INTERNATIONAL VISITOR ON CLUB PADDLE
An experienced member of the Irish Sea Kayaking Association, Michael O'Farrell, contacted our Club prior to his trip downunder, with the aim of meeting some like-minded Aussie paddlers, and getting out on the water. Club President Judy Blight took her Necky out of mothballs for Michael and he paddled with a group of 10 Club members to Penguin Island from Point Peron, in light winds and a gentle swell. It was good to chat with him about the different hazards in Irish waters.

Do the Irish always paddle one-handed? - photo John Radovich

TRANSIT THROUGH THE PORT OF FREMANTLE
The club appreciates the efforts of Roger Lloyd for giving us an answer from Fremantle Ports on transit of kayaks through the Fremantle Port. There is nothing in the department of Planning and Infrastructure WA Marine Act or port Authorities Regulations which prohibit small craft transiting port waters. There is a maximum speed of 8 knots in the harbour, and under the Port Authorities Regulations there is a 30 metre exclusion zone around all berths and ships at berth. We have a copy of this e-mail and are printing out copies for sea leaders to attach to their boat in the event of being challenged entry to the harbour.

SEARCH FOR EPIRB
Thanks to Rod Coogan for his work in looking for an EPIRB (the changeover from our present one is Feb 2009) that will be small enough to carry for an individual paddler and still fit into the marine regulations. He has e-mailed and sent many letters but as yet has not received satisfaction with responses he has received. A 406 EPIRB cannot be safely worn attached to a paddler's PFD as it impedes the paddler during normal paddling strokes.

NAVIGATION AID
Below are the Zipped OziExplorer calibration files Steve Foreman has created for the Western Australian Digital Nautical Charts, Lancelin to Dawsville, July 2006 as released by the Department for Planning and Infrastructure. He has only calibrated the ECW map image set as those using OziExplorer would use them in preference to the TIFF images.
Download file here (ZIP, 32KB).

LATEST NEWSLETTER
The July 2008 edition is now out, with a report from the Dampier trip in May, plus more notes from the Cape to Cape, and other items. Download your copy from here (PDF file 2.8MB), or go to the Newsletter page for links to this and past editions.

SKCWA SLIDE NIGHT
The Club's inaugural slide night and BBQ was held at Martin and Val's house, with about 25 members and family showing up. A few arrived early to take advantage of the pool for a little rolling and bracing practice.

Martin and Rod put on a display of synchronized rolling.

.. which was pretty impressive, although they need to work on their image.

The Barbeque dinner was great fun, and there were lots of oohs and aahs at the pictures. It looks like being another annual event. Thanks to Martin and Val for being such wonderful hosts.

Photos: Russ Hobbs