Newcastle set to welcome Offshore Superboats

by Bob Wonders on 22 Apr 2009 The ‘top guns’ among Australia’s offshore racers return to Newcastle on the weekend of May 2 and 3 for the fifth round of the Nautilus Marine Offshore Superboat Championships.

Organisers describe the Newcastle race as 'unique' in that it involves racing on both placid harbour conditions and the open ocean, where crews may encounter anything from a nasty chop to mountainous seas.

The Newcastle round offers excellent viewing for spectators, with the 220km/hr-plus boats racing around buoy turns inside the harbour before charging back out to sea on each lap of the 160 kilometre (approx) race.

In Class 1, series leader, the V-12 Lamborghini-powered ‘Maritimo’ will be out to fend off the challenge from ‘Global Racing’ which, despite being seemingly underpowered (dual 525hp MerCruiser engines) has shown that consistent performances can achieve success.

Neither will have it all their own way; chasing hard in Class 1, ‘Acme Racing’, ‘Simrad’, ‘Impact Steel’ and the two newest teams, ‘The Good Guys’ and ‘Team 3’ would be delighted to spoil the party.
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A close battle looms in Superboat Outboard Lite.

The ‘SUV Dodge Ram’ team, Matt Humphrey and Simon Isherwood, hold a clear lead, but Antony deFina and Nigel Craven, aboard ‘Saracen’ are close behind and pushing hard.

Jim Harris and Adam Nicolls are becoming more familiar with their new boat, ‘Kwozzy 2’ and ‘Blade Custom Boats’, Cameron Davis and Brett Luhrmann aboard, have both shown potential, but have been hampered by minor technical problems.

Superboat Outboard Lite has two new teams in ‘Kwozzy’ and ‘Shaken Not Stirred’.

'Kwozzy’ has new owners in Greg Collins and Jan Imrie, however they are unable to contest the Newcastle race and have enlisted Karl Wall (throttles) and Mark Taylor to give the boat a ‘shakedown race.’

‘Shaken Not Stirred’ makes a welcome return to the series, Brian Dale and Brooke Ullrich aboard the enclosed canopy racer.

‘Team Tiger’, formerly campaigned as ‘Elders’, with Mick Walker and Gary Smith in the cockpit, holds the Superboat Outboard Lite lead, with Ian Harris and Graham Fraser in ‘Berwicks’ staying ‘glued ‘ to their transom in second place.

The ‘Hog’s Breath’ team, Paul Gibbs and Paul Fowlds aboard, are still coming to terms with their new boat and hope to have it ‘breathing fire’ after minor ‘teething problems’ at the last round in Geelong.

Boats will be on display and will be launched from Throsby Wharf, on Newcastle’s Honeysuckle Drive.

Practice session will be held on the Saturday (May 2) between 2pm and 3pm.

The race for offshore supremacy is timed for 11am on Sunday (May 3).

For further information contact race chairman Paul Gibbs, telephone (0414-371 122) or visit the website, www.aopc.com.au