Maritimo boating supremo Rossco Willaton teaches wealthy owners how to operate their boats

Among 700 boats at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show will be this locally-made stunner. Meet the man teaching ultra-wealthy boat buyers how to operate their new toys.

Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. Paulo Borges and Annalise West on the Maritimo S60 sedan luxury motor yacht global launch. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Meet Ross (Rossco) Willaton, who can reverse a 60ft luxury yacht into a berth better than I can park a car.

Having grown up boating on the Nerang river, the three-time powerboat racing expert shows new owners of vessels made by Gold Coast boat builder Maritimo how to use them.

Three-time powerboat racing world champion. Rossco Willaton. Picture: file.

“If you’ve got the money you can buy a boat, but you’ve still gotta have some commonsense, and definitely have to have a bit of a clue how to park the thing,” Mr Willaton said.

“They’re a lot easier than they used to be 20-30 years ago to handle but you still want to understand your currents, tides, wind, wave conditions, depths and running a boat.”

Sitting next to him in a comfortable reclining seat, as he navigated the Coomera river to Sanctuary Cove and looking at the northern Gold Coast canals via a state-of-the-art navigation system, I’m grateful I’m not in the gilded cage which would demand understanding it.

Next week, he’ll take an American couple who have just bought a Maritimo out on the water for a week to show them the ins and outs.

“It’s nice to see American customers coming out and taking delivery of their boat here in Australia and getting to use it and see a little bit of Australia from their boat. When they go and ship it home, they’re a lot more comfortable about their boat,” he said.

Here’s an inside look at the new Maritimo S60 Sedan Motor Yacht being unveiled at the show which he’ll be dishing out instructions on.

Inside the Maritimo S60 sedan luxury motor yacht, to be shown at the 2025 Sanctuary Cove Boat Show. Picture: Jacklyn O'Brien.

Inside the Maritimo S60 sedan luxury motor yacht, to be shown at the 2025 Sanctuary Cove Boat Show. Picture: Jacklyn O'Brien.

Inside the Maritimo S60 sedan luxury motor yacht, to be shown at the 2025 Sanctuary Cove Boat Show. Picture: Jacklyn O'Brien.

Inside the Maritimo S60 sedan luxury motor yacht, to be shown at the 2025 Sanctuary Cove Boat Show. Picture: Jacklyn O'Brien.

Inside the Maritimo S60 sedan luxury motor yacht, to be shown at the 2025 Sanctuary Cove Boat Show. Picture: Jacklyn O'Brien.

Inside the Maritimo S60 sedan luxury motor yacht, to be shown at the 2025 Sanctuary Cove Boat Show. Picture: Jacklyn O'Brien.

Inside the Maritimo S60 sedan luxury motor yacht, to be shown at the 2025 Sanctuary Cove Boat Show. Picture: Jacklyn O'Brien.

Inside the Maritimo S60 sedan luxury motor yacht, to be shown at the 2025 Sanctuary Cove Boat Show. Picture: Jacklyn O'Brien.

Inside the Maritimo S60 sedan luxury motor yacht, to be shown at the 2025 Sanctuary Cove Boat Show. Picture: Jacklyn O'Brien.

Inside the Maritimo S60 sedan luxury motor yacht, to be shown at the 2025 Sanctuary Cove Boat Show. Picture: Jacklyn O'Brien.

Inside the Maritimo S60 sedan luxury motor yacht, to be shown at the 2025 Sanctuary Cove Boat Show. Picture: Jacklyn O'Brien.

Originally published as Maritimo boating supremo Rossco Willaton teaches wealthy owners how to operate their boats