Australia’s oldest and most iconic powerboat competition, last weekend’s Bridge-To-Bridge Race on the Hawkesbury River near Sydney was won by an Offshore Superboat dubbed Team 3 and powered by a pair of fuel-injected 800-hp Maritimo engines. Built by the Dubai-based Victory team, the catamaran is owned by Adam Gilbert and has been strongly campaigned in the Australian series for several years.

The Team 3 catamaran averaged 132 mph on its way to a Bridge To Bridge Race victory. Photos courtesy/copyright Conn Saloumidis/Speedonthewater.com.

Running annually since 1933, the Bridge to Bridge Race is among the most prestigious powerboat races in Australia. That it finishes in the town of Windsor, which was established in 1791, after starting in Brooklyn is historically significant in that Windsor was one Australia’s first inland farming communities that helped early settlement in the country survive.

Throttleman Steve Jellick driver And Andrew Willaton piloted the Team 3 boat to victory through the challenging 69-mile course, which features a lot of blind corners. Averaging 132 mph and reaching a top speed of 147 mph, they claimed Offshore Superboat-class and Overall wins with a time of 31 minutes and 29 seconds.

Jellick and Willaton were just two minutes behind the course record—set by a hydroplane—of 29 minutes and 20 seconds. (click image to enlarge).

Two other Australian Offshore Superboat teams entered the event. The 223 Racing outfit completed the course in 34 minutes. Unfortunately, Team 88 had an engine issue and was unable to compete.

Editor’s Note: Australian Conn Saloumidis is a veteran offshore racer and frequent contributor to speedonthewater.com. Look for coverage from Saloumidis on next weekend’s Spirit of Australia, II, practice sessions on Blowering Dam Reservoir in New South Wales, Australian, next weekend in advance of its efforts break the world water-speed record.