The Route, Part 2: the Maldives to Djibouti

The Global Ocean Challenge rages on as the Ocean Gladiator continues its voyage from the Maldives to check in at Djibouti a race leg of approximately 2172 nautical miles. On this second race leg, the crew is about to face one of the most challenging phases in their journey.

Cities in the Maldives like Male recently went through political unrest, making the archipelago a tricky choice of a checkpoint. Fortunately, the crew has to face the waters of Maldives more than its locals.

The waters between Maldives and Djibouti are known all over the world for their pirate population. As the crew travels west across the Arabian Sea, they have to welcome the possibility of encountering pirates from Somalia to the Gulf of Aden.

The Naval presence has increased in the area, this will give the crew more confidence in taking on these treacherous waters. The crew, however, will still keep a close eye of what's coming their way. Speed is the essence and Ocean Gladiator will be at low fuel levels for the final run to Djibouti so her light weight will allow for wide open throttles. Pirates cannot hope to match her impressive top end speed.

Recently, the entire coast border north and south of Djibouti has been labeled as a high-risk area. Not only should the crew be watchful of the threats from Somalia, but they also need to watch out for unpleasant surprises from the risks of being hijacked near the border of Eritrea.
Nevertheless, the crew will come prepared. Armed with a more than adequate defence system, the Ocean Gladiator is not just fast enough to shake off the threats, it is equipped with the right amount of defences to face them.

The threats and challenges are nothing compared to the glory of holding the prestigious Dupree Cup. Be a partner of the Ocean Gladiator and join in the historic glory together with the crew.  You can contact Captain Mark Smith through his phone number  0439 430 171 (+61 439 430 171) or check out the Global Ocean Challenge website to know more about how you could be a partner of the team.

The next generation of eco efficient apprentices gain their trade

The recent graduation of Harry Kemp and Dion Vinci to the ranks of qualified builders is reason to celebrate. Terry Kemp’s son Harry and Airlie Beach local lad Dion can move on to make their own mark on the building industry. They know that they are benefactors of Terry's vast experience in particular steep slope building expertise, attention to detail and passion for energy efficient homes.

Over the apprenticeship period, Harry and Dion have witnessed Terry's vastly growing knowledge in the specialist areas of natural cooling and steep slope construction put into practise. Their involvement in various projects during their apprenticeships ensures that they have the skills and experience that will be so valuable in the coming years.

It is absolutely true that the recent electricity price hikes have made energy efficient homes a must, particularly in North Queensland where people are prone to soaring summer temperatures. This and demands in the building code place Harry, Dion and Terry ahead of the pack and custodians of the next generation of eco aware builders applying best practise and efficiency in coming years.

Terry's current crop of eco efficient homes are proven cool and less expensive than comparable Whitsunday homes built from inferior designs. The next wave of smart designs will improve on lessons learnt and incorporate such things as "solar ready" design … ensuring that the switch to solar is considered in the home design and building.

For more information about Terry Kemp's building designs, attention to detail steep slope specialised skills, contact him on 0409 050 155.