NEWS:

   

WORLD HERITAGE, GREAT SANDY ROW            October 2011

Rowing Lake Cootharaba to the Everglades and then on to the Upper Noosa River is a unique environmental experience. The Great Sandy National Park covers this area and is World Heritage listed.

The park is an outstanding natural attraction. From giant sand hills to hidden rainforests, you'll be captivated by stunning mirror-image surface reflections on the dark water of the upper Noosa River.

This is an all day row or can involve camping. Support boats are often used to ferry crews to staging areas. Over 100 rowers from around Australia and overseas have been on this tour. The row can be quite challenging, very beautiful and hot and humid during summer months. Given the chance you should not miss this row, but you will need to be able to row 20 - 30km a day.

 

  

Moreton Bay, Manly to Cleveland                     September 2011

 

Last Sunday Crew: Andy, Denis, David and Judith are pictured 7km off Manly rowing to Cleveland for lunch. Two boats made the journey in perfect weather. The bay was at its best, full of sails and fishing boats but the rowers had it all to them selves. The Sunday crowd at Cleveland lighthouse gave them a good welcome as the crew rolled their boat up the slipway and into the park. "Whats on next weekend", I hear someone say over lunch at the restaurant. "Row to Magnetic Island" is the reply..."are you kidding!".. "Nop!"

 

President of Rowing Le Club Nautique de Nice visits Brisbane

Coastal Rowers              July 2011 
Warwick,Francois,Creagh,                                                                                                                               Couran Cove
Mid winter in Queensland, it's hard to believe. Last Sunday we organized a row from Sanctuary Cove on the Coomera River, north along the Broadwater to Couran Cove a resort and canal development on South Stradbroke Is. Our guest was to be none other that the President of Club Nautique de Nice, Aviron, Francois Casta. Francois's club is situated on the Mediterranean coast and has coastal boats as well as fine boats. We were keen to show him some of Australia's beautiful rowing environments. The forecast was for strong winds but these never eventuated and we were rewarded with a picture perfect, glorious rowing day.

After completing the two hour row to Couran Cove, we beached the boats and had brunch at a  crew members beach house. Then it was off for a short walk through the tea tree forests and around the resort to introduce Francois to our native wetland areas and the wallabies. Refreshed we launched the boats for our return row via the North Coomera River.

This was a great row, with great friends. It finished off with some great Australian wine. Our talk quickly turned to French coastal rowing and discussing the work which was being done to introduce coastal rowing in Australia. Francois was familiar with our French boats and impressed with our Boat Trailer, with it's boat lifting device. Having made a new friend, we agreed on a plan to visit Club Nautique de Nice in 2012.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Francois  offers the hand of friendship                         Diana, Susan, Francois, Kevin, Bronwyn, Warwick 

  
Morning Row to Magnetic Is       December 2010
 

Some people just make their own fun. Two weekends of perfect weather. Last week we rowed from Pallarenda to West Point on Magnetic  Island (10km). The sea was like glass. The crew was Darlene/ Bruce/ Vicki/ Peter and Graham. Rowing time was just over 1 hour. We had a brew on the beach and then rowed back.

Today we rowed from Palarenda to Nelly Bay. About 1.5hours rowing time. Dropped in to the local bistro for a coffee & snack and then rowed home again. 5 knot NW breeze the whole time. We could have gone on all day! 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Row the Mighty Clarance       July 2010
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Row the mighty Clarence River, Iluka to Grafton 68km. Pack the Coastal Rowing boat, assemble two crews and head for Grafton, New South Wales a distance of 400km for the Grafton Marathon. We arrived in a state of high anticipation and found the Grafton country hospitality so refreshing! We were determined not to be missed in our bright red and black gear. Strong winds and rough water conditions required changes to be made for the flat water rowers, but the Coastal Rowers reveled in the choppy conditions. 54km in 5 hours about 10.8km per hour not bad with strong head winds on some legs.

Our only casualty was David who stepped on a fresh water stone fish during a crew change at a transition point. He immediatly experienced extreme pain and was rushed to hospital by our quick thinking support crew Steve. David was given pain relief and antibiotics.

Meanwhile the crew kept up the pressure and rowed their hearts out, like their life depended on it. No pain relief here, just blisters, and there were many.  The Coastal Boat flew home with a strong cross wind. Everyone had had a great day rowing the "big boat", camaraderie was high and socializing was done with equal enthusiasm. For some of the crew this was their first experience of taking the boat away, they all agreed it was a fantastic weekend. What a team, cheers guys, love your work! Creagh.  

 PS David is now fully recovered.  

 

In a Class of it's Own, FISA Coastal Rowing Boat        June 2010

This year 400 entrants contested the Head of the Tweed among them our first Coastal boat which turned heads and sparked quite a bit of interest. This was the first time a FISA class Coastal Rowing Boat had contested a race in Australia and put it in a class of it's own. The 21km race took 1 hour and 52 minutes or 12.5km / hour to complete. This was quick for a coastal boat which is normaly at its best when waters are rough. The main aim however was to introduce the boat to people who had not see this type of boat before and to simple enjoy the fun of competing without too much pressure. The crew were very happy with the outing and spent time answering many questions which people had about the boats capability. The crew are now looking forward to the 68km Grafton marathon in which two Coastal boats will be competing on 31 July 2010. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Well done Rachel/ Warwick/ Marion/ Bronwyn/ Creagh, who crewed the first Coastal Boat to win in a class of its own.
 
 

Trailer Designed by Committee  -   but living up to expectations

June - December 2010

Normally you would expect poor results when anyone suggests designing something by a committee.  Fortunately this was not the case when we discovered that the trailer builder did not fully understand the unique problems associated with launching, recovering and carriage of the large 10.3m, 140kg Coastal Rowing Quads. While we had a good handle on the outcome wanted, only after consulting several experts in building sailing boat trailers did the concept start to take a more practical form. Launching and recovery from slipways in strong winds presented real problems which needed to be considered in the design. The system also had to be simple to operate, easy to tow and safe to use.
 
Moving boats for touring and competition is vital. So to meet this need, we had to build a unique trailer with a lifting mechanisum and a docking and launching system. We also had to protect the fiberglass hull from damage during these operations.  Reducing tow ball weights was another problem which needed an inovative solution. The new three deck trailer was built in Brisbane and fitted out on the Sunshine Coast.  It  enables the 140kg quad boats to be lifted and locked  into place so that three boats can be carried and launched from the trailer. This greatly improved flexibility and enables boats to be quickly assembled for multi boat events.
 

Speed and simplicity of operation became very valuable during the recent FISA and Aussie Tours enabling boats to be moved around quickly and simply.

In the four years we have been operating Coastal Rowing  boats we have solved most of the logistic problems thanks to a number of very talented people who have generously given their time to ensure the challenges were met.  Special thanks go to Wayne Beattie, Advantage Fiberglass,  David Holt and Mal MacKenzie. 

 

 

                                                                              Warwick overseeing the lifting mechanisum and trailer construction 

 

 

 EasterTour Row to Peel Island.            May 2010

                   

 Destination Peel Is, Warwick/ Lisa/ Bronwyn 

 

On a picture perfect morning we left the Victoria Point slipway and headed NE for the 14km row to Peel Is. We crossed the fringing reef in an hour stopping to watch the North Stradbroke Island ferry, talk to fishermen and look for marine life on the coral reef. Our destination, Horseshoe Bay lay ahead and a little after low tide, we moored the boat with a sandscrew in christal clear water. Six yatchs lay at anchor in the bay, which looked absolutly beautiful in the early morning light. After breakfast on the beach we set off for Coochiemudlo Is. The tide was rising and once again we had a 4 knot current with us. On arrival we moored the boat near the main beach, then walked the short distance to indulge in coffee and icecream. The row back to Victoria Pt was idealic. A short wait for other boats to use the boat ramp and then it was our turn. Our boat recovery was slick and professional. Another successful tour was completed with fish and chips and a very fine white wine. Good row guys! 

 

 

 

              Mooring at Coochiemudlo Is.              Bronwyn and Lisa at Victoria Point slipway