December 2018
Queensland Sporting Hovercraft Club
AUSTRALIAN HOVERCRAFT FEDERATION Inc (Qld Branch)
Dear Air Cushion Vehicle enthusiast,
As usual there was no planning meeting in December, but dates for the Christmas party and the
December and January cruises had been planned at the November meeting.
Christmas party/Cruise report - Muriel St, Redland Bay - Saturday 15th December 2018.
The last club cruise was held on Saturday 15th December 2018 at 96 Muriel Street, Redland Bay courtesy of Peter and Elaine Venn.
With a distinct lack of personal craft insurance we decided to spend more time around the Christmas banqueting table enjoying the festive season and goodwill to fellow yuletide layabouts and socialisers. There was however some devoted activity to the reason to be loud. We conducted thrust testing in Peter's back yard.
And the runners up were:-
| Peter Venn | Expo Turbo 240 | - 590 Newtons | 88dBa |
| Kim Allen | Cle Sheck's Viper | - 590 Newtons | 85.7dBa | Ben Woodhead | Turbo XP 960 | - 750 Newtons | 93dBa |
| Dieter Renish | White Viper 4 Cruiser | - 1020 Newtons | 92dBa |
In attendance around the table at Elaine's diner were:-
Peter Venn, Elaine Venn, Kim Allen, James Allen, Ben Woodhead, Narelle Woodhead, Gowan Woodhead,
Calum Woodhead, Phil Audsley, Kerri Audsley, Michael Stephenson, Susan Stephenson, Dieter Renish,
Steven Odgaard, Les Taylor, Sandy Taylor, Neil Budworth and Libby Budworth. - 18 people.
This year the Christmas Hamper donated by Joan Odgaard was won by a very entrepreneurial young
Gowan Woodhead who purchased 3 tickets for $5 and then one more ticket for $2. The toy hovercraft
or 2nd prize was won by your long standing club treasurer:- Phil Audsley.
We managed to sell tickets at the previous Tuesday night meeting as well as on the spot at the
Christmas party and in doing so, made $85 for the club.
Thank you everyone who participated in this fun event.
Cruise report - Kirkleagh, Lake Somerset - 26th to 29th December 2018.
An impromptu cruise was a camping weekend on 26th to 29th December 2018, launching from the Kirkleagh camping area on Lake Somerset.
Those attending the cruise with craft were:-
| Ben Woodhead | Turbo XP 960 | |
| Neil Budworth | Turbo 265 | |
| Kim Allen | Turbo 240 | |
| Cle Sheck | Viper Cruiser | |
| Dieter Renisch | Viper 4 Cruiser | |
| Unfortunately, Angus was having a few problems with his craft so he was unable to bring it. | ||
In attendance were:-
Neil Budworth, Libby Budworth, Ben Woodhead, Narelle Woodhead, Callum Woodhead, Gowan
Woodhead, Cle Sheck, Aven Sheck, Caroline Hunter, Brianna Hunter, Amy Hunter, Steven Odgaard, Kim
Allen, James Allen, Christine Allen, Angus Kerr, Ann Kerr, Amelia Torrance, Hunter Forest, Dieter Renisch
and Michael Stephenson. All up there were 21 attendees and 5 hovercraft.
This was a bit of an impromptu club gathering, as it only started out being a couple of us going out for a bit of a fish and a bit of a get together, but it turned out to be a fantastic weekend with lots of mates, lots of laughter and lots of fun.
With the arrival of everyone at the campsite, we all set about setting up our tents, motorhomes and hovercraft for the weekend ahead. The weather was perfect, the sun was hot and the water was warm. After setting up our accommodation, we launched our craft from one of the two concrete boat ramps and parked them on the beach near the ramps. After a few pre-flight checks we were off. We each launched for a quick run around the lake. The water was a litte bit choppy but nothing too bad.
At this point Cle Sheck was still having trouble getting over the hump in his Viper 4 Cruiser because of balance issues.
Steven Odgaard then took Cle's Viper out by himself, and while performing gymnastic type moves trying to climb over the front, came back and reported to Cle that it needs more weight in the front. Cle then took Aven Sheck out in Bens XP 960. As the day drew to a close, everyone enjoyed a nice meal and a few drinks around the campfire. Steve had work commitments the next day so he went home later that evening.
Day two of the weekend started with a nice breakfast had by all and lots more exploring of the vast lake. Brianna Hunter and Dieter spent a lot of time going for long cruises across the lake, as she enjoys hovercraft very much.
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Ben Woodhead was giving the kids rides in an inflatable raft towed behind a 2.5 horsepower tinny. It certainly wasn't fast but everybody was having a ball. Ben Woodhead suffered a small structural failure in the hull of his XP 960, and after a trip into town for supplies he had that fixed and he was back on the water again.
Dieter and Michael went for a long run across the lake in the Viper 4 by themselves, but concerns were raised by Kim when they had been gone for quite some time and he was unable to reach them on their mobiles. But all was well and they returned a short time later safely.
As evening fell on day 2, we all enjoyed another nice meal and sat around the campfire watching footage of the weekend captured by Kim's drone.
It was decided by the majority of the campers to stay for a third night.
The morning of day 3 saw us all go for a long cruise across the lake. Cle Sheck had Aven on board his blue Viper, but then lost sight of the beach so they decided to turn around and head back. Which turned out to be a worthwhile move, as after they returned Cle went out by himself and lost his drive. After being rescued by two hovercraft, a tinny and a jet ski, the Viper was back on dry land. It was determined that his driveshaft had snapped.
After the third night, the remaining campers enjoyed a nice breakfast and slowly packed up their campsites, and made their way home after an awesome weekend.
And in the quest for redclaw, I do believe it was Neil Budworth came out on top.
Next club cruise:-
The next club cruise will be held on Sunday 13th January 2019 at Colmslie Reserve, Brisbane River.
Meet at 9:00am and launch from the Colmslie Reserve boat ramp at the picnic grounds near the hockey
fields just upstream of the Sir Leo Hielscher bridges.
UBD Reference - Map 161 E-2.
Contact for the event is Ben Woodhead on 0401 630 638.
Next Queensland branch meeting:
The next club meeting will be held on Tuesday 15th January 2019 at 7:30pm.
It will be held in the Coopers Plains Library at 107 Orange Grove Road, Coopers Plains.
There is plenty of parking at the rear of the library building via Bosworth Street off Orange Grove Road.
UBD Reference - Map 200 D-13.
Anyone with an interest in air cushion vehicles is welcome to attend.
We discuss technical topics and plan cruises.
Regards
Cle Sheck
QSH secretary