Boat Seats

Small woman with big voice chases gold again

23.02.56

With her high-pitched voice and diminutive stature, Mary Whipple could be mistaken for an Olympian of another kind, a gymnast perhaps.

But Whipple is well into her second decade in a sport where her size, commanding voice and high energy level provide the ideal athletic dichotomy.

Now 31 and possessor of Olympic gold and silver medals and two world titles, the Orangevale-raised Whipple will be named July 25 to the U.S. team that will compete at the World Rowing Championships in August in Slovenia.

The same squad also will compete, barring the unforeseen, in the 2012 Summer Olympics.

The U.S. women's eight won the gold medal in Beijing in 2008 and will defend its title – with Whipple again as the coxswain – in July 2012 at Dorney Lake, 25 miles west of London near Windsor Castle.

Source: Sacramento Bee

Last wish granted: A final ride on the jetboat

23.02.59

Ben Madsen's last wish put a new spin on burial at sea.

The 63 year old, a longtime jet boat mechanic in Niagara-on-the-Lake, died July 6 at St. Catharines General Hospital after a seven-year battle with bone cancer. But death didn't keep him from one more cruise across the waves of the Niagara River, as he took his last ride aboard a jet boat.

Surrounded by family and friends, Madsen's casket rode aboard one of the vessels he worked on as head mechanic at Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours. The vessel took a slow loop through the water near the dock before returning home.

"It's awesome," said Madsen's son, also named Ben Madsen. "Definitely what he would've loved.

Source: Niagara Falls Review

Boatie bows to hire power

23.02.66

ONE Noosa tourism operator is quietly fighting back against the “summer from hell” trading downturn with the first electric pontoon boat for hire in Australia.

It is so impressive Tourism Queensland has been touting the eco-friendly innovation.

Dolphin Boat Hire at Noosa Marina has been a silent player in the leisure-cruising experience on Noosa River since the start of the year after owners Jo and Monique Van Os opted to go with a cleaner drive system that is proving a success with clients.

Jo, who has an engineering background and set up the electrical system in-house, was attracted to pioneering a green experience when he turned his back on the normal petrol and oil-based propulsion system.

Source: Noosa News