Penguin News Update.

Friday, March 26th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

Full article

Headlines:
Islands welcome record breaker Ellen; Argentine icebreaker in Falklands zone: no explanation yet;
Aerial survey for minerals begins; Squid catches still low; Horticultural show.

Islands welcome record breaker Ellen

RECORD breaking yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur, 27, is due to leave the Falklands today, on a solo voyage to either New York or Europe, aboard her trimaran Castorama B&Q. Weather permitting; she plans to sail to Stanley this afternoon where she will make several runs up the harbour before leaving on her northbound trip. Ellen arrived in the Islands from Auckland, New Zealand on Monday, along with her crew Mark Thomas and Loik Galon. She became the youngest and fastest woman to circumnavigate the globe when she finished second in the Vendee Globe round-the-world race in 2001. She has embarked on an ambitious programme in an attempt to set new solo speed sailing records including the 24-hour record, trans-Atlantic record, the round Britain record, and Shanghai to London record, with the long-term goal of setting a new non-stop round-the-world record. She was welcomed into Mare Harbour, her base for the rest of the week, by the Royal Navy and two Royal Air Force tornado aircraft, along with a host of wildlife. The intrepid sailor said Castorama B&Q's maiden voyage on the Southern Ocean had been "brilliant." She commented, "Everything was a bit of a test, so the first time we sailed her in the big waves, particularly in the south, we were really nervous. "But actually she was just brilliant." Ellen added, "The biggest worry for me was could I handle the boat on my own and what would she be like to sail on my own, because she's pretty big, very powerful and very, very fast. "In a multihull, the boats are lighter and faster and everything happens a lot quicker..." Ellen travelled to Stanley on Tuesday evening when she met members of the Sea Cadets and Marine Cadets and presented them with Royal Yachting Association qualification certificates. She commented, "It's a great place to have a Sea Cadets station as there is sea everywhere and water everywhere." She was then guest of honour at a Government House reception where she met members of the Falklands sailing and boating community.

Photo: Ellen MacArthur chats to Cadet Tom Elsby; Officer in Charge, Keith Reddick looks on

Argentine icebreaker in Falklands zone: no explanation yet.

FOREIGN Office Minister, Mr Bill Rammell will speak to councillors about the actions of Argentine navy vessel, Almirante Irizar in the Falklands Conservation Zone last week. On Monday, March 15 the Argentine icebreaker entered the Falklands zone; a Sea King helicopter took off from the ship and flew over vessels fishing in the area. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office instructed the British Embassy in Buenos Aires to seek an explanation from the Argentine government for its navy's actions. On Monday, South American press reported that Argentine Defence Minister José Pampuro said the argument over the incident was, "...a thing of the past. He said, "Great Britain made a verbal complaint that was received by the Foreign Ministry. "The navy gave its explanation and I think the conflict has been fixed." However Acting Governor, Miss Harriet Hall, yesterday confirmed no official explanation has yet been received and Mr Rammell will be discussing the issue with councillors tomorrow. Penguin News asked Miss Hall if a rumour was true that the pilot and observer on a fishery patrol aircraft heard the Argentine helicopter tell the fishing boats they were illegally fishing in Argentine waters. Miss Hall said she had spoken to the Director of Fisheries, "...who is responsible for all fishery patrol matters and all reports go to him," and she had, "...nothing to add to what the Governor has already said." Last week, His Excellency the Governor, Mr Howard Pearce stated, "Neither the Almirante Irizar or the helicopter claimed or accused them of fishing illegally." At a public meeting held on Monday evening, a member of the public suggested that the fishery patrol vessel Dorada's gun should be used against behaviour such as the incursion by the Almirante Irizar. Councillor Stephen Luxton disagreed, and said the problem was best pursued through diplomatic routes. The member of the public said the construction of the Argentine War Memorial at Darwin should cease in protest against the Almirante Irizar's actions. Councillor Mike Summers reminded the meeting that the construction of the war memorial was provided by the 1999 Joint Agreement, which also protects the weekly LanChile flight. He said councillors did not wish to break the agreement, a move which might allow Argentina the opportunity to block the Lan Chile flight.

Aerial survey for minerals begins

AN AERIAL survey, in search of minerals, has begun over the Islands. Derek Reeves of Falkland Islands Minerals says the survey, conducted under contract by Brazilian company Fugro Airborne Surveys, will take from 40 to 60 days, depending on weather delays and operational maintenance. The Cessna 404 aircraft will be collecting aerial magnetic data, which Mr Reeves says, "...helps us put together what the underlying structure is. "That will provide certain target areas to then follow up and match with our existing data we've collected from streams." The plane will be flying approximately 150 metres above ground level.

Squid catches still low

CATCHES of illex squid remain poor. A spokesperson for the Fisheries Department yesterday said, "...there's been nothing spectacular at all." Catches are averaging from 770kgs to 1.2 tonnes. The spokesperson said ten Korean jiggers returned to the Falklands zone yesterday: "They've come back over the last couple of days so there's obviously not much going on in the high seas either."

Horticultural show

THE Annual Horticultural Society Show is on in the Parish Hall this weekend. The show will be open to the public from 2.00pm on Saturday.

Penguin News is proud to sponsor the winners of the 2004 Falkland Islands Football League.

Categories: Falkland Islands.

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