Ross ‘Rossco’ Willaton shares stories on multiple near-death crashes in 50-year career

Despite multiple near-death crashes in a 50-year powerboat racing career, the Gold Coast’s ‘sorcerer of screws’ just can’t keep out of the water. Read his story

Maritimo founder Bill Barry-Cotter and Mr Willaton’s 40-year professional relationship together.

Meet the GC’s OG tinny rat.

From fanging around the city’s waterways back before there was even a Southport Seaway, to racing against the world’s best boaties, Ross ‘Rossco’ Willaton is a living legend … despite multiple near-death experiences in his 50-year powerboat racing career.

With 16 Australian and three World Championship titles, along with a reputation as one of the best marine engineers in the business, including a 40-year professional relationship with Maritimo founder Bill Barry-Cotter, Mr Willaton said his own path had paralleled the development of the city’s booming boat industry.

“I’ve had a boat since I was eight years old, my dad was interested in boats and we lived on the canals on Rio Vista, I just loved getting out on the water,” said Mr Willaton, known as the sorcerer of screws for his uncanny ability to modify, repair and experiment with propellers.

“I was the original tinny rat. It was pretty different back then because there weren’t many boats out on the water, The Spit wasn’t developed yet, Surfers was really small and we used to watch kangaroos swim to Stradbroke Island from paradise point, it all just bush.

Rossco Willaton

“I went to Broadbeach State School then Miami High, we didn’t have a uniform and I would just ride my pushie there with bare feet.

“But I knew even as a young kid in a small town that I wanted to be a professional powerboat racer. I wanted to be a Formula One powerboat driver like the Formula One car drivers.”

Mr Willaton said he started racing while still at school, even though there was no junior racing.

Instead, the 16-year-old fudged his birth date and wrangled his boat licence a year early to start racing in the 25 horsepower class, with a little help from his parents.

“I was doing an apprenticeship and my parents were helping to sponsor me in racing, but then I had a pretty bad crash and that was it for them, I was their only child,” he said.

“A boat hit me and I was tangled up in my boat, I broke my femur very badly and there was a piece of ply stuck in my neck.

“I spent a month in St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne, but once I got out I kept going.

“I finished my marine mechanic apprenticeship when I was 21 and kept looking for opportunities.”

Not only did the racing continue, but so did the accidents.

Tom Barry-Cotter and Rossco Willaton

While Mr Willaton said he ‘only’ had three bad crashes, with the most recent in 2018 in the United Arab Emirates, the details of just what he endured would be enough to keep most people out of the water for life.

“The crash in 2018 was a big one, I got knocked unconscious, so I couldn’t put the regulator in my mouth and I was stuck in the boat, which was upside down. They had to pull me out from underneath the upturned boat, once above water they revived me on the rescue boat.

“Then I was hospitalised and had to get my lungs drained – I’ve drowned once before and that time they put tubes in my lungs to suck the water out.

“With this accident they fitted a horrible pressurised, claustrophobic mask-thing that hurt like hell. It pushes air into your entire system and water comes out every orifice you’ve got.

“It was the most hellish thing I’ve ever had happen to me. The mask only comes off when you eat, sometimes if you don’t breathe at the right time, you lose your breath and you gag.

“It was terrible and I had that on for four days.

“Both arms were black by the end of that week from all the needles and blood tests.

“They were coming in and out and doing all sorts of stuff and I didn’t know what they were doing as they couldn’t explain to me because they didn’t speak English … that was actually scarier than the crash.

“But crashes are a part of racing, they happen. I’ve got a few plates, screws and a lot of scars to show from my racing exploits over the journey.

“I have to say the boats are so much safer now than they ever were before and the rescue teams are superb, they’re the best in the world. Without them I probably wouldn’t be here.”

While Mr Willaton’s parents were hesitant to encourage his penchant for powerboat racing, he has welcomed his own son Andrew into the family ‘business’, with the pair becoming the only father and son to win an Australian 1 championship.

Tom Barry-Cotter and Rossco Willaton

The pair also worked together as part of the Gold Coast’s own maritime dynasty Maritimo, founded by industry legend Bill Barry-Cotter, with Andrew Willaton growing up alongside Tom Barry-Cotter – and both inheriting their dads’ love of racing.

Mr Willaton said he had worked with Bill Barry-Cotter for almost 40 years, first at Riviera and then at Maritimo, with his racing experience informing the brand’s motor yacht range.

“Our racing directly leads to all sorts of advances in the technology of our production boats and lots of trial and error and testing in harsh conditions,” he said.

“From being in this industry my whole life I’ve gained extensive experience from the likes of modifying my own race propellers to racing with Maritimo, then being out in the field working for Maritimo on the production boats, to now specifying all the props for the motor yachts.

“There’s such a wealth of talent and ability there. I don’t think you can over-estimate the impact that Maritimo has had on the marine industry, or that the marine industry has had on the Gold Coast.

“It’s a different city from when I was growing up and there is so much opportunity, and not just in the marine industry.

“The Gold Coast’s marine precinct has a worldwide reputation, and I’m proud to have been part of that story. Even after 50 years in the industry, I can’t see myself retiring just yet … but I’m competitive so whether it’s racing or being on the tools, if I’m not performing at 100 per cent then it’s time to go.

“I’m just grateful that this city helped me find something I loved so young.”

This tinny rat definitely made good.

Rossco Willaton

Originally published as Ross ‘Rossco’ Willaton shares stories on multiple near-death crashes in 50-year career