Nut Case sweeps Geelong as Hornet Racing leads Supercat Extreme after Round 3

After two rounds of the 2026 Australian Offshore Superboat Championships, one truth had become hard to ignore: raw speed alone was never going to win a title. By the time the fleet arrived at Corio Bay for the mid-March Geelong round, patterns were already forming and the competition had grown tight enough that a single mistake could reorder everything.

Lake Macquarie had provided the opening chapter, but Wyndham Harbour complicated the picture with mechanical failures and penalties reshuffling the standings. The Joker Lap continued to add a tactical layer that tested crews as much as their boats, forcing decisions about when to deploy one or two extra laps. The calculus shifted entirely depending on where a boat sat in the order. Going into Steampacket Gardens, some teams shared identical points totals and others were separated by only a handful. The pressure was real.

The circuit off Steampacket Gardens offered smooth, sheltered water, but its shorter and tighter layout left almost no room for mistakes. Over 30 minutes of racing, clean execution and smart positioning counted for more than outright speed. What the weekend delivered was the sharpest competition of the season to that point, with margins narrow enough to matter and a few decisive moments that will shape the title fight all the way to the final round.

Supercat Extreme: consistency beats outright pace

Mobile X opened proceedings in Race 1 with a winning time of 31:08 across 14 laps, crossing the line nine seconds ahead of Hornet Racing, with Venturi Offshore close enough to ensure the top three were covered by less than half a minute.

Race 2 brought even tighter racing. Mobile X backed up with another win, posting 31:27 and finishing only four seconds clear of Hornet Racing. MOJO took third again and Venturi Offshore held fourth, the four of them covered by under 30 seconds across the board.

Race 3 was Hornet Racing's turn. They took control and won in 31:03 while Mobile X failed to start. MOJO and Venturi Offshore completed the podium, with just 44 seconds separating first from third. Across all three races, not a single result was decided by more than a minute.

Note: Laps are in brackets.

Supercat Outboard: The Sting takes control

No class at Geelong produced a cleaner performance. The Sting won all three races, recording times of 33:24, 32:44, and 33:28 across 13 laps each time, averaging two minutes and 32 seconds per lap. Their approach was controlled and deliberate, with speed applied precisely when it was needed.

The order behind them was considerably less settled. TCR Offshore, KESS Racing, DLR Offshore, and Superstition each found their moments over the weekend. Superstition, featuring noted World Champion Tom Barry-Cotter from the Maritimo Racing Team, made a strong impression on debut, recording an average leg speed of two minutes 59 seconds in Race 1. Both TCR Offshore and Superstition were unable to sustain a full weekend of racing.

With the final rounds now approaching, The Sting holds a substantial advantage in the standings.

Note: Laps are in brackets.

Supersports 85: control meets disruption

Special Edition has set themselves apart as the benchmark in this class, taking Race 1 in 32:43 and Race 2 in 32:05 with composed, error-free runs.

Race 3 told a different story. Donzi, crewed by George Sez and Scott Porta, arrived on debut and took the win, finishing in 33:07. The result carried genuine weight given that two disqualifications earlier in the weekend had preceded it. The Colonel returned to competition but did not complete Sunday's running.

Note: Laps are in brackets.

Supersports 65: Nut Case responds

The most complete performance of the weekend came from Nut Case, who swept all three races with times of 33:28, 33:47, and 33:06. Cardiac Arrest pushed them hard throughout, finishing second in every race. Race 1 was settled by six seconds, Race 2 by four, and although Race 3 stretched the gap slightly, the challenge never faded.

Valentus and The Con shared the remaining podium positions across the three races. Nut Case departs Geelong carrying genuine momentum. Cardiac Arrest still leads the broader championship, but that lead is narrowing.

Note: Laps are in brackets.

Where it leaves things after Round 3

Hornet Racing heads the Supercat Extreme standings on 268 points, built on a foundation of consistent finishes through the season. Both MOJO and 222 Offshore remain within reach but have been hurt by DNFs and DNS results at critical moments. Venturi Offshore sits just behind, steady throughout but yet to turn pace into a race win.

The Sting has all but taken command of Supercat Outboard, their near-perfect record producing 281 points. DLR Offshore leads the chase, ahead of TCR Offshore, while Kess Racing has fallen back following difficulties in Round 2.

Special Edition retains the advantage in Supersports 85 despite a late DNF. The tightest fight of all remains in Supersports 65, where Cardiac Arrest leads the championship but Nut Case is closing quickly after a clean sweep at Geelong. Valentus and The Con remain close enough to ensure the class stays wide open.