6:55 AM Wed 12 Oct 2011 GMT
'Maritimo', the Gold Coast-based catamaran destined to carry Australia's hopes in the 2011 World Offshore Powerboat Championships, has begun its journey across the Pacific, destination Key West.
The crew, Luke Durman (driver) and Ross Willaton (throttles) leave for the Florida Keys early next month, accompanied by crew chief Peter McGrath and support personnel.
They become the first Australians to enter the races since Kevin Wyld and Peter Dean flew the Aussie flag back in 1977.
Super Boat International (SBI), organiser and promoter of the Key West World Championships, has set a gruelling 6.5 mile (10.46 km) course for the championship which has been described as 'the Indianapolis 500 of powerboat racing.'
John Carbonell, Founder and President of SBI, has thrown out the welcome mat for the Maritimo team.
'This year's event, scheduled for November 6-13, will host teams from around the world and we are very excited to have the premiere team from Australia joining us,' he said.
'We welcome the Maritimo team and we can assure all involved that they'll be witness to a week of great racing,' he added.
Durman and Willaton, Australian Superboat Offshore Class 1 champions in 2005, currently hold a commanding lead in the race for the 2011 title in another of the team's boats, also named 'Maritimo'.
The Key West boat, built in Dubai for the famous Victory team, was driven to a highly creditable third place in the European/Middle East Class 1 championships in 2003 by team owner and legendary Australian boat builder Bill Barry-Cotter.
It has also been a former UIM Class 1 speed record holder and was campaigned in Australia for several seasons.
In 2010, the boat was crewed by Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani and legendary throttleman and multiple world champion Steve Curtis.
Named 'Qatar 96' at the time, the boat was unbeaten in its two races.
Now powered by dual SCI MerCruiser 1200hp engines, the boat has been meticulously refurbished and upgraded at the Maritimo race headquarters on the Queensland Gold Coast.
Originally deigned by the renowned Florida-based naval architect Michael Peters, the carbo-composite vessel boasts new fuel tankage, new paint (all white), carbon fibre dash, Maritimo suspension seats, mechanical-assisted steering, emergency tunnel hatch, new, single bladed alloy rudder, Maritimo drop boxes and surface drives with Hering five-bladed propellers.
'Maritimo' tips the scales at 10,700lbs (4850kg), just below minimum weight for the Australian Offshore Superboat Championships Class 1.
It will compete in SBI's Superboat Unlimited class.
'We realise we're going to be up against some serious horsepower and competing against some crews who are familiar with Key West,' Luke Durman explained.
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'Nevertheless, we believe we have the experience and the skill to compete at this level.
Durman estimates 'Maritimo' will be capable of 165mph (265km/hr) at wide open throttle.
That speed certainly puts 'Maritimo' in the firing line in Superboat Unlimited, with many races won recently in that class with average speeds in the low 100s.
The Key West World Championship get underway with a parade of race boats on Key West's legendary Duval Street on November 6.
Three races have been scheduled for each day.
On non-race days, fans can mingle with the crews and see the boats up close at the Race Village on the Truman Waterfront.
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Key West action, 2010; ’Twisted Metal’, Brett Lee Furshman and Bill Glueck aboard, went on to win the P1 world crown, while ’Instigator’, Johnny Staunch and Anthony Smith in the cockpit, won Superboat Vee Unlimited. - Maritimo Key West - Andy Newman Florida Keys News Bureau
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’Team CRC’, piloted by Michael DeFrees and John Tomlinson, battles for field position in Superboat 850. - Maritimo Key West - Andy Newman Florida Keys News Bureau
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No wonder Key West racing packs the fans in - Andy Newman catches some of the spectacular action at a race start. - Maritimo Key West - Andy Newman Florida Keys News Bureau
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Tickets for the gala racing can be obtained by visiting the website,
www.superboat.com/
or for additional information go to Key West visitor information at
www.fla-keys.com/keywest
by Bob Wonders
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Casey, TAS
