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For anyone interested theses speed boat races are happening this weekend. I plan on going on both days. Saturday I'm going to Stockton around 3:30 to see if that will be a good vantage point for avoiding the crowds on the other side of the harbour on Sunday. Sunday I'll rock up about 1pm.:

Australia Offshore Powerboat Race - Newcastle Challenge
Date: 6 - 7 May 2006 2006

Venue: Lee Wharf Newcastle Harbour Wharf Road Newcastle

Contact Details: Time: Festivities 9am-4:30pm / Race 12noon Ph:(02) 4981 1705 or 0423 729 554 Web: http://www.aopc.com.au

Newcastle Harbour will play host to the roaring sounds of the fastest powerboats in Australia this weekend, when the ACME Fibreglass Supplies Australian Offshore Powerboat Series kicks off round 3 on Sunday 7 May.

Class One entries are capable of speeds higher than 200km/h out on the water, and this weekend's action is sure to attract thousands of locals to the power packed adrenaline rush that is Offshore Racing.

Saturday May 6
What: Testing & Practice
Where: Newcastle Harbour- Best viewing from Queens Wharf in Newcastle
Time: 3.30- 4.30pm

Sunday May 7
What: Newcastle Challenge Offshore Powerboat race
Where: Newcastle Harbour
Time: Racing from 12.00pm- Best viewing from Queens Wharf in Newcastle

Thanks Peter,

stubbsy wrote:For anyone interested theses speed boat races are happening this weekend. I plan on going on both days. Saturday I'm going to Stockton around 3:30 to see if that will be a good vantage point for avoiding the crowds on the other side of the harbour on Sunday. Sunday I'll rock up about 1pm.:

Stockton would be good for smaller crowds but you may have to be shooting in the sun on Saturday afternoon. But probably not an issue for Sunday.

I'll try to get to the foreshore on Saturday afternoon. It would be a good time to trial my new lens

Cheers,

André

radar wrote:Thanks Peter,

stubbsy wrote:For anyone interested theses speed boat races are happening this weekend. I plan on going on both days. Saturday I'm going to Stockton around 3:30 to see if that will be a good vantage point for avoiding the crowds on the other side of the harbour on Sunday. Sunday I'll rock up about 1pm.:

Stockton would be good for smaller crowds but you may have to be shooting in the sun on Saturday afternoon. But probably not an issue for Sunday.

I'll try to get to the foreshore on Saturday afternoon. It would be a good time to trial my new lens

Cheers,

André

Hadn't thought about that, but if you were down near the Stockton ferry terminal you'd be shooting south east mostly rather than south west?

What new lens?

Hi Peter,

stubbsy wrote:What new lens?

Not much , just a 300mmf4 . Picked it up last Saturday.

Peter, I've seen these racing in Derwent River (pre my photography days). They are awesome to watch.
I thought they were far more spectacular than the F1 boats. You'll probably need earplugs though.

I'd like to see some shots when they're done.

Cheers
John

André - Sigma or Tamron?

John - thanks I'll go steal some ear plugs from work - you'll see the pics if I get any decent ones. I don't have the best panning skills!

stubbsy wrote:Sigma or Tamron?

Sorry, only a Kneekon

Peter,
You've told me you are going to be busy on Sunday same as Saturday

And now you asked people to come to NC shooting racing boat

birddog114 wrote:Peter,
You've told me you are going to be busy on Sunday same as Saturday

And now you asked people to come to NC shooting racing boat

Dinner Saturday night. Was visiting my mother for mother's day sunday, but she's leaving two days earlier than planned for a trip to the red centre (and she's not taking a camera )

radar wrote:

stubbsy wrote:Sigma or Tamron?

Sorry, only a Kneekon

Didn't think you'd be buying a Nick-on - second hand?

stubbsy wrote:

radar wrote:

stubbsy wrote:Sigma or Tamron?

Sorry, only a Kneekon

Didn't think you'd be buying a Nick-on - second hand?

He got the 300VR/2.8 brand new.

birddog114 wrote:He got the 300VR/2.8 brand new.

Haven't figured out how to enable VR on the sucker

radar wrote:

birddog114 wrote:He got the 300VR/2.8 brand new.

Haven't figured out how to enable VR on the sucker

Loan it to Stubbsy and he'll figure it out! he's a VR master

If I could turn a 300/F4 into a 300 VR /2.8 I'd be a rich man

stubbsy wrote:If I could turn a 300/F4 into a 300 VR /2.8 I'd be a rich man

Hey! at least he got a real 300/ AF-S and you're not

birddog114 wrote:

stubbsy wrote:If I could turn a 300/F4 into a 300 VR /2.8 I'd be a rich man

Hey! at least he got a real 300/ AF-S and you're not

Correct - Have a 70-200 VR + TC 1.7 = 119-340/F2.8 VR (I guess you then add 1 stop for VR & remove 1.5 for TC)

Back on topic - Are you going to come to the power boat races Birdy?

stubbsy wrote:

birddog114 wrote:

stubbsy wrote:If I could turn a 300/F4 into a 300 VR /2.8 I'd be a rich man

Hey! at least he got a real 300/ AF-S and you're not

Correct - Have a 70-200 VR + TC 1.7 = 340/F2.8 VR (I guess you then add 1 stop for VR & remove 1.5 for TC)

Back on topic - Are you going to come to the power boat races Birdy?

No, I have function at BH with few guys from Boeing USA on Saturday evening + Sunday (which I invited you to come, and you pulled out yesterday), my thought Mother Day is next week not this weekend.

birddog114 wrote: my thought Mother Day is next week not this weekend.

What! I should have realised since that same weekend (13/5 & 14/5) is Vesak day

I thought it was the first Sunday in May. Either way I miss her since she's gone for 17 days.

stubbsy wrote:Either way I miss her since she's gone for 17 days.

I'm sure she'll be reassured to find you're missing her Stubbsy

stubbsy wrote: I thought it was the first Sunday in May. Either way I miss her since she's gone for 17 days.

Are you sure? I doubt about it very much

You only see her once a year at your birthday if I'm not wrong

Andre, great choice on the 300AFS, I am sure you will love it

[quote="stubbsy"]Correct - Have a 70-200 VR + TC 1.7 = 119-340/F2.8 VR (I guess you then add 1 stop for VR & remove 1.5 for TC)

quote]

Peter these boats are quite low to the water, so unless you have a lot of elevation, and longer lens, I would stick to where they are put in the water or harbour entrance.........

I have tried to shoot these with my 500mm mirror lens from a 12th floor beach side unit here on the coast, and found the lens too short, and the angle too low.........

Thanks for the tip Bernie. I guess that makes my practice session tomorrow more critical so I know the lie of the land for the main event on Sunday.

Glen wrote:Andre, great choice on the 300AFS, I am sure you will love it

thanks Glen, love it already. Pity I didn't get anyone to sell me one secondhand

Hope to make it to the boats this afternoon and post some results.

Cheers,

André

Stubbsy, Radar,
Any shot for/ from the boat racing session?

Got there at 4:20pm yesterday and there wasn't a boat in sight - the practice session must have finished. Andre was there earlier when there were boats so he should have some oics.

Heading off in about 30 minutes for the main event.

stubbsy wrote:Got there at 4:20pm yesterday and there wasn't a boat in sight - the practice session must have finished.

They were gone home for good at that time! find them at the pubs!

Just got home. I'm so glad JohnD suggested I take earplugs since it was very noisy - they are now part of my standard kit.. I'll have some shots soon.

One boat flipped, but I didn't see it (happened off shore and I was in the harbour). This is the unfortunate man with his boat being towed back upside down.

Hi Birddog,

birddog114 wrote:Stubbsy, Radar,
Any shot for/ from the boat racing session?

Hi Birddog,

got a few, I'll post them later on. A bit boring on the Saturday. There were just a few going by on a practice run, just going straight. Looks like Peter got some good ones on Sunday. At least they were doing some turns in the harbour, part of their circuit. The only circuits I was doing on sunday was with my lawnmower

Anyway, still nice to get out and get used to that lens,

cheers,

André

radar,
I knew this type of racing very well and I did not tag along coz I have no boat as yet + some other commitments with friends.
To shoot these, better on the boat not on the harbour and shoot at low angle.
Hope you found another interesting thing to do on Sunday.
Want to test that lens? wildlife or go to the airshow.

Hi Birddog,

birddog114 wrote:Want to test that lens? wildlife or go to the airshow.

That's what I want to do, haven't had a chance to really go out and give it a good go. Only took a few of my "wild" dogs

I'll be in Hawks Nest for a week at the end of May, should get some good opportunities then. May try to get to Broughton Island, if the weather is good and ocean calm.

cheers,

André

radar wrote:
I'll be in Hawks Nest for a week at the end of May, should get some good opportunities then. May try to get to Broughton Island, if the weather is good and ocean calm.

cheers,

André

Swim across and to Broughton Island with all your gears on the back is a great adventure

I wait till October, once the weather is getting warmer, then I'll have an excursion to Broughton Island for a day, want to come?

birddog114 wrote:I wait till October, once the weather is getting warmer, then I'll have an excursion to Broughton Island for a day, want to come?

I'm interested, always meant to get to the island.

André

birddog114 wrote:Swim across and to Broughton Island with all your gears on the back is a great adventure

I'm not a bad swimmer, but the pack will slow me down too much!!

I would then become good shark bait for all the fishermen