Williamstown roars to life with Superboat GP

Williamstown and surrounds will roar to life this weekend (16-17 February) as thousands flock to the bayside suburb for the Williamstown Offshore Powerboat Classic.

The event, which is free to spectators, marks round four of seven in the Australian Offshore Superboat Championships.

The Williamstown Offshore Powerboat Classic will see over 20 superboats across several classes rip around the coast-hugging course within excellent view of the shore. The Class One boats are capable of reaching speeds over 220km/h and typically complete about 13 laps (185km) during the hour-long race. Other championship classes competing in Melbourne include the Supercat Outboard, Supercat Outboard Lite and Super Vee Lite.

Spectators can take in the action from numerous viewing areas, with the best vantage point being the Reserve at Point Gellibrand.

The main event of the Williamstown Offshore Powerboat Classic will rev into action at around 12pm on Sunday 17 February, commencing an hour-long relentless pursuit of speed across the water.

The Williamstown Offshore Powerboat Classic is hot on the heels of last weekend’s Melbourne-based battle of the superboats, in which Class One superboat Maritimo took out its division, completing 12 laps of the 14.2km course in a time of 62 minutes and 24 seconds and speeds in excess of 200km/h.

Melbourne-based team Saracen was victorious in the Supercat Outboard class, clocking-up eight laps in 63 minutes and 23 seconds at an average speed of 145km/h, while Elders secured its first win in the Supercat Outboard Lite class, and Grumpy Mongrel took out the Super Vee Lite class.

The Offshore Superboat Championships series culminates with stops five to seven in New South Wales and Queensland throughout March and June.