Sydney International Boat Show 2008 EPIRB Winners

There were hundreds of entries, but only six winners of Pains Wessex 406 MHz EPIRBs – the daily prize draw on the NSW Maritime stand at the recent Sydney International Boat Show (31 July to 5 August).

Thursday’s winner was Mr K Johnson of Kirrawee.

"That’s the best news I’ve had all day," he said, when he was told of his win.

Mr Johnson has a small runabout that he usually uses off Cronulla, but was at the boat show looking for "something a bit bigger" for when he and his wife move to Port Stephens.

"I thought if I can win $15,000 in Lotto I could get a big one to put on the marina even!"

On Friday, Mr P O’Brien of Wamboin could not believe his luck: "Go to buggery! Thankyou you made my week!"

Mr O’Brien has "one boat on a trailer and one in a marina", including a 25ft flybridge, which he usually takes down to Batemans Bay.

He said he was enjoying being at the boat show "just looking at all the big flash things we can’t afford".

Saturday’s winner was Mr M Carew of Putney, who is no stranger to the dangers of offshore boating.

Mr Carew, who is the flotilla commander of the Coast Guard in Sydney, and an "offshore yachtie' was very happy to have won a 406 EPIRB.

"I have an old 121 (MHz EPIRB) and really needed to replace it with a 406. I go up and down the coast all the time, so this will be fantastic," he said.

Mr M Randall of Sutherland was at the boat show on Sunday because he was in the market for a second-hand Endeavour yacht.

"I used to do a bit of sailing, and am the owner of a little aluminium runabout, so the EPIRB will be just brilliant."

Monday’s winner, Ms W O’Brien of Strathfield was ecstatic.

"You’ve made my day!" she said.

"We’ve got a Signature which we take mainly around Botany Bay or the Parramatta River. But we are just starting to venture out, so this is perfect timing."

And Ms J Luxon of Nord’s Wharf was very appreciative of her win after visiting the boat show on the last day, Tuesday.

Ms Luxon is a regular boater on Lake Macquarie and sometimes heads offshore in her Riviera 3350 Flybridge.

“We’ve been putting together a more up-to-date safety grab bag and we needed to replace our EPIRB, so this is fantastic,” she said

Make the Switch to 406!