Fire and Ice ::

"What is the difference between a pit bull and a blubber slug?” Conrad asks, in a rather matter-of-fact manner, as he begins his address to the crowd of camera-happy tourists gathered around the viewing platform. Conrad Field is an excellent naturalist and he has a wonderful way of teaching.

“Pit bulls are the jaw-snapping sea lions and fur seals of the world,” he continues. “When on land, they can ‘walk’ around by turning their hind flippers forward and using their front flippers to keep themselves upright. They also have conspicuous earflaps and are often referred to as the ‘eared seals’ in the family Otariidae. The blubber slugs, on the other hand, are the so-called ‘earless’ or ‘true seals’ in the family Phocidae. They cannot turn their hind flippers forward and they’re only able to crawl around by undulating their bodies like a worm."

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Club Marine Magazine storms ahead! ::

A total of 86,035* readers have given Australia’s most widely read marine lifestyle magazine, Club Marine Magazine a whopping thumbs-up in the most recent Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) result for the period from January to June, 2011. The outcome represents a 5.34 per cent increase over the previous six-month audit period and is a firm endorsement of print publishing in the marine and boating sector, according to Club Marine Insurance CEO, Greg Fisher.

“In a period of depressed economic activity, it shows that people are still keen to be entertained and informed on subjects that affect their lifestyle and leisure time,” said Mr Fisher. “More importantly, Club Marine has significantly increased its readership at a time when virtually all other audited marine publications have seen declines. It is a great endorsement of the focus and appeal of Club Marine Magazine and is a fitting reward for the efforts of the editorial, sales and production staff in trying times.”

According to the new ABC figures, 86,035 people across Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere subscribe to Club Marine Magazine, up from 81,676 subscribers reported for the July to December 2010 period.

Fisher said that while the circulation increase was a reason for celebration, the magazine team remained committed to maintaining the hard-won loyalty of its readers.

“Each issue we continue to strive to improve the product and give readers a reason to sit back and relax as they soak up all that is great about the sensational Australasian marine lifestyle,” he said.

“As part of our on-going efforts to improve the magazine, we are about to embark on the most exciting promotion we’ve ever undertaken,” he added. “While I can’t say much at this stage, I can say that our subscribers will have even more reason to read Club Marine when the next issue comes out in early October…”

Club Marine’s National Advertising Manager, Peter Rhodes, said that, in the current environment, audit circulation figures are extremely important.

“This data allows media planners and advertisers to analyse circulation and distribution data in order to maximise their buying power and impact,” he said. “And with our increased circulation, I’m happy to say our advertisers are now seeing even more value for their advertising dollar.”

Club Marine Magazine is a quality bi-monthly magazine published by Club Marine Insurance Pty Ltd, Australia’s largest provider of recreational boating insurance. The magazine has a broad appeal well beyond its core marine audience, with a hugely popular Gourmet section appealing to foodies, while other regular features include marine lifestyle, destination and environmental features.