The Australian Offshore Superboats Championship has continued to develop over the last 18 months to become one of the pre-eminent forms of power boat racing in Australia. Strong events so far this season in both Lake Macquarie (Newcastle) and Wyndham Harbour (in Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay) have seen the most competitive fields of the last decade, the recent announcement of Port Adelaide to this season’s calendar only furthering that momentum.
Scheduled for North Haven and Largs Bay on April 12-13 this year, the event has been buoyed by the addition of support from iconic South Australian business Symons Clark Logistics, big supporters of not just boat racing, but all manner of sports and events in and around Port Adelaide.
David Clark, the driving force behind the nearby Adelaide Speed Boat Club – which is now in its 90th year – has been a long-time boat racing competitor, but the passionate South Australian is just as fired up about Port Adelaide as he is about racing himself, a chance to bring a major Australian Championship to the region too good an opportunity to pass up, Symons Clark also throwing their full support behind the event as the naming rights sponsor of the round.
“There’s no question that Offshore Superboats make a big impression,” Clark admitted. “They’re big, they’re powerful and they’re impressive to watch on the open water. Despite their long history in Australia, this is the first time they’ve raced in South Australia, and with the profile they’re now developing on national television through the Seven Network and through the support they’re receiving from competitors, it was the perfect time to bring them to Port Adelaide.”
The event, which is free to the public to watch and attend, will take place off the beach opposite North Haven and run two-to-three kilometres down the coast to Largs Bay, with boats staged and launched from the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia [CYCSA] in North Haven, a popular area for Adelaide’s many boating enthusiasts.
“There’s a fantastic boating culture in that part of Adelaide, and the CYCSA is a picturesque venue with fantastic facilities that are really going to be popular with the teams,” Australian Offshore Powerboat Club Commodore Antony De Fina added.
“We’re really excited by the coming event and have to thank Dave Clark and Symons Clark Logistics, for helping us to make this happen – they’re providing all manner of support, not just financial, but also storage and logistics, using their immense experience in the region to help us put this all together.
“As a true national championship, we love traversing the country to introduce new teams to the sport, and at the moment we’re enjoying a big swing of popularity with a number of new teams and boats joining the sport this season, providing the perfect platform to introduce South Australians to Offshore racing at its best!”
Since the idea was first flagged in discussions between Clark and the Australian Offshore Powerboat Club, there has been fantastic support from the local region, including the City of Port Adelaide Enfield who alongside Symons Clark Logistics have been instrumental in piecing the deal together.
“It is fantastic to bring yet another nationally recognised sporting event to the City of PAE through our grants program, and even better is that this action packed, high speed event is totally free to watch between Largs Bay and North Haven,” City of PAE Mayor, Claire Boan said. “See you on the water!”
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2024/25 Offshore Superboat Championships – calendar
R1. Lake Macquarie, NSW – 19-20 October, 2024
R2. Wyndham Harbour, Victoria – 22-23 February, 2025 (sponsored by Hornet Property Services)
R3. Geelong Harbour, Victoria – 15-16 March, 2025 (sponsored by Hornet Property Services)
R4. Port Adelaide, South Australia – 12-13 April, 2025 (sponsored by Symons Clark Logistics)
Further dates and locations released soon.
For more information on the Australian Offshore Superboat Championships, visit us at;
www.superboat.com.au
www.facebook.com/OffshoreSuperboats
www.facebook.com/ausopc
About Symons Clark Logistics
Symons Clark Logistics is a 150 year old, family owned, Port Adelaide based transport and logistics company. Their experience brings with it premium wharf cartage and container transport services, with a focus on providing customers with complete logistic solutions including warehousing, container pack/unpack, distribution, over-dimensional, heavy haulage, project logistics and Australia-wide bulk haulage.
Conveniently located close to South Australia’s major shipping and intermodal hubs, Symons Clark operates a fully serviced container park, servicing many of the major shipping lines, and provide onsite secure indoor and outdoor storage. They are a fully accredited Customs 77G and 1.1 Quarantine approved premises with capability to provide all associated services including tailgate, fumigation, and freight inspections.
