11:20 PM Wed 31 Mar 2010 GMT
Crews are hard at work fine tuning their race boats for the opening round of the 2010 Australian Offshore Superboat Championships set for Newcastle, north of Sydney over the weekend of April 10 and 11.
All current titleholders will be back to defend their crowns in what is shaping up to be a highly competitive season.
In Class 1, reigning champions Tom Barry-Cotter and Norway's Pal Virik Nilsen will be attempting to make it three national titles in succession. Barry-Cotter (driver) and Virik Nilsen (throttleman) will be aboard 'Aegean' (named for the range of luxury flying bridge cruisers built by Maritimo), powered by dual 930hp MerCruiser engines.
Maritimo will also campaign a second boat, 'Maritimo', with Luke Durman (driver) and Rossco Willaton (throttleman) aboard. It is powered by dual Maritimo V8 engines also developing 930hp each.
Steve Searle's big red Skater, 'Acme' and the Melbourne entry 'Impact Steel', with veteran throttleman Simon Isherwood joining Colin Craven in the cockpit, will be out to ensure the Maritimo entries do not have it all their own way. 'The Good Guys', 'Team 3' and 'Mazlin Electrical' add to what shapes as a 'red hot' Class 1 field.
In the 600hp class, formerly known as Supercat Outboard, there's also a guarantee of some tough competition, with 'Saracen', 'SUV Dodge Ram' (which raced last year as 'Blade Custom Boats;) and 'Kwozzy 2' all ready to go head-to-head.
The 400hp Class, formerly known as Supercat Outboard Lite, sees reigning champion 'Team Tiger' up against 'Berwicks', 'Shaken Not Stirred' and Hog's Breath'.
FGI Fibreglass and Newcastle's Hunter Development Corporation have provided valuable support to the championships.
The final starts at 11am on Sunday, April 11, opposite the brewery on Newcastle Harbour.
Speeds in excess of 220km/hr will be achieved by the big Class 1 boats during the one hour race.
The dry pits and craning area will be situated at Throsby Wharf, on Honeysuckle Drive.
All boats will be on display in the pit area, which will be open to the public for a gold coin donation with proceeds going to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.
by Bob Wonders
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Davis, TAS
