January 2008
Queensland Sporting Hovercraft Club
A branch of the Australian Hovercraft Federation Inc (Vic)

Dear Air Cushion Vehicle enthusiast, The Queensland branch held a planning meeting at the SAAA hall at Archerfield Aerodrome on Tuesday, 15th January 2008 which was attended by Des Goss, Angus Kerr, Peter Venn, Arthur Stead, Arthur Gangell, Tony Hogben and Steven Odgaard. Cruise report - Waterloo Bay, Thorneside - Sunday 13th January 2008. The last cruise was on Sunday 13th January starting from the boat ramp in Queens Esplanade Thorneside, near Bates Drive. Taking part in this cruise were:- Des Goss - Turbo Wedge 225 Arthur Gangell and Gerda - Turbo Wedge 240 and Steven Odgaard - Billy Baker 2. Des, Arthur and Gerda set off at 9:00am across Waterloo Bay with smooth passage all the way to Wellington Point and King Island, but after rounding the point, strong winds and white caps buffeted the little craft and both settled down on the shallow boat ramp near the long jetty. Des was going to return to smoother water but when he looked around, Arthur and Gerda were stranded at the point and Angus Kerr had to be called upon for assistance. Steven was late and decided to stay at Queens Esplanade to keep an eye on the vehicles while the others were out and about. Angus returned Gerda to Thorneside with Arthur's keys and a craft recovery was soon achieved by road route. Arthur Stead contacted Steven to report that he was at Kempsey in NSW with a Renegade hovercraft in tow, which he had recently purchased from Owen Ellis of RevTech International. World Hovercraft Championships - 2008:- The next World Hovercraft Championships will be held from the 20th - 24th August 2008 at Flottsbro in Sweden, about 20 minutes south of Stockholm. The proposal is for F1, F2, F50, FS and FJ racing - F3 may be included if there are enough entrants. Unfortunately, there will be no Endurance Racing (ER) at these Championships. World Championship Endurance Race:- In view of the fact that there will be no Endurance Racing at the 2008 World Championships in Sweden, the World Hovercraft Federation are seeking proposals for a World Championship Endurance Race at an alternative venue in a different country in 2008 or 2009, with the possibility of an attempt on the World Speed record at the same time. WHF Vice President (Asia) Owen Ellis, has suggested a 50th anniversary celebration of the Hovercraft's first crossing of the English Channel (25th July 1959) by creating a 2009 WORLD HOVERCRAFT WEEK. A commemorative cross channel cruise (Channel Charge) of both large and small craft could coincide with the anniversary of Sir Christopher Cockerell's SRN-1 crossing. Next club cruise:- The next club cruise will be held on Saturday 16th February 2008 at Muriel St, Redland Bay. Meet at 9:00 am at Peter Venn's place at 96 Muriel St, Redland Bay for a launch into the Redland Bay Channel. UBD Reference - Map 267 B9. Contact for the event is Steven Odgaard on 0400 798 404. Next Queensland branch meeting: 7:30 pm - Tuesday, 19th February 2008. SAAA hall at Archerfield Aerodrome. Beatty Road Qld 4108. Regards Steven Odgaard QSH secretary