Bill back in the cockpit

by Bob Wonders on 10 Sep 2009
Maritimo Offshore Team owner Bill Barry-Cotter will make a return to the race circuit at Redcliffe this weekend when he takes over as throttleman aboard the team’s new boat, ‘Maritimo 11.’

The Redcliffe Offshore Grand Prix is the final round of the 2009 Offshore Superboat Championships, with eight Class I and 11 outboard crews lining up for what looms as an exciting finale.

Bill will partner Ross Willaton in the new boat, which is identical to the two racers which have been contesting the Middle East and European circuit in the Class I World Powerboat titles.

The team had to re-shuffle its crews with Luke Durman, regular driver of the team’s second boat, ‘Simrad’, overseas on business.

‘Simrad’ will be handled by Tom Barry-Cotter (driver) with Peter ‘Muddy’ McGrath on throttles.

Tom Barry-Cotter and Ross Willaton have already been confirmed as Class I Offshore Superboat Champions, having accrued enough points to claim victory in the Lamborghini-powered boat.

Although he has not raced since the Townsville round of the Offshore Superboat Championships last year, Bill is not concerned at any ‘lack of practice.’

'I’ve been testing the new boat fairly constantly over the past six weeks and we’re ready to go,' he declared.

The Redcliffe round will be markedly different from the previous five rounds of the championships, with all the Class 1 boats running carburettor engines following a decision by the championship committee.

Committee members Bill Barry-Cotter, Steve Searle and Tony Low hope the decision will lead to more economical costs associated with competing at the championship level.

Most Class 1 entrants will be using 750hp to 800hp engines running on aviation gasoline.

'If the engineers prove reliable I think we may be on a winner,' Bill said.

'Steve Searle will be the one most disadvantaged as his boat, ‘Acme’, is probably the heaviest.

'Tony Low will have the advantage with ‘Impact Steel’ being among the lighter boats.'

If the ‘experiment’ with carburettor engines proves a winner for the championships, Maritimo will probably ‘retire’ the V-12 Lamborghini power plants.

The Redcliffe Offshore Grand Prix, sponsored by the Moreton Bay Regional Council and is expected to attract thousands of fans thanks to excellent viewing of the race along the foreshore off the Redcliffe Jetty.

Fans can get a close-up look at the awesome racers during scrutineering and practice on the Saturday with boats and crews operating out of Scarborough Boat Harbour adjacent to the Moreton Bay Boat Club.

Racing gets underway at 12 noon on the Sunday.