SPONSOR PROFILE: 222 Offshore/Hunter Parking and Storage

Superboat syndicate 222 Offshore has joined the sponsorship ranks for the Sail Port Stephens regatta … the exemplar of powerboating muscle marrying his gentle sailing mistress, where once ne’er the twain would meet.

Think Hatfield son kissing a McCoy daughter …

But, of course, 222 pilot Darren Nicholson has always had a soft spot for yachting. As a tacker he skippered Pelicans and 16-Foot skiffs on Belmont Bay and teamed with younger brother Chris to win three 505 world titles.

Driving high-powered raceboats at breakneck speeds is a more recent pursuit and Nicholson is hoping to win over a new legion of fans from sailing’s ranks with his participation at Sail Port Stephens.

His company Hunter Parking and Storage is also aboard to present one of the most dynamic and panoramic days on the NSW boating calendar, with on- and off-water regatta action reaching a crescendo for ‘Super Saturday’, April 16.

This year sees the debut of a Broughton Island passage race, a 26 nautical mile lap of the pristine islands off Port Stephens, as part of the NSW IRC Championship and Port Stephens Trophy.

Also new, Sail Port Stephens has linked with the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) to raise vital funds for brain cancer research, honouring regatta mentor Roger Hickman who succumbed recently to a brain tumour.

The HMRI Cup will now be presented annually for the Broughton Island Passage Race and proceeds from the ‘End-of-Season Sailebration’ evening at Broughtons at the Bay function centre will be donated to HMRI.

222 Offshore is competing nationally in the Australian Offshore Superboat Championship and in 2016 has also been competing in the New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Series.  Based on the Gold Coast, the 12m Offshore Superboat is constructed in end grain balsa wood and foam with a carbon composite exterior and is currently powered by twin 850HP twin supercharged Mercury Race engines which can produce speeds in excess of 200km/hr.

222 Offshore are proud to support and promote all water based events and look forward to following all the action of the Sail Port Stephens regatta.  Follow 222 Offshore on Facebook.

Hunter Parking and Storage offers two safe, secure and clean facilities in prime locations within the City of Newcastle precinct. Both facilities have 24/7 security with 24/7 call centre services. Hunter Parking and Storage prides itself on not only providing a parking facility, but presents itself as an iconic piece of architecture within the City of Newcastle. Log onto www.huntercarparks.com.au for further details.