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National Hovercraft Rally to feature at Lake Narracan

Lake Narracan will be the venue for a two-day National Hovercraft Rally

By Latrobe City Council - 23rd July 2001 - Back to News

Lake Narracan will be the venue for a two-day National Hovercraft Rally on the weekend of 6 and 7 October involving competitors and Hovercraft enthusiasts from all over Victoria, NSW and Queensland.

Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Brendan Jenkins, said the Rally was the first event of its kind to be staged in the region. "The National Hovercraft Rally will bring together a total of fifteen hovercraft competing in a range of time trial and skill based tests," Cr Jenkins said.

"While having a comparatively small following compared to a number of other motor or marine sports, the presence of the these unusual craft on Lake Narracan and foreshore is bound to create keen interest, not just from Latrobe Citizens, but from further afield," Cr Jenkins added.

A hovercraft is basically a flat bottomed boat with attached neoprene type skirts around the side to capture the air. Also known as an ‘air cushion’ vehicle, these unusual forms of vehicle can skim from land to water and back to land without so much as a bump. A fan provides lift air, whilst propulsion is via a fan or propeller. They are fully amphibious and range in size from the 300 tonne giants that cross the English Channel, to small single-seat recreation craft.

Light hovercraft are usually powered by a two-stroke engine that drives a multi wing fan. The air from the fan is split two ways in most craft, with about a third of the air finding its way through the hull to be expelled under the craft to form an air cushion, and the other two thirds of the air being deflected by one or more rudders to steer it. Some craft have a separate engine to create the lift, usually placed near the front of the craft.

The National Hovercraft Rally at Lake Narracan is open to the public, and event organisers are hoping to attract as wide an audience as possible. Spectators are invited to view the extraordinary machines and their manoeuvres and are guaranteed exhilarating entertainment.

For further information, please contact Latrobe City’s Major Events Officer, Janiene Ayre, telephone 1300 367 700.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: latrobecity@gippslander.com

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