New Model: Princess 95 MY

Princess has shipped the first of its stunning new 95ft flagship, the 95 MY. The Princess 95 Motor Yacht spearheads the expansion of Princess’ model range and illustrates the commitment for creating refined luxury motor yachts which appeal to discerning owners around the world. The new Princess 95 Motor Yacht offers uncompromising levels of comfort combined with thoroughbred performance making her the ultimate environment for gracious entertainment. The newly developed deep V hull design, a choice of engines up to 2400hp and the most advanced on-board systems deliver class leading handling and performance for effortless long range cruising. The expansive flybridge deck, generous staterooms and full width saloon and dining area can accommodate up to ten people in elegant style; taking the pleasures of extended life on-board to an entirely new level. There is also ample provision for crew with a three cabin layout positioned aft with separate access from the starboard side deck. An alternative two cabin layout benefits from a crew day area and additional entrance through the transom. The sophisticated blend of classic looks with a contemporary edge, beautiful fittings and class leading performance gives the Princess 95 Motor Yacht an undeniable presence befitting the new Princess flagship.
Technical Data:
LOA - 28.98 m (95.1 ft)

LOA - 29.42 m incl pulpit
Beam - 7.06 m
Draft - 1.83 m
Displacement - 94 t
Fuel Capacity - 11,000 l

www.princessyachts.com

Powerboat P1 - Italian Grand Prix of the Sea, Fountain King of Shaves and Racing Project Roscioli Hotels dominate

Weekend of Domination in both Evolution and Supersport in the 2Nd Grand Prix, held in Naples Italy of the Powerboat P1 World Championship involving Race 3 and 4 of the 2007 Season. Briton's James Sheppard and Craig Wilson showed a super pace for other's to follow in the prototype Evolution Class with a double win in Italy on the USA built Fountain powerboat King of Shaves. Meanwhile Italians Angelo Tedeschi and Fabio Magnani of Italian Team Racing Project Roscioli Hotels Roma with the Malta built 41 feet Chaudron followed the script in Supersport and secured more important points for the championship, after a good 2Nd place in Malta.

The Fountain King of Shaves winner of both races in Italy.

Also a double in Supersport for Racing Project Roscioli Hotels.

RACE 1

19 boats started the race providing a dramatic spectacle for the large crowds. King of Shaves, the Fountain-built boat of Briton's James Sheppard and Craig Wilson made a dream start to its life in Powerboat P1 with a debut win in the Evolution class of the Italian Grand Prix of the Sea. Taking the lead on the second lap from the Italian OSG boat of Giancarlo Cangiano and Giovanni Carpitella, the experienced pairing skimmed across the surface of the Bay of Naples, leaving the Italian boats Fainplast and OSG battling for the runners-up places with Austrian Wettpunkt and Lucas Oil - Outerlimits. By the halfway stage King of Shaves had built a commanding lead of over half a minute but that comfort zone was not to last as Wettpunkt.com of Hannes Bohinc, Miles Jennings and Ed Williams- Hawkes, found its rhythm after a relatively slow start. At the chequered flag the lead had been whittled down to less than ten seconds. The race was full of drama with overtaking, retirements - including the third placed Metamarine craft of Fainplast- and a flip! This happened on lap five as OSG, battling for position with Wettpunkt, 'hooked' 360 degrees before flipping onto its side. It was a heart-stopping moment followed by a huge act of sportsmanship as both Wettpunkt and the American Lucas Oil - Outerlimits team stopped to monitor the situation and respond to any emergency that might unfold. Thankfully, both pilots emerged unscathed and both Wettpunkt and Outerlimits were able to continue racing - Wettpunkt finishing second and Outerlimits third. In SuperSport, the highly competitive production class, once again proved to be intensely competitive and full of surprises. The dominant boat was Racing Project Roscoli Hotels Roma with Neapolitan Angelo Tedeschi using his local knowledge to good effect. The win has put Team Racing Project at the top of the World Championship standings. Behind them pre-event favourites ExtremeBoat suffered engine sensor problems and the FPT-powered Sunseeker had steering difficulties. It was a fast, tough race that took its toll on many of the boats although accomplished performances from Buzzi Bullet, Chaudron and the Hustler of Team VoomVoom saw them amass valuable championship points, finishing in second, third and fourth place respectively.

RACE 2

The domination of the Italian Grand Prix of the Sea continued outright with the winners in race 3 confirming there result. Still a hard fought contest challenge was always behind the Fountain King of Shaves from Wettpunkt.com and the-American Outerlimits Powerboats team. Always in contention, the Austrian Wettpunkt team, led by Hannes Bohinc, looked capable of spoiling the party but despite moving within ten seconds they did not appear to have quite enough horse power to bridge the gap. The diesel powered Kiton, led the field as the second-leg got underway, putting several boat lengths between themselves and the chasing pack. However, the early sign of pace was short-lived as the Ilmor-powered Fountain and the Isotta Fraschini's of Wettpunkt took command. As the two front-runners pulled away, holding station until the chequered flag, it was the nail-biting port-to-starboard battle between the Metamarine-built boats of Fainplast and Kiton that captivated the crowds. When, on lap three Kiton slowed, Fainplast moved into third with Outerlimits fourth. A mechanical problem later forced Fainplast to retire enabling the American's to take the final podium position. A third place was an exceptional performance from the American Lucas Oil- Outerlimits crew of Mike Fiore and Nigel Hook, who had been forced to add additional weight to the boat and then, as today's race began, suffered a drenching at the hands of Wettpunkt.com. The local favourites, OSG, made a miraculous 'last-minute' appearance after yesterday's spectacular sinking! Working throughout the night and morning to repair the boat, it eventually took the start one lap down. The courageous pair of Giancarlo Cangiano and Giovanni Carpitella provided the appreciative crowds with a true show but were unable to make their mark in a race dominated throughout the weekend by King of Shaves, Wettpunkt.com and Outerlimits. These three took first, second and third respectively in the Evolution class of the Powerboat P1 Italian Grand Prix of The Sea.

Important points for the SuperSport title for Italian team, Racing Project Roscioli Hotels Roma. Tedeschi, the teams Neapolitan owner and throttle man, now moves to the head of the championship, a strong endorsement to his pre-season decision to invest in a new boat. The 41ft Malta built Chaudron boat, powered by Mercruiser engines is clearly capable of mixing-it at the front of the field in this intensely competitive production class. In the Sunday 'Sprint', Roscioli Hotels Roma were pushed all the way by the British duo of Mike Shelton and Jackie Shelton in Extremeboat - the distance between the two boats from start to finish was never more than 5 seconds. Third place on the day went to Drew Langdon and Jan Falkowski in Buzzi Bullet, a superb result following yesterdays first-leg where the team finished second. In today's race, the fourth place battle between Casino Portamaso Chaudron and Chinese entry, Sun Lik Beer was a classic 'cat and mouse' encounter over a course distance of 52 nautical miles, with Sun Lik Beer eventually taking fourth place by just one second, having moved through the field from a start- lap position of eighth. A fourth place finish on the day for a team that has had a slow start to the season, after exceptional form in 2006, suggests that a win may not be too far way.

Chart Standings after Grand Prix of Italy

www.powerboatp1.com

Powerboat P1 - Italian Grand Prix of the Sea preview

The stunning Bay of Naples, home to more than one million people, presents a natural amphitheatre for this weekend's Powerboat P1 World Championship as 20 boats and teams from around the world arrive for the action, excitement and glamour of the Powerboat P1 Italian Grand Prix of the Sea. This dramatic backdrop for one of Europe's top-tier motorsports is guaranteed to be matched by the drama on the water with both racing classes, Evolution and SuperSport, fielding ten boats each, all race-prepared and eager to win. For the high-powered prototypes racing in Evolution this is the first time in the history of P1 that boat numbers have reached double figures, promising the motoring-mad Neapolitans noise, speed and furious action as the sleek powerful muscle machines generate upto 2000hp and 100mph. Local hero and 2006 World Champion Giancarlo Cangiano, with team mate Giovanni Carpitella, will lead the Italian challenge, buoyed by a win in the first Grand Prix in Malta but wary of the challenge amassing within the ranks. This includes Outerlimits Powerboats, the all-American US Championship winning team from Rhode Island, who demonstrated in its debut European race that it has the speed, determination and quality to win events on both sides of the pond. The weekend's new kid on the block is the English US team, Fountain Worldwide, with British pilots Craig Wilson and Class 1 and ProVee star James Sheppard, racing a Fountain Lightning 42 powered by Ilmor engines. The team has arrived out of the box in Italy and, with such a formidable package, achieving podium honours should only be a matter of time. Italy's great nautical and motor racing heritages are well represented in P1 and the tens of thousands of Neapolitans expected to line the Bay will find plenty of local flavour to cheer; from the Neapolitan pilots Cangiano, Stefano Cola and Angelo Tedeschi to the all-Italian boats, Fainplast, Kiton and Carpenter, and of course, the royal connection, Prince Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia, racing with Max Ferrari for the Italian Skater Racing team. Definitely looking for a win in Naples is Wettpunkt.com, the Austrian team powered by Italian Isotta Fraschini engines and an Italian FB design hull. There will also be great interest in the performance of Team Sunseeker, one of the leading contenders for the SuperSport title, racing with FPT Fiat Power Train engines in what is the first Formula One-style engine deal in P1. The Powerboat P1 Italian Grand Prix of the Sea comprises an 'Endurance' race on Saturday 26th May and shorter 'Rally' sprint on Sunday 27th. Both World Championship rounds 'power-off' at 12:30pm and with sunshine forecast for the weekend, close-to-the-shore race action and a large grid of pilots eager to impress, a spectacular show is promised.

www.powerboatp1.com

32nd Americas Cup - Louis Vuitton Finalists Loaded

The best of nine, first to five semi-finals ended yesterday with Emirates Team New Zealand finally going into the Final of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the last stage for the Challenger selection of the 32ND Americas Cup.

The semi finals went always according to plan and only one day Tuesday was cancelled, with the intelligence flag put ashore due to rough weather conditions and winds going from 20 up to 35 knots and waves from 2 to 3 metres in height. This cancellation effected only the NZL92 vs ESP97 match as the Luna Rossa vs Oracle Match concluded on Sunday.

The Luna Rossa Challenge vs Oracle was the biggest surprise of the semi finals with a staggering win of 5-1 from ITA94. No one would have predicted this result, especially after seeing the great performance of the Americans on USA98 during the Round Robin stages, more surprising and amazing it is when one sees that the Italian challenger was always ahead in every bow turn during the races. The point awarded to the USA Challenger during match 2 was in a certain way a mistake by the Italian team due to a big separation in the last down wind leg. Still as Oracle's Skipper Chris Dickson has said Luna Rossa showed good upwind speed and enough down wind speed to handle the situation. 

The other match between top challenger Emirates Team New Zealand and the locals home team of Desafio Espanol concluded with a 5-2 result. Still the Spanish seemed happy with this result as there main aim was to reach the semi-final and after that was to win or take some races from top rated challenger New Zealand, something they managed very well in doing in Race 3 and 6 of the semi-finals. Still the Spanish has to be proud as they have showed a superior pace then in the Round Robins stages. Now it's up for the last two titans Luna Rossa Prada Challenge vs Emirates Team New Zealand on the Final Match which starts on the 1st June in a best of nine first to five duel. Winner will challenge defender Alinghi in the 32nd America's Cup Final.
Picture copyright Lunarossachallenge Cup Magazine

www.americascup.com

Project: Aicon 75 Flybridge

New design for the Sicilian company with launch for the coming Summer. This new yacht will express key concepts of the Aicon style designed by Fulvio De Simoni and will fill the space between the 64 and the flagship 85 Flybridge models. The design of the new motor yacht focuses on flowing lines creating a harmonic unified shape and clever use of space both outside and inside. The interior space is focused on the living area with autonomy that are conversation, dinette and galley areas. Down below 4 cabins equipped with en-suite head all designed to provide privacy and comfort complete the spacious interior.

www.aiconyachts.com

Boat Review: Rizzardi 63 Hard Top

Presentation
Hard Top version for the successful 63 Topline, the Rizzardi 63 Hard Top was presented during the Naples Nauticsud Boatshow of 2005.  Offering customers and Rizzardi open brand fans a requested and practical all weather three part hard top on the classic contemporary lines of the Topline range. This new version for the 63 also offered different cockpit and interior layouts with a more minimal approach to the previous design and a more spacious third cabin.
Accommodation
Four different interior layouts are available for the Rizzardi 63, showing a real semi custom approach for the buyer and not just a selection of materials and colours as is the case in many production yachts of this size. Three of the available layouts are three cabin versions and a small crew cabin forward,  with a four cabin version plus crew something unusual in this size and type of yacht being available.  The four cabin version is an interesting layout especially if one has an interest in the charter market or has a big family to cater for and really does not feel the need for a bigger yacht to nineteen meters. 

The standard 63 Hard Top layout is a three spacious double cabins offer as pictured in blue below.
The interior accommodation features a very spacious owner-master cabin forward, second guest cabin to starboard of impressive size and VIP cabin aft with separate entrance from the cockpit. The aft VIP cabin feature is a really big bonus especially when inviting guests on board, as it really gives a real meaning to privacy both for guests and the owner alike. All cabins feature private en-suite heads with separate shower cubicle of good dimensions. Saloon has an adequate sized L-shaped settee. A medium sized fully equipped galley concludes the interior layout.

All Rizzardi 63 layouts. The no.4 blue colored layout is the standard hardtop interior version.
Performance
The Rizzardi 63 Hard Top has one of the driest rides in the category without having a high freeboard bow. Using the famous Technema derived hull with it's huge winged spay chine is a sure to keep water away in most conditions and provides also good lifting aid. Another good news are the central, perfectly positioned engines which should give easy planning to the 63 and huge stability especially with head seas. A small disadvantage for this solution will be less steering handling proficiency then V-dive or U-drive powered boats with aft positioned engines and tunnel propellers like most of the offers from the British builders. Think personally of what you prefer from a 19 metre power yacht? Making tight curves around the buoys with super handling steering ability or a more solid ride in rough weather. Top speed as declared by the manufacturer is 38 knots from twin Man 1100hp at 2300 rpm with fast cruiseat 33 knots at 2100 rpm, this give a range of 320 Nautical Miles.
Positive
Interior layout options
Standard spacious 3rd cabin in standard layout

Spacious x 3 heads (bathrooms)

Flush deck forward
Negative
Small Galley in standard interior layout

Optional High Safety Railing
Competition
Huge competition in the 18/19 metre Hard Top Sports Yachts with standard shaft driven propulsion. The thee famous British names all have there different offer and so do other major Italian and USA builders. Four cabins option makes the Rizzardi 63 Hard Top unique. Still the three cabins layout is one of the most spacious available in the range and in many of the competition the third cabin or is small or in bunk beds layout. Here is the main competition:

Aicon 62 Open - patio door, three cabin interior, all round deck.

Azimut 62 S - patio door, optional third cabin

Dalla Pieta DP 58 HT - spacious crew or guest fourth cabin aft

Fairline 62 Targa Gran Turismo - patio door, cockpit saloon style layout, crew cabin

Ilver 58 Vista - crew cabin option, cabin area with galley, saloon on main deck

Princess V65 - patio door, two social areas on cockpit, small third cabin, crew cabin option

Riva 63 Vertigo - crew cabin option aft, L-shape bunk third cabin, unique style

Sarnico 60 - crew cabin option, singles cabin aft with VIP and Master cabin forward

Searay 60 Sundancer - patio door, small third cabin option, well sized galley

Sunseeker 62 Predator - patio door, small bunk third cabin

Tecnomar 20 Velvet - patio door, twin saloon upper deck, semi custom

WILDCARD: Baia 63 Azzurra - surface drive 40 plus knots speed, three cabins plus crew forward  
Conclusion
Classic timeless lines are the theme for the Rizzardi 63 Hard Top and are part of the unique character of this sports yacht. Details like the curved windscreen, forward leaning style hardtop and the unique flush deck all have vintage written all over them. Future design touches are the unique Technema hull lines, well designed stern layout with the extended platform and nice stairs on both sides. Practical solutions are the recess aft for the mooring winches and cleats and the visible air intakes on the side for the engines just under the deck. This last a design trademark of the Toplines since the first of the range, the 53 which was presented in 1992. If one likes a conservative classic looking sport yacht outside and engineering wise but with brilliant modern solutions and options inside choosing the 63 Hard Top will be easy, but if you are looking for a more modern looking sports yacht, then may be you should look somewhere else before viewing a Rizzardi 63 Hard Top. .
Technical Data
L.O.A. 19.10 metres (62.6 ft)
Beam. 4.80 metres
Draft. 1.45 metres with props
Displacement. 30 t
Fuel Capacity. 2800 litres
Water Capacity. 700 litres
Accommodation. six guests in three cabins, or four cabins for eight guests, one crew cabin berth
Engines. 2 x MAN D2840LE423 V10 1100hp

Speed. max 38 knots. cruising 33 knots.

Range. 320 nautical miles

Design. Rizzardi

Certification. CE A

www.rizzardiyachts.com
Picture Copyright Rizzardi. Data Rizzardi.

32nd Americas Cup - Louis Vuitton Semi Finals

11:00 AM today during the semifinalist press conference, all remaining four teams for the semifinal stage of the The Louis Vuitton cup confirmed there latest constructed sail boat as used in the previous Round Robin stages. USA team BMW Oracle skipper Chris Dickson also gave a hint that USA98 will have a New Measurement Certificate. This is the third measurement certificate for USA98 since the regatta's started this year. A new certificate is also expected for Luna Rossa Challenge who have been rumored to have been trying different solutions this week, including a new mast which arrived to the base last Tuesday. Now let's hope for a good stable breeze and some real tight competitive racing.
Challenger's boat's for Semifinals:
Emirates Team New Zealand - NZL 92
BMW Oracle Racing - USA 98
Luna Rossa Challenge - ITA 94
Desafío Español 2007 - ESP 97

www.americascup.com

32nd Americas Cup - Louis Vuitton Round Robin Concludes

The 4 Semi Finalists for the Louis Vuitton Cup

After a difficult start for Round Robin 1 due to little wind, the Round Robin 2 concluded today. With only 1 day without racing, funnily enough for strong Ponente West winds. Round 2 offered stable conditions in Valencia and the promise of the much mentioned sea breeze from the East started making it's appearance more often, with temperatures over 25 degrees. The 4 semi finalists have been chosen with no surprise, as the top four challenger's as at the end of the ACT's where confirmed. Still surprises have not been less in the 2Nd Round and fierce competition for the Spanish Challenger of Desafio for the much wanted 4Th place by the Swede's of Victory challenge seemed never ending. Oracle and later followed by Luna Rossa where the first 2 team's to have a guaranteed place in the semi-final. Superb performance for Emirates Team New Zealand who won all their races in Round Robin 2 and managed to obtain the much important top spot, which gives them the opportunity to choose their opponent for the semi final, a big advantage.

The second Round Robin also showed the bigger potential of the 3 top teams with less mistakes happening and really no surprise, accept for the defeat of Oracle at the hands of China Team due to a damaged sail by the American Team during the race.
Comments end of Round Robin 1 & 2:
Emirates Team New Zealand make up for the 3 lost races in Round Robin 1 by beating everyone in the 2nd Round.  Improving power
BMW Oracle Racing defeated by China due to damage sail and New Zealand in the last duel for first place.  The bonus point the bonus point
Luna Rossa Challenge show better composure in Round.2, defeated by 1st/2nd ranked challenger in Round.2.  Challenge
Desafio Espanol 2007 get the much wanted 4th semi-final place a day before the end as planned
Victory Challenge miss the 4th place by a day, but still gain a place in the ranking.Improve
Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team started Round 1 well, went a complete downhill after that and fall to 6th.  Disappointment
Team Shosholoza the wild card of the Rounds, gave a tight match to all teams. Competitive again
Areva Challenge better results in Round 2 but much work to do.  Average
+39 Challenge when wind was over 10 knots they where looking better, nice win over Shosholoza.  Better 2nd round
United Internet Team Germany a preparation for the next cup.  Light improvement
China Team win top challenger BMW Oracle thanks to a sail damage. A win is a win
Round Robin 1 & 2 - Final Results and Ranking

www.americascup.com

Powerboat P1 - Malta Grand Prix of the Sea. High Rough Seas cancel Round 2

Malta Powerboat P1 Round One Saturday 5th May, Start for the 2007 Season

OSG Racing Donzi winner Grand Prix of Malta 07 & Evolution Class Champion 2006

OSG Donzi, the powerboat of Italian's Giancarlo Cangiano and Giovanni Carpitella, won the opening Grand Prix of the Powerboat P1 World Championship in Malta in a race that will long be remembered for high seas and unforgiving race conditions. Normally contested over two legs, dangerous sea conditions forced the cancellation of the Sunday race and the Saturday first round results stand, with Wettpunkt.com in second and Kiton in third.

RACE 1

The Italian craft of Fainplast had crossed the line first in the Evolution Class but a protest was lodged and subsequently upheld that the Metamarine boat had missed a course buoy during the race. It resulted in disqualification.

The Italian Team of OSG helmed by Giancarlo Cangiano was awarded the opening Grand Prix of the Powerboat P1 World Championship with Wettpunkt.com in second and Kiton in third. In SuperSport, the result was much more decisive after an emphatic Round the Island performance by the British husband and wife team of Mike Shelton and Jackie Hunt, despite waves of over 5 metres high. For many of the highly experienced seafaring racers, these were the worst conditions ever experienced, making the clear-cut win in Extremeboat, powered by Mercury Engines, even more impressive. The home Malta Team and boat Chaudron Portomaso claimed 4th Place and the other new Chaudron boat of Italian team Racing Project Roscioli Hotel came in second place. A good result for the Maltese powerboat builder.

RACE 2 The Round Two day on Sunday was cancelled due to rough seas, with relief to the battered and bruised boats and bodies from the Saturday race. Malta loves its P1 and the crowds respond in their tens of thousands. However, any initial disappointment for the large crowds was short lived when the organisers, in close co-operation with the Maltese Armed Forces and Civil Protection, created a time trial event within the stunning 'Fortress of the Mediterranean' Grand Harbour, Valletta. This impromptu initiative, though not counting towards the Championship, was won by ExtremeBoat in SuperSport and in Evolution by the Outerlimits Powerboats team. The high speeds generated across the waters of the harbour by the all-American outfit will serve as a timely reminder, if one was needed, that Joe Sgro and Mike Fiore are not in Europe just to make up the numbers. The teams which competed in the time trial where awarded 10 points each as a bonus.
2007 Powerboat P1 World Championship Maltese Grand Prix of the Sea - Results
Evolution Class
Pos. - No. Boat Name, Nationality = Points
1. - 88 OSG Racing - Italian - 80
2. - 81 Wettpunkt.com - Austrian - 60
3. - 90 Kiton - Italian - 50
97 - Outerlimits - American - DNF
64 - Fainplast - Italian - DQF
SuperSport Class
Pos. - No. - Boat Name - Nationality - Points
1. - 55 Extremeboat - British - 100
2. - 44 Roscioli Hotels Roma - Italian - 80
3. - 47 Buzzi Bullet - British - 60
4. - 46 Chaudron - Maltese - 50
5. - 11 Team Sunseeker - British - 40
6. - 09 Marex - British - 30 (Wild Card)
03 - Carpenter - Italian - DNF
07 - VoomVoom.com - British - DNF
08 - Sun Lik Beer - Chinese - DNF

www.powerboatp1.com

Powerboat P1 - The 2007 Season Starts

The coming weekend will mark the beginning of the U.I.M. Powerboat P1 Championship with 12 races scheduled in 6 different Venues in Europe. The start of this year championship as was in the previous 2 editions starts in the Southern tip of Europe, the Island of Malta, in the middle of the Mediterranean sea. The most up North Grand Prix, should be the 4Th venue of Cowes in the United Kingdom, which is a classic and legendary spot for Powerboat racing. This is the third time Malta will host the Powerboat P1 Grand Prix. The Island now is becoming a classic in the P1 circuit and Powerboat racing alike, as the island also hosted 3 Grand Prix for the U.I.M. World Class 1 Championship from 1992 to 1994.

The 2 day racing in Malta will feature 2 different courses. Round One Circuit on Saturday will be a 6 laps circuit on the north part of Malta plus a circumnavigation of the Island for the Evolution Class. The Supersport Class will perform the same course minus 1 lap, which is 5 laps and a Circumnavigation. Round Two Circuit on Sunday will be a spectacular all crowd viewing Grand Prix, with the start to be held on Malta's most famous seafront promenade the Sliema Front. The Evolution Class will perform 10 laps for this Grand Prix and Supersport Class will perform 9 laps. This year competition will feature 20 teams, 10 in the Evolution Class and 10 for the Super Sport Class. Famous Motor and Super Yacht builder Sunseeker will compete officially for the first time in the Supersport category. Sunseeker have also signed a deal with Fiat Powertrain Technologies which will supply the power for the Fabio Buzzi designed Sunseeker Challenger with twin 5.9 litre 480 hp turbo diesel engines, for the season. It is worth mentioning that the Sunseeker Challenger is a racing evolution of the XS-2000 production model. The model also competed in the 2006 season but not in official Sunseeker colors. Fountain powerboats from USA will also compete officially but in the more ambitious Evolution Class. May be in the future we will see more renowned official powerboat and motor yacht builders competing in this class, which apart from the usual good promotion an event like this holds, it can also be a superb benchmark for testing materials and hulls to the limits. In the early mid nineties many renowned builders especially from Italy and USA used to compete in U.I.M. Offshore Class 1 Championship and renowned Italian builder Ferretti also managed to win 2 World Class 1 titles in 1994 and 1997 and 2ND runner up in 1995.

www.powerboatp1.com