MAKING WAVES

Ramp upgrades

Under the Better Boating Program, the Minister for Roads and Ports, Duncan Gay, has announced more than $4.36 million of grants for new and improved boating facilities across NSW. The funding will support 55 projects in regional NSW and five boat ramp projects in Sydney. Local councils will tip in the remaining 50 per cent. Hunters Hill Council is upgrading the Margaret Street boat ramp car park at Woolwich, the National Parks and Wildlife Service is upgrading the car park at the Davidson Park boat ramp near Roseville Bridge, and Lane Cove Council is installing a new floating pontoon next to the existing Burns Bay boat ramp at Riverview.

Plan released

A new Botany Bay Georges River Boating Safety Plan has been released to curb the aggro, quell the ramp rage and generally address safety on the waterway. Figures show that during the five years to the end of June 2011, there were 123 incidents reported on the bay and adjoining river, and almost all of these involved recreational vessels. CCTV will be installed at designated boat ramps to monitor local behaviour, while a new aquatic park will be established on a trial basis at Floyd Bay, Lansvale, for personal watercraft riding and waterskiing activities.

Crew triumphant

After setting off from Elephant Island, the intrepid crew of the Shackleton Epic expedition have arrived triumphantly at South Georgia, covering 1500 kilometres in 12 days, just like Ernest Shackleton and his men did in 1916. The seven-metre whaler, which is an exact replica of Shackleton's James Caird, carried six British and Australian adventurers headed by expedition leader, Tim Jarvis, 46, a well-known British-Australian adventurer. The expedition and re-enactment is as authentic as possible, with similar gear, clothing, navigation instruments and boat. The land-based assault is now under way. Follow the journey at shackletonepic.com.

Boat banquet

The queen of rice paper rolls (and other Vietnamese goodies) has taken to the water. Miss Chu, aka Nahji, was recently doing the rounds of the harbour in her cool Chris-Craft Launch 25 runabout with signature flag flying and a container of famous rice paper rolls for sale. The experiment went so well she said she would double stock for next time. "It's like the boat person just turned full circle," Miss Chu said. Email boatclub@misschu.com.au for details about her location on the water or go to her Facebook page.