Class 1 - Norway Grand Prix 2011 Race 2

Heavy rains, strong winds and rough seas have forced the hands of race officials into canceling race 2 of the BMW Norwegian Grand Prix. “It is very disappointing for everyone involved but our absolute priority is the safety of competitors and everyone who is out on the water,” said UIM race director, Gordon Sutherland. “We had hoped the weather would lift but unfortunately it hasn’t.

“Course officials have been out in the safety boat twice during the afternoon to check the conditions and reported four meter seas and very strong gusting winds. It was clear that rescue boats would not be able to operate or in a position to respond to any incidents, leaving us no option but to cancel.”

UIM CLASS 1 WORLD POWERBOAT CHAMPIONSHIP - after race 3

1. 3 Victory - 55pts

2. 96 Spirit of Qatar - 50pts

3. 95 Spirit of Qatar - 31pts

4. 10 Fendi Racing - 23pts

5. 74 kim.com - 19pts

6. 5 Team Abu Dhabi - 18pts

7. 90 Welmax - 10pts

8. 50 Parsonage Racing - 8pts

9= 69 ferskfisken.no - 5 pts

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP - after race 1

1. 96 Spirit of Qatar - 20pts

2. 3 Victory - 15pts

3. 95 Spirit of Qatar - 12pts

4. 74 kim.com - 9pts

5. 90 Welmax - 7pts

6. 69 ferskfisken.no - 5pts

7. 10 Fendi Racing - 4 pts

8. 91 Relekta - 3pts

9= 5 Team Abu Dhabi - 0 pts

9= 50 Parsonage Racing - 0pts

www.class-1.com

Nordhavn New Web Site

Nordhavn famous for its line of explorer yachts and cruisers presents its new virtual web show room.  Nordhavn was actually founded in 1988, with its first model the 46 launching in 1989.  But the company history started in 1973 when Jim Leishman and Dan Streech meet in a brokerage firm and start building the foundations for what in time will become first the Pacific Asian Enterprises up to what will be the North Harbor what is English translation of Nordhavn.  Interesting stories come to the launch of the first Nordhavn 46 is that Cruising World magazine declined its advertisements, and builder Ta Shiing from Taiwan decline to build it.  In fact it will be Tsai Wan Sheu in Taiwan who will build it. For the second Nordhavn model the 62 the American Asian company will have to wait two years launched in the dark period of boating known as the American 10% Luxury Tax.  A 50 in 1995, and a 56MS a year later where the next Nordhavn models to come after the luxury tax was ended.  2007 marked an important year for Nordhavn with the company building its first super 24 meters plus yacht 86 model, and a year later to this opening its new building facility located in Xiamen China.  So far 2008 was the best annual result for Nordhavn with eighty boats sold during the recession ended year.  Nordhavn current line up offers seventeen models from the entry level 40 to the still in project 120 flagship.  The line also offers two alternative models, the 56 MS, and 75 EYF.  The latest Nordhavn model is the recently launched 63. The new Nordhavn web site takes you around with the following buttons; Models, Company, News, Brokerage, Community, Interactive, Resources, and Contacts.

www.nordhavn.com

Production History;

46 1989-2003 (82)

62 1991-2007 (35)

50 1995-2006

40 1999-2003 (45)

57 1999-2007

35CP 2001-05 (24)

47 2003-08 (60)

40II 2004-18 (69)

43 2004- (41

72 2004-19 

55 2005-09 

64 2006-19 

76 2006-

86 2007- (10

75EYF 2008-

52 2009- (80

60 2009- (84

68 2009- (41 *68FPH project

63 2011- (19

120 2013- (1

59 Coastal Pilot 2016-

96 2016- (9

Lanzarote 76 2016 

100 2018 (1) *96 Extended project

41 2020- (41

475 2020- (47

80 2021- (5

625 2023- (3

71 2023- (3

Class 1 - Norway Grand Prix 2011 Race 1

Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani celebrated his 50th race start and his first win in Class 1 alongside Steve Curtis with a superb flag-to-finish victory in race 1 of the BMW Norwegian Grand Prix.

Victory’s Arif Al Zafeen and Nadir Bin Hendi shrugged off the disadvantage of having to run an extra ‘penalty lap’ to finish in an impressive second place, with Ali Al Neama and Matteo Nicolini making it a double podium celebration for the Spirit of Qatar Team.

Today’s win finally ended Sheikh Hassan and Steve Curtis’ long wait for their first win together since teaming-up in 2008 and hinged on a spectacular start by the Spirit of Qatar pairing, who moved from third place on the start line to immediately challenge pole-sitters, Victory’s Arif Al Zafeen and Nadir Bin Hendi, for the lead at the first turn.

The run down the long straight saw the Victory and Qatar boats dicing side-by-side, with Sheikh Hassan and Steve Curtis holding their nerve to win the drag race and grab the advantage and go on to lead at the end of the first lap.

From the front they were able to control the race and go on to win the 8-lap, 52.45Nm race by over 8 seconds at an average speed of 186.61km/h.

Second place for the defending World Champions keeps them at the top of the points table, but sees their lead cut to five points.

Matteo Nicolini marked his 100th race start with his second podium in three races with newcomer Ali Al Neama, but was clearly unimpressed finishing in third place.
Guido Cappellini and Giampaolo Montavoci, also making his 100th start, produced an impressive showing in kim.com and enjoyed a race long duel with Team Abu Dhabi, passing the Emirati duo of Mansoori and Al Tayer on lap 3 and holding off their sustained challenge to finish fourth.

But Team Abu Dhabi’s fifth place was short lived following their post-race disqualification.

Welmax, Fendi Racing and ferskfisken.no enjoyed their own private battle in the lower order, swapping places throughout the race - Fendi Racing incurring a post race penalty lap dropping them to seventh, with Relekta having a frustrating outing, finishing eighth.

BMW NORWEGIAN GRAND PRIX, RACE 1 - results

1. 96 Spirit of Qatar - H Al Thani (QAT) / S Curtis (ENG) 00.31.13,89

2. 3 Victory - A Al Zafeen (UAE) / N Bin Hendi (UAE) + 00.07,90

3. 95 Spirit of Qatar - A Al Neama (QAT) / M Nicolini (ITA) + 00.21,46

4. 74 kim.com - G Cappellini (MON) / G Montavoci (ITA) + 00.34,00

5. 90 Welmax - K Selmer (NOR) / J Tandberg (NOR) + 02.16,70

6. 69 ferskfisken.no - F Sundsdal (NOR) / B Jacobsen (NOR) + 02.37,50

7. 10 Fendi Racing - L Formilli Fendi (ITA) / G Carpitella (ITA) + 02.34,76*

8. 91 Relekta - U Isik (TUR) / C Zaborowski (NOR) + 2 Laps

9. 5 Team Abu Dhabi - R Al Tayer (UAE) / M Al Mansoori (UAE) + 00.44,12**

- 50 Parsonage Racing - G Manuzzi (SMR) / P Virik Nilsen (NOR) dns

* N°10 1 Long Lap penalty applied

** N°5 disqualified - rule 29.07
www.class-1.com

Projects: Benetti Sail Division 115 RS Mediterranean Style, Benetti Sail Division 122

Benetti Sail Division continues with the presentation of its new projects, which apart the round stern models features some innovative designs like the Logica, and World Traveler series.  A fresh wind seems blowing in the company with sixteen new projects shown in the web site.  The two last projects are what Benetti Sail Division calls the Special Edition and features two yachts the above Mediterranean Style 115 RS, and 122.  The 115 RS Mediterranean Style is a redesign of the upper structure of the top second deck with his being also a bit larger.  The standard plan for examples puts the owners state room on the top deck here having the plan of an apartment, with the VIP suite located on the main deck. Two other guest cabins are located to aft.  The crew area with lobby saloon and galley is located to fore.  To midships is also a tender garage with space for three water craft; a tender and two jet bikes.  Power is from twin 1000hp MAN which should give a 13 knots max, and a 10 knots economic cruise giving 4800 nautical miles of range.

The Benetti Sail Division 122 project would have looked very revolutionary a few years ago in the line of the Viareggio, Italian boat builder but if you consider the new Logica and World Traveller lines today it looks a standard contemporary design.  The 122 is a modern actual looking super yacht with three decks.  A ten berths in five double cabins interior is offered with the owners stateroom located on the main deck.  The VIP suite is located unusually to aft.  Power is from twin 1319hp Cat engines which should give a top speed of 14 knots and a cruise of 13.

www.benettisaildivision-ss.com

New Model: Ferretti Custom Line 100

Ferretti Custom Line launched the new 100 model the past Spring, one of the most modern and revolutionary designs coming from the Italian builder in recent times.  Designed as since twenty years any Ferretti who come with this name by Zuccon, the Custom Line 100 is very different to the smaller and bigger sister.  Showing all this the Custom Line 97 which is very similar in size but more classic Ferretti in looks will be so far kept in production, and this as stated by the company brand manager.  The main difference in the Ferretti Custom Line 100 is surely the wide body fore peak, but also the design of the coach roof and the shape of the large windows points towards revolution in looks which I think we will be seeing more in the newer planning series in future times.  The plan of the Ferretti Custom Line 100 is for two and half deck with the helm located in a raised pilot house being the half deck which transits between the flybridge and lower living area.  Down in the main deck which takes the living area from midships to aft with the seperate galley included, and to fore being dedicated to the owners stateroom.  This being a spacious affair having a beauty study, dining breakfast table for two, walk in wardrobe, and spacious bathroom.  Below is an area reserved for guests with four double cabins with two VIP suites located to midships.  To fore peak is the crew quarters with three double cabins, three shower heads, and an L-shaped sofa for relaxation.  The aft area has been left to be used as a beach with the crew cabins located back to fore calling a bit for a return to the past here.  Power is from twin MTU latest 2639hp engines which should give a max speed of about 26 knots. 

Technical Data:

LOA - 30.6 m (100.5ft)

Hull Length - 30.5 m

Waterline Length - 25.34 m 

Beam - 7.25 m

Draft - 2.00 m

Displacement - 112 t dry unloaded, 129.9 t fully loaded

Fuel Capacity - 14700 l

Water Capacity - 3000 l

Max Persons - 20

Accommodation - 10 guest berths in 5 cabins, 5/6 crew in 3 cabins

Engines - 2 x MTU 16v2000 M94 2639hp

Propulsion - line shaft

Speed - 26 knots extimate

Hull Shape - Warped Vee with spray rails 15.1 degrees deadrise 

Project - Zuccon International exterior lines and interior, Ferretti AYT hull and propulsion

Certification - RINA, Cross of Malta hull, Mach Y Unrestricted Navigation

www.customline-yacht.com

Project: Jeanneau NC9

Jeanneau presents the project for the NC9, second project in this new line which was launched in 2010 with NC11.  The NC9 is again a job of designers Garroni, and Jeanneau architects.  The NC9 is set to launch on the fall of this year shows, so expect to see her make its debut in Cannes, or by the latest in Genoa.  The interior is really a similar boat to what the NC11 offers with everything being that little bit smaller.  We have the same layout of living main deck, with galley located opposite of the C-shaped dinette.  The patio door also opens to make this area join with the cockpit.  The sunroof also has a choice from a standard size opening about 25% of the roof, to a larger double the size glassed version. Down below is space for two separate double cabins, and a shower head room.  The owners room as is expected in a boat this size is located to fore.  Power is to be from a single diesel stern drive engine from Volvo from 260 to 300hp. 

www.jeanneau.com

New Model: Intermarine 75

 

Intermarine continues its new course and along with the 60, it presented at the Rio Boat show the 75 model.  While similar on the exterior lines to the 60, this current flagship of Intermarine is a design of Luiz de Basto who for a 75 feet motor yacht presents again a sports low profile line.  Something seen on the 60 but looking more impressive on the 75. Inside the accommodation plan will have four double guest suites, located in the traditional form of owners stateroom to midships, VIP suite to fore, two twin cabins in between.  All the cabins have en-suite bathrooms.  To aft below is a crew lobby which has two cabins with four berths, small galley and an L-shaped dinette.  The main deck living area of the Intermarine 75 is about open spaces full of natural light thanks to the huge glass surfaces surrounding all the area.  Two steps split level the main interior dividing entertainment located on entrance and lower, with the more working area having galley, dining table and helm to port side.  To note in the helm are the two adjustable sports car seats for helmsman and co-pilot, and the single glass of the windshield which has no mullions at the center.  This apart giving better visibility is also more aesthetically clean for the Intermarine 75, and is quite an engineering challenge to achieve.  Just as the 60, the flybridge of the 75 is all reserved for entertainment with two sun pads to aft and fore, a dinette, wet bar and helm station to port side. Tender stowage is located to aft with high low bathing platform making for easy launching and recovery. Power is from twin MAN 1550hp engines.  The optional choice should give a 34 knots top speed with 30 of cruise. 

Technical Data:

LOA - 23.5 m (77.9ft)

Hull Length - 23.15 m

Beam - 5.5 m

Draft - 1.65 m

Displacement - 42 t dry

Fuel Capacity - 5000 l

Water Capacity - 1200 l

Accommodation - 8 guest berths in 4 cabins, 4 crew berths in 2 cabins 

Engines - 2 x MAN 1550hp

Propulsion - line shaft

Speed - 34 knots max 30 knots cruise 1550hp
Project - Luiz de Basto designs

www.intermarine.com.br

Project: Viking 66 Enclosed Bridge

Viking presents the project for the 66 Enclosed Bridge which is set to premier in 2012 in Florida. Like the open bridge Convertible version, the 66 Enclosed Bridge has a four staterooms and four private heads in its standard accommodation plan. The island galley, dinette, and salon also are similar, with the significant addition of a spiral staircase that leads to the enclosed bridge. The climate-controlled enclosed bridge is inviting and spacious with the main helm forward on center line for good visibility. The raised ultra-leather dash handles a bank of navigation and communication electronics, and overhead, an accessory panel is easily read and reached. An adjustable Stidd helm seat provides plenty of comfort and support on long jaunts, and a large companion seat to starboard features drawer stowage and good visibility for crew and guests. Abaft the companion seat, a row of teak joinery houses bottle and general stowage. A flat screen television is mounted above the built-in refrigerator. A raised lounge with a teak cocktail table on the port side creates the atmosphere of a second salon for added privacy and convenience.  A weatherproof lockable door leads to the aft deck and the second helm station, a pod design that has single lever controls, a stainless-steel wheel and stop/start switches. Safety railing on the aft deck, as well as the exterior flying bridge access ladder is powder-coated aluminum.

www.vikingyachts.com

Improve-it = Atlantis 44

Atlantis presents an important addition to its last new model the 44 launched the past October in Genoa now being the first boat to be powered with new Volvo D6 400hp engines.  This engine option adds to about two knots in top speed versus the previous twin Volvo 370hp set up now reaching 36 knots of max.  But apart this Atlantis also says the new twin 400hp engines also reduces RPM at cruising speeds which will mean lower consumption and better range.  The Volvo D6 400hp engine is currently the most powerful diesel stern drive in the World and currently the Atlantis 44 is the only boat in existence offered with this option.  Considering that the Azimut Benetti Group is not exclusive to Volvo engines this shows big thrust to the engineering, research and design department of the Italian builder.  This to he honest is not the first to come to the Italian group with ZF also experimenting its large ZF4000 pods first on the Azimut 62S.  Azimut Benetti Group of which Atlantis yachts makes part having been acquired as Gobbi in 2001 marks the entry level sport cruiser and yacht segment of the Italian company.  The Atlantis 44 is the second project to come from the hands of Neo Design of Filippo Salvetti and Marco Biaggi, who in the near future should renew all the range which was previously designed by Stefano Righini for the larger models, and Michael Peters responsible for the smaller cruisers.  The Atlantis 44 offers a two cabins lower deck with a full beam owners suite to midships.  The main deck offers a very open area with aft sun pad, as Atlantis started showing up with the 54 introduced in 2008.
www.azimutyachts.com

Class 1 - Norway Grand Prix 2011 Preview

Victory’s Arif Al Zafeen and Nadir bin Hendi will be the target and team to beat at this weekend’s BMW Norwegian Grand Prix (15-17 July) in Arendal, round 2 of the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship.

The defending World Champions lead the points table after taking maximum points at the season-opener in Abu Dhabi, and will be intent on adding to their 23 career wins and maintaining the team’s enviable record in Arendal, where they have won eight times from 14 starts – winning both races last year.

Ten boats will line up for the 14th Grand Prix in Arendal since 1994, and the tens-of-thousands of partisan spectators who are expected to turn out for what is considered one of the great events and race circuits on the Class 1 tour, will be baying for a Norwegian win.

The fight for Norwegian supremacy and a win on home waters is between Welmax and Relekta; Jorn Tandberg and Christian Zaborowski won in Arendal in 2006, but nowadays line up in opposing teams, Tandberg winning again in 2008, the year he clinched the European title.

Tandberg partners Kolbjorn Selmer in the Mercury V8-powered Welmax, the all-Norwegian partnership enjoying considerable success since pairing in Arendal in 2009, taking ten podium finishes from 21 starts and six wins in pole position, five of them last year to win the Edox Pole Position Championship.

Team owner Tandberg has also confirmed they will run a second boat, ferskfisken.no - the Maritimo-designed and built hull that they ran as Welmax Alianza in Brazil last year - and will announce their driver pairing this week.

After a promising and then rather spectacular start to the year for Relekta’s Ugur Isik and Christian Zaborowski, posting fifth quickest in qualifying then crashing out in race 1, Zabo Racing has upped the stakes in its bid for silverware, buying the championship-winning hull, Fazza, from Victory Team.

The team has enjoyed a roller-coaster ride since its launch at the Norwegian Grand Prix last season, grabbing its first podium in Abu Dhabi last year and there is now an air of excitement within the team that they have the complete package to step up their title challenge.

Fendi Racing also fields a new boat whilst Austrian-based DAC Racing roll-out a cut-down version of their Tencara.

Luca Formilli Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella will unveil their new Outerlimits boat-engine package; their decision to run with the Outerlimits hull and twin 850 SC Outerlimits Powertrain engines sees the American high-performance boat manufacturer making its debut in the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship.

Fendi and Carpitella teamed-up in Class 1 last season and have taken two podium finishes in six starts, with Carpitella hoping they can at least repeat his three visits to the podium in Arendal last year.

DAC Racing’s Guido Cappellini is confident that the extreme modifications to his Tencara – cutting 120cm from the mid-section and reducing the overall weight by several hundred kilos – and upgrades to his Mercury engines, giving 50hp more per engine, will give him and throttleman, Giampaolo Montavoci, who starts his 100th race in Arendal, a real shot at competing at the front of the pack and challenging for race honours.

The team runs the restyled DAC 40 as kim.com for the first time in Arendal.

Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani and Steve Curtis will lead the Spirit of Qatar Team’s two-boat attack out onto the fjords, looking for the win that has so far eluded them in Class 1 since they joined forces in 2008.

And whilst they [Sheikh Hassan and Curtis] have enjoyed considerable success together, winning six times and lifting both national and world titles racing in America, they have had to settle for podium finishes - six - from their 12 starts in Class 1.

The team made an impressive return to the Championship earlier this year stepping onto the podium four times, Sheikh Hassan and Curtis grabbing two second places, with Matteo Nicolini aiming to keep the pressure on his teammates and build on his impressive performance with rookie driver Ali Al Neama, finishing third-quickest in qualifying and third in race 2 - both outfits running Victory-built hulls with SKEMA V12 engines.

And whilst Curtis is the only member of the team and one of only five of this seasons’ 22 competitors to have won in Arendal - in 2002 with Bjorn Gjelsten - both Sheikh Hassan and Nicolini - albeit now in opposing boats - will be hoping for a repeat of previous successes on Norwegian fjords in Arendal this week, the pair winning in Oslo in 2004 and in Trondheim in 2005, the year they won the European Championship.

Team Abu Dhabi has announced a change in their line-up, bringing in Emirati Majed Al Monsoori to partner wheelman, Rashed Al Tayer. Both are experienced racers; Al Tayer already a triple race-winner in Class 1 in just his second season, whilst Monsoori has come up through the ranks from Jet Ski competition and single-seater circuit racing. The duo also competes together in the XCat series and may well be a force to be reckoned with.

Chris Parsonage Racing retains the same driver-pairing with Giorgio Manuzzi alongside Norwegian throttleman Pal Virik Nilsen. The former teammates at Maritimo Offshore have both enjoyed podium success in Arendal, Manuzzi getting second and third last year and a third, behind Nilsen, in 2009.

The Grand Prix weekend gets underway with first practice on Friday afternoon. A second practice on Saturday afternoon is immediately followed by qualifying in the Edox Pole Position and race 1, with a final practice session and race 2 on Sunday.

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

1. 3 Victory Team - 40pts

2. 96 Spirit of Qatar - 30pts

3= 10 Fendi Racing - 19pts

3= 95 Spirit of Qatar - 19pts

5. 5 Team Abu Dhabi - 18pts

6. 74 Poliform - 10pts

7. 50 Parsonage Racing - 8pts

8. 18 MITI - 4pts

9. 90 Welmax - 3pts

10. 91 Relekta - 2pt

www.class-1.com