With the 2024/25 Australian Offshore sea...
As the offshore superboat teams rolled in to Hervey Bay for the final weekend of the season excitement was high for a great weekend of racing, and the inclusion of the sports class, 60 mph and 85 mph for the weekend supporters had plenty to watch over the 2 days.
Saturdays sports classes ran without incident, the superboats entered the course with normal Hervey Bay waters of challenging, on the first lap “Team Hulk” Mick Walker and Paul Fowlds rolled the boat with the boat upside down both crew escaped the boat through the tunnel hatch unhurt, same could not be said for the boat which sustain some damage.
At the restart on the first corner ” The Judge” Matt Turner and John Shand Rolled and in doing so upside down hit “Maritimo 11” Ross and Andrew Willaton which caught fire, all crew managed to exit their boats.
This brought an end to the racing for Saturday.
Sunday morning the weather had worsened and course boats struggled to get out to the course to lay the course markers, Unfortunately due to deteriorating sea conditions and in consideration of our volunteer support crew, the racing has been cancelled.
This is very dissapointing to our supporters on the beach and to the teams.
With great local support from,
Fraser Coast Tourism
Ramada Hotel
Pier Caravan Park
Hervey Bay City Council
Wide Bay Cranes
and all the volunteer course boats on the water
The 2019 Champions are
“AUS 1”, Maritimo 11, Ross Willaton and Andrew Willaton
“Supercat Extreme”, Dynamic Racing, Andy Smith and Hayden Wyld
“Supercat Outboard”, Team Hulk, Mick Walker and Paul Fowlds
The 4th and final round of the 2019 season will be at Hervey Bay on Saturday 30th Nov and Sunday 1st Dec.
This round will be run by the AOPC (Australian Offshore Powerboat Club).
This will also have 2 Sports Boat classes, 60 Mph and 85 Mph classes open to pleasure boats to have a go at racing.
The weekend will consist of a 2 Offshore Championship races, 2 sports boat races and a Street Parade of Boats.
The Pit area is at the Public Boat Ramp, Jetty Road, Urangan,
Race Course Viewing along the foreshore.
Race 1, 11;30am Sports Classes, 30 minute race
Race 1, 12;45pm Offshore Superboats 30 minutes race
Saturday Afternoon from 3:30pm, Street parade of Boats.
Sunday:
Race 2, 11;30am Sports Classes 30 minute race
Race 2, 12;30pm Offshore Superboats 30 minute race
Supported by,
- Pier Caravan Park
- Ramada Hotel
- Fraser Coast Tourism
- Wide Bay Cranes
From the time teams arrived at round 2 at Bowen the energy was electric, the town was excited to have the teams and supporters in town and you could feel the excitement.
With 10 teams racing with 4 new driver combinations, “SUV Simrad” Ken Tree and Les Binkin, “The Judge” Matt Turner and John Shand, “Maritimo 11” Ian Harris and Brendan Frier and “Maritimo 12” Steve Jellick and Chris Frier, all have not raced together before, also in the mix “Team 3” Matt Humphrey and Leigh Trevaskis, “Dynamic Racing” Hayden Wyld and Andy Smith, “Saracen” Matt Kelly and Antony DeFina, “Team 88 Powerzone” Michael Ethell and Gryff Ethell, “TCR” Gavin Bricker and Steve Kelly and “Team Hulk” Mick Walker and Paul Fowlds.
As race 1 was preparing to start with teams on the sighting lap Black smoke was seen coming from the engine bay of Maritimo 12, Safety crews rushed to help the burning vessel and extinguish the fire. It seems a power steering line split, this put the boat out for the weekend.
As the flag dropped on race 1,Supercat Extreme “The Judge” and “Maritimo 11” shot to the lead followed by “Team 3” and “Dynamic Racing” until lap 4 with “The Judge “ pulling off the course with engine issues then “Team 3” also stopping with broken propeller,
“Maritimo 11” took the win from “Dynamic Racing”.
Supercat outboard, “88 Powerzone” and “Team Hulk” battled the lead and chased by “Saracen”, “TCR” and “SUV Simrad” on lap 4 “88 Powerzone” spun in a corner putting them out of the race,
With “Team Hulk” taking the win from “Saracen”, “TCR” and “SUV Simrad”.
Sunday morning the teams were ready for the 2 races with some of the teams working until the early morning to get their boats ready to race again including “The Judge” and “Dynamic Racing”.
Race 2 start of Supercat Extreme “Maritimo 11”, “The Judge” and “Team 3” raced out with only a boat length between them “Dynamic Racing” had struck trouble in the pits and missed the start and joined the race 2 laps down.
“The Judge“went on to win followed by, “Maritimo 11”, “Team 3” and “Dynamic Racing”.
The Supercat outboard race was a tight battle with “TCR”, “Saracen”, “Team Hulk”, “SUV Simrad” and “88 Powerzone,
“Team Hulk” taking the win from “Saracen”, “TCR”, “SUV Simrad and “88 Powerzone”.
The Final race, Race 3 and luck had not changed for “The Judge” while leading an engine issue puts them out of the race, then “SUV Simrad” spun and rolled in a corner, Both crew managed to exit the upside down boat unharmed, this caused a red flag and a restart.
At the restart Supercat Extreme “Maritimo 11” took the lead and stayed there from “Dynamic Racing” and “Team 3”.
In the Supercat Outboard “Team Hulk” also took the lead and took the win from “Saracen”, “TCR” and “88 Powerzone.
The town of Bowen put on a fantastic event with the support of the Bowen community and we thank the town of Bowen for making all of the teams so welcome.
Thank you to all of the volunteers that put in the time over the weekend,
Bowen Offshore Superboats,
Bowen Tourism and Business,
All that were involved in the event.
Pictures By EMB Photographics and Alex Binkin
Round 1 at Wyndham Harbour Victoria we welcomed new Supercat Extreme team “Dynamic Racing” Andy Smith and Hayden Wyld in their 42ft Maritimo race boat,
Round 2, Bowen 20th-21st July will also have a new team join Supercat Extreme with “The Judge” Matt Turner and John Shand in their 46ft Victory cat, the team were very disappointed to miss the round 1 and points for the season with an engine issue, unlike the team from “Dynamic Racing” Matt Turner is new to the sport and will have John Shand on the throttles to teach him the ropes.
Returning to the series, “Team 3”, Matt Humphrey and Leigh Trevaskis will also make the journey north to Bowen.
Also returning to the season after missing round 1 is “Team 88 Powerzone” Michael Ethelll and Gryff Ethell in their 26ft Shifty Cat in the Supercat Outboard class.
There are some crew changes at Maritimo (due to X cat ), “Maritimo 12” Steve Jellick and Brendan Frier, “Maritimo 11” Ian Harris and Chris Frier.
“Suv Simrad” Les Binkin and Ken Tree
All teams are reading themselves for the fast Bowen water and the on water and land festival which include street parade and Image poker run.
Round 2, Bowen, 20th – 21st July, 2019.
The waters of Hervey Bay last weekend were not what was expected, flatter than anyone could remember for this event.
With point very tight for both classes and the outright “Aus 1” crown race 1 took to the waters of Hervey Bay.
Supercat Extreme battle between”Maritimo” and “222 Offshore” was on but on lap 3 “222 Offshore” slowed and was requiring a tow back to the pit, “Maritimo 11”, Ross and Andrew Willaton had the new “R36 Maritimo” fling with team mates “Maritimo 12” Tom Barry Cotter and Steve Jellick chasing and “KKR Transport in the hunt, this is how they stayed to the chequer flag.
Supercat Outboard had a tight points difference between “Eighty Eight Powerzone” Gryff and Michael Ethell and “Hogs Breath Team Hulk” Mick Walker and Paul Fowlds and chasing both was “Saracen” Antony DeFina and Matt Kelly and “Phantom” Chris Haegar and Ian Harris,
“Eighty Eight Powerzone” battled with “Hogs Breath” until “Eighty Eight Powerzone” suffered gearbox trouble,
“Hogs Breath Team Hulk” takes the win followed by”Saracen” and “Phantom”.
Between races information came back that “222 offshore” had broken a driveshaft and lost the prop and managed to replace the shaft and prop between the races and make it out for race 2.
“Eighty Eight Powerzone “also managed to replace a gearbox and was ready for race 2,
The water had chopped up a lot more since race 1 but nothing on previous races at Hervey Bay.
Supercat Extreme “Maritimo 11” jumped out of the box until lap 6 when they pulled out with an engine issue leaving “Maritimo 12”, “222 Offshore “and “KKR Transport” battling for points and this is how they crossed the line and with 2nd place points “222 Offshore” win the 2018 Supercat Extreme Championship and the ‘AUS 1’ title.
Supercat Outboard continued from race 1 with “Hogs Breath Team Hulk”, “Saracen”, “Eighty Eight Powerzone” and “Phantom” all in the points,
The lead changed every lap until “Hogs Breath Team Hulk” seemed to lose power and feel back in the field, “Saracen” had a moment at the western turn riding onto its side and nearly rolling, Matt Kelly the driver said ‘All I could see was green, thought we were over for sure’, They managed to stay in front to take the win from “Hogs Breath Team Hulk”, “Eighty Eight Powerzone” and “Phantom”, also with taking 2nd “Hogs Breath Team Hulk” win the 2018 Supercat Outboard Championship.
Thank you to all the public support to the event the teams really enjoy talking to you all.
Thank you to Wide Bay Cranes, Beach House Hotel, Handy Hire, Fraser Coast Events, Hervey Bay City Council, Hervey Bay Boat Club and of course our great race organisers and all of the volunteers that help make this happen.
Once again congratulations to the 2018 Champions,
AUS 1; 222 Offshore, Darren Nicholson and Peter McGrath (with Todd Kelly)
Supercat Extreme; 222 Offshore, Darren Nicholson and Peter McGrath (with Todd Kelly)
Supercat Outboard; Hogs Breath Team Hulk, Mick Walker and Paul Fowlds (with Ian Harris).
We now look forward to 2019 in which we look forward to more boats on the water and maybe some new locations.
The Lace Macquarie community had 3 fantastic races over the weekend, With dark skies, rain and wind crowds lined the foreshore to watch some great battles.
The lake had so much going on over the weekend, Food and wine festival, Show and Shine car show, Markets, Jet ski racing, display from Formula Futures and the The great Australian Poker Run for MS.
Supercat Extreme having 5 boats racing,” 222 Offshore”, Darren Nicholson and Peter McGrath, “Team Australia”, Brett Luhrmann and Karl Wall, “Maritimo 12”, Tom Barry-Cotter and Steve Jellick, “Maritimo 11”, Ross Willaton and Andrew Willaton and “KKR Transport” ,Ken Tree and Travis Thompson.
Race 1,1st, Maritimo 11, 2nd, 222 Offshore, 3rd, Team Australia.
Race 2, Maritimo 12, 2nd, 222 Offshore, 3rd, Maritimo 11.
Race 3, Maritimo 11, 2nd, Team Australia, 3rd, KKR Transport.
Supercat Outboard also with 5 boats racing, “Eighty Eight Powerzone”, Micheal Ethell and Gryff Ethell, “TCR Offshore” Scott Richardson and Steve Kelly, “SUV Simrad”, Conn Saloumidis and Taelah Saloumidis, “Hogs Breath Team Hulk” Mick Walker and Paul Fowlds and “Saracen”, Antony DeFina and Matt Kelly.
Race 1, TCR Offshore, 2nd, Eighty Eight Powerzone, 3rd, Hogs Breath Team Hulk.
Race 2, Hogs Breath Team Hulk, 2nd, Eighty Eight Powerzone, 3rd, Saracen.
Race 3, Hogs Breath Team Hulk, 2nd, Eighty Eight Powerzone, 3rd, Saracen.
A great weekend of racing with close racing in both classes.
The event is not possible without local support,
Destination NSW
Marmong Point Marina
Dantia
Lake Macquarie City Council
NSW Roads and Maritime Services
Wilson Lift Cranes
and the community of the Lake Macquarie Area.
What a great round 1 of the season at the Bowen Adani Offshore Superboat event,
The town of Bowen know how to put on a show for the offshore superboats with fantastic support from the community with the Bowen Offshore Festival,
Racing in Supercat extreme was a close battle between Maritimo 12 and 222 Offshore with 222 Offshore (Darren Nicholson and Peter McGrath) coming away with 1st place for the weekend.
Supercat outboard was even closer between 88 offshore powerzone and Phantom changing the lead nearly every lap,
Phantom (Mick Walker and Ian Harris) getting the win.
Big thank you to all of the support boats on course, local sponsors and the town of Bowen for putting on a great show and we’ll be back next year bigger and better.
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