Mildura to host World Powerboat Championships

Mildura will host the first round of the 2012 UIM World Circuit Powerboat Championships this weekend. The event has been made possible partly thanks to a $15,000 funding boost from the Victorian Government's Significant Sporting Events Program.

The powerboat championships, to be held out of Mildura Ski Club, has attracted a large number of entries from across Australia, including current unlimited world champion Troy Marland, who you can see in action in a previous circuit race on the video below. Boy can he drive!

Competing classes range from the Unlimited Supercharged 2000hp boats travelling up to 130 knots (150mph) to the 6.0 Litre Class, many of which are now powered by NASCAR engines and reach speeds up to 100 knots (125 mph).

Teams from Australia, New Zealand, USA and Malaysia will compete in four different powerboat-racing classes, as will juniors.

The event will be fully catered, just bring your chairs and family and enjoy the exciting weekend of circuit racing, say organisers. Friday from 8-11am will see official team scrutinising, with practice for all classes of boats and teams from midday to 5pm.

The gates open at 8am on Saturday and Sunday for the serious sport of powerboat racing, which starts from 9am both days. Entry costs $20 for adults and $10 for children (5-16yo). On Sunday, Mothers Day, ladies get in free.

Meanwhile, NSW Roads and Maritime Services has granted an exclusive-use aquatic licence for the safe staging of the event on the Murray River between Mildura and Gol Gol from this Friday to Sunday.

Maritime Regional Manager Murray/Inland, Scott Kidd, said boaters should keep clear of the area of the Murray from 500m downstream of the Mildura Ski Club, upstream to where overhead power lines cross the river at Gol Gol from 12pm to 5pm on Friday and from 9am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Mr Kidd said vessels would not be permitted to enter the exclusive-use area unless authorised by event organisers, a boating safety officer or a police officer.

Hugh Delahunty, the Victorian Minister for Sport and Recreation, said that its $15,000 in funding would be money well spent.

 "Through initiatives like the Significant Sporting Events Program we can work together to develop and support a wide range of events like the Powerboat Championships that help keep Victoria in the national and international spotlight," Mr Delahunty said.