The Champions Take Over

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday April 22, 1994

BOB WONDERS

AUSTRALIA'S top water ski racers, headed by reigning women's world champion Leanne Brown and former men's titleholder Paul Robertson, will show their skills at Darling Harbour on Sunday.

The skiers, behind some of the fastest boats around, many of them crack contenders from the Hawkesbury River Bridge to Bridge classic, will race over a 3.2 km course arranged around Darling Harbour, Johnston's Bay and White Bay. MSB Waterways vessels will patrol the area to keep spectator craft well clear of the contestants.

The MSB Waterways chairman, John Barraclough, has warned boaters to "stay clear".

"Some of these boats will hit 150 km/h, and it is vital they be given plenty of room," he said.

Headquarters for the race will be the Australian National Maritime Museum. The races will be staged between 11 am and 1.15 pm.

THE MSB Waterways is conducting a review of moorings situated around Lake Macquarie.

Targeted are illegal moorings, poorly-maintained moorings and moorings showing incorrect vessels attached.

Aerial photographs have been commissioned to assist the authority's Newcastle office "check the scene".

The Waterways Authority chairman, John Barraclough, said that boating was so popular on the lake that correct placement and location of moorings were important for all users of the lake system.

"I would warn boat owners that vessels which do not display current registration labels and numbers and letters are in breach of the mooring licence," he said.

For further information, contact the authority's Newcastle office, telephone (049) 26 5111.

WITH boat shows of all persuasions dominating this week, for those regularly travelling interstate here are the dates for Australia's major boating exhibitions this year: Melbourne National Boat Show, July 6 - July 12; Adelaide Boat Show, July 15 - July 19; Sydney International Boat Show, July 28- August 3; Perth Boat Show, August 24 - August 28; Brisbane Boat Show, September 8 - September 13.