Maritimo lands right side up

by Bob Wonders on 26 Jul 2007 Somebody 'up there' likes Bill. Bill Barry-Cotter tells Bob Wonders what it’s like to ‘lose’ a boat at high speed.

Some years ago, Paul Newman starred in a movie about former world middleweight slugger Rocky Graziano. The movie was called ‘Somebody up There Likes Me.’

Well, if anyone ever chooses to produce a film on Bill Barry-Cotter, I don’t think they could find a better title.

If you doubt my words, take a look at the accompanying video showing Bill Barry-Cotter and team mate Peter McGrath going ‘sky high’ at 233 km/hr (145mph).

The incident took place in 2003 during a round of the World Offshore Powerboat championships on Lake Traunsee, Austria.

Bill remembers it well. 'We were leading at the time,' he recalled, 'with Spirit of Norway very close behind. 'As we went into a mark Spirit of Norway pushed us wide and I could see right away we had a problem.

'If I went one way we were headed for a roadway adjoining the lake; go the other way and we were straight into Spirit of Norway’s turbulent wash.

'I knew the wash would cause us no end of problems, but it was that or the bitumen. 'Let’s just say I figured wash would be better than the road surface,' he laughed.

Sadly, the Maritimo boat was a complete write-off, only its engines and some running gear salvageable.

If any further proof was needed that somebody ‘up there’ was keeping an eye on the Maritimo team, the two men came out of the horrendous crash virtually unscathed.

'I had a minor scratch on one knee, that was it,' Bill said.

Spirit of Norway went on to win the 2003 World Offshore Powerboat championship.

Bill Barry-Cotter and Peter McGrath were left to ponder……..what if……..

Incidentally, Bill Barry-Cotter was later to purchase the sister ship of the boat that sent Maritimo sky high.

To play the video, please click the Play Button twice