Fast and Loud returned to Lake Macquarie at the weekend as the fleet of sleek and mean superboats skated across the waters' surface at eye-watering speeds.
Saturday's three race events marked the beginning of the 2024-25 offshore superboat championships that continue on Sunday before round two at Wyndham Harbour in February.
The annual event features races of the top-tier offshore superboats and powerboats on both Saturday and Sunday. Superboat racing is conducted in two main categories.
"The first is speed-restricted, where the name of the game is to be as close to the maximum as possible without going over. The second is unlimited, and these boats are immediately identifiable by having enclosed cockpits, much like a fighter jet does. It's intense, often very close, and certainly extremely fast," NSW Events said of the weekend's action on its website.
Lakeside streets in Warners Bay and Belmont will be closed to traffic for the event as part of the NSW Government's Open Streets Program.
"Empire Marina's pit area is like the Superboats version of a Formula One pit lane, and it will be open to people who want to get up close and personal with this amazing machinery," Lake Macquarie mayor Adam Shultz said before the event.
The festival has been running for several years, and Cr Shultz said it has continued to grow.
"Fast and Loud - I've heard it described as Fast and Furious on the lake, but it's family-friendly and free," he said.
"Other local government areas have the Supercars; we've been the home of superboats for the last eight years and hopefully for many years to come.
"I think last year there were 12,500 spectators, so we're looking to build on that year on year."
