As the Gold Coast prepares to stage the UIM XCAT World Series, we ask the Gold Coast XCAT Team Pilot Tom Barry-Cotter to explain a little about this thrilling high-speed water sport of kings. The all important question: Can our fearless knight take top honours on home turf in what is predicted to be one of the closest fought-out high-speed duals the sport has ever seen. By Andy Kancachian
Tom Barry-Cotter is no stranger to the boating lifestyle and high-speed boat racing. His family founded the internationally recognised Mariner, Riviera and Maritimo boat-building companies in Australia. Tom shares, “My Dad [Bill Barry-Cotter] designed, built and raced powerboats for 50 years. From a young age, it is something I have always wanted to do. I started racing in 2006 and had an interest in the XCAT World Series since its formation in 2008. In 2013, I was given the opportunity to join the Dubai Duty Free XCAT Team, and have not looked back since.”
Alongside his co-pilot Ross Willaton of Gold Coast, Tom will steer the Gold Coast team XCAT boat at an average speed of 200kph, around a tight three kilometre course on the Gold Coast Broadwater.
The race of power, speed and more
XCAT (short for Extreme Catamaran) racing is a delicate balance of high technology, performance power and extreme speed that only a select few and capable people can experience. Tom is one of the exceptional few. “I started racing in 2006 in the Australian Offshore Superboat Championship. Since then, I have raced all over the world in various series. The XCAT World Series consists of eight events around the world, coupled with a number of weeks of testing before and during the season. I spend anywhere up to 12 weeks travelling the globe with the XCAT World Series.”
XCAT boats are powered by two Mercury outboard racing engines and weigh half that of Australian offshore superboats, yet still capable of similar speeds. Tom explains, “XCATs are far more nimble and a lot more difficult to keep on the water. The boats are very sensitive to overall weight and balance. Lap times normally drop around half a second every lap due to fuel burn.” Because of this Tom and Co-pilot have to be conscious of body mass—that it does not change from race to race, upsetting the boat’s balance settings. Crucial to race technique, “XCATs steer with their outboard engines, therefore power needs to be applied to assist the boat in the corner.”
Our Gold Coast team
There is a great deal of expectation on this young man’s shoulders. The Australian power boat community and Gold Coasters alike will be cheering for our local team. And for Tom, this will be an extra special race. “Naturally, it has always been a dream to race an international event here in front of the city I grew up in. To have my friends and family with me in support on my home water will be very special for me.”
Many of the XCAT teams originate from Dubai and are very well-equipped and very fortunately sponsored. Tom reminds us, “Budgets can greatly vary from team to team, as with any motorsport.” His team’s motivation is to win with strong Gold Coast ingenuity, rather than an attempt to compete financially with the well-backed teams. “Many testing hours have been spent on the Gold Coast, tuning set-ups, making modifications, and collecting vital seat time and data prior to the inaugural Gold Coast XCAT World Series Event. We have prepared strategies for various situations and outcomes after analysing our boat set-up strengths and weaknesses.”
The Barry-Cotter name is synonymous with many accolades, the most uncanny being Tom’s father, Bill, holding an unofficial distinction for the world’s most spectacular offshore race boat crash that took place in Lake Traunsee, Austria, during the 2003 season. The race boat he was piloting flipped front end to end twice before rolling askew another two times, and crashing side-on completely destroying the boat.
Although Tom displays complete race driver cool when he proclaims, “Powerboat racing is a dangerous sport. I have seen fellow competitors get hurt, and tragically lose their lives in various classes I have competed in. I have had a small number of incidents throughout my career, but fortunately I have never been hurt. I am not fearful when I race, but I am meticulous around safety standards in everything I do.”
When quizzed about the team’s top-secret strategies, Tom is tightlipped but offers, “The course is going to be tight and difficult when in traffic, so the Saturday’s qualifying round is vital for grid position. We will be running the boat on the ragged edge in qualifying round in order to start at the front of the field.”
The F1 race on water
Tom endeavours to cement his presence in this fast-growing international sport. For a 27-year-old, his career highlights are already very impressive: a third place in 2009 Class 1 European Championship, three Australian Offshore Superboat titles, and 2012 Bridge to Bridge Winner (Offshore Record Holder). “The trait that characterises a champion team is resilience,” says Tom. “No team has ever been crowned champion without overcoming challenges. There is no point in dwelling on negatives. We assess them, then correct them and continually improve.”
The Gold Coast Australia Team is very capable of winning. “The team we have assembled is highly experienced and our equipment is very competitive. We will need to be on our game, but it is within reach.”
So if you are wondering if this new form of powerboat racing that will be staged inshore on our Broadwater is going to be any good for a day out with spectators promised an up close and direct view, you only have to ask Tom. “Gold Coasters are known for their love of competition, excitement and the outdoors. Fifteen XCATs fighting at 200+kph across one of the world’s most stunning backdrops, the Gold Coast XCAT Course is very tight and quite technical, the watersports equivalent of Monaco F1 Circuit. I expect the racing to be close and aggressive. Gold Coasters are in for a show.”
To Tom, from all Gold Coasters’ that have read this and understands your pursuit, “Godspeed, Son!”
