The 2025 to 2026 Australian Offshore Superboat Championships will conclude next month in North Haven, Adelaide. It is only the second time the series has raced at this venue. Spectators will line the beach opposite North Haven, with the course running two to three kilometres down toward Largs Bay. Boats will be staged and launched from the CYCSA. The stretch between North Haven and Largs Bay is known for building afternoon sea conditions, adding a layer of difficulty while delivering close, uninterrupted viewing from shore.
So far, the event has consisted of three rounds, starting in 2025 at New South Wales’ Lake Macquarie, followed by a second round in February at Melbourne’s Wyndham Harbour, and a third round in March at Geelong in Victoria. Each course had its peculiarities, making for an interesting contest so far.
There has been no shortage of DNFs, often followed by DNSs. Boats have broken, and crews have taken their share of punishment. That is the nature of offshore powerboat racing. We see the same in New Zealand’s own events, where boats take a hiding over a weekend.
What stands out, on both sides of the Tasman, is the response. Crews turn up, race hard, fix what they can, and come back. If not for the next round, then the one after. That cycle says a lot about the health of the sport and the dedication of those who participate. Those crew members who don’t race pick up a wrench, put their heads in the engine hatch, and fix what needs to be improved.
Two teams standout so far in the Australian Offshore Superboat Championships. The Sting in the Supercat Outboard class and Cardiac Arrest in the Supersport 65 class.
Of nine races so far, The Sting, with Mike Ratcliffe and Karl Wall, has won eight. The only blemish was a DNF in Race 1 at Wyndham Harbour. They were back on the water for the next race, so whatever caused the issue was quickly sorted.
Behind them, DLR Offshore, crewed by Craig and Lachlan Dove, has built its position on consistency. They have improved steadily and, importantly, avoided penalties across the series. While they are yet to take a race win, that clean record has kept them within 63 points of the lead.
That gap is not insurmountable. A couple of wins, combined with issues for The Sting, would close it quickly. There is still room to play here.
It was good to see Supercat Outboard #13, Superstition, with George Collins and Tom Barry-Cotter, on the water in Round 3. The pace was there at times, but consistency will be the focus. With more running, they should come back stronger next season.
Cardiac Arrest leads the Supersports 65 championship on 285 points, built on consistency rather than dominance. Three wins and six second places have kept them at the top.
Nut Case, on 258 points, and Valentus on 224 have been more variable. Between them, they have taken wins and podiums, but not with the same regularity. That inconsistency has cost them ground.
The concern for Cardiac Arrest is momentum. Nut Case arrives at Round 4 in North Haven in strong form after three straight wins in Round 3 at Geelong. The gap is 27 points, close enough to shift quickly if that winning streak continues.
In Supercat Extreme, Hornet Racing, with Mick Kelly and Jason Kelly, arrives not as the fastest, but as the most consistent. They are the only team in the class yet to record a DNF or DNS.
222 Offshore (Mobile X), with Darren Nicholson and Steve Jellick, has set the pace with six race wins. However, one DNF and two DNS results have dropped them to fourth, 57 points behind Hornet Racing.
If the pattern persists, Round 4 will not be decided by outright speed. It will come down to who finishes.
Which leaves Supersports 85. The championship here looks firmly in the hands of Special Edition, with Mark Pecherzewski and Mel Nelson. The Donzi entry arrived in Round 3, while the return of The Colonel adds some pressure, even if consistency is not yet there. Barring any issues, three clean finishes at North Haven should be enough to secure the title for Special Edition.
Three rounds in, the pattern is clear. This is no longer a championship won by the fastest boat. It is being decided by the crews who manage risk, read the race, and finish.
North Haven now sits ahead. This has turned into an exciting final round.
