Showing posts with label Powerboat Endurance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Powerboat Endurance. Show all posts

September 18, 2019

Fabio Buzzi 1943 - 2019

Fabio Buzzi tragically left for the better World on September seventeenth 2019 at around 2100 hours in a Montecarlo Venice record breaking attempt which ended in tragedy in the final moments.  Records which Fabio Buzzi made so many times his in the years all over the World.  Fabio was a firm believer of application of his design theories with the real test being that of competition, which he was very much involved since 1960.  A unique trait of the genius that was Fabio Buzzi was not only involved in hull design but also in his expertise in diesel engines which he revolutionized in the eighties with Seatek, and also in that of propulsion with the Trimax surface-drives.  Buzzi was born in Lecco, Italy in 28 January 1943 to a family tied for centuries in building and design.  Buzzi started his involvement in powerboat racing in 1960, in 1971 he graduated from the Polytechnic of Turin in mechanical engineering with a thesis of self construct vessel, and in the same year FB Design is founded.  In 1974 he build his first powerboat a three pointed hydroplane called Mostro, first ever build boat with Kevlar 49 and with it will set at the time a World speed record for the S4 class at 95.39 knots. FB Design first specialization is high performance vessels, and later over the years enters the area of building specialized fast patrol craft for military and maritime control.  In 1986 with Carlo Bonomi, Fabio Buzzi founds SeaTek, specialized in high performance diesel engines.  Fabio Buzzi will collaborate over the years with many yards in designing hulls, most of which coming from his native country Italy.  His most known and famous boat building collaboration was with Milan fast sport cruiser and yacht builder Cigala and Bertinetti in the eighties, off which with them he will produce various legendary models most of which the famous Nitro 50, which was baptized as Cesa 1882 in the Class One offshore, and recently reborn as FPT red.  Cesa 1882 won two World Championships in 1988 and 89, and was unstoppable in racing when the sea got choppy and rough and the design over the years evolved into the Kerakoll, and then in the Metamarine/Tommy One, both taking top honors in the Enrdurance Powerboat World champions.  Other builders which saw Buzzi collaborate where Off Course, Tecnomar in the eighties, Novamarine for the high performance rib cruisers and yachts line, Alfamarine with the 43 and 50 models, and Otam which has the 80 HT and 2019 launched 85 GTS model based on his 2001 FB Design 80 Record hull.  That 80 Record which did the Montecarlo to London record.  Buzzi also collaborated with Sunseeker twice selling to the British company the design of the XS 2000 and the 2019 launched 38 Superhawk, this later being his recent 38 Stab with more refined finishes.  Fabio Buzzi has over the years conquered over 26 titles and records.  His designs have captured 52 World Offshore titles, 22 European Offshore titles, 27 Italian Championships, forty World speed records, and won seven Harmsworth Trophies.

December 7, 2014

Class One - Vee One - Abu Dhabi Race Two

Arif Al Zaffain and Nadir Bin Hendi delivered another racing master class to win race 2 of the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi and claim Victory Team’s 14th World title.
Race 2 honours in V1 went to Bernico-New Star’s Belgium duo, Nico Bertels and Frank Hemelaer, with fourth place for race 1 winners Aaron Ciantar and Dominique Martini in Chaudron good enough to seal the V1 World Championship.
Starting from pole, Victory’s newly crowned Champions’ only challenge came at the start in a drag race to the first turn with Luca Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella in LFF10, before they grabbed the advantage and disappeared off into the distance.
Today’s win, the duo’s fifth of the season, was another demonstration of their absolute superiority, going on to take the chequered flag and complete the 10 laps by a winning margin of 54.42seconds.
In a repeat of race 1 the pace of the leaders was simply too much for Team Abu Dhabi and LFF10, the only other boats to go the distance, LFF8 stopping on lap 1 followed a lap later by Relekta-Zabo-Isiklar, with New Star-Poliform failing to make the start.
After a processional seven laps the race and the fight for the second and third steps of the podium between LFF10 and Team Abu Dhabi’s Gary Ballough and John Tomlinson ignited.
LFF10 led until lap 8 but could not shake of their pursuers and were slowly and surely hauled in by the American’s with the time split down three seconds.
At the end lap 9 and going into the final turn Team Abu Dhabi came alongside LFF10, both outfits going into the turn side-by-side and both hooking, with Team Abu Dhabi emerging in front and running out the final lap to claim second spot.
Despite the disappointment of today’s retirement Ugur Isik and Cristian Zaborowski’s season-haul of five podiums was enough to give them the runners-up slot in the World Championship, with Luca Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella in third.
Not for the first time this season the V1 teams produced some great racing, with the lead changing hands and the race for the podium places hotly contested.
After yesterday’s somewhat fraught day for Bernico-New Star’s four man squad, DQ’d from both qualifying and race 1, Nico Bertels and Frank Hemelaer came back in style to take a well-deserved win.
Champions elect Chaudron got the jump on pole-sitters Aquasport and led from the start with Bernico-New Star giving chase and keeping the gap too under eight seconds. On Lap 5 Bernico-New Star hit the front and pulled away from a struggling Chaudron to take their second win of the year.
Behind the leaders Aquasport, Karelpiu and Tommy One enjoyed and produced the best fight of the race; first Aquasport held the upper hand, then Karelpiu grabbed the advantage until lap 5 the two trading places again before Daniel Cramphorn and Nico Huybens hit trouble and dropped back, eventually finishing in fifth.
With Chaudron slowing to a crawl and limping home in fourth, the remaining podium positions went to Karelpiu’s Antonio Schiano and Federico Montanari and Tommy One’s Stefano Bonanno and Maurizio Schepici.
It was a frustrating afternoon for Hercules Sagemann’s Andreas Podolsky and Udo Gross who struggled with technical problems, completing just five laps, Silverline's Ian Blacker and Drew Langdon sidelined before the start with broken engine.

December 5, 2014

Class One - Vee One - Abu Dhabi Race One

Arif Al Zaffain and Nadir Bin Hendi moved to within one point of a 14th World title for Dubai's Victory Team following an emphatic win in race 1 of the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi.
Their superiority was mirrored in V1 by Malta's Team Chaudron whose win moved them 12 points clear in the overall standings and one step closer to the World title.
Starting from pole after clinching the Pole Position Championship in the morning the Victory pairing stormed into the lead and go 12 seconds clear of New Star-Poliform at the end of lap 1, with Miles Jennings and Alfredo Amato in LFF8-Silverline in third. But their race ended two laps later when the escape hatch in the hull blew out.
By mid-race Victory had opened up a 35 second margin and went on unchallenged to close out the eight lap race and take their fourth chequered flag of the year to win by 79 seconds. 
Behind them New Star-Poliform led the processional chase ahead of Relekta-Zabo-Isiklar and Team Abu Dhabi but neither outfit had any answer to the pace of the leaders and the podium places looked to settled. But on lap 6 New Star-Poliform slowed, a broken water pump belt ending Mikhail Kitashev and Guido Cappellini’s challenge.
With New Star-Poliform out, Ugur Isik and Christian Zaborowski went on to take their fourth podium of the year and keep their title hopes flickering, with American’s Gary Ballough and John Tomlinson finishing in third for Team Abu Dhabi.
It was a frustrating afternoon for Luca Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella in LFF10 whose hopes of any challenge for a podium finish ended almost immediately when an engine stopped, forcing them to shut down the other engine to reboot the system.
From lying in 10th place overall at the end of lap 1 the Italians recovered to force their way up through the pack to take fourth and move into third overall in the Championship standings.
In an equally processional afternoon for the V1’s, Aaron Ciantar and Dominique Martini staked their claim on the Championship, cruising home untroubled and unchallenged in Chaudron with a lap to spare. "It was quite rough on the outside for the start but our boat is good in these conditions," said Aaron Ciantar. "For most ofthe race we were able to keep up a good speed and take the turns at full throttle. Now we will try to win the title."
After a late disqualification from third place in qualifying and forced to start from the back, Nico Bertels and Frank Hemelaer recovered well to finish second in Bernico-New Star, with Stefano Bonanno and Maurizio Schepici bringing Tommy One home in third.
Fourth place for Aquasport’s Daniel Camphorn and Nico Huybens keeps them in the hunt for the title, with Hercules Sagemanns’ Andreas Podolsky and Udo Gross finishing in fifth ahead of Ian Blacker and Drew Langdon who limped home in an ailing Silverline to take points in sixth.
Giuseppe and Antonio Schiano's hopes of carrying their challenge for the title into the final day ended when Karelpiu failed to make the start of race 1 after damaging an engine after a spinout in qualifying.
Only a calamity can stop Victory from lifting the C1 crown, with the fight for the title in V1 between Chaudron, Aquasport and Tommy One.

December 3, 2014

Class One - Vee One - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Preview

Fourteen boats will line up for the final two races of the season at this week’s Grand Prix of the U.A.E in Abu Dhabi, 3-5 December
The climax to the highly successful and competitive first season of the ‘new look’ ClassOne World Powerboat Championship combining C1 catamarans and V1 monohulls will decide the outcome of World titles in both categories.
In C1 Victory’s Arif Al Zaffain and Nadir Bin Hendi hold a 14 point advantage over a trio of outfits who on paper have a shot at lifting the title, whilst in V1 the outcome of the title race is too close to call, Team Chaudron topping the table on 46 points, a tenuous one point cushion over Aquasport with a mere 15 points separating the top five.
Al Zaffain and Bin Hendi will be looking to celebrate their 2014 racing reunion as they go in search of a fourth World title together and a 14thfor Victory Team. The Dubai duo will start as firm favourites and after dominating qualifying, a win in race 1 to add to their three victories in Ibiza and Terracina would all but seal the Championship.
Fifteen points separates Victory’s three potential title protagonists with Ugur Isik and Christian Zaborowski in Relekta-Zabo-Isiklar leading the challenge from Mikhail Kitashev and Guido Cappellini in New Star-Poliform both outfits grabbing three podium finishes and Luca Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella in LFF10, race winners’ last time out in race 2 in Terraccina.
Hoping for home success and a repeat of the team’s win in 2010 are Team Abu Dhabi’s American duo, Gary Ballough and 1997 Wold Champion John Tomlinson, who were impressive on their first outing together in Terracina, posting third best times in qualifying and taking third spot in race 1.
The competition and rivalry in V1 is as intense as it gets, four different outfits taking the chequered flag and climbing the top step of the podium and five grabbing podium finishes.
Of the top three each has a race win under their belts but a DNF apiece for Chaudron’s Aaron Chiantar and Dominique Martini and Tommy One’s Maurizio Schepici and Stefano Bonanno last time out could well prove costly, their misfortune allowing Daniel Camphorn and Nico Huybens to capitalise and stake their title claim, the Aquasport pairing splitting their rivals and sitting menacingly in second place.
Karelpiu’s Giuseppe and Antonio Schiano match Tommy One on 39 points in third spot and line-up in Abu Dhabi looking for their first win of the year, as do Ian Blacker and Drew Langdon in Silverline – both outfits finishing in podium spots twice.
Nico Bertels and Frank Hemelaer, race winner’s in Terracina, have it all to do with an 18 points margin to overturn, their strategy to run different crews for race 1 and 2 resulting in their points having to be allocated accordingly, whilst Siegfried Greve and Udo Gross will be hoping for a trouble free run in Hercules Sagemann after a frustrating double DNF last time out.
Teams will get their first impressions in tomorrow’s two practice sessions of what looks set to be a challenging course around Lulu Island, with a potentially rough offshore leg and a flat fast leg on the inside in front of the Abu Dhabi Corniche.
Official qualifying takes place on Thursday at 10.30hrs [local] followed by race 1 at 15.30hrs, a second qualifying and race 2 closing out the year on Friday.

October 20, 2014

Class One - Vee One - Italy Grand Prix Race Two

Luca Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella produced a breath taking performance to take their first win together in C1 at the team’s home Grand Prix, with Aquasport’s Daniel Cramphorn and Nico Huybens producing a totally dominant performance to win in V1.
Lining up in first and second at the start, Victory and LFF10 delivered a sensational opening lap with Fendi and Carpitella stealing the advantage from the pole-sitters immediately and leading them to the first turn, then holding them off in a nail biting run to the start-finish line as the two closed on each other and just inches apart going into turn one of lap 2, LFF10 coming out in front.
From that point LFF10 were able to maintain the upper hand, the gap between them fluctuating as they took their long laps. LLF10 was eight seconds clear by lap 7 when the defending World Champions and race 1 winners suddenly slowed to a crawl, Arif Al Zaffain and Nadir Bin Hendi limping round for two laps before retiring from the race with a broken drop box.
For the remaining seven laps Fendi and Carpitella were out on their own and after 25 races together delivered the victory they had been waiting for, taking the chequered flag to win by over 30 seconds. “It was an amazing race for us and we won it with a great start and to win at home is an incredible feeling. Today we showed that Fendi and Victory are at the same level,” said Luca Fendi. “We gave respect to them at the first turn and left them space. They came out on the inside with a bit more speed but we pulled it back and were side-by-side and Giovanni said to me, just go for the corner.”
With Victory side-lined the fight for second place was between Relekta-Zabo-Isiklar and Abu Dhabi who traded place behind the leaders. Ugur Isik and Christian Zaborowski passed Abu Dhabi on lap 3 and held them off until lap 7 when they conceded position, and after the next six laps and with a 20 second advantage it looked as though Gary Ballough and John Tomlinson were on course for a second podium, but on the final lap Abu Dhabi slowed after running out fuel, Relekta-Zabo-Isiklar gifted second place.
Third place went to Guido Cappellini and Mikhail Kitashev in New Star-Poliform, running in eighth for eight laps but taking advantage of the retirees ahead of them to take their third podium of the year, with outgoing European Champions Miles Jennings and Alfredo Amato finishing fourth.
After seeing victory slip from their grasp yesterday Aquasport’s Daniel Cramphorn and Nico Huybens made up for it today, going quickest in qualifying this morning and delivering an emphatic start-to-finish victory over Chaudron and Tommy One. “No gremlins for us today, it was a perfect race,” said driver Daniel Cramphorn. “When you get out front you can run the race you want, take the turns how you want. We had no traffic to worry about after our early battle with Chaudron, and the boat ran perfectly. This win is for Mike Fiore.”
Second place after yesterday’s retirement was enough for Aaron Chiantar and Dominique Martini to clinch the V1 European Championship, with another retiree from race 1 Tommy One rewarded after a late night working on the boat, Maurizio Schepici and Stefano Bonanno moving up from the back of the field to take third. “We didn’t have the best set-up today and Aquasport was very quick so we knew that we just had to get round in second to win the title which we are very happy with.” said Aaron Chiantar.
Karelpiu’s Antonio and Giuseppe Schiano, another team to work late into the night on repairs, held off a race long challenge from Bernico-New Star to take fourth, with Silverline, who had been running in third, finishing sixth after a spin out.

October 18, 2014

Class One - Vee One - Italy Grand Prix Race One

Victory and Bernico-New Star took race 1 honours in a dramatic and incident-filled first race at the Grand Prix of Italy, which was stopped after a first corner spin-out by Tommy One after the start lap, forcing officials to bring out the red flag.
Arif Al Zaffain and Nadir Bin Hendi were in control of the race, leading the C1 boats onto the second lap ahead of LFF10 and Team Abu Dhabi when the race was called to a halt.
Bernico-New Star, Chaudron and Aquasport were the first V1s to cross the start-finish line and were through turn one when Maurizio Schepici and Stefano Bonanno hooked and span out forcing Karelpiu’s Federico Montanari and Antonio Schiano to try to take evasive action but they were unable to avoid a coming together and damaging their drives, both boats unable to continue.
There was more drama before the restart with Championship leader’s Aaron Chiantar and Dominique Martini pulling off the course and limping back to the pits, a broken turbo charger belt ending their race, a broken propeller on lap 1 ending Germany’s Siegfried Greve and Udo Gross’ race.
From the restart pole-sitters Victory again resumed complete control and were never put under any pressure, moving 15 second clear of LFF10 by lap 5, going on to win comfortably by 27 seconds to seal an eighth European Championship for the Dubai based team. “It was comfortable for us from start to finish,” said Nadir Bin Hendi. “We didn’t need to push too much and made sure we took it easy to save the engines for tomorrow. There is more to come, whatever the conditions tomorrow.”
Local favourites Luca Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella in LFF10 were able to fend off the threat from Team Abu Dhabi but maintained P2, apart for a brief spell when they and the front runners took their long laps conceding the place to teammates Miles Jennings and Alfredo Amato who went on to finish fifth, to grab their first podium of the year, but the race was far from easy for the all-Italian duo. “It was a nightmare race for me and Luca,” said Carpitella. “We had a big fuel leak from the start and the fumes inside the cockpit were unbelievable. My eyes were stinging, it was hard to see, breathe and at times keep conscious. Then we lost instruments, no trim indicators no RPM so we just focussed on getting to the finish line.”
Gary Ballough and John Tomlinson produced just the comeback result Team Abu Dhabi was hoping for producing an impressive performance to take third place, a third podium for Tomlinson with the team and a first on his C1 debut for Ballough. “We’re happy with that, glad we brought it home and in good shape,” said Tomlinson. “It was a good fair race with Fendi, they left us room when we needed it. Now we have to work on one or two things to pick up the pace for tomorrow.”
Ugur Isik and Christian Zaborowski were unable to repeat the podium success they saw in Ibiza, bringing Relekta-Zabo-Isiklar home in fourth, and there was disappointment for New Star-Poliform’s Guido Cappellini and Mikhail Kitashev, retiring immediately after the restart.
With the top three boats in V1 side-lined before the restart, the Championship race had been blown wide open and Bernico-New Star, Silverline and Aquasport capitalised on it and produced a brilliant race, the trio swapping places throughout.
Aquasport’s Daniel Cramphorn and Nico Huyben’s led from the restart but were overhauled by Nico Bertels and Frank Hemelaer in Bernico-New Star on lap 3 and a lap later by Silverline’s Ian Blacker and Drew Langdon.
The leaders then raced side-by side for the next two laps with Silverline piling on the pressure and passing the race leader on lap 5, but two laps later Bernico New-Star came again and made the decisive pass going on to take a brilliant win by 2.86 seconds to move to the top of the Championship standings. “We are back in the title race and after all the trouble we’ve had this is a great result and I have to thank all my team,” said a delighted Nico Bertels. “You know it’s races like this when a couple of teams really start to push each other that you get great racing and the feeling after is unbelievable.”
Despite missing out on the top step, Drew Langdon was more than happy to pick up a second podium in two races. “It was a great race but they got the last bite of the cherry,” he said. “They could out turn us and were awesome in the corners. We had a trouble free run and we know these guys, you can race close without any problems. We got them a few times, but not at the right time, but hats off to them.”
Third place for Aquasport was their best result this season and puts them back in the title race. “We still have some gremlins to iron out, but happy with the result but of course would have loved to have hung on to the lead,” said Daniel Cramphorn. “We had an engine that kept causing us issues so we now have to try to solve the problem, but we’re right back in the fight.”

October 15, 2014

Class One - Vee One - Italy Grand Prix Preview

Victory and Chaudron top the standings in the UIM C1 and V1 World and European Championships and head-up a 13-strong line-up for the European title decider at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix in Terracina.
Following back-to-back wins at the Mediterranean GP in Ibiza in September Arif Al Zaffain and Nadir bin Hendi head into round 2 with a healthy 13 point margin over New Star-Poliform and Relekta-Zabo-Isiklar as they go in search of the team’s 100th chequered flag, with defending six time World Champion Al Zaffain closing in on eight time World Champion Steve Curtis’ long-standing record of 42 race wins.
Italy’s Guido Cappellini will be looking to build on a very encouraging double podium in New Star-Poliform at the season-opener alongside C1 rookie Mikhail Kitashev, the first Russian competitor in C1, and at least targeting a repeat of the team’s second place in race 2 in Terracina last year.
Zabo-Relekta-Isiklar’s Ugur Isik and Christian Zaborowski head there with a score to settle and looking to lay-to-rest the ghost that saw their maiden GP win literally evaporate when they ran out of fuel within sight of the chequered flag last year. In Ibiza, as is becoming increasingly typical of the Norwegian-Turkish outfits spirit, they overcame the odds that were stacking up against them after suffering two broken gearboxes, but after lengthy repairs they delivered two hard and well-earned podiums.
Italian outfit Fendi Racing will run a revised line-up in their number two boat with last year’s European Championship winning duo of Miles Jennings and Alfredo Amato teaming-up for the first time this season, Amato stepping in to replace Tarik Oktem.
But Jennings and Amato and the team will require a minor miracle if they are to retain the title it won in dramatic fashion last year with Jennings and Amato’s last lap win in race 2, the defending Champions heading into the weekend staring at a 31 point deficit, their teammates a further four points off the leader Victory, who look to be on course to lift an eighth European crown.
Giovanni Carpitella, Fendi Racing team principal and throttleman of LFF10 alongside owner-driver Luca Fendi, has confirmed that the gremlins that side-lined LFF8-Polimersan last time out have been resolved and that the team will arrive in Terracina from their base just a stones’ throw up the road at Nautica Badino well loaded with spare parts, aiming to avoid the issues that simmered between them and their supplier after breaking a gearbox in race 1 and sitting out race 2 in Ibiza.
Fendi and Carpitella proved in qualifying in Ibiza when they shared the quickest time with Victory that they have the pace and will be hoping for a trouble free run this weekend to challenge for the win.
After the unfortunate first corner crash in race 2 in Ibiza Team Abu Dhabi’s newest generation MTI is repaired and will be on the start line in Terracina but the question still to be answered and 100 percent confirmed, as speculation mounts that a driver change may be on the cards, is who will be in it, the likely candidates are American aces John Tomlinson and Gary Ballough.
In V1 the title race is a much tighter and intensely competitive affair with just five points separating the top three and looks to be a three-way dice between Chaudron, Karelpiu and Tommy One, all three outfits boasting World Championship pedigrees with the next four boats Aquasport, Bernico-New Star, Nassau and Silverline split by just two points.
The opening races of the season delivered some impressive performances with three different manufacturers Chaudron, Fountain and Metamarine locking out the top three slots and more of the same can be expected in Terracina.
But it is Malta’s triple World Champion Aaron Ciantar and French Champion Dominique Martini who hold a slender advantage and lead by two points after a third and a comprehensive start-to-finish unchallenged win last time out.
They can expect to be pressed by the consistent all-Italian Karelpiu who rotated crew in Ibiza with father and son duo of Antonio and Giuseppe Schiano and Federico Montanari lining up in Terracina on the back of two podium seconds.
Both Chaudron and Karelpiu know that they will more than likely have to fend off the mighty Tommy One, the powerhouse of the V1 class, sitting in third spot after Maurizio Schepici and Stefano Bonanno’s impressive win in race 1 in Ibiza.
If there is a challenge to come from the chasing group of four all will have to up the ante, but it may well be the all-British pairing of Ian Blacker and Drew Langdon who could get into the mix and the only other crew to make the podium in Ibiza, but they have a 20 point deficit to overturn.
The first opportunity for teams to get out on the circuit are two practice sessions on Friday, followed by qualifying and race 1 on Saturday with a second qualifying session and race 2 on Sunday.

September 8, 2014

Class One - Vee One - Mediterranean Grand Prix Race Two

Victory and Chaudron produced the stand-out performances of the afternoon and dominated race 2 of the Mediterranean Grand Prix, cruising to emphatic victories in their respective classes in a dramatic race that was red flagged after Abu Dhabi crashed out at the first corner, both Faleh AL Mansoori and Rashed Al Tayer emerging unscathed from the upturned boat.
It was a bitter blow for Al Mansoori and Al Tayer on their debut Grand Prix outing in their new boat, and after going second quickest in qualifying earlier in the day were running in second spot behind Victory at the first turn when they hooked and went over.
The boats were led round under the yellow flag and from the restart Victory’s Arif Al Zaffain and Nadir Bin Hendi dropped the hammer and simply disappeared off into the distance and were unchallenged throughout to take the win and complete a perfect weekend in Ibiza for the Dubai duo on their first outing together in Class 1 since 2011.
Ugur Isik and Christian Zaborowski produced another solid performance and despite breaking two gearboxes over the weekend picked up another podium finishing in second place, with Guido Cappellini and Mikhail Kitashev on their first outing together also picking up a second podium, with third.
It was a frustrating and disappointing day for Fendi Racing, with Luca Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella failing to make the start after breaking their gearbox yesterday, and any hopes of team success faded early when Tarek Oktem and Miles Jennings limped back to the pits before the restart.
The honours in V1 went to Aaron Ciantar and Dominic Martini in Chaudron who, like Victory, left their rivals in their wake to win unchallenged over the 12 laps, taking the chequered flag with the chasing pack well in arrears, finishing on the same lap as the C1 boats ahead of them to take an early lead in the Championship standings.
Second home was Karelpiu, the team switching driver for race 2 with Federico Montanari teaming -up with Antonio Schiano. The duo held off a strong challenge from Aquasport on lap 3 as the two outfits thundered through the start-finish line side-by-side and then from a momentarily advancing Tommy One.
The drive off the afternoon belonged to Drew Langdon and Ian Blacker in Silverline who found good pace mid race, moving up from sixth spot on lap 2, passing Bernico-New Star and overhauling Aquasport and Tommy One on lap 7 to take the third step of the podium.

September 6, 2014

Class One - Vee One - Mediterranean Grand Prix Race One

Thirteen boats lined up for the first race in over two decades with Class 1 catamarans and V1 mono-hulls running side-by-side, with Arif Al Zaffain and Nadir Bin Hendi carrying on from where they left off and last raced together in 2011, cruising to an easy victory in race 1 of the Mediterranean Grand Prix to win by a massive 49 second margin.
The Victory duo who earlier in the day shared the pole position spoils with LFF10, led from the start and were never challenged, going on to complete the 13 laps in 35:41.85s.
Despite matching the winners in qualifying Luca Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella could not match the sustained pace of the leader’s, but looked comfortable in second spot when they suddenly hit trouble on lap 9 and stopped.
From third place at the end of lap 1 Guido Cappellini and C1 rookie Mikhail Kitashev held off an initial challenge from Ugur Isik and Christian Zaborowski in Relekta-Zabo-Isiklar before opening out a comfortable advantage to move into and take second spot following the exit of LFF10.
The Relekta-Zabo-Isiklar crew in turn faced a race long challenge from Faleh Al Mansoori and Rashed Al Tayer in Team Abu Dhabi’s new MTI, who passed them on the final lap to take the chequered flag in third, only to be hit with a 25-second post-race penalty for destroying a turn buoy, handing the podium spot back to Isiklar and Zaborowski, the Abu Dhabi duo dropping to fifth behind LFF8-Polimersan.
The performance of the day came in V1 from the Tommy One crew of Maurizio Schepici and Stefano Bonanno who powered their way through the field from a long way back in fourth spot, first passing Bernico-New Star, then the early race leader’s Chaudron before setting their sights on and overhauling the pole sitters Antonio and Giuseppe Schiano in Karelpiu, to take the win in 36:33.39s.

September 3, 2014

Class One - Vee One - 2014 Season Preview

The Spanish Island of Ibiza is all set to host the heavyweights of world powerboat racing when they take to the waters off Playa D’en Bossa for the Mediterranean Grand Prix on 5-7 September.
For the first time in over two decades catamarans and monohulls will race alongside each other in the UIM Class 1 and V1 World Powerboat Championships, with an anticipated 14-boats lining up as the revised new-look Championships format debuts in Ibiza and Class 1 returns to Spanish waters for the first time since 2006.
CLASS-ONE
Defending and six-time Class 1 World Champion Arif Al Zaffain reignites his formidable partnership with Nadir Bin Hendi as the Victory duo start their title campaign and go in search of the Dubai-based teams 14th crown and look to extend its seven-year Championship winning streak.
Back together in Class 1 for the first time in two years, Al Zaffain and Bin Hendi will be intent on a winning start and adding to their impressive strike-rate, winning 20 times from 28 outings to clinch three World and Middle East titles and a European and Pole Position Championship in three years.
Looking to unseat them will be last year’s Championship runners-up Ugur Isik and Christian Zaborowski in Relekta-Zabo-Isiklar. After considerable modifications to the boat and further work on the Mercury engines the team is confident that it can challenge for the title as the Turkish-Norwegian pairing goes in search of that elusive first win together that they so narrowly missed out on in Italy last year, to complement their multiple podium finishes.
Also looking for their first win together is the all Italian pairing of Luca Formilli Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella in Fendi Racing’s number one boat LFF10. Throttleman Carpitella strongly believes that with the problems they faced last year now fully resolved they too can challenge unhindered as front runners and improve on last season’s five podiums.
A revised line up in the second Fendi outfit LFF8-Polimersan sees defending European Champion Miles Jennings switching seats to take the throttles with Tarik Oktem coming in to drive, both Fendi boats running SCAM V12s.
Team Abu Dhabi retains the same line up that ended last year with a double podium at their home Grand Prix, with Faleh Al Mansoori and three time race-winner Rashed Al Tayer launching their challenge in a new Randy Scism designed and built MTI and switching from V12 to Mercury V8 power-plants.
Making a welcome return to frontline racing after opting not to compete in 2013 but to manage his team from the side lines is ten-time F1H2O World Champion Guido Cappellini, whose collaboration with entrepreneur Andrey Kitashev marks the debut of Russia into the Championship, with Mikhail Kitashev stepping up and in to take the throttles beside Cappellini in the DAC 40 Mercury powered Newstar-Poliform.
FA.RO. ACCIAI is expected to complete the Class 1 line-up but the team is yet to reveal who will race.
VEE-ONE
The news of the combined Championships drew an immediate and positive response with seven teams from across Europe signing up to race in V1.
Two entries from Italy sees Evolution and Super Sport Champions Maurizio Schepici and Marco Pennesi teaming-up in the Metamarine, Seatek-powered Tommy One, with father-son pairing of Antonio and Giuseppe Schiano, who lifted the Super Sport European and Italian Championships in 2010, returning to racing after a three year absence in the Mercury-powered Fountain 42, Karelpiu RG-87, which will carry the colours and flag of the Circolo Canottieri Napoli (Naples Rowing Club) which this year celebrates its centenary.
Team owner-driver Siegfried Greve who finished second and third overall in the Endurance Championship in 2011 and 2010 heads up German outfit Searex Racing’s challenge alongside countryman Udo Gross in the Searex built, Searex-engined Hercules Sagemann.
Aaron Ciantar will again put the Chaudron powerboat brand firmly in the international spotlight when he lines up alongside 2011 French Champion Dominique Martini in the 13-metre Chaudron Canopy 41.
Ciantar, 34 from Malta, will be targeting a fourth world title to add to the two he won in Super Sport in 2008 and 2009, and the title he won in the Key West Championship in America in 2011 in the same boat he will race in Ibiza.
The UK challenge is led by Bullet Racing’s hugely experienced Drew Langdon racing with fellow-brit Ian Blacker in the Fountain 42, Express Marine powered Silverline. A former European and British Endurance Champion, Langdon kicks off his campaign and will be aiming to break his World title near misses, finishing second in the Endurance Championship in 2009 and second in Super Sport in 2007, 2005 and 2004.
Two entries from Belgium sees Aquasport’s Nico Huybens teaming-up with Briton Daniel Cramphorn and Bernico-Newstar yet to finalise who will race alongside Nico Bertels.
The teams take to the water for first practice on Friday [5 September] morning followed by official qualifying at 14.45hrs [local]. Saturday morning practice is followed by race 1 at 15.30hrs, with a final morning practice session and qualifying for race 2 at 15.30hrs on Sunday.

July 23, 2012

Powerboat Endurance - Roma Offshore Speed Race 2012 Metamarine Winner

Metamarine number 60 shows again in 2012, as it had done in pure dominance in the 2010 season that it is the powerboat to beat in this series.  Mr. Pennesi definitely has built a machine developed in a time of five, six years which showed itself again its power.
The race started at 09:45 AM with the powerboats leaving the Ostia harbour.  After a few nautical miles Magnum Marine OSG had to retire due to one engine failure soon to be followed by the other motor to have problems.  Metamarine completed the race in a couple seconds short of one hour and twenty minutes.  Searex completed the Offshore course of 135 nautical miles from Rome Ostia Yacht Marina to Ponza and back in ten minutes more to the Italian Metamarine. 
In Class C which is a back to the past return of the Supersport designation, the Italian Albatro Venice built Jolly Drive did the race in just some seconds short of one hour 35 minutes.  Jolly won the race in this category.
From here PowerYacht hopes to see the Rome Offshore Speed Race back again next year, and may be followed by a couple more similar races across the Mediterranean sea and create again a championship series.
RESULTS
Pos - Team - Drivers - Time
1 - Metamarine Italy - Marco Pennesi, Murizio Schepici - 1 hour 19 minutes 57.9 seconds
2 - Searex Germany - Verbanck, Greve, Podolosky - 1 hour 30 minutes 48.1 seconds
3 (1) - Jolly Drive Italy - Zanardo, Montanari, Battista - 1 hour 34 minutes 54.3 seconds (1st place in Class C i.e. Supersport Class category)
RETIRED - Magnum Marine OSG Italy - Cangiano, Sheppard, Sardellitti

July 19, 2012

Powerboat Endurance - Roma Offshore Speed Race 2012

It's good to see some interest returning in Powerboat endurance racing come back to us.  The Rome Offshore Speed Race 2012 is a huge challenge for the participants, and most of all for the event organizers, specially considering the current economic climate Europe finds itself in at the moment.  None the less the organizers managed so far to involve six participants to the race which involves a 135 nautical miles course.  The Rome Offshore Speed Race contrary to recent Endurance class races of the Evolution and Supersport classes, aims to emulate past legendary formats as the Cowes Torquay, Viareggio Bastia, Miami Nassau, and the Venezia Monte Carlo, that is of a more distant course which is a more typical of a cruise.  That is pure offshore racing at its best. Interesting is also that in the participants we have the return of a few two times World Champions; from Cangiano, to Marco Pennesi one of the latest winners in 2010, and Rizzardi a past winner in 2002 and 2003.  Again Italy has been a great supporter to this sport since the sixties, not only in participants but also in organizing an interesting event in mid Summer season.  Definitely the South Italian peninsula has made great records in the past from its designers, boat builders, engines, and drivers but continues to do so in the present and future.  I also remind that the recent very successful format of Powerboat P1 has also been started by the Italians in 2002, that championship won by Rizzardi in a Fabio Buzzi designed Diesel powered hull, which was built and designed in Italy. Same also for the recent champion in 2010 Metamarine who had full Italian stamped to it from the design, engine makers, boat builder, drivers, and propulsion units.        
PARTICIPANTS:
Team - Drivers - Nationality
Magnum Marine OSG - Cangiano, Sheppard, Sardellitti - Italy
Searex - Verbanck, Greve, Podolsky - Germany
Metamarine - Marco Pennesi, Murizio Schepici - Italy
Jollydrive - Zanardo, Montanari, Battista - Italy
Class V63 GDF - Rizzardi - Italy

October 5, 2011

Powerboat OGP - 2011 Championship Cancelled

Event organiser of the Ocean Grand Prix series International Sea Racing Limited, has announced that the remaining rounds of the 2011 UIM Ocean Grand Prix Powerboat World Endurance Championship will be cancelled.  Joseph Azzopardi, Event Director, Ocean Grand Prix explained that this was a very hard decision to take. He said that the key issues where venues who did not meet the obligations in terms of permissions and in some cases finances.  Another issue which in PowerYachts opinion was also very much present is also the lack of competitors with seven boats taking part in both the classes; three in the production Supersport, and four in the Evolution.  PowerYachtBlog sincerely hopes for better luck to the highly potential Powerboat Endurance Championship in 2012, who ever is the organizer.

September 13, 2011

Powerboat OGP - Milazzo Race Postponed

The UIM Milazzo Ocean Grand Prix, due to be contested this weekend (16th-18th September), has been postponed. The decision was taken once it became evident that some specific permissions to race had yet to be granted. It is hoped that these will be in place within days and the GP rearranged for late September or early October.

September 5, 2011

Powerboat OGP - Siracusa, Sicily Grand Prix

RACE ONE
Furnibo, piloted by Pierre Colpin and Frank Hemelaer, triumphed during an exhilarating opening race of the UIM Siracusa Ocean Grand Prix, leading home Swedish-American team Lucas Oil. In the Supersport class, Federico Montanari, Alfredo Zanardo and Giambattista Gabriele in Jolly Drive took the chequered flag in commanding fashion.
As the green flag dropped on the first of this weekend’s shorter sprint races, high temperatures made for an exhausting ride. As the boats powered across the Ionian Sea throwing up spectacular rooster tails, it was the Belgian 2B1 Racing Team in Furnibo that stole a march on the field, pulling away to lead comfortably into the first buoy.
However, the Stirling-powered Lucas Oil boat of Michael Silfverberg and Nigel Hook was quickly on their tail and launched a challenge for the lead but could do nothing to catch the current Evo class leaders.
The German Searex team, in third, had made a good start but engine problems later forced them to retire. As the race moved into the closing stages, Furnibo had firmly secured their place on the top step of the podium with Lucas Oil having to settle for second.
Meanwhile, in SuperSport, Italian’s Jolly Drive showed the early pace, gaining good speed from the start and building a significant lead by the end of the first lap, with Karelpiu’ tucked in second place ahead of SIF. It wasn’t long though before the experienced Renato Guidi, Stefano Acanfora and Vittorio Foglia Manzillo reeled in and then passed the Mercury-powered Fountain, before settling into second place for the remainder of the race. Despite one last charge by Karelpiu’ in the closing stages, the father and son pairing of Guieseppe and Antonio Schiano di Cola, alongside Francesco Calo, finished in third.
UIM Siracusa Ocean Grand Prix (Round 03) PROVISIONAL
Sprint Race Results – Evo Class
Pos. — No. — Boat Name — Nat. — Time — Pts.
1 — 33 — Furnibo — BEL — 20
2 — 77 — Lucas Oil — SWE — 16
66 — Hercules Sagemann — DEU – DNF
Sprint Race Results – SuperSport Class
1 — 06 — Jolly Drive — ITA — 20
2 — 38 — SIF — ITA — 16
3 — 81 – Karelpiu’ — ITA — 12
RACE TWO
Jolly Drive, the Yanmar-powered Italian powerboat took its second consecutive victory in the SuperSport class of the UIM Siracusa Ocean Grand Prix to make a decisive move in the quest for the world title; an achievement they last accomplished in 2005. On a glass-like surface, Federico Montanari, Alfredo Zanardo and Giambattista Gabriele demonstrated the boat’s preference for flat waters, leading from start to finish. Behind them SIF and Karelpiu looked evenly matched and an intriguing battle for second place developed. That was, until on lap three the Mercury-powered Donzi of SIF took control when their rival missed a buoy. Despite making a swift course-correction, the gap was just too great for the Fountain boat despite making up significant ground over the 46 nautical mile Sprint course. All three Italian boats crossed the line within a few lengths of each other, suggesting that the fight for the season’s spoils will continue right down to the wire. In Evo, the tables were turned upside-down as the Lucas Oil Scandinavian Offshore Challenge of Michael Silfverberg and Nigel Hook took a first win of the season from the German Searex team, with Belgian boat, Furnibo failing to complete the required 70 percent race distance. The race had looked to be firmly in the grasp of Siegfried Greve and Douglas Verbanck in Hercules Sagemann, who had taken the lead from Lucas Oil on lap two, only for the German team to relinquish first place in the closing stages. Before today’s race, Furnibo, piloted by Pierre Colpin and Frank Hemelaer had dominated the championship with three consecutive wins. That lead is now fragile; the performance of Searex and the win for Lucas Oil, now under the supervision of the US powerboating legend Jerry Gilbreath, suggests that this won’t be the last win for the team.
PROVISIONAL Sprint Race Results
Evo Class
Pos. -- No. -- Boat Name -- Nat. -- Time -- Pts
1 -- 77 -- Lucas Oil -- SWE -- 00:37:50:87 -- 20
2 -- 66 -- Hercules Sagemann -- DEU – 00:38:10:44 -- 16 
- --  33 -- Furnibo -- BEL -- DNF -- 0 UIM Siracusa Ocean Grand Prix (Round 04)
SuperSport Class
1 -- 06 -- Jolly Drive -- ITA -- 00:36:54:27 -- 20
2 -- 38 -- SIF -- ITA -- 00:36:58:04 -- 16
3 -- 81 – Karelpiu’ -- ITA -- 00:37:00:86 -- 12
RACE THREE
The disappointment of yesterday’s engine problems were short lived for the Belgian 2B1 Racing Team as Furnibo, the Mercury-powered Fountain returned to form, taking the third and final race and the UIM Siracusa Ocean Grand Prix Evo title ahead of Lucas Oil.
The race had looked to be a foregone conclusion, with Furnibo building a substantial lead on the opening lap, but Michael Silfverberg and Nigel Hook in Lucas Oil began to unleash the potential of the Silverhook boat and close the gap. With their Stirling engines at full-chat, it looked like the pair could take the lead.
For eight laps the boats were a rooster tail apart, the defining moment coming with an opportunistic manouvre by the Belgians as four boats arrived at a buoy together. The Fountain dived ahead of two slower SuperSport boats with Lucas Oil forced to hold off, losing momentum and eventually the race. The German Searex Racing Team eventually retired with an alternator problem but not before posting five fastest laps. It was one of those days!
In SuperSport, another intriguing and compelling race unfolded with a three-way battle for the lead. Federico Montanari, Alfredo Zanardo and Giambattista Gabriele had started the race in dominant fashion and were on course to make it a weekend hat-trick for Jolly Drive but the Mercury-powered Fountain of Karelpiu and Donzi of SIF were definitely ‘at the races’.
The three Italian crews battled hard from start to finish providing close-fought action throughout. For most of the race only seven seconds separated the three Italian boats until SIF was forced to retire. The leading two boats continued to battle nose-to-rooster tail right up to the chequered flag, Karelpiu having stolen the lead with just three laps remaining. Today’s win brings the RG87 Racing Team within eight points of Jolly Drive at the seasons half way point and despite losing the race won the SuperSport class of the UIM Siracusa Ocean Grand Prix.
With both Championship titles still in contention, it is all to play for as the teams head to Milazzo in two weeks time. This inaugural Ocean Grand Prix season promises to go down to the wire, providing a nail-biting spectacle and world class racing action.
UIM Siracusa Ocean Grand Prix
Evo Class – PROVISIONAL Results
Pos. — No. — Boat Name — Nat. — Pts.
1 — 33 — Furnibo — BEL — 40
2 — 77 — Lucas Oil — SWE — 32
3 — 66 — Hercules Sagemann — DEU — 20
SuperSport Class – PROVISIONAL Results
1 — 06 — Jolly Drive — ITA — 56
2 — 81 – Karelpiu’ — ITA — 44
3 — 38 — SIF — ITA — 32
UIM Ocean Grand Prix Powerboat World Championship
Evo Class Standings
Pos. — No. — Boat Name — Nat. — Pts.
1 — 33 — Furnibo — BEL — 85
2 — 77 — Lucas Oil — SWE — 65
3 — 66 — Hercules Sagemann — DEU — 43
4 — 47 — Silverline — GBR – 12
SuperSport Class Standings
1 — 06 — Jolly Drive — ITA — 98
2 — 81 – Karelpiu’ — ITA — 90
3 — 38 — SIF — ITA — 48

August 29, 2011

Powerboat OGP - Siracusa, Sicily Preview

For the third consecutive year Syracuse is in the calendar of the Powerboat Endurance calendar, and this today represents one of the most important fixtures of the season.  Syracuse or Siracusa in Italian is one of the most picturesque harbours of the Med, with the classic medieval age Fort on the entrance welcoming you inside one of the largest natural harbours in the World.  
This year Syracuse is the second stop of the season, and this will be a novelty which has in its previous been the closing round of the World championship calendar.  The leaders in both classes; 2B1 Furnibo #33 Evolution, and Jolly Drive Racing Team #06 in Super Sport will have to watch there back as the competitors will make sure to use the trap of a calmer inside, with that of a more turbulent waters outside area part of the track.  For this season Powerboat OGP will also deliver for the first time three round races in a Grand Prix, and Syracuse for this will offer more racing to the fans, and to the racers themselves. The races will be held one each day from Friday, with the Power Pole moved to earlier hours in the afternoon.
www.oceangrandprix.org

July 29, 2011

Powerboat OGP - Netherlands Grand Prix Cancelled

Due to a decision coming from Council of State of the West Frisian Islands, Ocean Gran Prix has been forced to cancel the Netherlands, Den Helder Gran Prix set to be held between the 4 and 7 August.  The Province of North Holland which signed an agreement to dispute for five consecutive years the Powerboat Endurance Grand Prix at Den Helder in Marsiep, has made an appeal to the Regulations Department and while the 2011 race is cancelled accepts to renew its appointment for next year.  Ocean Grand Prix responsible for the promotion of the Powerboat Endurance races has now decided to find a replacement venue with a date to be confirmed on the 30 September and 02 October.

June 13, 2011

Powerboat OGP - Malta Round Two

It was to be a war of attrition as the boats lined up for the second round of the UIM Malta Ocean Grand Prix. With teams battling sweltering heat and rough waters, the result was adrenline-fuelled racing from start to finish in both the Evo and SuperSport classes.
In SuperSport, the FPT-powered Jolly Drive boat of Federico Montanari, Alfredo Zanardo and Giambattista Gabriele took early command, gaining traction off the line and leading their rivals at the first turn. Despite a slow start, fellow Italian’s Karelpiu kept the pressure on, closing the gap to the lead boat. The lead then changed hands five times before Karelpiu forged ahead and the race win looked a formality at the halfway stage. However, this is endurance racing and with the chequered flag almost in sight, driver Giuseppe Schiano di Cola fainted at the wheel, overcome with heat exhaustion. With his Fountain boat at a standstill it opened the door to Jolly Drive to take the win although the Ocean Grand Prix crown was won by Karelpiu who secured victory in yesterday’s race. Di Cola recovered swiftly following attention from medics.
The close fought action continued in the Evo class with Furnibo, piloted by Pierre Colpin and Frank Hemelaar taking another scintillating win to take the Grand Prix victory. The Belgium team had fought hard with Swedish-American’s Lucas Oil throughout, both boats trading the lead on numerous occasions. The first four laps were nail-biting and a tight finish looked a certainty until Lucas Oils lost power in one engine and were forced to limp home with both pilots, Michael Silfverberg and Nigel Hook’s anxiously looking over their shoulder as the German Searex team closed in.
Despite the Searex-powered Hercules Sagemann boat being hampered by ignition problems before the race – causing the team to start from the back of the field – German’s Douglas Verbanck and Siegfried Greve kept a steady nerve to eventually finish the race in second.
The British boat, Silverline, of Drew Langdon and Miles Jennings was forced to retire on the first lap with a broken torque sensor, a disappointing end to their weekend’s racing.
Attention now turns to rounds 3 and 4 of the UIM Ocean Grand Prix World Endurance Championship, which takes place in Den Helder, Holland over the weekend of 5-7 August.
UIM Malta Ocean Grand Prix (Round 02) PROVISIONAL
Endurance Race Results – Evo Class
Pos. — No. — Boat Name — Nat. — Time — Pts.
1 — 33 — Furnibo — BEL — 00:39:43:80 — 20
2 — 66 — Hercules Sagemann — DEU — 00:41:20:28 — 16
3 — 77 — Lucas Oil — SWE — 00:51:26:42 — 12
4 — 47 — Silverline — GBR — DNF — 0
Endurance Race Results – SuperSport Class
1 — 06 — Jolly Drive — ITA — 00:46:41:45 — 20
2 — 81 — Karelpiu — ITA — 00:46:53:08 — 16
3 — 38 — SIF — ITA — DNS — 0
UIM Ocean Grand Prix World Endurance Championship
Malta Grand Prix Result – Evo Class
Pos. — No. — Boat Name — Nat. — Pts.
1 — 33 — Furnibo — BEL — 40
2 — 77 — Lucas Oil — SWE — 28
3 — 66 — Hercules Sagemann — DEU — 23
4 — 47 — Silverline — GBR — 12
Malta Grand Prix Result – SuperSport Class
1 — 81 — Karelpiu — ITA — 36
2 — 06 — Jolly Drive — ITA — 32
3 — 38 — SIF — ITA — 12

June 11, 2011

Powerboat OGP - Malta Round One

As the green flag flew and the boats, complete with rooster tails, blasted into the distance, a new dawn signalled for international endurance racing and a new day for the crews; the waiting was over and a world championship title was at stake.
By the end of the first ever race in the newly formed UIM-OGP World Endurance Championship, Furnibo from Belgium, piloted by Pierre Colpin and Frank Hemelaar had taken the spoils and set the standards for the campaign ahead.
It was the Germans, Douglas Verbanck and Sigi Greve, in Hercules Sagemann that showed the early pace, gaining traction off the start with Lucas Oil, the Swedish-American challenger tucking in behind. It wasn’t long though before oil pressure issues hampered the Searex boat allowing Lucus Oil and Furnibo to pass.
The two boats fought a hard battle with Lucas Oil showing the early pace and leading for four laps. It was an impressive performance by the Silverhook, a newly built craft that had not entered the water in anger until this weekend. The race remained in the balance until the closing stages.
The British contenders, Drew Langdon and Miles Jennings in Silverline were content to take third place in the Evo class, passing the German boat mid-race and consolidating the position.
This was the weekend’s shorter sprint race over a distance of 47-miles but high temperatures and heavy seas combined to make for an exhausting ride. With cockpit temperatures reaching 40 degrees centigrade, several pilots suffered. None more so than Frank Hemelaar who collapsed on reaching land, what should have been a victory celebration turning into a dramatic few minutes on the side of the pontoon. He recovered shortly afterwards and will be fit to race tomorrow.
In Supersport, Antonio and Giuseppe Schiano di Cola and Francesco Calo in Karelpiu won the race in commanding fashion. The Neapolitan team RG87, racing a Mercury-powered Fountain, had started from pole and dominated proceedings from the first lap. Even the guile of the experienced Renato Guidi, Stefano Acanfora and Vittorio Foglia Manzillo, piloting SIF could do nothing to reel in the lead boat. They finished in second with Jolly Drive a distant third.
Now the preparation starts in earnest for tomorrows 74-mile endurance race, the closing leg of the UIM Malta Ocean Grand Prix.
UIM Malta Ocean Grand Prix (Round 01) PROVISIONAL
Sprint Race Results – Evo Class
Pos. – No. — Boat Name – Nat. – Time – Pts.
1 – 33 – Furnibo – BEL – 00:44:45:50 – 20
2 – 77 – Lucas Oil – SWE – 00:47:36:05 – 16
3 – 47 – Silverline – GBR – 00:46:21:55 – 12
4 – 66 – Hercules Sagemann – DEU – 01:03:51:03 – 7
Sprint Race Results – SuperSport Class
1 – 81 – Karelpiu – ITA – 00:47:55:09 – 20
2 – 38 – SIF – ITA – 00:49:45:57 – 16
3 – 06 – Jolly Drive – ITA – 00:47:55:43 – 12

June 10, 2011

Powerboat OGP - Malta Powerpole

The Belgian powerboat Furnibo, piloted by Frank Hemelaer and Pierre Colpin, secured Pole Position for tomorrow’s first leg of the UIM Malta Ocean Grand Prix, ahead of American challenger Lucas Oil by just 0.6 seconds.
With only four seconds separating the top three boats as they raced into Marsamxett Harbour, an exciting season beckons in the Evolution class.
In Supersport, the winner was Karelpui, the Italian craft of Giusseppe and Antonio Schiano di Cola and Francesco Calo. Fellow Italians, Federico Montanari, Alfredo Zanardo and Giambattista Gabriele, in the Yanmar-powered Jolly Drive were second.
Tomorrows first race of the 2011 UIM-OGP World Endurance Championship will start at 4pm local time and comprise 10 laps, 47 miles in total.
The Malta UIM Ocean Grand Prix Provisional Result
Pole Position Top 3 – Evolution Class
Pos. — No. — Boat Name — Nat. — Time
1 — 33 — Furnibo — BEL — 00:02:01:96
2 — 77 — Lucas Oil — SWE — 00:02:02:56
3 — 66 — Hercules Sagemann — DEU — 00:02:05:89
Pole Position Top 3 – SuperSport Class
Pos. — No. — Boat Name — Nat. — Time
1 — 81 — Karelpiu — ITA — 00:02:23:86
2 — 06 — Jolly Drive — ITA — 00:02:25:28
3 — 38 — SIF — ITA — 00:02:27:01