Pelican Park, preparations have been under way all week, including major corporate hospitality marquees, carnival rides, a main stage to feature performances from local music talent and many trade stalls and food vendors. Also in attendance will be the Starlight Foundation Children’s charity, raising funds to help seriously ill children.

Entry to Pelican Park is free, with limited parking available on site. Additional parking will be available on the 11th, 17th and 18th event days via the Redcliffe Showgrounds off Scarborough Rd.

For more information on the 2011 Waterski Racing World Championships, go to www.skiracingworlds.com.au or call 0433 581 210.