E-NEWS 1.Queensland Olympic Hopefuls Stamp Their Mark 2. Yachting Queensland Instructors Course Goes Online 3..Proposed IRC Measuring Day 4.Club Strategic Planning Opportunity 5. New Gold Coast Multihull Regatta Launched 6. Latest Sailing News From North Queensland 7. Major Moves to Halt Crown of Thorns 8. Townsville Sailor Nominated For Sports Star of The Year 1. Queensland Olympic Hopefuls Stamp Their Mark Queensland’s best 470 sailors are stamping their mark on Australian sailing in the lead up to the Beijing Olympics. Both Queensland’s Men’s and Women’s 470 pairings are set to finish on top of the Australian Rankings at the end of a solid summer sailing season. Men’s 470 sailors Mat Belcher and Nick Behrens from Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, Manly are set to top the Australian 470 Rankings after achieving First in Sail Brisbane, first in Sydney International regatta, third in Sail Melbourne and second at the Australian Titles. A National Ranking of second for Queensland Women’s 470 sailors Lauren Jefferies and Rike Ziegalmayer is predicted after an excellent Australian summer sailing season saw them qualify for the ISAF World Sailing Games and the Olympic Test Event in Qindgao, China later on in the year. Both champion pairs will be seen training at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, a key supporter of the sailors, over the next few months before they head to France in early April. For the full Story visit http://www.qld.yachting.org.au/?page=21466 2. Yachting Queensland Instructors Course Goes Online Gain instructor qualifications in Powerboat, Get into Small Boat Sailing, Yacht Cruising, Yacht Racing and Motor Cruising through the new online instructors course.  Yachting Queensland has designed this innovative course to enable members from any geographical location in Queensland to access the course while ensuring costs are kept as low as possible. If you are interested in achieving qualifications as an instructor please contact Yachting Queensland to receive an Instructor Course Information Pack. Ph: (07) 3393 6788. 3. Proposed IRC Measurement Day The Yachting Queensland Offshore Committee has received informal advice that numerous owners in Brisbane are interested in having their yachts measured for the IRC handicap rule.  If there is sufficient interest Yachting Queensland will consider the coordination of a measuring day/s where a maximum of 5 boats could be measured and weighed.  The measuring day has been proposed to happen sometime in February / March 2006 in Brisbane (before the 2006 Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht race). A regional group measuring day will be considered if there is sufficient interest arises. Please contact Jennifer Kidd at Yachting Queensland if you are interested. Ph: (07) 33936788 or email: admin@qldyachting.org.au.  Further information including registration form and pricing is available from www.qld.yachting.org.au. http://www.yachting.org.au/default.asp?MenuID=Racing/2/0,Race_Organisation/74/0 4. Club Strategic Planning Opportunity Does your club have a strategic plan?  The Sport and Recreation Queensland Club Development Program is giving your club the opportunity to have professionals assist your committee in writing a strategic plan through the provision of a grant.  Please click http://www.qld.yachting.org.au/site/yachting/qld/downloads/Sport%20and%20Rec%20Club%20Development%20Program%202006.pdf for more information. 5. New Gold Coast Multihull Regatta Launched With support from Lightwave Yachts, the Gold Coast Yacht and Game Fish Club will launch a brand new multihull regatta on February 25 and 26.  The event named the Gold Coast Multihull Offshore Regatta is expecting a starting fleet of over 15 multihull yachts from GCYGFC, Southport Yacht Club and selected clubs in Brisbane.  The racing will occur out from Surfers Paradise with celebrations at the host club following.  Please see http://www.qld.yachting.org.au/default.asp?Page=21572 6. Latest Sailing News From North Queensland North Queensland release a regular newsletter with interesting stories and information on all events and developments in their region.   Visit  www.nqsailing.yachting.org.au for the latest edition. 7. Major Moves To Halt Crown of Thorns Major moves are underway to combat the devastating crown-of-thorns starfish in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. New funding of $600 000 from the Natural Heritage Trust is part of an ongoing effort to help control outbreaks at key tourism areas.  The control programme will be managed by the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators and will focus on key tourism sites where operators have active measures to control the starfish. Almost 20 years of reef surveys by the Australian Institute of Marine Science confirm the coral-eating starfish is the most persistent cause of damage to the Great Barrier Reef. For information, including training on control methods, or to apply for site selection, call the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators on (07) 4044 4990 or visit www.gbrmpa.gov.au 8. Townsville Sailor Nominated For Sports Star of the Year Townsville Sailing Club member, Michael Guinea has been nominated for the Townsville Bulletin Sports Star of the Year Award. Michael has been recognised for his back to back National Titles in the Nacra 16sq class as well as his QLD State Title victory in 2005.  The awards dinner will be held Friday 3rd February in Townsville and the winner will be announced later that evening during the Townsville Crocs and Cairns Taipans basketball match. The final ten nominees include North Qld Cowboys players (Jonathon Thurston, David Faiumu, Luke O'Donnell) Crocs guard Brad Newley, as well as North Queensland Olympic and Commonwealth Games representatives.