Tuesday 26th of January 2010
Happy Australia Day

Happy Australia Day from St Kilda Marina Club!

If you're heading out on your boat have a great day - and play it safe.

Wednesday 5th of August 2009
St Kilda Marina Skate Park rolls closer

Boat owners at St Kilda Marina are even more concerned about their vessels security as the proposed skate park to be located in the park adjacent to J-Row appears to be inevitable.

"Everyone knows that the security standards at this marina are far below what they should be.There are breakins all the time already so we can only imagine what will happen if they build a skate park 20 feet away from our boats." - said John B.

Requests to the marina for comment on Management's attitude to the proposed skate park have been ignored.Questions are being asked about Greg Spooner's potential thoughts as to any possible security risk to his own property and also to the boats belonging to his tenants.

"When our boat got broken into at the marina all Spooner said was "That's why you have boat insurance", so I'm not holding my breath for any response or positive action from him at all really.", said Mark W."I can tell you that if this bloody skate park goes ahead, J-Row will become Badlands and the berths on it unleasable." he added.

Concerned boat owners should contact Greg Spooner on 9534-0448 to see what marina management's position and intentions (if any) are with regard to the massive increased threat to boat security that this skate park represents.

"No need to worry, right?"	"Skaters - coming soon to a boat near you"

 

Thursday 23rd of July 2009
Carnage as boats go up in smoke

There were heartbreaking scenes when five large motor cruisers caught fire at Pittwater in Sydney's north yesterday.

One person suffered smoke inhalation after two boats went up in flames at Newport Anchorage Marina on Beaconsfield Road, Newport, at 2.30pm, a Fire Brigades spokesman said. The blazing boats' mooring lines were cut, allowing the boats to drift away from the marina and other boats, he said.

"What we usually do is we cut the mooring lines and drift the boats out into the water so the fire doesn't spread to other boats."
But witnesses said at least three other boats caught fire - some at nearby Sirsi Marina, on Crescent Road - after coming into contact with burning boats that had drifted with the wind.

But the Fire Brigades spokesman was not aware of boats whose moorings were cut by fire crews being responsible for spreading fires.
Crews were trained to move boats away from crowded marinas without affecting other vessels, he said.

All fires have been put out, with three of the burned boats pushed on to a sandbar at Bayview, he said.

The first few boats to catch alight were adjacent to each other on the jetty at Newport Anchorage Marina, Mr Bray said. But as fire burned through their mooring lines, the boats drifted with the wind further out towards boats moored away from the jetty, setting them alight as well, he said.

Mr Bray said a large number of people at clubs at the marina had come to help move moored boats to safety.

"It was all pretty amazing - I've worked on the waterfront for 32 years and never seen anything like it,'' he said.

"There was just this black, acrid smoke... they're all diesel cruisers so luckily you don't get explosions."

A large crowd had gathered at the Newport Arms Hotel to watch the burning boats, a patron said. Mrs Plunkett recognised many of the boats as being regularly moored at the marina, and said they were all privately owned.
It was not yet known how the fire started, the Fire Brigades spokesman said.

The Fire Brigades' hazardous materials team was assessing the environmental impact of the incident on the bay, he said.

 

• The Dock-wheels were removed without permission of the owner. That's stolen...
• The marina's own office denies any knowledge of the wherabouts of JJ's dock-wheels...
• Greg Spooner then tells Scott that SKMC's Manager had accused Scott of stealing his berth cushions.
• Scott and Michi both call JJ to express their disgust at JJ's supposed allegations...
• JJ catagorically denies the allegations as "another fucking lie from Greg Spooner."
• When JJ calls Scott to follow up not only does he explain that according to Spooner "it was lost in the translation" but:
• To cover his insipid arse, Spooner then attempts to come up with an explanation for his original lie...

...Wait for it:

"Scott: "Greg said that it was all a mistake in translation. Your dock wheels were actually in the marina's storage room all along. They were the ones that removed them. I've told them to put them back near your storage locker for collection. Sorry about last week's calls from me and Michi.... "

Reader Comments:

Letter of the week:

"The guy is in a panic and he'll do anything to hang on to his cushy position by his fingernails. It seems he actually thought that if he could kick JJ out all his problems would be solved... What a classic! Reminds me of a story about Winston Churchill. And here it is direct from Google!:

"One day as Winston Churchill walked out down the wide corridors of the House of Commons he zigzagged a little. A well-known lady M.P., much beloved but not very beautiful, went up to him and said: "Winston, you are drunk". Pulling himself up he replied: "Bessie, my dear, do you know you are very ugly. Tomorrow I'll be sober and you will still be very ugly."

"You can kick JJ out of 'your' marina Greg, but even though he's been gone for a week, you're still a failure as marina manager. And you look more ridiculous, petty and desperate everyday." - Con

"If this incompetent bastard had installed CCTV cameras years ago like he should have maybe we'd also know who broke into my boat." - Mark

"And mine too" - Joe

"And mine." - Gary

"Greg is doing this because he knows the jig is up and he is potentially a bee's dick away from being pentioned off to pasture by his family like he should have been years ago. Worse he obviously doesn't care who he manipulates or upsets trying to shore up his inevitably unsustainable position as "Manager" of St Kilda Marina." - Glenn

"Most of us spend more time at St Kilda marina because we love our boats than Spooner ever does - and he's paid to be there as Marina Manager." - Matt

"Can anyone explain to me why this family allows this guy to remain as marina manager when he is clearly incompetent, and worse couldn't give a shit either way?" - Mario

"Worse than being the most useless marina manager in history, he's also nasty and simply refuses to accept any criticism or complaints about his own failures. And his family lets him get away with it." - Gino

Letter of the week #2
"All hail Emperor Greg, the most feeble excuse for a 'marina manager' that ever was... I loved the marina too. Most of the other boaties were great folks, the location was very convenient, and having your own actual berth was the best thing of all. But I couldn't stand the way that guy managed his own family's marina. My car got broken into one night in the carpark but when I complained to Greg, he told me that "it wasn't his problem and that's why I have car insurance"

When my boat got broken into and I complained to him again, I got the same pathetic and insulting response.

When we hit the bottom after months of broken promises and delays in entrance dredging, and wrecked 2 new props, same response AGAIN. Even worse, he then had the gaul to tell me that "if I didn't like it, I could go to another marina."

So, I told the stupid bastard to go fuck himself, and I actually went to another marina. Haven't had one hassle there but if I did the marina manager is there 5 (and often 6) days a week.... The comment from the other guy is right too. Greg Spooner's attitude is obviously acceptable to the Spooner family because they have tolerated this pissant running their marina for years.

PS: I almost fell off my chair laughing when I read SKMC's expose on the PATHETIC non-transferable warranty offered by International Marine for their new Caribbean boats. Don't these dickheads realise that the boom is over? With a warranty like that they don't deserve to sell even a single boat when their competition at Maritimo and Riviera etc and all the imports all provide a fully transferable warranty. I had a Caribbean once, but I'll never do business with this family again." - Peter

"I'll say it again. Greg has got to go. - Marg

"A pox on the Spooner family for fobbing this loser on to us by allowing him to fake the role of Marina Manager. Don't we deserve a marina manager with high standards and that actually wants to manage the marina his family owns?" - Andrea

"As one of Melbourne's largest marinas, wouldn't you think that the role of St Kilda Marina Manager would be a full time job requiring attendance on a full time basis? - Michael

"If these people actually gave a damn, they could have got someone in years ago who could have, would have and should have made St Kilda Marina the best marina on Port Phillip Bay as opposed to the Gulag it has been allowed to become over the years." - Mark

"We need a new marina manager. We have for years. I can't figure out why the Spooners would allow this to continue the way it has for years." - Con

"Over the years I have bought two of their family's boats, and also kept them both at their marina, and all we get in return is the pathetic attitude and performance of Greg Spooner." - Name withheld upon request

"Greg Spooner couldn't run a lemonade stand to acceptable standards even if his family set it up for him under a lemon tree." - Marg


Thursday, 12th February 2009
Spooner getting desperate - makes false accusation to marina contractor Re stolen Dock-wheels

On Thursday, SKMC's JJ Manager received a number of extremely unpleasant calls from a contractor at St Kilda Marina - and his partner - also an independent business owner at St Kilda Marina saying that Greg Spooner had told her partner that JJ had accused him (her partner) of stealing his Dock-wheels.

It seems Greg is so desperate to reinforce his increasingly tenous position at his family's marina that he is prepared to manipulate and mind-fuck innocent people to shore up his own incompetence, failures, and now also maliciousness.

Scott:
"Greg Spooner told me that you had accused me of stealing your dock-wheels."
Michi:
"How dare you accuse Scott of stealing your dock-wheels. I'm disgusted. How could you ever think or say that?"

SKMC Manager Jack:
"Greg Spooner is not only the most incompetent and useless marina manager in history, he's also a liar. I never accused Scott of anything. I didn't even think of him when I discovered that my Dock-wheels had been stolen. Scott's actually one of the few good guys with a business based at the marina that has always done the right thing by his customers.. It's obvious who any reasonable person would presume was responsible - and that's Greg Spooner.

"Spooner had told Scott that I had accused him (Scott) of stealing my dock-wheels. That's a lie. When we discovered thay had been stolen we went straight to the marina's office and I asked Katherine if they knew where my property was. She called the marina's employee Warren on the two-way while we was there and he denied any knowledge. I left a message for Spooner to call me Re dock-wheels. The guy's famous for not returning calls so I thought that was the end of the story....

"Another mystery... Just like when my berth ropes were cut the day before Emperor Greg's eviction date in January 2008... And again they denied any knowledge..." Question: Who else on earth would have a motive to order the cutting of my berthing ropes the day before Greg's self-imposed eviction date last year apart from Greg Spooner, or maybe his cronies at St Kilda Boat Sales and Service Centre - though I never considered them for a second?"

"Scott said he would call Spooner to discuss my reaction and call me back"...

Monday, 9th February 2009
The case of the missing Dock Wheels...

As a result of Greg Spooner, Marina Manager ("incompetentus extraordinaire") finally 'managing' to evict SKMC's Manager JJ for leading the complaints aginst his failures in actually running his own family's marina, JJ went to the marina to remove his Dock-wheels and Fender cushions, only to discover that his Dock-Wheels were gone.

The marinas's office has denied any knowledge of the removal or whereabouts of the dock-wheels.


Friday, 6th February 2009
Greg's 'flag-ellation' at the Marina

We've been inundated with calls and emails that within 4 days of our report on the disgraceful condition of the Aussie flag flying (or trying to) on the marina's flagpole over the last months, it has been removed. But not replaced. Well actually it has been replaced, but now with a St Kilda Marina flag. In some ways, it's a big improvement. From our perspective anything has got to be better than how marina management had allowed the state of our national flag to deteriorate to.

Reader Comments:
Letter of the week:
Ask yourself this: "Does anyone seriously think that if the job of Manager of St Kilda Marina was actually dependent on aptitude, interest and ability, that Greg Spooner would have originally been hired in the first place, or worse, retained his position? " - Rod

"Greg Spooner is only there because his family have been happy to tolerate his abysmal performance for years if not decades." - Pam

"How bloody hilarious! Our poor flag has been ignored for months but within 4 days of SKMC's report Spooner has had it removed! But not replaced. Instead they have changed it for a "St Kilda Marina" flag!. Where'd that come from?!?!" - Pino

"How long are the Spooner family prepared to tolerate this most feeble excuse for a Marina Manager at their own marina? Don't they realise the damage this imbecile is doing to their reputation? Amazing that they're still allowing him to act like Napoleon. It's a very bad reflection on their family because they MUST know what's been going on here for years but they tolerated him" - Glenn

"Looks like a little 'flagellation' to me... Goes perfectly with his interest in Subbing!" - Linda

"We'd rather see an Aussie flag flying proud, but seeing as these guys can't or won't maintain it in a respectful way, it's probably better that they don't even bother with our national flag. Besides, if as I think we all expect they also neglect this flag, no-one's really going to give a shit, are they?!?!" - Peter

'If the marina ever burnt down, you can bet that Greg would be up in his office fiddling. That is, if it happened on a Thursday afternoon..." - Joe

"This is just another example of Spooner's erratic behaviour. This guy has actually rectified almost every one of SKMCs reasonable complaints, but for his disfunctional personality reasons spent more time over the last 18 months trying to kick out the guy that pointed out all the problems in the first place, when he should have been thanking him.

Note to Greg: Fire yourself and employ JJ as Marina Manager.
Note to the Spooner Family who actually own this marina: - Same." - Jen

"I'll bet $1,000 that their own flag wont be neglected. But consider this: If they neglect this flag like they have the Aussie flag for years, again he looks like a dickhead - and it's his own family's flag! But if they actually do look after it - unlike our National Flag, I reckon he looks even more pathetic." - John

"Greg Spooner has got to go." - Marg

"Whoops! ..And the flag is gone!. What a classic. If Greggie actually gave a stuff about his family's own marina and had any brains, he would beg JJ to come back - and employ him as Marina Manager. Then he wouldn't even need to come in one afternoon a week..." - Rod

"If you've also left messages for Greg but never received the courtesy of a call back, go see him in the office. He's there on Thursday's for a few hours..." - Mark

Wednesday, 28th January 2009
Greg Spooner's new interest in "subbing"...

St Kilda Marina is toying with the idea of buying into the embattled Otama submarine maritime museum project. - Frankston Standard Leader

"Dear SKMC. I love you guys. Please see the attached article in my local Frankston Leader Newspaper a few weeks ago. I've been away and only noticed it today or I would have sent it to you much earlier. Incredibly Greg Spooner is more interested in wasting time by "toying with the idea of" buying a frigging submarine. Obviously that is far more important than other priorities like running his own marina." - Tin

Link: http://leader-news.whereilive.com.au/news/story/st-kilda-marina-considers-stake-in-ebay-sub/

"That's just typical of this marina manager. Boats are being broken into every week, the facilities at his own marina are abysmal compared to other marinas, he runs the place like he's an ancient Roman Emperor and responds to any valid criticism of his own failures by kicking out the complainer.. But he'd rather stuff around with the idea of buying a submarine that even he acknowledges could not be stored at St Kilda Marina. What a joke." - John

"This guy can't even run his own family's marina to acceptable or admirable standards. God forbid that anyone would ever allow him to have any control whatsoever over an Australian maritime treasure of historical importance." - Belinda

"He is supposed to be St Kilda Marina's Manager. We urgently need better security, more dredging and lots of other important issues dealt with but he's worrying about buying a submarine.... He couldn't even get the bugger into his own marina because the entrance is often too shallow for my sports cruiser." - Mike

"Sounds like penis envy to me!" - Tracey

"What the fuck is going on here? Our boat got broken into again last month at the marina, and this is what this dickhead is thinking about???" - Dave

"We left over 4 messages for him after our boat was damaged for the third time in three months. He never even bothered to call back and we ended up moving to another marina. Clearly this explains why he was too busy to never return our calls." - Tony

"What a poser and how long are the Spooner family going to tolerate this pathetic excuse for a marina manager at their own marina before they are prepared to finally provide a marina manager to their own long suffering boat tenants that actually wants to concentrate on the job of managing the marina? - Gary

"Hey Greg. I have a really good suggestion as to where you can stick your submarine. Guess...." - Glenn

"We need a new marina manager NOW." - Corey

Tuesday, 27th January 2009
Spooner's Shame

We've received many furious comments regarding the disgraceful condition of the Australian Flag that marina management has allowed it to deteriorate to. It is a disgrace, and extremely disrespectful to our country - made even more offensive by the fact that yesterday was Australia Day.

Last year and despite Greg Spooner's ongoing and vindictive attempts to evict our club's Manager from the marina, (for telling it like it is..) St Kilda Marina Club again brought the ongoing unacceptable condition of the flag to Greg Spooner's attention. With so many members so offended by its pathetic condition, we even offered to replace and maintain it to the standards our national flag deserves, at no cost or effort to either himself, or St Kilda Boat Sales and Service Centre. Typically, we never even received the courtesy of a reply.

We thought that making him aware of the flag's miserable condition might spur him to act to rectify the situation and show a little respect, but we were wrong.

Some relevant comments:

"It is just another example of Greg Spooner's complete lack of interest in his family's own marina. He doesn't care enough even to maintain the flag in a respectful condition. In fact, he probably hasn't even noticed..." - John

"What a bloody disgrace to see our flag looking like that especially on Australia Day." - Jim

"Shame on Spooner." - Linda

"Ask yourself this: If the Spooner family didn’t control the lease at St Kilda Marina, does anybody seriously believe for a second that Greg Spooner would actually have been originally hired - and even more so, retained as Marina Manager?” - Belinda

"If Spooner spent more than one afternoon a week at his own marina maybe he would have got around to caring for our flag the way it deserves." - Julie

"You're wrong Julie. If Spooner spent more than one afternoon a week actually there managing his family's marina, maybe he would have actually noticed the problem." - Jake

"I don't know what's worse. That Spooner may be aware of the flag's unacceptable condition, and simply hasn't bothered to fix it, or that he may not have even noticed... So much for Marina Manager..." - David

"The condition of the flag at St Kilda Marina is nothing more than another symptom of the ultimate problem that has afflicted this marina for years, and that is a contemptuous, uncaring, disinterested, vindictive, unproductive and incompetent Marina Manager, whose position is obviously protected by his acquiescent family. Afterall it is their marina, and they call the shots. They know what's going here and they have for years. That he has been allowed to get away with his pitiful standards of performance says it all. They're letting him." - Jack

"Message to Greg: You may have succeeded in kicking JJ out for pointing out your own inadequacies over the years, but that is all that has changed. He might be gone, but you are still there, and you are a useless marina manager, and you know it." - Darren

"C'mon folks.. Poor old Greg's got far more important things to do at the marina (for the five hours a week on a Thursday that he's actually there) than worry about the miserable condition of our national symbol that flies on his own flag pole... Things like trying to kick JJ out because he had the balls to criticize Spooner's complete incompetence in managing his family's marina... Things like his half arsed efforts at snails pace to 'improve' the marina's security - which still sucks and has for years... Things like not bothering to return phone calls... He's just too busy... - Glenn

"How interesting... The only one who has led the campaign to lift standards, and in this case maintain and respect the Aussie flag at the marina has been kicked out of the marina, but the dickhead that runs it is still there, and the two creeps (you know who you are) that have attacked the club at every opportunity are too - and none of them has bothered to show the respect, nor any national pride let alone personal standards - by maintaining the flag in the manner that it is entitled to receive. It really is PATHETIC. - Jim

"If he doesn't even care enough to honour our country's flag by maintaining it, he shouldn't be flying it." - Joe

"I'll bet that within 2 hours of this article being posted on the web, one of those dickheads scurries across and replaces the flag... Why don't they just cut out the middleman and ask JJ to be the marina manager? - Geoff

"Bugger him... He's a shit stirrer. Afterall, though no other business based at St Kilda Marina bothered to create a social and boating network like SKMC at their own marina - he did. He also had the nerve to complain about the condition of the flag, the archaic standards of security at the marina, the lack of adequate entrance dredging by marina management, the complete absence of safe, clean and private members toilet and washroom facilities, and the incompetent, fraudulent and incorrect water restriction info briefly displayed by marina management. In line with this and to conserve water, he also had the impudence to suggest the installation of rain water tanks - which 12 months after installation are still inoperative, bring choices, alternative products and a higher standard of services and competitve fuel prices to every boat owner based at St Kilda Marina and across the bay. Not only that but he also had the effrontery to expose the pathetic warranty provided by International Marine to Caribbean boat purchasers and sellers. Too bad this aint Russia cause you arseholes could have had him jailed or executed - though here in this country you had to settle for exile." - Glen

"Cost of a new flag every few months? Around $75.
Time needed to actually change flag? 5 minutes.
Current and consistent condition of flag? DISGUSTING.
For every other marina, there's a full time Marina Manager who actually gives a shit. For St Kilda Marina, there's Greg Spooner..." - John

Monday, 26th January 2009
Happy Australia Day!

We'd like to wish all our members, friends and supporters a Happy Australia Day.
All in all, Australia is without a doubt the best place in the world to live, with democracy, freedom, safety and our system of "a fair go for all".

Sadly though, the system doesn't always work, and here's a perfect - and very relevant example that has ramifications for all boat owners at St Kilda Marina: After a year of an ongoing vindictive attempt by Greg Spooner, our club's Manager has been evicted by him for the sin of leading the widespread, valid and legitimate complaints about his ineffectual, disinterested and incompetent "Managing" of his family's marina, that has been allowed to fester for well over a decade. We'll have more on this outrageous turn of events very soon. As many of our members and friends have stated, it's time for a new marina manager.

"Why does the Spooner family force us to have to tolerate a marina manager who's never there and who spends his energy trying to kick out the chief complainer rather than dealing with the very valid complaints?" - Linda


Tuesday, 6th January 2009
Three overboard in boating mishap

Two people have been rescued from under an overturned catamaran near the Port Phillip heads after a terrifying wait for help.

Five skin divers were aboard the catamaran when it was hit by a freak wave shortly after 11am. Three of the five people on board were thrown into the sea. A woman became trapped under the boat and another person, Rob Laurie, also became trapped when he went to her aid. They survived by floating in an air pocket, and were trapped for at least 15 minutes. Water police search and rescue rushed to rescue the stricken divers, who were in the water about a kilometre from shore.

The three people thrown from the vessel were rushed to Queenscliff by ambulance. A Fisheries and Wildlife boat was first on scene, followed by a team from water police. "They were in a really dangerous situation,'' said fisheries officer Ian Temby. "When a boat tips over there's always a danger of people getting tangled in ropes and lines. They were lucky.'' A Queenscliff-based sea pilot said waters in the area were notoriously changeable, turning from calm and flat to treacherous in just seconds.
(courtesy: ninemsn)

Ed: A very lucky escape. All the more reason to join us for SKMC's FREE Boat Safety Day on the Bay, Sat, 17th January 2009

It's a free service to all Melbourne's boaties with compliments from all of us here at St Kilda Marina Club - for safe and happy boating in 2009! When it comes to boating, safety is everything, so come and join us! There'll be info, boat safety checks, some nibblies, great deals on safety products, giveaways and prizes, and a whole lot more....

And if you've never fired off a flare, and would like to know what to do if you needed to, then this is the day for you!
...Cause we're going to be firing off our expired flares - and the Victorian Water Police is going to help us do it!!!

To register your interest or for more info, click here.



Wednesday, 31st December 2009
Happy New Year!

SKMC wishes all members, friends, sponsors and boaties out there a healthy, happy, safe and prosperous year in 2009. With the world's economy in melt-down, we get the impression it's going to be a pretty tough year for a lot of people. That's even more reason to get out on the water when you can - and relax. We wish everyone 'calm, blue oceans'.

Note: Our Bay Fuel Watch will be updated again by latest Saturday, 3rd Jan 2009.


Sunday, 28th December 2008
Vehicles vandalised again in carpark

We've received a number of reports that cars parked in the car park (alongside row gates) were attacked over the weekend.

"I'm really pissed off." said Damian from F-Row. "I spent the night on my boat and the next morning discovered that my new truck had been keyed very badly. Too bad they still don't have CCTV to protect the cars in the carpark, let alone cameras at each row gate to protect boats. What's even more ridiculous is that they haven't even put barbed wire on the front fence on Marine Parade. Any-one can get in."

Ed: We agree completely. Everyone agrees except marina management cause if they did, appropriate and up-to-date security for moorings and the carparks would have been in place years ago.

Comments:

"I wouldn't even bother calling Spooner about it. I left 5 messages for him months ago about a similar incident, and I'm still waiting for a call back..." - Rod

"Why are there cameras protecting their own office but not all the rows and also the carpark?" - Linda

"You know why Linda... Cause he doesn't give a s%!t about his own tennants. Never has. Never will." - Joe

"Ask yourself this question: If their family didn't own the marina, do you really think he would be employed here as Marina Manager?.." - Glenn

"As we all know it's 'pay your money, and keep quiet, cause if you don't I'll kick you out too'." - Belinda

"Another year, another 50 boat and car breakins.... Ahh, the serenity..." - Matt

"That we're even having this discussion is a pathetic indictment on how this place is run." - Robert

"Like he said to us: "This is how I do things here and if you don't like it you can go to another marina..." "The attitude amazes us. We're not asking for tennis courts, just effective security... "- Pam

"It took literally dozens of breakins to get Spooner to install CCTV just to protect boats on J-Row which were being robbed and vandalised on an almost daily basis, and despite their promises in last years Dec Newsletter, nothing has been done to protect the rest of the marina. So dont hold your breath for any improvement.." - Mark



Friday, 19th December 2008
Pier 35's Xmas present to Melbourne's Boaties: The cheapest fuel on the bay!

SKMC is delighted to inform all of the bay's boaties that Pier 35 is currently offering the most competitive prices for fuel on the bay.

Pier 35 has announced the implementation of a more competitive policy regarding fuel prices - and this translates into a wonderful Christmas present for Melbourne's boaties! We congratulate and thank Pier 35 for their assistance in these tough economic times.

"We can't promise that we'll always be the cheapest fuel on the bay at any specific time, but we can promise that in future we will be the most competitive fuel suppliers available to Melbourne's boaties - and our prices will always be attractive to boat owners." said Ross MacDougall, Manager of d'Albora Pier 35 and d'Albora Victoria Harbour.

d'Albora are Australia's largest marina managers and have set a world leading bench mark in standards of service for all other marinas.

Another major advantage of filling your boat at Pier 35 is that they are the only fuel depot at the northern end of the bay that actually accepts standard credit cards - with no requirement at all for exclusive prepaid cards. EG: Boat owners don't have to prepay for fuel on a Monday, only to find that fuel prices have risen a few days later when they get there to fill up..

Additionally, unlike most other fuel depots, Pier 35 also offers a complete selection of fuels, with ULP, Premium ULP and Diesel available 24 hours a day, seven days a week And they're now at the most competitive prices on the bay! Hallelujah!

"That's fantastic news for all boat owners!" - Glenn

"Actually this is great because it's another reason to head up to Docklands for lunch or dinner and kill two birds with one stone! Fill our stomachs and fill our boat at the same time!" - Pamela

"Thanks very much Pier 35! I need to fill up the boat prior to the holidays and if I can save around $0.25 a litre on 1,500 litres, then I'm rapt cause it saves me 100s" - Joe

"I love it. Pier 35 also has the best fuelling facilities and the easiest to get to fuel docks - with no depth problems." - Kevin

"That is awesome news. Just another great reason not to deal with those arseholes at St Kilda..." - John

"Good on em. Its great news for us boaties." - Nick

"Beautiful! We refuse to deal with or buy fuel at St Kilda Marina so no more need to go all the way down to Sandy to fill up - cause previously Pier 35 has been at the top end of fuel prices. So this is really great news." - Linda

"I worked out that I can actually fill up at Pier 35 and have lunch at the restaurant there for less than I can only fill up back at the other nearest fuel depot. (Yep.. them..) I'll be there tomorrow." - Mario

"I can now get my boat serviced at Pier Marine and save money when I fill up at the same time? Magnificent!" - Jim



Tuesday, 16th December 2008
New webcam problems fixed - Now actually live feed

We're pleased to report that the many complaints we received Re the new St Kilda Marina Cam have been addressed - and the quality of the picture has been improved to now provide actual "live feed" as originally promised. The picture and viewpoints now available are very good.

The camera provides excellent views of the following:

• All of the shipping channels and access to Station Pier.
• Melbourne CBD, Port Melbourne, Williamstown and Altona.
• Sweeping across the bay to Elwood, Brighton moving south towards Sandringham and beyond.
• Down to Mornington and across to Werribee.

There still a few minor bugs in the system, so if you log on and can't get a picture, the problem will only be temporary.

St KIlda Marina safety cam is an excellent addition to the myriad of webcams now available to Port Phillip Bay's boaties and we applaud the efforts of all those involved who've made it happen and funded this outstanding safety initiative. Safety is everything.



Friday, 12th December 2008
New webcam disappointing

We've seen the images from the marina's new webcam and the prevailing opinion is that the vision is very disappointing, especially compared to what is provided by other marinas and locations around the bay.

Sure, the view from the lighthouse is great, but clearly corners have been cut when it comes to the quality of the images provided to viewers that they are actually able to see. The most obvious definciency is that despite Boat Sales promise that "Our Web Cam provides full colour LIVE images to your computer" the images are not a true live stream (as per our main webcam link provided by R.M.Y.C)

Here's what St Kilda Boat Sales said:

"Update: The technical pilot went very well and all involved were delighted with the quality of images, speed and informative page layout."

Here's the reality:

Similar to CCTV security images we've all seen on tv, the camera only provides "snap-shots" every few seconds, NOT live streaming in real time.

What this means is that you can't actually see exactly what the water is doing and get a true vision of wave movement.

All you see is a series of stills. It's like lining up a series of photos and trying to get away with calling it a movie.

"We all hoped that this webcam would be the best on the bay, and it could have been, and should have been. But as usual what has been provided by these guys is far below the best standards available." - Rita

"RMYC has been providing true live images to the bay's boaties for years, so you'd think that they could have got it right, but noooo." - Pamela

"What a waste of time. After all their hoo-haa it's very disappointing and not even worth looking at." - Jim

"So all involved were delighted? That would be right.. But when you consider who "those involved" actually are, why would you be surprised that the long promised camera is a let down... The dredging standards at St Kilda Marina are a let down. The security standards at St Kilda Marina are a let down. The members facilities (what facilities?) at St Kilda Marina are a let down. The standard of service from the service centre is a let down. Surpise, surprise.. The brand new webcam is also a let down. (You're not really that surprised are you?!)" - John

"Club Marine should be asking Darren for their money back." - Martin



Wednesday, 10th December 2008
St Kilda Marina web-cam going live today?

The new St Kilda Marina web cam should be going live today. It's a great development completely in line with Marine Safety Victoria's philosophy of providing as much availability on current water and weather conditions on Port Phillip Bay to boaties on an instant and updated basis.

The beautiful thing about live web-cams is that boaties can actually see the prevailing water and weather conditions in real time from the comfort of their home or office (and this day and age, their 3G phones!) long before they actually embark on their journey all the way to the marina.

From a safety perspective, this will hopefully reduce the problem of boaties driving all the way across the city to the water, to then discover that the conditions may actually not be 'boat friendly'. In many cases after an hours 'schlepp' to get their boats to the water, many boaties decide to go out even if the weather has turned bad... Obviously, this "damn it, we're finally here - so let's go' attitude should be prevented and avoided whenever possible. Sadly, people have died as a direct result of this irresponsible behaviour.

The message is simple:
Check the weather before you untether!
or
Check what the weather is all about, before you travel there to go out!
or
Check to see if it's windy or damp, before you bust your arse to get to the ramp!


Ok, look... If you've got a better slogan, we'd love to hear it. (so don't be a bogan...)

We'll keep you posted as to access links as soon as the new web-cam is up and running.


Tuesday, 11th November 2008
Body Handcuffed To Submerged Car in St Kilda Marina

Police have retreived the body of a man found handcuffed to the steering wheel of a car that had plunged into a St Kilda Marina. Police and ambulance crews were called to the St Kilda Marina early Sunday morning after receiving reports of a car boot visible from the water's surface. The car, which was found only a few metres from a boat ramp, was fully submerged by the time emergency units arrived. Police divers inspecting the vehicle discovered the body of a man sitting in the driver's seat with his arm handcuffed to the steering wheel. The car was dragged from the water shortly later. The death was not being treated as suspicious, police said.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/video.asp


Friday, 7th November 2008
New marina markers on the way?

SKMC has it on good authority that after years of neglect with regard to safe and easy access out and back in to the marina's entrance, that marina management is finally considering installing channel markers to assist in safe navigation. This is especially important due to the ongoing depth problems at the marina's entrance. Though dredging was finally completed 3 months ago (after 18 months of excuses and delays by marina management), we're receiving a flow of reports that the channel is again filling up and again increasingly shallow.

Channel markers and/or an effective lead light system would be of enormous assistance to boat owners to help them actually know where the channel is.

We'll keep you posted.

Tuesday, 14th October 2008
Somewhere, over the Rainbow...

Note: The pics and lyrics supplied by SKMC member John H.

Somewhere over the rainbow,
Deep entrance depth lies,
If the guys from Patto can do it,
Then why, oh why can't I"

Somewhere over the rainbow,
Surveillance cameras work,
If most other marinas can do it,
Why are these guys such jerks.

Some day I'll wish upon a star,
And wake to find the depth's a good six feet.
There'll be no need to scrape my bum, or ding my props,
Oh wouldn't that be neat..
(Oh wouldn't that be neat...)

(Well..) Somewhere over the rainbow,
Their rain water-tanks are full,
If there's no rain, then fill by water tanker, We've all had enough of this bull.

Er... thanks John. A royalty check is on its way....







Wednesday, 16th September 2008
The Bay never better.

Despite all the fear that revolved around the channel dredging and deepening project in Port Phillip Bay, the doomsayers seem to have been proven wrong. Official counts of wildlife in the bay (including penguins, seals and dolphins) are on the rise. The critters are everywhere. We took these pics yesterday about 150 metres off shore. As the photos show, with pods of dolphins happily swimming only a few 100 metres away from the St KIlda Pier and the Palais Theatre, things are clearly ok on the bay. Remember that if you are lucky enough to encounter these beautiful animals, you should switch off your engines ASAP until they have left the vacinity - and enjoy the show that these spectacular animals will put on for you.

Monday, 1st September 2008
Spring has sprung!

It's been a bloody cold winter, but finally Spring is here! We look forward to the coming warmer months and wish all of our members, friends and supporters a very warm, safe and enjoyable boating season over 2008-2009. See you out there!



Sunday, 27th July 2008
Dredge Still Dredging!

The "new" dredge is still dredging. It's a big bugger too, and we've received a couple of reports from marina residents and members that depth at the entrance is now already over two metres, even at medium tide. That's just what residents are entitled to expect it will be maintained to at all times - not just once every 18 months. Hopefully this will be a new beginning of a golden age of adequately maintained depth at St Kilda Marina, and that the previous depth problems will be a thing of the past. Time will tell, but at least it will be safer and easier to navigate the exit/entrance for the forseeable future.

FYI, the old "new" dredge is still dangling from St Kilda Boat Service Centres crane - and blowin in the wind...

Reader Comments:

FINALLY some dredging and about bloody time too. Let's hope that in the future depth will be maintained to safe and adequate depths all the time, not just after 18 months of excuses, and interestingly, three weeks before Spooner's case to evict SKMC's Manager goes to court. - Rod

We won't be ringing him up and thanking him for finally providing what we've always been paying for and haven't been receiving for years. - Pam

If Spooner thinks that after 18 months of broken promises and ("dredging soon"...) delays that the fact the dredge is finally here is going to get him off the hook when he takes JJ to court to kick him out for complaining about the lack of dredging, I think he's going to get a big surprise. Can you imagine what the judge is going to think about a year and a half a dredging delay excuses that for whatever reason were finally dealt with just before his vulgar attempt to kick JJ out goes to court. It's almost contemptuous. - John



Thursday, 24th July 2008
Dredging Underway - Finally!

We're absolutely delighted to be able to report that after 18 months of B.D.E (bullshit, delays and excuses) from marina management, the 'New' new dredge has finally arrived and is dredging. It's about bloody time and not before literally $10,000s of damage has been caused to boats from hitting the bottom at the marina entrance.

After 18 months of the "Dredging Soon" sign that amounted to absolutely nothing, the dredge was promised by marina management to be on station at the marina by July 2nd, but for reasons unknown was diverted to Patterson Lakes, when they required dredging... At least it's here, and is doing what it was designed to do - DREDGE! We'll keep you updated on the results as members report in with depth info.



Thursday, 10th July 2008
Upgraded St Kilda Cam now online!

We're delighted to report that our good buddies at Coastalwatch have upgraded the St Kilda Cam to include panning and zoom features. The camera now provides views south towards Brighton and pans across to Williamstown providing distant and zoomed close up views of the water. As soon as the renovations at RMYC are completed, the camera will be moved back to its normal location and will provide enhanced views of the entrance to St Kilda Marina. View St Kilda Cam


Wednesday, 9th July 2008
Nope, no dredging...

You know what we're going to say, don't you?!? We'll say it anyway..

After a year of BDE (bullshit, delays and excuses) from marina management, the dredging finally promised by marina management to begin on July 2nd, and then (yawn...) officially put back again to July 9th - that's today - hasn't started and won't be. That's because the dredge isn't even on location at St Kilda Marina. The "dredge that Greg bought", that's been sitting idle for the last three months in the new berth for a 60 footer on D-Row is there, but 'it ain't going nowhere', and it won't be doing the dredging anyway.

According to the marina's office, "he needs at least 3 good days in a row to be able to get the dredge down to the marina, let alone after that more good weather to do the actual dredging".... So folks, don't hold your breath. When we know something, we'll let you know. And if you hear something, please let us know!

Reader Comments:

"Pathetic, and typical of how this marina is run..." - Sharon

"Can someone explain to us why there has actually been a dredge at parked at the marina for the last four months, doing nothing but rusting, but we are still waiting for the long promised dredging to commence? " - Linda

"Shame on Greg for this debacle. And shame on him even more for his obscene attempts to evict our club's GM for having the 'audacity' to complain about the unacceptable standards of his own marina's service." - Tracy

"What a fucking joke. Too bad we're all paying for it..." - John

"So what is the story on that useless dredge on D-Row??? Has Spooner put it there for aesthetic reasons? ("Aahh, the serenity...")" - Tony

Ed: We've had some reports and info about that dredge but apparently marina management's plans "fell through". We don't know what that really means either... If we hear any definitive info, we'll let you know.

Wednesday, 2nd July 2008
"D" Day is here!

It's "D"Day! But as Gomer Pyle would have said, "Surprise, surprise".. Despite Marina Management's latest promise, dredging will not be beginning today because the "new" dredge hasn't even arrived. (You're not really surprised, are you??) We'll let you know 'when' dredging actually starts...

Reader Comments:

"It's too bad for us that Greg Spooner seems to be able to organise court proceedings to evict the club's General Manager but after a year of bullshit and delays, has not ensured that the long promised dredging actually occurs." - John

"This saga reminds me of Zimbabwe. His people are starving but instead of addressing the actual problems, that dictator is more interested in eliminating any criticism or dissent." - Linda



Monday, 30th June 2008
Dredging promised to start July 2nd

After over 300 days of no dredging, and 116 days of the inactive dredge sitting in the new 65ft berth (Oh the irony..) Marina Management has committed to begin dredging on July 2nd. But after almost a year of delays, excuses and a "Dredging Soon" sign that is so old the letters were beginning to fall off, we'll believe it when we see it. In fact, that logic doesn't work either as we've all seen the dredge sitting at the marina for months now, with no dredging at all.

So far accumulated damage costs to boats at the marina as a result of striking the bottom or in many cases running aground at the entrance now exceeds well over $20,000. (..great if you're in the boat repair business...) And that's only the cases of damage we are aware of. If you've damaged your boat at the entrance why not fill out our Bottom Strike Report Form like over 20 other marina residents have.

PIC: We hope they mean 2008...





Monday, 26th May 2007
Boat flips at St Kilda Marina - Woman saved.

A WOMAN trapped beneath a capsized boat at St Kilda marina yesterady morning wasn't breathing when she was rescued several minutes later. Sue Xerri, 55, was unconscious after being stuck beneath the upturned 4.8m boat about 10.20am yesterday.

The drama began when a small fishing boat was towing a similar boat into the marina after the second boat broke down in Port Phillip Bay. The people on both boats were friends who were on an early-morning fishing trip.

Tom Bennett, who was a passenger on the boat being towed, said that as the first boat tried to manoeuvre the second towards the dock, the boat being towed began to drift back towards the first boat, which was being piloted by Louis Xerri and his wife, Sue. "(Mr Xerri) has gone to take it forward to avoid hitting us and he's pushed (the throttle) a bit too hard and the boat's taken off," Mr Bennett said.

A member of the Water Police dived into the water and released Mrs Xerri. He brought her ashore and a policewoman from South Melbourne helped revive the woman, administering CPR until ambulance crews arrived. An onlooker, Piero Sidoti, also dived in to help Mrs Xerri.

Sgt Greg Barras of the Water Police described Mrs Xerri's rescue as "an amazing story of survival". "She was crying for help and we responded the best way we could," Sgt Barras said. "She was non-breathing and didn't have a pulse when she was recovered and the policewoman conducted CPR and revived her."

Mrs Xerri and her husband Louis were towing a 6m half-cabin cruiser that had engine trouble when a collision occurred.

"The vessel was being towed and the towing vessel experienced a problem and the operator tried to accelerate out of that and threw himself out of the vessel. The towing vessel dragged the vessel being towed over and it rolled," Sgt Barras said.

As the boat flipped, Mrs Xerri was trapped beneath. Sgt Barras said Mrs Xerri had been trapped in an air bubble beneath the boat for between five and seven minutes and fell unconscious as the water began to rise. "It's remarkable that she has been able to be dragged from the water and resuscitated," he said.

"The statistics of recovering people from such environments is not good. On this occasion she's been very fortunate."

Mrs Xerri was taken to the Alfred hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. The Water Police are investigating the cause of the accident.

Sources: The Age, NineMSN




Wednesday, 21st May 2008
Variety Splash Date Change

The date for the opening of the Variety Splash has changed to Wednesday, May 28th, from 6.30pm - 8.30pm


Thursday, 15th May 2008
Make a Splash in 2009

The Variety Club have announced the dates for next year's Variety Splash 3-Day Cruise around the Bay. It will held over the 26th, 27th 28th of February 2009, inclusive. This year's inaugural Splash was an awesome event with around 30 boats participating, including three boats from SKMC. In three days we all got a taste of everything the Bay can offer weather wise, with storms, 35 knot winds and three metre swells on the Thursday, and sun and a glass like Bay for the next two days. Over $130,000 was raised for The Variey Club in this fantasic and fun filled event, which was organised with impressive military precision by Leisurecorp, who amongst other projects also manage the new Melbourne Yacht Club Hotel in Waterfront City, Docklands.

Interested boat owners are invited to the Launch for the Variety Splash 2009, on Wednesday, May 28th, from 6.30pm - 8.30pm @ Beaumaris Motor Yacht Squadron. Click here for details.

The Variety Splash is an exceptional event where participants can have an absolute ball over a three day cruise with a bunch of other boaties, whilst at the same time raising money for some very special children.

Friday, 9th May 2008
Giant ship runs aground near Melbourne

A repeat of the Pasha Bulker fiasco when a large bulk carrier beached off the east coast for almost a month last year - was averted today after a container ship ran aground in Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay. The 160m-long vessel was stranded in sand at Hovell Pile, off Rosebud in the south of the bay, for a couple of hours after coming to grief at 6am.

The Sydney-bound container ship Francoise Gilot lost power and drifted out of the shipping channel and onto sand in the south of the bay. Two tugboats were sent to help the stricken ship but it managed, under its own power, to pull free of the sand near Macrae. “She's free and she's making her way up to the north of the bay on her own steam,” Port of Melbourne Corporation spokesman Peter Harry said.

Mr Harry said the two tugboats would meet the cargo ship and escort it back to anchorage in Melbourne where it would undergo a full assessment. He said the cause of the incident would be investigated, most likely by Marine Safety Victoria. “We think that she may have lost power and as a result that compromised the steerage of the vessel.” Early indications were that the ship's hull was undamaged and the pilot reported no breaches to the integrity of the ship, Mr Harry said.

Victoria Police spokeswoman Marika Fengler said the ship would dock at the inner anchorage, about 3km south of Williamstown. “The Water Police will meet the ship, they'll board the ship and they'll breath-test the captain and crew as per usual procedure,” she said. The Pasha Bulker spent almost a month on Nobbys Beach, near Newcastle, last winter after running aground in severe weather.

Ed: We don't really see the point in breathtesting the captain 10 hours after the ship ran aground... Although, when the Exxon Valdez ran aground in Alaska in 1989 and spewed over 11,000,000 gallons of oil into pristine Prince William Sound, the captain was still shitfaced 12 hours after the event...

Note: If you drink on your boat, you can easily protect yourself, your passengers, other boaties, and your license, by carrying one of our AL-6000 Pro Breathalysers on board. SKMC has these compact state of the art (and certified to Australian Standards) digital units available for only $165 (RRP $195) Water Police are testing now. Be careful out there. Know your limit. More info here.

Francoise Gilot stuck in the sand off Rosebud




The Pasha Bulker visiting Newcastle last year.







Sunday, 4th May 2008
Two dead in fuelling explosion at Pier 35

A couple in their 60s were killed yesterday when their Halvesten motor cruiser exploded, blowing the boat to bits and severely damaging the fuel pump facilities at Pier 35. Black smoke filled the air and flames burned on the water as the man was dragged from the Yarra River screaming for his dead parents.

"He was just crying that his parents were still in the water somewhere, but we couldn't see, the flames were too intense," said rescuer and former navy engineer Garry Patrick - who is also a St Kilda Marina Club member. "There was no sign of them. All that was sitting on the water were bits of wood and debris and fuel burning so hot you could feel the heat on your face."

Scattered across the water in the shadow of the West Gate Bridge and along nearby pier 35 were the two dead and four injured — three generations of a family who had collected their new boat yesterday. They planned to celebrate with a day on the water. The 11-metre cabin cruiser had just been refuelled when it exploded yesterday afternoon, killing a couple in their 60s from South Yarra, who were standing above the petrol tanks at the rear of the vessel.

The explosion, when the ignition was turned on, set off a blast so strong it shook shipping containers on the other side of the river. "It was like when you watch a movie and see a boat torpedoed," Mr Patrick said. "The boat was gone in one bang." The blast threw couple's son Anthony, 48, and his female partner, 45, from the front of the vessel and into the water. They were later taken to The Alfred hospital suffering from burns and possible fractures.

Flying debris scattered another five family members who were standing on the pier. The woman's sister, 46, was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with a suspected broken wrist and smoke inhalation. Her 13-year-old son, who was standing nearby, was admitted to the Royal Children's Hospital with minor injuries. Her partner, who was unhitching the boat from the pier when it exploded, and their other two sons, aged 5 and 11, who were playing away from the water, escaped injury.

Mr Patrick ran from his boat sales office to see fire and smoke and people scattered in the water and across the pier. Debris was strewn up to 30 metres from the boat, which was partly submerged.

Anthony was in the water trying to rescue his wife when Mr Patrick and marina worker Nick Power helped to pull them from the water. Yesterday morning the woman had excitedly picked up the couple's new boat from Aussie Boat Sales and, with Anthony, had motored the short distance to refuel at a floating dock at Pier 35. Moments later, the boat exploded, and Anthony screamed for his parents. "We had to drag him off the dock, he wanted to stay near the water near his parents," Mr Patrick said. "But we were right at the fuel bowsers and we had to evacuate them for fear of more explosions. I wrapped him in a blanket and he was crying and screaming. If there was a sign of an arm or leg in the water we would have gone in, but there was no sign of them, there were just flames." Ambulance officers later brought the two bodies from the water. Incident controller Paul Holman was shocked by the scene. "The boat is unrecognisable. That anybody has survived this is amazing," he said. "There is nothing left."

The 11-metre cruiser, built in 1955, had gone smoothly when sales staff had taken the couple for test runs before the sale. "It was an old boat but it was in good condition for its age," said Terri O'Hare from Aussie Boat Sales last night. The boat had been equipped with old flares, a problem he said he fixed by lending a new safety kit containing new flares, lifejackets and a first-aid kit. "We knew the flares would be right up to date, not that they'd need the flares because they were only going up the river. But if they got picked up by the water police they had the safety gear on board."

(Ed: This is an absolute tragedy for the family and highlights again just how careful we all need to be when on the water, and especially when refuelling. It also reinforces how important it is to regularly check your boat's fuel system, tanks and hoses, etc to make sure that they are in a safe condition. The use of bilge blowers and fume detectors can also help reduce the risks of explosion. Unlike last week's mutiple fatality on Sydney Harbour, there was no hoonism, or alcohol related to this disaster - just an accident where something has gone horribly wrong.)

The fatal explosion could have been sparked by a number of ignition sources, but was almost certainly caused by fuel vapours, fire brigade experts say. Metropolitan Fire Brigade commander Wayne Garrard said initial reports indicated that the doomed vessel had taken on about 200 litres of petrol at a refuelling station on a Yarra jetty just before the explosion. The boat burst into a fireball after its occupants had trouble trying to start the engine.

"When you start a petrol engine, you've got the coil and that creates a spark," Mr Garrard said.
"You've got spark plugs, you could have a faulty spark plug lead or anything. There's numerous ignition sources with a petrol engine.
"They've gone to start it, turned the key and it sounds like it's created a spark and that's it.
"The vapours sit in the actual hull of the boat and they can't escape. It gets an ignition source and up she goes."

Jarad Smith, Manager of Pier Marine service centre at Pier 35, (and another SKMC member) said such a massive explosion meant a lot of fuel must have leaked into the boat. One likely explanation was that a fuel tank had corroded or a fuel line had been accidentally broken or disconnected. All boats in Victoria had to be registered. They did not have mandatory safety checks, he said.

(Ed: We think it's a ridiculous situation where boats of 20 feet plus do not require an official seaworthy test, similar to the requirements for cars, etc in Victoria. When you consider that many (petrol) boats now have fuel capacities of over 1,000 litres of the volatile stuff, if something goes wrong, the results can be catastrophic, as is evidenced by Saturdays disaster at Pier 35. SKMC has contacted a number of boating organisations and govt depts on this issue and we'll bring you more info as soon as it's available.)

Sources: The Age, NineMSN
















Thursday, 1st May 2008
Five dead after stolen boat collides with lobster trawler on Sydney Harbour

One of two boats involved in a fatal collision on Sydney Harbour early this morning was on an "unauthorised" trip when the crash happened. All five, aged in their late teens or early 20s - died when a small-half cabin cruiser work boat with 14 people on board collided with a lobster trawler just before 3.00am (AEST).

The boat was owned by Sydney Ship Repair and Engineering based on Goat Island. Despite the fact that their were fourteen people on board, "the boat was an ex-navy dive boat and was only designed to hold eight people", said the company's managing director, John McPherson

All those killed, four women and one man were aboard the cruiser. Nine other people were injured in the smash, and three are in a critical condition, authorities said. The boat had been stolen after being berthed at its private marina off Darling Street in Balmain sometime after 5pm last night.

The keys were kept in a "secret spot on board", Mr McPherson said. "I have no idea who was on the boat," he said.

(Ed: Obviously not a very effective "secret spot"... Regardless of where you keep your boat, but especially relevant to our marina, the logical question that arises is as follows: If you keep a spare set of keys on your boat - as many if not most of us do - how secure is the location you've picked?)

The second boat involved in the crash was a lobster trawler named Jordon’s that is normally based at the Sydney Fish Markets. Police are continuing their investigations. Both vessels have been impounded and have been secured at the Marine Area Command in Balmain.

“I am not that surprised this accident has happened", Mr McPherson said. "I often hear the fisherman complaining about pleasure boats on the harbour with little or no lighting in the middle of the night.” “There needs to be a crack down - I have heard stories of boats just having a flash light - that is just plain dangerous”, he said.

(Ed: It's not just dangerous. It's f---ing stupid, and we've seen the same idiotic behaviour many times on the Bay at night. Dickheads out there after dark, fishing or joyriding with no lights. We've even seen a boat with no illumination towing a water skier at 1.30am... A very good reason for radar - and to remember that when you're on your boat to always expect the unexpected. You could be minding your own business and doing everything right, but if you're not careful - very careful - someone else's idiotic behaviour could result in a tragedy.)







Monday, 21st April 2008
Child killed in boat collision off Patterson River

A five-year-old boy was killed when two motor boats collided on Port Phillip Bay on Saturday.

Five people, including two children, were taken to hospital and all were in a stable condition with non-life threatening injuries, Metropolitan Ambulance spokesman Ray Rowe said. The boats collided 2km offshore from the Patterson River inlet at Carrum, about 45km south-east of Melbourne's CBD, about 1.10pm (AEST), police said.

"It's certainly a powerful impact, there was a lot of force involved," Sgt Matthew Blythe told reporters.

Both drivers reportedly told police they had clear water in front of them when the accident happened.

"It was dead calm out there at the time, the half-cabin cruiser has ridden up on top of the ski boat," Frankston Coastguard spokesman Anthony Myall told Network 10.

The ski boat had seven people on board - a man and woman in their 40s and five children, one of whom was the boy killed. The two adults and two of the children were taken to Frankston hospital with minor injuries. The cruiser was carrying a man and a woman. The woman, in her 40s, also was taken to Frankston hospital with minor injuries. The coroner has been notified and police will investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision.

Ed: This tragedy is another reason why general safety, and awareness of other boats in your vacinity is absolutely essential at all times. The weather was perfect, visibility was excellent and the water was as flat as glass yet somehow two boats have collided leaving a young boy dead.





Thursday, 17th April 2008
Mornington Yacht Club in mourning.

We've received some incredible photos of last week's storm at Mornington. Quite sad really. MYC has been asking for permission to extend and fortify the breakwater for years but the bureaucrats continue to stuff them around...
And yes, those really are some local surfers who decided to take advantage of the unusual wave conditions. Crazy bastards.

Out of 60 boats on slip moorings:
14 broke their moorings.
11 ended up on the beach
2 sank
1 was smashed to bits against the pier (and then sank...)







































Tuesday, 15th April 2008
Nautilus Marine teams up with DataDot to reduce boat theft and assist recovery

In a bold move to thwart the growth of boat theft and enhance recovery of stolen property, the makers of DataDot DNA and Nautilus Marine Insurance Agency have teamed up to address the problem. The move follows Australian marine industry and state police concerns with the growing level of vessel theft, rebirthing and related fraud, which a National Maritime Crime Forum estimated to be as high as A$15 million.

Nautilus Marine is to place a special on-pack offer on all nationally displayed retail packages of DataDot that can reduce the cost of boat insurance. From the point of St Kilda Marina residents, and considering the shocking amount of boat attacks that occur at the marina, ANYTHING that may assist in preventing boat thefts, or assisting in equipment recovery is a wonderful thing.

Nautilus Marine’s Marketing Manager Mark Crockford says, “It makes a lot of sense for a leading insurer like Nautilus Marine to pass on to owners who apply DataDot to their boat’s hull and equipment the savings this protection provides. We are pleased to be able to offer DataDot retail purchasers a special 10% discount off their present boat policy.”

DataDot Technology (Australia) Pty Ltd’s General Manager Rob Parsons says, “This innovative on-pack offer by Nautilus Marine will help reduce our customers’ insurance costs whilst ensuring they receive the best possible comprehensive cover.”

DataDot DNA is the leading theft deterrent system made up of thousands of micro dots that are sprayed inside hulls and on to equipment to specifically deter thieves. Between 1,500 and 4,000 micro dots are applied per vessel, each laser-etched with a unique registered Hull Identification Number (HIN) or a Personal Identification Number (PIN) number. Decals alert any prospective 'bad guys' that the vessel is protected.

Nautilus Marine Insurance offers a 10% discount on boat insurance to SKMC members as well as higher amounts of protection than the other big operator of boat insurance.

"Since we discovered Nautilus Insurance, the only 'club' we need is St Kilda Marina Club. We saved well over $500 off our annual premium." Belinda

Links:
www.nautilusinsurance.com.au
www.datadotdna.com


Monday, 14th April 2008
J-Row CCTV cameras on line this week?

We've been informed by reliable sources that the new cameras on J-Row will be active this week. After all of the break-ins, vandalism and thefts that the boys on J-Row have suffered, we hope it will make a difference, but what about all the other rows? It beggars belief that in this day and age, and with all of the ongoing security problems at the marina, that marina management is STILL not prepared to upgrade the entire marina's security to 2008 standards.

Pardon our cynicism, but it's no wonder their insurance "isn't set up" (see below) to cover damages to boats as a result of thefts and vandalism - and all of the runnings aground and bottom strikes occurring so frequently at the marina as a result of (STILL) no dredging. Obviously it's much (MUCH) better for them if we're required to make claims through our own insurance, but why should we have to?

Here's some more comments, questions and opinions we've received from marina residents:

"Don't we have the right to be able to lock up our boats (and cars) at the marina and know that Management has done everything possible to ensure that our property is safe and secure?" (Apparently, you don't - Ed)

"The sad fact is that break-ins, vandalism and thefts are inevitable at all marinas - but shouldn't they be the exception rather than the regular?"

"With all the problems at this marina I can't believe that Spooner would rather concentrate on trying to kick JJ out of the marina. All he's done has been to the pressure on an uncaring management that needs a good kick in the bum and has for years."

"It's not only the outsiders who break in that need to be identified. Someone crashed into my boat and smashed off half of the leg of my engine, but we don't know who did it. CCTV could have told us."

"We've never asked for tennis courts and a putting green. But after years of neglect if we don't pull together to ensure management finally pulls its finger out and provides what we are already paying top dollar for, we'll never get it. And we shouldn't be surprised if we don't."

"The guy doesn't give a shit."

"If this was your marina, would you be committed to providing the best standards of security, or would you be happy to settle with an outdated security setup thereby allowing a constant stream of attacks on your residents boats to occur - and then deny any responsibility?"

"When I rang the office to tell them that my stainless steel boat name had been ripped off the back of my boat, the first thing they said to me was that it had been very windy last week... (What???? - Ed) The second thing they told me was that their insurance isn't set up to cover the damage to my boat as a result of vandalism in the marina."

"I was downstairs on the phone and thought I heard my rear covers being zipped open. After a few seconds I figured that I had just imagined it, but then all of a sudden the door to downstairs slid open and two guys stepped in. I don't know who was more surprised, them or me. I yelled at them to get out and they mumbled something about "sorry mate, wrong boat" and quickly got off the boat. By the time I had got my shoes on and gone up to see where they were, they had got out via the gate, and hopped into a black ute which roared off. This is another reason why Greg should have installed cameras on every row years ago, but nothing's been done. And I wonder how many 100s of keys are out there in the hands of people that shouldn't have them?"

Every resident we've ever spoken to is wondering the same things. In their December Newsletter the marina talked about the CCTV cameras to be installed on J-Row, but the fact is residents unanimously believe that CCTV cameras should be installed on every row gate looking down the rows and they should also be installed at the main gate car access to the wet-berth rows, and other essential locations.

As SKMC member Joe pointed out last year, "In our post 9-11 world, any privacy concerns are now irrelevant when it compared to the crucial issues of safety and security. Even florists now have cameras so why hasn't Greg Spooner upgraded security to current standards to protect the $30 million plus of boats kept at his marina, and their owners personal wellbeing?"

"What a great system they have here - for them. They won't provide any effective standards of security but deny any responsibility or insurance cover for the break-ins, thefts and vandalism that occur to our boats because they won't provide any effective standards of security. That's one hell of a shitty loop for boat owners." ('and one crappy leap for mankind' - Ed)

The ongoing plague of break-ins, vandalism and thefts has left boat owners furious, and not just at the criminals. Over the last twelve months, boats across the marina have been hit and damage reported includes thefts of alcohol, stealing of or destruction of boating equipment, the prying off or defacing of boat names and external fittings, the setting off of on-board fire extinguishers - and even more worrying, intruders who entered a boat late at night, while the owner was aboard.

..And that's only the events we know about.

"What is it going to take before they stop stuffing around and give their own residents the security we deserve? Does someone need to be attacked or murdered, or another boat stolen before they bring marina security into the 21st century?

"So this is where dredges come to have a holiday..."

"If Greg Spooner stopped his disgusting attempts to kick JJ out and concentrated on far more important issues like dredging and security we could all be getting in and out of the marina without hitting bottom and know that our boats and ourselves personally are safe at the marina."

"Everyone knows exactly what is going on here and why. And anyone who isn't prepared to act or help to get management to fix these issues shouldn't be surprised to keep getting the shitty service we've been getting for years."

"It's like putting my dog into a kennel for 3 weeks while we're away and then having to fight the bastards to get them to feed him."

"He's making millions a year from berthing fees at this marina. Is it too much to expect modern standards of security and a safe entrance depth? (Apparently it is - Ed)

So what can we (you) do?

* Concerned residents and SKMC members should contact the marina's office themselves and request (demand?) an immediate upgrade to security. You might also wish to express your thoughts on the ongoing lack of dredging at the entrance. After well over twelve months of entrance depth problems, the 'new' dredge is finally here - and has been for well over a month - but we're yet to see any dredging. Why not? It's pathetic.

* You can also fill out our new survey on Security at the marina. It will only take a few minutes and all respondents are kept anonymous. (Considering Marina Managements response to other valid criticism, it's the least we could do.) * You can also fill out our other new survey on the ongoing Entrance depth saga.

* Support St Kilda Marina Club, the marina's independent (and only) website/boat owners club - and join our club. It shouldn't be necessary for boat owners at St Kilda Marina to have to band together to encourage their own marina management to provide effective standards of security and depth maintenance, but sadly it is. All our members want - and are entitled to expect (aren't we?) - is a safe entrance and good security. (Well actually there's a few other things residents also believe they have a right to expect - like maybe a private members lounge, and the ability to wash down our boats NOW (after 3 years of water restrictions) without the need for the use of any fresh water)...

In response all we're still getting is excuses, delays and an attempt to stifle justified criticism and scare everyone else into submission by terminating the boat storage of the resident that has taken it upon himself to complain the loudest.

"Evil things happen when good men do nothing. That's why I'm doing something."


Friday, 11th April 2008
More boats attacked and vandalised.

Another round of boat break-ins has occured. Boats on J-Row were again broken into with the main target being alcohol, with fridges raided and all booze cleaned out. Marina management has recently installed CCTV cameras on J-Row, but we're unable to confirm that they are actually operating.

J-Row is by far the most vulnerable row, but other rows were also raided with reports of thefts from F-Row, and a stainless steel boat name plate literally pried off a flybridge on G-Row.

We've included some pics of J-Row supplied by a marina resident and taken in the last few days.

The new cameras/pole installation. Are they operative? Ring the marina office on 9534-0448 and ask them for yourself....





Note the fence.





The new and unmanned Guard hut. Note that the hut gets three separate locks, but the actual marina row berth gates with direct access to all our boats are still reliant on one key that has not been changed in the last decade.

Wednesday, 9th April 2008
Tanks for nuttin..

SKMC member Joe has told us that when he rang the marina's office today and enquired about the rainwater tanks installation completion date, he was told that "they are now hooked up to the roof, but that the tanks are virtually empty cause there's been no rain." It's a shame that after months of delays, and years of inaction, they weren't up and running two weeks ago. According to Bureau of Meteorology data, the Prahran/Bayside area of Melbourne received well in excess of 60mm of rain over the 27th & 28th of March deluge - but because the tanks weren't hooked up they didn't catch a drop.

It probably wouldn't even make a difference had they been able to collect water, both for wet berth boats or the trailer boys. The wet berth boats obviously have no access to the wash bays, and the hoses are about 15 metres too short to reach the edge of the canal. And even if there was any water in the tanks, the marina is now using both wash bays as boat parking stands - right in front of their own "No Parking" signs....

In their December Newsletter, marina managment stated that "if necessary, a small water desalinator will be considered to supplement the rain water supply". They further stated "We hope to have some wash down water available within a few months and to progressively establish a number of wash down points for the range of boats at the marina." That's great, but that was December - and now it's April...

"Even if the tanks had water, how are we supposed to put our boats in the wash bays when they're now using both bays for boat storage?" - Martin

"Do as we say, not as we do." - Sue

Thursday, 3rd April 2008
Reality Check

SKMC has received over 30 excited, enthusiatic and incredulous responses to our 1st April news story. We're sorry to have to explain that, well, err, the first of April was April Fools Day...

We also wish that dredging was imminent - afterall, the new dredge has been berthed at the marina for well over a month, but there has still been no dredging. The fact is that entrance depth has been allowed to remain pathetically shallow for over the last 12 months. Finally the dredge is here, but it's still tied up in the new berth for a sixty footer and has accomplished Sweet FA. It's like placing a glass of water in front of a man lost in the desert - but not letting him drink it...

We'd also love it if marina management were actually planning a "marina residents update meeting" - but they're not. In fact, over the last month we've made several requests to the marina's office for an update on issues like security, the rain water tanks (and desalinator???) completion, and the dredging, but no information whatsoever has been provided by marina management. The silence is deafening.





New Feature: Reader Comments:

"So the dredge has been parked for over three weeks in the 60 ft berth specifically created for a large boat, whose owner has never been able to get his boat into the marina, because there's been no dredging.... Does anyone else appreciate the irony??" Tony

"Rather than running his own marina and fixing the things that need urgent resolution Spooner is spending his energy spitefully trying to kick out SKMC's manager. What a tosser."- Julie



Tuesday, 1st April 2008
Queen of the Netherlands to dredge marina entrance

Following over a year of delays and excuses by marina management over the lack of depth maintenance at the entrance, and the fact that the dredge moored at the marina for the last month is still to begin work, SKMC is delighted to report that the Queen of the Netherlands currently dredging the shipping channels on Port Phillip Bay will be swinging by St Kilda Marina this week to dredge the entrance.

Captain Olaf Aluff estimates that it should only take around five minutes to drop entrance depth to 2-3 metres, and this depth will extend from the entrance, straight out to the small pier. It will however require the ship to deviate from its planned dredging pattern for around 6 hours, and dredge its own path to the marina entrance for a total cost of $25,000. When you consider that according to their own December Newsletter, the marina spent $65,000 and dredging was "almost continuous for the past five months" but their investment resulted in no depth improvement whatsoever for residents, this is a great step forward, and Marina Management gets to save $40,000.

For safety reasons, no boat traffic will be allowed out of or into the marina from 6pm tonight through till 6pm Friday. Additionally, any fish caught within a 3 km radius of the Marina dredging will not be deemed edible for at least 4 months, but this is a small price to pay for a solution to the dredging fiasco that has plagued marina residents for the last 15 months.

We're also delighted to report that Marina Management has decided to (spend some of these above mentioned savings to) hold an event for all marina residents to be held at The Great Provider, Thursday, 31st April, (8.30 sharp) where they will provide information on their plans to upgrade the marina's facilities, including finalising the rain water tank installation, and marina security with CCTV on every row, sensor lights, barbed wire and (after over a decade) a master key lock changeover to a new access system based on fingerprint sensor scanning. Marina residents and any authourised family members/friends will be required to provide fingerprints, and a sample of their DNA. This will be the first of bi-annual update/events for all marina residents. What a great idea!

We've also learned that a possible refund to all marina residents with boats over 30ft maybe in the works to compensate them for the last 15 months entrance depth problems, damage sustained to their boats as a result of bottom strikes and runnings aground at the entrance and resulting insurance claims. Working on the basis that larger boat owners only have two times a 4-hour window each day (around high tide) to safely navigate the entrance, a 33% figure maybe calculated. (8 hours = 1/3 of 24 hours) We'll keep you posted.

Queen of the Netherlands - Dredging off Melbourne




Queen of the Netherlands - St Kilda Dredging Begins





Saturday, 8th March 2008
Dredge arrives at marina

The dredge supposed to arrive pre-Xmas has finally arrived at the marina. Currently tied up south of the fuel pump area, the dredge is a cutter as well as a sucker and should be far more effective than the previous dredge "Lewinski". Marina residents are hopeful that it will soon be deployed to fix the dismal depth situation that has been allowed to prevail at St Kilda Marina for well over the last twelve months.

Over 35 marina residents and SKMC members have reported bottom strikes and runnings aground at the entrance over the last year or so, and the damages run from minor prop scrapes to repair work for damaged shaft and props that has cost some boat owners many $1,000.

SKMC members and residents returning from a cruise Sunday night encountered depth of 2.5 feet, with props unavoidably buried in the sand. SKMC will be contacting Marina Management shortly requesting info on a start date, and we'll pass on their response as soon as we have one - that is of course if we actually receive one.

Members are placing bets on how long it will take to see some actual and long overdue dredging. Currently, the only one making use of the dredge is a Cormorant. Optimistic estimates currently range from "within a week" to some understandable cynics who reckon "now it will sit there for two months just like the last one did." The most pessimistic view so far received is "6 months". We hope not, but we'll also believe it when we see it. You can place your bet here. Entry is free to SKMC members and the winner will receive two SKMC navy beach towels.







Friday, 7th March 2007
Check out those legs!

Have you heard of Sealegs? Sealegs is the ingenious combination of a 6 or 7 metre tender with retractable and steerable motorised wheels that lets you cruise across the water and then drive right up onto the beach or boat landing, etc. BRILLIANT!




Suitable for waterfront homes, a tender for larger boats or just for fun, a Sealegs boat can be driven from a storage location, down a boat ramp or beach and into the water - all with the occupants staying in the boat and remaining completely dry!. Once in the water, the Sealegs wheels are easily retracted into the "UP" position and are completely out of the water. The boat is then driven and used as normal. When approaching land, the Sealegs wheels are lowered into the "DOWN" position whilst still moving in the water.

It is then simply a matter of trolling towards the beach and the Sealegs powerful motorised wheels touch the bottom and drive the boat up onto land. The occupants can then disembark, totally dry and safe. The Sealegs system utilises all submersible components and is Salt Water ready.




SKMC members and visitors are invited to experience this amazing invention first hand (and weather permitting) around 11.00 am next Friday, 14th March 2008, off the beach at St Kilda, near the Stoke House. We'll be taking some VIPs for a cruise around the northern end of the Bay, and then transporting them to lunch in St Kilda via a Sealegs boat. If you appreciate a great set of legs, come and see what everyone is so excited about. For more info on this event, click here.


Sunday, 2nd March 2008
Variety Splashers return safely to Docklands

The first Variety Splash ended yesterday with all participants arriving back in Docklands during the afternoon. This wonderful event raised around $150,000 for the Variety Club and everyone had an absolute ball for the three day cruise around the bay. We'd like to thank the folks at Sandringham YC, Mornington YC and Royal Geelong YC for their great hospitality which helped make this event so enjoyable.

The weather Thursday was about as bad as the Bay can give with 2-3 metre waves and a howling 25-40 knot south easterly, but everyone eventually made it safely to Mornington YC, where all boats were greeted with a personal escort by the MYC's zodiacs to their allotted berths. The weather Friday and Saturday was great with blue skies and flat water.

SKMC would also like to specifically thank Scott Eccleston from Leisure Corp and his crew Renee Greaves and James Ware for making this all happen and putting on such an enjoyable - and well run event. These guys are awesome. Everything ran like clockwork and their attention to detail was amazing, from the control and coordination of berthing the 25+ boats at the various yacht clubs, to the doughnuts, and delicious fresh rolls and bottled water supplied daily to all boats in the fleet.

The event ended with a party at Melbourne Yacht Club Hotel at Docklands Saturday night, and Sunday saw most of the participants somewhat reluctantly begin to make their way home to their respective marinas. There were a few that didn't really want to go, but all good things come to and end, and we can't wait for the next Splash in 2009. If you like the idea of assisting disadvantaged children and having a great time doing it, then we thoroughly recommend getting on board for next year's Variety Club Splash.

We're also happy, (and quite relieved) to be able to confirm that the temporary tattoes supplied to participants ARE in fact "temporary" and beginning to disappear.


Scandia




Are We Having Fun Yet?




Belinda & Alan




Now That's A Flag




Hope These Tatoos ARE Actually Temporary




Eat My Wake





Wednesday, 27th February 2008
Variety Splash gets underway tomorrow.

Around 30 boats, including a number of SKMC members will set off tomorrow morning from Docklands for the inaugural Variety Splash 3 day cruise around Port Phillip Bay. The weather is forcast to be horrible Thursday but fining up for the following two days.



Thursday, 21st February 2008
Queen Victoria Rules!

She's big, sexy, new and much prettier than her namesake. Melbournians swarmed to Station Pier to get a closer look at the world's newest luxury superliner, Cunard's Queen Victoria. But the best view was definately the one from the water. Around 6 SKMC boats and another 100 or so vessels cruised out to bid her farewell as left Station Pier and slipped into the channel around 9.30 pm Thursday night. The fireworks were fantastic. Her next stop is Sydney for a rendezvous with her smaller, and soon to be retired sister, the QE2. What a ship!







Tuesday, 19th February 2008
Tanks Alot!

The two 45,000 litre water tanks have finally been installed. They're huge! It's a good move by the marina, but unfortunately, they are still not functional as they are yet to be connected to the roofs of the dry stacks and are therefore unable to collect rain water - which is a shame considering the rain we've had over the last few days. We hope that before too long they'll be fully up and running - allowing trailered boats to be washed down without the need for the use of any fresh water at all.

In their December newsletter, Marina Management stated that they will also be able to be used by wet-berth boats, but at this stage the hoses attached are short and will confine use to the wash bay itself, which doesn't allow use by wet berth boats restricted to the water. We'll bring you more info on this as it comes to hand. The tanks have been a long time coming but it's a really positive step by Marina Management and we hope they'll quickly complete the installations to assist all residents to clean their vessels while maintaining the highest standards of water conservation.

Another option Marina Management could consider to allow them to be brought into use very quickly is to fill either or both tanks by way of water tanker. Alternatively, as mentioned in the same newsletter article, and considering that rain fall has been minimal, a desalinator could be installed to keep the tanks filled regardless of rain fall. Stay tuned for more updates on this important subject.





Monday, 18th February 2008
Offshore Power Boat Races hit Williamstown

The weather was perfect, the water calm, the offshore race boats were awe-inspiring, and the fleet of 200+ spectator boats loved every minute of it. It's hard to describe the site and sound as these monsters roared past at around 200kms per hour, just metres from the watching fleet. We can't wait until they return to the bay for more racing and we'll keep you posted of any future events. We'll also be posting video footage of the race very shortly.

After the race ended around 10 SKMC member boats then headed down to Beaumaris Bay to enjoy the rest of the day. It was also a great opportunity to try out SKMC's new "Big Beast" inflatable which can easily handle 3 adults and is available for hire by SKMC members.











Friday, 15th February 2007
Williamstown Offshore Powetboat Classic on this weekend

The second installment of Melbourne's "Formula One on Water" is happening this weekend, and the weather looks awesome!

SKMC members will be heading out to watch the race around 11.00am, with the race starting at 12 noon. We're planning on anchoring somewhere near Marks "I" and "J", southside of Station Pier, but this may change on the day. As usual, just look for the little blue flags on our boats or check in with us via VHF Channel 72.


Thursday, 14th February 2008
SKMC's free personal ashtrays campaign trashed.

Over 2007, SKMC sponsored the free distribution of No BuTTs personal ashtrays to Melbourne's boaties to help protect our waterways from the harmful effects of cigarette butt litter. Participating Members handed out ashtrays to boaties they encountered at Beacon Cove, Docklands and other locations around the bay. We even had an email from a boat owner in Hawaii, USA who came across one of SKMC's personal ashtrays and took it back to Honolulu!

Despite the friction between Marina Management and SKMC, Club sponsored ashtrays were also provided to the marina office free together with an ashtray dispenser - and all at no charge, and made available for free to everyone. Over the last twelve months, over 1,000 Mini-Butts personal ashtrays were picked up by marina visitors, boat owners and marina staff. That equates to 100,000's of cigarette butts that didn't end up polluting our bays, and even more importantly, we've changed the habits of many littering smokers forever. Periodically, or whenever they called, SKMC staff dropped by the marina office to top them up.

We're disappointed to report that Marina Management has now terminated their involvement our marina's butt litter reduction campaign. We received an email from a marina resident letting us know that the ashtray dispenser in the office was empty and needed refilling. Our club secretary Belinda went to the office to drop off another bunch of Mini-Butts and discovered that not only had they run out of the ashtrays and not requested a refill, the dispenser had vanished.

The next day she called to request info on the whereabouts of the dispenser and was told "Considering the situation between Greg and the St Kilda Marina Club, when we ran out of personal ashtrays we just threw the dispenser out."

Ed's Comment: "None needed...."

We're pleased to announce that SKMC's Personal Ashtrays will soon be available again from the Great Provider, and we thank Rollo for his support of this program. In the meantime, if you or anyone you know would like access to personal ashtrays, just click here and for only $12, we'll pop 5 Mini-Butts in the mail to you, including postage! Considering that a pack of smokes now costs over $10, and our personal ashtrays last for months, it's a pretty small price to pay to protect our bay.

Don't be a Tosser. If you smoke, always use a personal ashtray.
The bay is not your ashtray!






Friday, 8th February 2008
St Kilda Boat Sales grant application to be refloated!

SBS has announced that, in view of their previous grant application being rejected by MSV, they are making another application to MSV for funding to install an interactive webcam onto the lighthouse.

As per previous the previous news item, MSV has suggested SKMC to also made an application for the same infrastructure, excepting that with our application, there will be no pre-conditions, no pre-approval and no "exclusivity" whatsoever.

Frankly, we don't give a damn which application is successful - and it would be a lot easier for us if they can get it right this time and theirs is. All our members want is free and unfettered access by all to this exciting new safety initiative, regardless of which site on the web is used to gain access to this govt funded upgrade.

New Feature: Reader Comments:

"Looked at SBS's site just yesterday. No mention of any grant reapplication. Today I clicked on their site and found their latest news item, date 3rd Feb. But todays the 8th! Pretty fishy!" - Sarah

"Buggered if I am going to be forced to use their site to access this facility." - Tony

"Check it out! I swear that they have retrospectively changed the text of their original news item (20/10/08)!. And I think I've got the screen dump to prove it." - Stephen (Ed: If you do, we'd love to see it!)

"This has nothing to do with the service being "free". Well duhh! If it is funded by Spring St then of course its gonna be free. The problem was them trying to force us to use their site to access this 'great safety initiative' but it seems they are still planning on it. Like I said last time, how can a govt funded program be accessable exclusively thru one commercial boat selling businesses website? They just dont get it." - John

"So is Spooner going to support our clubs application like he supported Boat Sales one?" - Lisa



Wednesday, 6th February 2008
St Kilda Boat Sales grant application sunk

Marine Safety Victoria has rejected St Kilda Boat Sales application for around $18,000 to install an interactive webcam into the lighthouse at the marina. The is despite the $5,000,000 being poured into boating safety programs by the Victorian Govt with more than 100 grants to be awarded as part of the 2007-08 round of grants through the Brumby Government’s Boating Safety and Facilities Program.

It's too bad that this great safety initiative was most likely ruined by SBS's stated intention to restrict access to a govt funded safety initiaitve to their own website. Their statement "... and available exclusively through the St Kilda Boat Sales website to a limited number of pre-approved; weather, marine and safety stakeholders only" probably doomed this application from the start.

SKMC has consulted with MSV and they have encouraged us to make our own application to MSV for the same interactive webcam. As the lighthouse has been offically decomissioned by Parks Victoria, permission to utilise the lighthouse for any safety webcam lies solely with Marina Manager, Greg Spooner. Considering the support offered to SBS's failed grant application, ("...St Kilda Marina are very committed to providing this wonderful community-based safety resource to assist mariners with education and safe passage..." SBS's site), we hope that he will be equally supportive of our application. We'll bring you more information on this as it comes to hand.

The Web-Cam experience will be fully interactive, giving users the unique ability to control the camera's operation. Users will be able to pan, tilt and zoom the camera, simply by using their computer's mouse or arrow keys.

Marine Safety Victoria's, Boating Safety and Facilities Program is a government funded program that plays an important role in making boating safer and more accessible for all Victorians. Safety and Education is driving this initiative with users being able to visualize and assess boating conditions before embarking on the water focusing on trip preparation and safe boating practices.

It is anticipated that users will be able to view live boating action from:

St Kilda Marina, shipping channel to Station Pier, Port Melbourne, Williamstown and Altona. Sweeping across the bay to Elwood, Brighton and Sandringham all the way down to Mornington on a perfect day. If our Grant application is successful, the intention is to have this service live and online during the first half of 2008.

Should SKMC's application be approved, access will of course be free and unfettered to any, every and all interested parties, and unlike the previous rejected application, no limitations or pre-approval of any kind will be required. After all, this is a safety initiative, not a commercial one. For more info see earlier story.





Thursday, 31st January 2008
"Formula 1 on water" back soon in Melbourne

The Offshore Superboat Championships – Australia’s ‘Formula One on water’ – is set to wow Melbourne crowds during February. The events to be held on 9-10 and 16-17 Feb are free to spectators. With the Class One powerboats capable of speeds over 220km/h, the spectacle of these racing machines can only be described as awe-inspiring.

The Hobson’s Bay Offshore Powerboat Classic will take place over 9-10 February, coinciding with the iconic St Kilda Festival on February 10. Spectators can watch the boats race past within excellent view of the shore, with the best vantage points anywhere along Beach Road, particularly Station Pier, St Kilda Pier, St Kilda Marina and within the St Kilda Festival.

The Williamstown Offshore Powerboat Classic kicks-off the following weekend, with the best spectator spot being the Reserve at Point Gellibrand. Info courtesy of www.shipmate.com.au

Ed: If you've never seen these awesome boats live in action, you should! For more info on both events click here or for specific race information click the links below:





Hobsons Bay Powerboat Classic - Saturday, 9th Feb - Sunday, 10th Feb 2008
Race Program
Race Course


Williamstown Offshore Powetboat Classic - Saturday, 16th Feb - Sunday 17th Feb 2008
Race Course




Weather permitting, SKMC members will be getting together on their boats to watch the show from around 11.00am down near Station Pier (St Kilda side) in the spectator area. All are welcome so come on down and join us! Just look for the little blue flags on our boats.

Many thanks to SKMC member John who emailed us pointing out that according to the race course guide, St Kilda Marina is listed as being dredged to 1.5 mtrs. Too bad it's dated 1986 and now 22 years out of date... Low tide depth yesterday (3-2-08) was 0.65 mtrs.



Monday, 21st January 2008
Sign here!

Marina Management has finally replaced the incorrect gate signs regarding boat cleaning within Stage 3A Water restrictions. Hopefully this will see the end of marina residents being abused by passersby who read the previous signs (which ignored the ability for the use of high pressure water cleaners) and then became upset when they noticed residents legally using high pressure water cleaners to maintain their boats. For additional info see earlier news items on this story.





Monday, 14th January 2007
The plot deepens. Unfortunately entrance still shallow...

Update: Re storage termination attempt by Spooner

As recently reported, Greg Spooner is trying to evict SKMC's General Manager from the marina. The following is a brief update on events of the last few days. Full details including all correspondance between SKMC and Greg Spooner, and his lawyers will be posted to this site shortly by way of the blue links.

Friday 14th December 2007: SKMC's General Manager Jack Jacobson met with Greg Spooner at The Great Provider. After over an hour's discussion it was agreed that all issues were resolved and that Marina Management would in future move forward in a spirit of cooperation with SKMC. After acknowledging that he'd never responded to any communications from SKMC's GM throughout 2007 because he "didn't like the criticism of some of those faxes" the following was agreed by both parties.

* Greg Spooner agreed to work together with SKMC to make the marina the best it can be
* Greg Spooner agreed to accept SKMC's offer to remove Marina Management's incorrect signs off the gates Re water restriction info and replace them with accurate information supplied by SKMC received directly from SE Water
* Any outstanding berthing fees would be paid within 3 days - including an in good faith prepayment of an additional four months berthing fees to alleviate his concerns that "all I want is my money."
* Any attempts at terminating Jacobson's storage would immediately cease and confirmation in writing that he can continue his boat's berthing at St Kilda Marina unhindered and without harrassment would be supplied
* Any remaining issues such as the precise details of the resolution to entrance depth, marina security, compensation to residents for damage done to boats as a direct result of running aground at the still undredged entrance, etc would be specifically resolved when Greg called Jack the following Wednesday.

Tuesday, 18th December 2007:
Full payment of berthing fees made as agreed via internet transfer and confirmed via fax to Spooner's office

Wednesday, 19th December 2007:
No call received from Spooner.

Friday, 21st December 2007 - AM:
Letter received from Spooner's lawyers acknowledging payment had been made but advising of Spooner's intention to terminate Jacobson's boat storage, and the notification that a refund for any prepaid funds had been despatched, and giving him 7 days to get out.

Friday, 21st December 2007 - PM:
Fax response immediately sent to Spooner noting the breach of agreed actions as per above, his actions as unconscionable and in bad faith, and the fact that at this time of year there were no available alternatives for berthing, and requesting his immediate response.

Saturday, 22nd December 2007 through to Wednesday, 2nd January 2008:
No response whatsoever from Spooner or his lawyers.

Thursday, 3rd January 2008:
Jacobson returns back to marina at 5.00pm after 1 hour's cruise, with winds of 30knts southerly blowing to discover that his berthing ropes have been sabotaged by being cut by persons unknown.
Emergency berthing ropes, by way of on boat mooring ropes installed to safely secure vessel in berth.
Jacobson and SKMC Secretary Belinda Bailey go to Marina office to discuss events to discover office closed and no staff whatsoever in attendance. Large cutting knife on staff table visible through window and video taken.
Emergency resetting of permanent berthing ropes organised that night where SKMC sponsor Marine Solutions came down same evening to safely reset berthing ropes. Witnesses description of saboteur offered by other residents to Jacobson. Police notified.

Friday, 4th January 2008:
Jacobson and Bailey visit marina office to alert them of rope cutting incident of previous night. Staff member apparently unaware of incident and assured them that "In spite of the current situation, we'd never do anything like that" and then added that "Greg was here yesterday and left around that time". (Ed: We reiterate that we are not implying or specifically accusing anyone or any party of involvement in this outrageous incident. We're simply noting the chronology of events.)

Saturday, 5th January 2008 through to Wednesday, 9th January 2008:
No response to Jacobson's communications received from Spooner or his lawyers.

Thursday, 10th January 2008:
After a number of attempts, SKMC GM successfully gets through to Spooner via phone and requests status of situation and response to his fax of 21/12/07.
Jacobson notes no communications of any type received from Spooner in response to his fax of 21/12/07.
Spooner responds by telling Jacobson that a letter and refund cheque had been sent on 24/12/07.
Jacobson advises Spooner that no communications, letter, nor any refund has in fact been received and again requests specific reasons for attempted storage termination and his decision to refund the agreed-to prepayment. Jacobson also requests that a copy of the unreceived letter be faxed immediately to his office.
Despite the fact that the agreements made at their meeting were witnessed by a third party, Spooner alleges that no prepayment was ever discussed or agreed to, that as per his (unreceived) letter, Jacobson has "until tomorrow" to remove his vessel from the marina, warns him that "if he doesn't leave, his boat may be chained", refuses to discuss issues any further - and hangs up on Jacobson.
Jacobson responds by faxing Spooner with a summary of the preceding events, and demands a written retraction of his attempt to terminate his boat storage at the marina.

Friday, 11th January 2008 - 11:30 AM:
A fax arrives from Spooner admitting that his letter of response and refund cheque supposedly sent 24/12/07 had been incorrectly mailed to an address that no previous communications from the marina had ever been mailed to - and that the letter had been returned to them as "not at this address", and that the letter would now be sent via registered post to the same PO Box that all previous communications had been sent to.

Friday, 11th January 2008 - 3:00 PM:
Jacobson responds via fax noting Spooner's acknowledgement, and further noting that:
1. He has never resided at the address the letter had been mailed to
2. He had provided marina staff with his correct updated residential address details in March 07
3. No previous communications from the marina had ever been sent to this (incorrect) address
4. As the supposed refund cheque and response has been admitted by Spooner as having been sent to the wrong address, they have no right whatsoever to in any way interfere with his vessel or its moorings in any way
5. Any deadlines/ warnings/ information contained in that letter must clearly be nullified as Spooner admits that the letter could never have been received by Jacobson as it was incorrectly mailed to the wrong, and never previously used address
6. As a result of Spooner's cynical and unjustified actions, Jacobson has been left with no alternative but to take any and all legal actions required to defend his rights and protect his property.

Friday, 11th January 2008 - 5.00PM:
In spite of the receipt of Spooner's fax acknowledging that his letter of 24/12/07 was incorrectly mailed and that by implication, Jacobson could never have received said letter, Jacobson arrives at the marina to discover that his access card has been deactivated.
Jacobson and Bailey then go to the marina office where it is confirmed by marina staff that "I know we sent you a fax admitting that we sent the letter and cheque to the wrong address, but Greg has ordered me to deactivate your card, and I'm just an employee and have to do what I'm told".

Full details and a copy of all correspondence between the parties will be posted to stkildamarinaclub.com within 24 hours and we'll also provide links via the above news item. The media has also picked up on this amazing example of corporate thuggery, so keep your eyes and ears open.



Wednesday, 3rd January 2008
Residents abused over Marina Management's incorrect Water Restriction signage

Reports are flowing in that residents at the marina are now being abused by passers-by when legally using high pressure water cleaners to clean their boats.

As reported last week, after providing no info on Stage 3A Water Restrictions all year, Marina Management recently placed signs on row gates with information that is completely inaccurate for large boats "that can not be transported to a commercial car wash" (South East Water criteria). Further, though these signs imply they are from SE Water, they were actually created by Marina Management who has used SE Water's lgo without permission. SE Water ordered these misleading signs removed over a week ago, however they are still there. Note: SKMC Manager Jack Jacobson recently met with Marina Manager Greg Spooner and offered to supply correct signage at no cost or effort to the Marina. SKMC also provided the correct information without SKMC logo so that if Greg Spooner prefered not to have any signage displaying SKMC's logo, they could produce signage with correct information themselves. Not only did Greg refuse our offer to place the correct signage onto gates, the offending signs are still there.

The following email received from a resident of St Kilda Marina - who is not an SKMC member - sums up the situation up perfectly. "Spooner hates St Kilda Marina Club and what you've created so much that he would rather accept residents being abused as a direct result of his misinformation, as opposed to accepting your offer to assist all residents by immediately providing correct information. He didn't have to do anything, but instead he's done nothing, and the wrong signs are still there, and now we're copping abuse from passersby who read the signs, think that they are legit, and then object to seeing us do what we are legally allowed by SE Water to do. And he's trying to kick you out?? Typical. He should kick himself out."

The incorrect signage created by Marina Management and ordered removed in december 2007 by SE Water.





The suggested signage created in consultation with SE Water offered to be installed by SKMC

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