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Superboats Lake Macquarie

Lake Macquarie Superboats racing is returning to the lake in Oct 14th and 15th 2023. Round 4 Offshore Superboat Championships will be run over 2 exciting days of races as part of the Lake Macquarie City Fast and Loud Festival . Empire Marina Lake Macquarie is again proud to be hosting the teams and Superboats over Saturday and Sunday race calendar.

Contact Empire Marina Lake Macquarie for berthing enquiries over the weekend or longer term.

Lake Macquarie City celebrates over two days of on shore and off shore activities for locals and visitors. On shore events include include foodie events, vintage car shows, live music, plus more. Lake Macquarie City Event details . Get out, get active, and enjoy our beautiful Lake Macquarie and foreshore parks during these exciting events.

Marmong Point is a great place to catch the action on Lake Macquarie. Plenty of other good spots to watch the races including Lions Park, Eleebana, Warners Bay Foreshore and Speers Point Park. The Offshore Superboat Race Round 4 Lake Macquarie is being held as part of the Lake Macquarie City Fast and Loud Festival . See the Offshore Superboats pages here: Superboats Website Home Page , Superboats Races Page , and Superboat Teams page

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2023 offshore superboat championship – superboats to bring fast and loud to lake macquarie.

Indeed they are! So get set for great action on and off the water over the weekend of 14 and 15 October, as the Lake Macquarie City Council bring you Fast and Loud. The four classes of Superboats will be racing on both days in a circuit encompassing Marmong Point, to Warners Bay, and also Speers Point.

The appearance of new teams and staying power of dominate forces in the Offshore Superboat Championships (OSC) highlights just how much the re-energised sport has taken off in the last couple of years across Supercat Extreme, Supercat Outboard, Super Sport 85 and Super Sport 65. Even the Day Racer category, where you can come along and try your hand out on the water, has seen each round of the series attract those that are keen to give it a go.

Darren Nicholson from the all-conquering 222 Offshore team said, “As a team we’ve had a great year away racing. Winning the Class 1 World Championship has really topped it off, but there’s nothing quite like racing on home waters.”

“It’s really special for me to come home to Lake Macquarie and race on the water I grew up sailing on… kind of feels like I’ve come full circle in some respects. It’s a nice feeling knowing we’ll be finishing up the Australian series at home, in front of family and friends.”

“We’re bringing the boat down early, and will have a few marketing activations around Newcastle. We’ll be at the newly opened Gym on King on Wednesday 11th October. We’ll also be down at the Belmont 16’s Skiff Club on Thursday 12th October, even putting the boat in the water for a run, so we welcome everyone to come down and say hi.”

Coming back across The Ditch (Tasman Sea) is Ryan Shan’s 26-foot Shifty Cat. It was built as a 25-footer in 2004 for the 2005 season, which it then won, as well as 2006, and 2007 in the 3-4 litre class. It was lengthened in 2006, and also has the pedigree of being the first to be raced offshore in Australia with Mercury’s venerable 200XS 2-stroke high performance dynamos with their distinctive exhaust note. Paul Gibbs and Paul Fowlds raced it superbly, and very famously under the Hog’s Breath livery, before it was sold to Mick Walker Racing to become Tiger Racing.

It was subsequently sold to BC Racing in New Zealand who bought two new Gen II 200XS powerheads for the boat, but ultimately decided to sell it. Ryan purchased the historic craft in June this year, and will race initially in the 85mph Super Sport class before advancing into Supercat outboard.

As a softly spoken, and Gentleman Racer type, Shan epitomises the advancement up the scale, as he previously raced an open cockpit boat. Quiet? Perhaps, but dedicated and ultra-enthusiastic he most definitely is, and is so totally in the style of new racer the OSC has been attracting for the last little while.

It’s not all about the racing, either. On the Saturday night, Australian music lovers are set for a stellar line-up of artists featuring legendary Australian musicians Skunkhour, who will be supported by local band, SF Wrens. Enjoy a night of live music as MAP mima lights up the night. Bring along a picnic blanket and food and enjoy locally sourced drinks from our on site bar. There is a ticket deal to take advantage of – two tickets for only $70 (plus GST and booking fees) – Secure your tickets now

Photo by AJMcKinnon Photography

On the Sunday, the Newcastle Restored Vehicle Club Inc ( www.shannons.com.au/club/carclubs/newcastle-restored-vehicle-club/ ) will be having ‘the biggest, free show and shine event’ in Speers Point Park for vintage, muscle, classic, custom cars, hot rods and motorbikes. Another free event, head honcho Bill Kalb added, “There are over 42 Lucky Car Prizes, along with 10 Trophies. You don’t have to have the biggest, or the best car or bike to win a lucky car prize, just put your entry in to get drawn out. So mark your calendars now!”

“Lots of folk come for a look as they walk through the park. It’s always a great day. DJ Vinnie is playing the tunes, and we have stalls for coffee, food and soft drinks, as well.”

Antony de Fina, Commodore of the Australian Offshore Powerboat Club that administers the OSC commented, “It is really fantastic that we have completed an agreement to run for another three more years at Lake Macquarie. It is a great venue that also has so many other activities on offer, with multiple vantage points for spectators to watch all four divisions go racing.”

“The round at Lake Macquarie is also the culmination of our 2023 calendar, which is bound to make the competition even tighter, especially in the Super Sport 65 class, where it is very close. Look out for commentary that is broadcast on the FM band at 88.9MHz, and also our live stream that you can tap into off our Facebook page.” ( https://www.facebook.com/OffshoreSuperboats/ )

David Randall, General Manager of the Empire Marina Lake Macquarie said, “We are thrilled to host the Offshore Super Boat Championships back at the Lake again this year. Formerly Marmong Point Marina, and now Empire Marina Lake Macquarie, we have provided the staging and pit facilities since the very first series back in 2016.”

“The weekend not only delivers the high-end technology of motor sport with the thrill and excitement of powerboat racing, it showcases what a world class waterway Lake Macquarie is. Several Day Racer entries have applied to be in the 65mph and 85mph Super Sport categories, which allows the general public to participate, so it will be wonderful to have even more boats racing for the season finale.”

This tremendous event would not be possible without the great support provided by Destination NSW, Roads and Maritime Services, Lake Macquarie City Council, Dantia, and their 200 club of supporters, Empire Marina Lake Macquarie, Wilson Lift, and Crown Lands.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser commented, “Our city is spoilt when it comes to natural assets, but it’s always special when our namesake Lake Macquarie is transformed into a playground for aquatic events and sporting spectacles.”

“The lake is a perfect amphitheatre to enjoy the thrills and spills of the super boats, supported by a raft of community activations at sites right around the city.”

“Whether it’s music, food, boats, cars or sport, Fast and Loud has high-octane entertainment for the entire family to enjoy.”

Racing commences on Saturday at 12 noon to 1230pm for the first event for the Super Sports 65 and 85 classes. They are followed at 1 to 130pm by the first race for the Supercat Outboard and Supercat Extreme classes. At 2pm the Super Sport 65 and Super Sport 85 classes return for their second race. The pit area is open to spectators during the day.

On Sunday, racing commences at 1100am with the second race for the Supercat Outboard and Supercat Extreme classes. The two Super Sport classes have their final race at 12 noon, and then the two enclosed cockpit classes return for their last outing of the season at 1pm, and race again for another 30 minutes.

Presentations are back at Empire Marina at 4pm.

Further information at superboat.com.au

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Superboats to bring Fast and Loud to Lake Macquarie

Get set for great action on and off the water at this year’s Offshore Superboat Championships.

The weekend of great offshore racing action will be held on 14–15 October, and this year the Lake Macquarie City Council presents ‘Fast and Loud’ in which the four classes of Superboats will race on both days in a circuit encompassing Marmong Point, to Warners Bay, and also Speers Point.

The appearance of new teams and staying power of dominate forces in the Offshore Superboat Championships (OSC) highlights just how much the re-energised sport has taken off in the past few years across Supercat Extreme, Supercat Outboard, Super Sport 85 and Super Sport 65. Even the Day Racer category, where you can go along and try your hand out on the water, has seen each round of the series attract those that are keen to give it a go.

Darren Nicholson from the all-conquering 222 Offshore team said: “As a team we’ve had a great year away racing. Winning the Class 1 World Championship has really topped it off, but there’s nothing quite like racing on home waters.”

Coming back across the ditch is Ryan Shan’s 26ft Shifty Cat, which was built as a 25-footer in 2004 for the 2005 season, which it then won, as well as 2006, and 2007 in the 3-4L class. It was lengthened in 2006, and also has the pedigree of being the first to be raced offshore in Australia with Mercury’s venerable 200XS two-stroke high performance dynamos with their distinctive exhaust note. Paul Gibbs and Paul Fowlds raced it superbly, and very famously under the Hog’s Breath livery, before it was sold to Mick Walker Racing to become Tiger Racing. 

The Superboat was subsequently sold to BC Racing in New Zealand who bought two new Gen II 200XS powerheads for the boat, but ultimately decided to sell it. Ryan purchased the historic craft in June this year and will race initially in the 85m/h Super Sport class before advancing into Supercat outboard.

Entertainment galore

It’s not all about the fastest boats, either with a number of family-friendly lakeside activities. On the Saturday night, Australian music lovers are set for a stellar line-up of live entertainment featuring legendary Australian musicians Skunkhour, who will be supported by local band, SF Wrens. Enjoy a night of live music as MAP mima lights up the night. Bring along a picnic blanket and food and enjoy locally sourced drinks from the onsite bar. There is a ticket deal to take advantage of — two tickets for only $70 (plus GST and booking fees). Tickets can be purchased here .

On Sunday, the  Newcastle Restored Vehicle Club Inc will stage a free vintage car show and shine event in Speers Point Park for vintage, muscle, classic, custom cars, hot rods and motorbikes. There are more than 42 Lucky Car prizes, along with 10 trophies. 

Antony de Fina, Commodore of the Australian Offshore Powerboat Club which administers the OSC, said: “It is really fantastic that we have completed an agreement to run for another three more years at Lake Macquarie. It is a great venue that also has so many other activities on offer, with multiple vantage points for spectators to watch all four divisions go racing.

“The round at Lake Macquarie is also the culmination of our 2023 calendar, which is bound to make the competition even tighter, especially in the Super Sport 65 class, where it is very close.”

David Randall, General Manager of the Empire Marina Lake Macquarie said: “We are thrilled to host the Offshore Super Boat Championships back at the Lake again this year. 

“The weekend delivers the high-end technology of motor sport with the thrill and excitement of powerboat racing and showcases what a world class waterway Lake Macquarie is. Several Day Racer entries have applied to be in the 65m/h and 85m/h Super Sport categories, which allows the general public to participate, so it will be wonderful to have even more boats racing for the season finale.”

This event is possible thanks to support provided by  Destination NSW,  Roads and Maritime Services,   Lake Macquarie City Council,   Dantia   and its 200 club of supporters,  Empire Marina Lake Macquarie,   Wilson Lift, and   Crown Lands.

Racing commences on Saturday at 12noon to 12.30pm for the first event for the Super Sports 65 and 85 classes. They are followed at 1–1.30pm by the first race for the Supercat Outboard and Supercat Extreme classes. At 2pm the Super Sport 65 and Super Sport 85 classes return for their second race. The pit area is open to spectators during the day.

On Sunday, racing commences at 11am with the second race for the Supercat Outboard and Supercat Extreme classes. The two Super Sport classes have their final race at 12noon, and then the two enclosed cockpit classes return for their last outing of the season at 1pm, and race again for another 30 minutes.

Presentations are back at Empire Marina at 4pm.

Further information at superboat.com.au

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Darren Nicholson's 222 Offshore powerboat racing team are the newly crowned Class 1 World Champions

Powerboat owner-driver Darren Nicholson and his team have rocketed through a hat-trick of victories after clinching the UIM Class 1 championships in Sheboygan, Michigan City and Sarasota in the US this season, and spent the weekend chasing their fourth-straight win on the water at Florida for the offshore powerboat season finale.

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Nicholson, who holds the most wins of any Australian in the Class One Championships in Europe and the Middle East, is the driver at the helm of the recognisable 222 offshore powerboat alongside throttleman Giovanni Carpitella.

"Having absolute faith in Giovanni on the throttles is a rare gift I appreciate very much, when driving a Class 1 at 150 mph coming into the corner - it is not for the meek," Nicholson said in the lead-up to the weekend's competition at St Petersburg, Florida.

The Hunter racer, and former champion sailor, posted a daylight-second performance at the UIM race round at Sheboygan in mid-August, finishing a full six points ahead of second-placed US racer Hugh Fuller and securing the team's third-straight victory going into the season finale at the weekend.

Nicholson, the first Australian to win the Class 1 title, has been quick to heap praise on his Italian throttleman Carpitella and team.

"Because I came to powerboat racing quite late in life, I figured I definitely needed a red-hot crew to make up for my inexperience, or otherwise I'd never achieve anything," he said.

After the weekend's test overseas, the team will return home to Lake Macquarie for a final race of the season looking to secure the Australian title to add to their success on the world's stage.

"All in all, 2023 has been a huge year of racing for our team and I couldn't be prouder of all that we've achieved," Nicholson said, "It will be great to head into that race knowing we've sealed the World Championship in the USA and we'll be looking to hopefully seal the Australian title."

UIM secretary general, Thomas Kurth, said the Australian team had added "spice to the series, which has found a resounding welcome in the US."

By attracting new boats and teams for 2024, our promoter partner Azam Rangoonwala at Powerboat P1 is keeping up the pace of taking the UIM Class 1 back to the top of offshore powerboat racing," he said.

Nicholson and Carpitella have been the class act in a brilliant championship campaign against world-class opposition all running the Mercury 1100 competition engine, in a season that has seen three different race winners, six teams and four manufacturers on the podium as the UIM Class 1 World Championship gathers pace and goes from strength-to-strength since its relaunch last year.

Simon McCarthy

Simon McCarthy is a journalist working at the Newcastle Herald in NSW. He writes news and features, and produces video and multimedia, for the Herald and Herald Weekender magazine. He contributes regularly to the Newcastle Herald’s daily Topics column, and is the co-creator and producer of the Toohey’s News podcast. McCarthy has worked as a journalist in regional NSW since 2013. He joined the newsroom of the Newcastle Herald in 2017 from the Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he worked from 2015 to 2016.

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Fast & loud festival 2023 (finished).

• October 11, 2023

Get ready for a busy weekend on the lake as the Fast and Loud Festival returns to Lake Macquarie this weekend! With action happening on and off the water, be prepared for exhilerating boat races, live musical performances, markets, car shows, roving performers, and kid’s entertainment.

2023 Offshore Superboat Championships

The 2023 Offshore Superboat Championships will be held on Saturday and Sunday. Hitting speeds of up to 240km per hour the superboats will compete in 6 races starting at Marmong Point Marina. The best viewing spot for enjoying the races will be at Warners Bay Foreshore.

Darren Nicholson from the all-conquering 222 Offshore team said,

“It’s really special for me to come home to Lake Macquarie and race on the water I grew up sailing on,,,,kind of feels like I’ve come full circle in some respects. It’s a nice feeling knowing we’ll be finishing up the Australian series at home, in front of family and friends.”

For the full schedule of the Offshore Superboat Championship races click here  Offshore Superboat Championships – Lake Macquarie City Council

Australian Powerboat Grand Prix 2023

The Australian Powerboat Grand Prix 2023 will also be held on Saturday and Sunday. Did you know that a powerboat can move from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 2 seconds? Your adrenaline will be pumping as these small but powerful boats take to the waters to battle for the winner’s cup. The best place to watch these races is from Rathmines Foreshore.

For a full schedule of the Australian Powerboat Grand Prix races click here: Australian PowerBoats Grand Prix 202 – Lake Macquarie City Council

The Fast and Loud festival is not all about the racing. On Saturday night you can enjoy the legendary Australian band, Skunkhour who will be supported by local band, SF Wrens. They’ll be playing at the MAP mima at Speers Point Park under the stars. Tickets for this event are available here:  Fast and Loud Festival – Skunkhour supported by SF Wrens – Lake Macquarie City Council

Show and Shine Car Show

On Sunday the Newcastle Restored Vehicle Club will be at Speers Point Park between 9:30 am and 2:30 pm. Featuring vintage muscle, classic, custom cars, hot rods, and motorbikes. There’ll be over 42 lucky car prizes as well as 10 trophies. Alongside the car show, you’ll find DJ Vinnie playing some great tunes alongside coffee, soft drinks, and food stalls. This is the perfect place to watch the Superboats on the lake.

Feast Fest Market

At Catalina Park Rathmines on Sunday between 10 am and 3 pm, you can enjoy a diverse range of cuisines at the outdoor feast fest. There’ll be a kid’s zone for family fun as well as live music. On-leash dogs are welcome. If you want to watch the Powerboats racing you won’t find a better spot.

Warners Bay Live Site

At Warners Bay there will be a range of market stalls, a variety of mouthwatering food trucks, as well as rides for the kids and buskers. Warners Bay Foreshore times include:

Saturday: 10 am – 3 pm Sunday: 10 am – 2 pm

Get out and about this weekend and enjoy all that Lake Macquarie has to offer. For more details check out the Fast & Loud Festival 2023.

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