1 week Ago By Simon McCarthy
Fast and Loud returned to Lake Macquarie at the weekend as the fleet of sleek and mean superboats skated across the waters' surface at eye-watering speeds. Login or signup to continue reading Saturday's three race events marked the beginning of the 2024-25 offshore superboat championships that continue on Sunday before round two at Wyndham Harbour in February. The annual event features races of the top-tier offshore superboats and powerboats on both Saturday and Sunday.
Superboat racing is conducted in two main categories. "The first is speed-restricted, where the name of the game is to be as close to the maximum as possible without going over. The second is unlimited, and these boats are immediately identifiable by having enclosed cockpits, much like a fighter jet does.
It's intense, often very close, and certainly extremely fast," NSW Events said of the weekend's action on its website. Lakeside streets in Warners Bay and Belmont will be closed to traffic for the event as part of the NSW Government's Open Streets Program. "Empire Marina's pit area is like the Superboats version of a Formula One pit lane, and it will be open to people who want to get up close and personal with this amazing machinery," Lake Macquarie mayor Adam Shultz said before the event.
The festival has been running for several years, and Cr Shultz said it has continued to grow. "Fast and Loud - I've heard it described as Fast and Furious on the lake, but it's family-friendly and free," he said. "Other local government areas have the Supercars; we've been the home of superboats for the last eight years and hopefully for many years to come.
"I think last year there were 12,500 spectators, so we're looking to build on that year on year." 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.
Contact McCarthy on Signal at @SimonMcCarthy.50 or via this link: https://signal.me/#eu/SogMRDSICna4awnaQul1KAYAonquE3VoSG1eSaxudp73Pq8de-tDPI2GvkjVjoZR 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.Contact McCarthy on Signal at @SimonMcCarthy.50 or via this link: https://signal.
me/#eu/SogMRDSICna4awnaQul1KAYAonquE3VoSG1eSaxudp73Pq8de-tDPI2GvkjVjoZR DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis.
WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe.
WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp.
Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more.
WEEKLY Follow the Newcastle Knights in the NRL? Don't miss your weekly Knights update. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner.
TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper.
Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!.
