2011 Gippsland Lakes Boat Muster Event Rules
Location
The event will be held in an area to the north of a line of yellow buoys between Shaving Point, Metung and a point approximately 500m south of the Tambo Bluff light. The area will be designated by Gippsland Ports as a no-wake zone during the period 0900 – 1200 hours Sunday, 23 January 2011 pursuant to Section 16 of the Marine Act 1988. A Notice to Mariners designating the area will be posted at the Gippsland Ports website. 
A transit lane for non-participating boats will be available to the south of the event area. Click the thumbnail image to view the Muster area map showing no wash zone, and central 'no go' zone which April Hamer will utilise on the day. Muster boats will circulate anti-clockwise around this central zone.
Eligibility
All types of boats are eligible to participate in the event, with the proviso that boats must be under power when in the event area. Participating boats are encouraged to have insurance coverage.
Yachts under sail, rowing boats and kayaks/canoes are not permitted in the above designated area during the event.
Registration fee
$10/Boat. You will receive a flag which needs to be flown on your boat in the Muster to be in the running for prizes.
Payment by direct debit to:
Rotary Club of Bairnsdale Sunrise
Bendigo Bank
BSB 633000
A/C 138067566
please include your Registration name as reference.
or cheque or money order posted to:
Rotary Club of Bairnsdale Sunrise
P.O. Box 1361, Bairnsdale Victoria Australia 3875
Proceeds will go to purchase Shelter Boxes for disaster relief emergency housing and cancer research and support groups.
Muster Timetable
The official muster period is from 10.00 AM to 10.30AM Sunday, 23 January 2011.
Boats can enter the designated Muster area from 9.00AM.
Boats from east of Metung (Nungurner and Lakes Entrance), should join the Muster from Shaving Point. Boats from Twin Rivers, Bairnsdale, Paynesville and points west should join directly from Lake King.
Boats are to proceed in a counter-clockwise direction around the central yellow marker buoys. A central marshalling vessel and emergency/rescue vessels will be located in this central area.
Participating boats are to stay outside the central yellow marker buoys. Participants are not permitted to anchor in the Muster area.
An aerial photograph will be taken at 10.30AM. This will be downloadable from the Gippsland Lakes Boat Muster web site after the event.
Following the taking of the photograph, the event conclusion will be notified by radio and will also be signified by three horn blasts from the central marshalling vessel.
To reduce congestion, boats are to continue to proceed anti-clockwise until they reach their original entry point before departing from the Muster area.
Safety
Boating Laws and Regulations
Mariners and boat operators are reminded that the provisions of the Marine Act 1988, the Port Services Act 1995 and their respective Regulations apply at all times during and after the Muster. Boat operators are to be conversant with these provisions, including the laws relating to the prevention of collision at sea.
Boat operators need to be aware that it is an offence to travel at a speed exceeding 5 knots within 50 m of another vessel.
Speed
The Muster area will be designated as a no-wake zone. Participating boats are to proceed at a speed that minimises wake. Ideally, boats are to travel at no more than five (5) knots.
Radio
If necessary, Muster information will be transmitted to all participants using the designated event radio channels:
VHF - Channel 77
27MHz - Channel 94.
Emergency channels VHF Channel 16 and 27MHz Channel 88 will be monitored by the Paynesville and Lakes Entrance Flotillas of the Australian Volunteer Coastguard.
Normal boat-to-boat radio calling procedures are to apply during the Muster, with operators moving to another available channel. It is requested that such radio traffic be kept to a minimum.
Emergency Response
The Victorian Water Police, the Australian Volunteer Coastguard and rescue vessels from local boat clubs will be available in the event of an emergency. If required, contact should be made using the emergency channels:
VHF - Channel 16 or
27MHz - Channel 88.
On-water re-fuelling is not permitted in the Muster area. If a boat runs out of fuel, the Australian Volunteer Coastguard is to be contacted on Emergency channels VHF Channel 16 or 27MHz Channel 88. The boat will then be towed out of the event area.
First Aid and fire response will be available from Metung.
Trailerable Boats
Please find following a list of boat ramps to put in at:
Tambo River - Punt Road, Johnsonville
Nicholson River - near the Highway Bridge
Eagle Point - South of the Caravan Park
Mitchell River - Eagle Point
Paynesville - Fort King Ramp, end of Kings Road
Paynesville - King Street Ramp
Paynesville - The Esplanade
Paynesville - Newlands Arm- North side - near Sunset Cove
Newlands Arm - South Side - Dawson Cove
Wattle Point
Lakes Entrance - North Arm - Near Caravan Park
Lakes Entrance - North Arm - Apex Park
Lakes Entrance - Bullock Island
Inclement Weather
In the event of inclement weather, high winds or other circumstances preventing the Muster being held in Lake King, the Muster will transferred to Bancroft Bay on the eastern side of Shaving Point. Any decision to relocate the muster will be made by 9.00AM and will be advised by radio on both the emergency channels and the event channels given above.
Register your boat
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