Offshore action looming off Williamstown

11:21 AM Sun 15 Feb 2009 GMT

'Class I leader 'Global Racing' takes to the air off the Gold Coast during round two of the Offshore Superboat Championships' Andrew Gricks

With only 50 points separating the three Classes I leaders as round three of the Offshore Superboat Championships approach (February 28-March 1), all eyes will be on the front runners as they battle for supremacy.

Surprise leader in Class I, 'Global Racing', has shown the value of consistency, its two third places at Redcliffe and the Gold Coast earning 600 points and top spot on the table.

'Maritimo' and 'Acme Racing' sit just 50 points behind, each scoring one convincing victory and one DNF.

'Simrad', the MerCruiser-powered catamaran in the 'Maritimo' team, sits 100 points behind together with the Melbourne entry 'Impact Steel.'

'Global Racing' driver Mike Beil however, will be looking for another throttleman; Ross Willaton, who handled the throttles for both earlier rounds, has been recalled to the Maritimo team and will partner Bill Barry-Cotter aboard one of the new catamarans powered by the naturally-aspirated 790hp engines.

Reigning Australian champions, Tom Barry-Cotter (driver) and the Norwegian ace Pal Virik Nilsen (throttles) aboard 'Maritimo' will be out to put the disappointment of their DNF at the Gold Coast race well behind them.

The thundering, Lamborghini-powered boat roared to an easy win at Redcliffe and was at very short odds to retain its title before the Gold Coast break down.

'Acme Racing' powers to a convincing win off the Gold Coast in round two. - Williamstown offshore - Andrew Gricks

Steve and Andrew Searle and 'Acme Racing' cannot be overlooked; the team appears to have overcome earlier mechanical problems and registered a convincing win in the Gold Coast round.

The Williamstown Offshore Powerboat Classic will feature more than 20 entrants across several classes.

Adding to the attraction, each class features a new team making a debut.

Bill Barry-Cotter and Willaton will launch the new lightweight cat, in Supercat Lite, 'Team 3', (Adam Gilbert, Steve Nugent and Nathan Heymink) its boat totally destroyed in the Redcliffe race, returns with a new 10-0-metre Victory cat powered by 525hp inboards and in Supercat Outboard Jim Harris and Adam Nicolls have built a new 'Blade' cat and move up into the Supercat Outboard class.

Their previous rig, 'Kwozzy', will also contest the Supercat Outboard Lite under new owners Greg Collins and Jan Imrie.

Another team to make its return to the offshore action is the 'pair of Pauls', Gibbs and Fowlds and a brand new 'Hog's Breath.'

The pair already holds multiple national championships in various classes.

Race organisers for Williamstown, the Australian Offshore Powerboat Club, expect thousands of spectators to turn out, with a 'coast hugging' course making for clear viewing of the race.

Acme Racing - Australian Offshore PowerboatClub

Best vantage point to see the race has been nominated as the reserve at Point Gellibrand, although there are ample spots along the shores of the Bayside suburb affording good views of the action.

'Maritimo' crew, throttleman Pal Virik Nilsen (left) and driver Tom Barry-Cotter were all smiles after round one, but the smile went missing at the Gold Coast when the big cat was a DNF.

The competition remains on Victorian waters for another week with the contestants doing battle of Geelong the following weekend.

Class I leader 'Global Racing' takes to the air off the Gold Coast during round two of the Offshore Superboat Championships. - Maritimo back to two boats.... Andrew Gricks

www.aopc.com.au

by AOPC media

Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos: