Project: Mochi 23 Long Range

Ferretti Group with it's Mochi Craft brand challenges the nautical world with this new project, the 23 Long Range zero emission hybrid propulsion explorer yacht, and the new FER.WAY hull, an innovative special hull designed by the Ferretti Engineering department for maximum efficiency at the range of 10 to 15 knots. The 23 Long Range is a revolutionary three deck motor yacht and with it Mochi Craft rewrites the history of the international nautical sector. Driven by the passion of Norberto Ferretti and made possible by the years of research carried out by Ferretti’s AYT Advanced Yacht Technology division, led by Andrea Frabetti, in collaboration with the Studio Zuccon International Project the new 75 feet Long Range embodies an unprecedented distillation of innovation and technology. Conceived for lovers of long-distance cruising and extended voyages, the Long Range 23 is the first craft to obtain the RINA “Green Star Clean Energy and Clean Propulsion” certification, the most rigorous certification standard that can be applied to a pleasure craft. After creating the Italian Lobster Boat Style with the Dolphin line launched in 2003, Mochi Craft now enters the Explorer Yacht market with two new solutions that open up new horizons in the international nautical panorama. First is the revolutionary Zero Emission Mode hybrid propulsion system. The new hybrid propulsion system allows the craft to be managed in 5 different ways, easily controlled through a touch-screen display ranging from the traditional diesel function to the zero emissions mode, using different combinations of diesel engine, electric engine, inverter, batteries and generator. The 23 Long Range features the most cutting edge technology now on the market, offering owners the opportunity to select the propulsion mode that best reflects the needs of the moment – sailing in unpolluted areas with total respect for the environment, lying at mooring with zero emissions while accessing all the boat’s electrical facilities or entering and leaving port in absolute silence while creating no smoky exhaust emissions. The other noveltly is the new FER.WEY (Ferretti Wave Efficient Yacht) trans-planing hull ensuring high hydrodynamic efficiency than other planing or displacement hulls, thanks to the innovative design of the depth surface, permitting the boat to avoid adopting the usual stern-down attitude when speed is increased. The new FER.WEY hull also reduces the typical roll experienced by displacement hulls and improves static stability by up to 50%. Its special design, with longitudinal tunnels protecting the props and a horizontal base on the bow bulb, allows the boat to rest on sandy bottoms and stay moored in locations subject to tides. The two technologies the hybrid propulsion system and trans-planing hull, combine and reinforce each other in a craft that offers a revolutionary design concept and solutions. The 23 Long Range is designed for spending long periods at sea in maximum comfort and total safety, backed by exceptional environmental awareness, the perfect mix of avant garde technology and Made in Italy design. The external lines are a synthesis of the Nordic work boat tradition and refined Made in Italy taste that Mochi Craft has skilfully expressed since 2003. In the interiors, the choice of prized materials, warm woods like teak and oak, natural fabrics and cutting edge design solutions redefine the concept of on board luxury and quality of life in the “expedition boat” market. The new 23 Long Range will be offered in a 3 or 4 cabin version with a 2 berth crew cabin aft and an optional captains cabin on top of the fly bridge by the wheelhouse. As for the performance, the new 23 Long Range offers the new innovative FER.WEY hull, which already offers great stability, but complemented by the Mitsubishi ARG, Anti Rolling Gyro System, which is worldwide exclusive to Ferretti which cuts roll caused by wave motion at anchor or under way by up to 50%, and stabilising fins, both mounted as standard. The 23 Long Range 23 is powered by twin MAN Common Rail power options, a 500hp and an 800hp version. Mochi is estimating cruising speeds of 13.5 knots and top speed of 16 knots, for the 800hp version.

www.mochicraft-yacht.com

Bruno Abbate 1951 - 2008

PowerYacht gives the blessings to World renowned boat builder Bruno Abbate who yesterday 16th July in a Milan hospital left us for the better World. Bruno Abbate 57 year old was son of Guido Abbate a renowned wooden boat builder from lake Como Italy. The Abbate boat building tradition goes back to 1873 when Giuseppe Abbate, grand father to Bruno started building fishing and carrier boats on Lake Como. In 1930 Guido Abbate, the father of Bruno mounted the first engine on a flat bottom boat, which started the Abbate fame for fast boats. Bruno Abbate founded his own yard in 1978, which started the change in the family to fiberglass construction. In 1987 with the CUV Primatist powered with triple Isotta Fraschini of 900 hp each, Bruno won the European Class 1 Championship, along with this the mono hull carried on winning the Italian and Mediterranean titles for the same year.

Class 1 - Norway Arendal Preview

A win for Victory 1 in this weekend’s BMW Norwegian Grand Prix in Arendal, round four of the class 1 World Powerboat Championship, would secure the Dubai pairing their first European Championship title and a sixth for the Victory Team.

The Victory Team has an impressive record in Arendal winning six out of the 11 races held since 1994 and with Victory 1 unbeaten this season, on present form, appear to be unstoppable, and with a 24-point advantage over their team-mates in Victory 7, they look all set to add their names to the trophy. However, should Victory 7 take the win, the battle for the European crown will go down to the wire and be decided in the Romanian Grand Prix in Constanta-Mamaia in August.

For the Qatar Team, it seems that whatever they do, Victory can match or better it, lying in third place in Qatar 95 and Qatar 96 in fourth, know that they will have to produce something extraordinary from somewhere, or else hope that the Championship leaders have a problem if they are to reduce the points gap in the title race. But Norwegian waters have, in the past, proved a successful hunting ground for the Qatar Team winning in Oslo in 2004 and Trondheim in 2005, and with Curtis a six-times winner in Norway winning in Arendal in 2001 this could be the weekend that Qatar ends Victory’s winning streak.

Proving to be one of the most solid and reliable outfits this season is that of the Italian team, Foresti & Suardi, who have carved out three well-earned fifth place finishes and in fifth spot, are currently the highest-placed European team. But Norwegian hopes for a repeat ‘home win’ last enjoyed in 2006 by what is a fervently partisan following in Arendal rest firmly on the shoulders of Jotun, which showed real pace in Moscow going second quickest in qualifying and but for a broken propeller, would certainly have challenged the front runners and have upped the stakes to be real podium challengers.

Roscioli Hotels Roma faced a race against time to repair their boat and be ready to start this weekend, after a harrowing moment during the last race, when they lost control as their steering broke coming off their long-lap and, unable to steer, they hit the dock, damaging the front left sponson.

Giorgi Offshore will be desperate to get SeveneleveN back in the points after two frustrating races. After a solid performance in qualifying in Moscow, an engine problem during the race with SeveneleveN running in fifth place ended what looked like being their best performance of the season. The new Nicolini-designed and built race boat, Qatar 9, will get only its second outing in Arendal, hoping for better luck than in Moscow, where a broken propeller cut short their race on lap one, after they had impressed during all practice sessions and in qualifying on their debut in Moscow.

This weekend also sees the return to Class 1 action for Tom Barry-Cotter and Pal Virik Nilsen, given a wild card entry by the Championship Organisers. Last season’s youngest pairing who this year lifted the Australian Offshore Superboat Championship, winning four out of six races will step back into the Mercury Class 1 powered Tencara they raced last year, and run under the colours of Maritimo Offshore.

For all the teams the biggest challenge of the weekend will be to master the demanding 5.65Nm circuit run on Tromoysund and Galtesund fjords, with its fast sweeping turns, narrow straights lined with rocky outcrops and islands, providing a stern test of the pilot’s skill and nerve over the 17 lap, 96.70Nm race.

CLASS 1 WORLD POWERBOAT CHAMPIONSHIP - after round 3 of 8

1. Victory 1 - M Al Marri (UAE) / N Bin Hendi (UAE) – 64pts

2. Victory 7 - A Al Mehairbi (UAE) / JM Sanchez (France) – 40pts

3. Qatar 95 - A Al-Sulaiti (Qatar) / M Nicolini (Italy) – 37pts

4. Qatar 96 - H Al-Thani (Qatar) / S Curtis (England) – 35pts

5. Foresti & Suardi 8 - K Selmer (Norway) / G Montavoci (Italy) – 25pts

6. Jotun 90 – IB Aarbakke (Norway) / J Tandberg (Norway) – 18pts

7. Roscioli Hotels Roma 88 - S Carrasco (Spain) / D Cirilli (Spain) – 8pts

8. SeveneleveN 18 - G Manuzzi (Italy) / N Giorgi (Italy) – 5pts

9. Negotiator 50 - B Eker (Norway) / C Parsonage (England) – 4pts

Qatar 9 - M Al-Nassr (Qatar) / L Nicolini (Italy)

CLASS 1 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP - after round 2 of 4

1. Victory 1 - 40pts

2=Victory 7 - 24pts

2=Qatar 95 - 24pts

4. Qatar 96 - 20pts

5=Jotun 90 - 14pts

5=Foresti & Suardi 8 - 14pts

7. Roscioli Hotels Roma 88 - 4pts

SeveneleveN 18

Negotiator 50

Qatar 9

EDOX POLE POSITION CHAMPIONSHIP – after round 3 of 8

1. Victory 1 - 55pts

2. Qatar 96 - 47pts

3. Jotun 90 - 36pts

4. Qatar 95 - 28pts

5. Victory 7 - 20pts

6. Foresti & Suardi 8 - 11pts

7. SeveneleveN 18 - 10pts

8. Negotiator 50 - 7pts

9=White 4 - 5pts

9=Qatar 9 - 5pts

11. Roscioli Hotels Roma 88 - 2pts

www.class-1.com

Projects: Sunseeker 92 Predator Sport, Sunseeker 30 Metre Yacht, Sunseeker 130 Predator

The project for this big 92 Predator Sport model, follows the new turnaround of putting a small sport coupe style helm on top of the hardtop. As usual for Sunseeker the new Predator Sport will have a vast choice of drive systems, like conventional shafts, surface drives and more exhilarating jets. Standard interior accommodation is a four guest stateroom all en-suite cabins, and crew quarters for four members. The new 30 Metre Yacht model project, replaces a huge success for Sunseeker that was the 105 Yacht model. Accommodation for this new model is for up to eight guests, and crew quarters are for four members. The 30 Metre Yacht model will stand in the middle of the Yachts range of big flybridge yachts from the renowned British builder, entering into important super yacht territory. When this project will be launched it will be Sunseekers bigger launch to date at a length of over 38 metres, beating the current 37 Metre Trideck Yacht by just 1 metre. Its good to see that the British builder still puts fast sports orientated models as it did in the past. Sunseeker is promising great performance for the new flagship of all the marquee and the performance yachts range. Standard accommodation is for ten people, with crew quarters for eight members.

www.sunseeker.com

New Model: Beneteau 32 Monte Carlo Hard Top

Beneteau continues to upgrade its Monte Carlo range of fast modern sports cruisers and in this case enriching the model to a more alternative customer base. The new Hard Top version of the 32 Monte Carlo, aims at growing a wider audience and making this craft an all weather fast sports cruiser, being sun or rain. All the other features of the 32 Monte Carlo are still there, so if the hard top was the only item missing for the purchase, Beneteau and designer Andreani made sure to put it so as to convince you. As for the technical features of the Monte Carlo range are all here of which is the most important efficient Beneteau patented air step technology.

Technical Data:

LOA - 10.05 m (32.9ft)

Length Hull - 9.31 m

Beam - 3.30 m

Draft - 1.10 m

Displacement - 5380 kg light

Fuel Capacity - 490 l

Water Capacity - 160 l

Engines - 2 x Volvo GI 270hp Petrol, D4 190hp Diesel

Propulsion - Stern Drive

Designer - P.Andreani, Beneteau

Certification - EC B8 C8

www.beneteau.com

Powerboat P1 - Tunisia Gran Prix, GFN Gibellato Conam Yachts Win

It was another difficult weekend for the P1 teams, what was called a tough and fit only challenge from the crews, with the med sea showing for another time this year his dark side. Tunisia proved a big challenge for all teams, with issues like high temperature, big swell seas and attrition all playing a big part in the difficulties for the boats and there crews. The Sunday Evolution team race with only 3 boats finishing the race was just testimony to all the problems the boats faced. Now it will be a longish 2 month break for the championship with a teaser in between for the classic Cowes Torquay Cowes race, which the P1 Management is promoting.

Evolution

The 60 GFN Gibellato crew continued their impressive 2008 form in this weekend’s Tunisian Grand Prix of the Sea Evolution Endurance race. The Italian crew pipped the 88 Kiton Outerlimits and 99 Fountain Worldwide 1st4boats.com entries in a dramatic race of incidents and attrition that proved a real test for the stamina of both boats and crews. With 40C temperatures on the shore, and probably 50C+ temperatures in the closed canopy Evolution cockpits, the battle for the lead in the early stages of the event was a fierce four-way duel between the 10 Fantastic 1 Cigarette boat, the 69 Honeyparty.com boat, and the 77 Lucas Oil team. Closing fast on this mix were the reigning champion and current class-leading 99 Fountain Worldwide 1st4boats.com team, but just as the British-based squad seemed like they were about to do their usual job of emerging ahead of the pack, they yo-yoed from fourth to first, and back to fourth again after a dramatic first corner spin. Things weren’t any easier for the leading pack as one-by-one the 10 Fantastic 1 Cigarette boat, the 69 Honeyparty.com boat and the 77 Lucas Oil team dropped by the wayside with mechanic problems, many of which were related to the intense heat. Going into the closing laps, the 60 GFN Gibellato team emerged from the gaggle leading the 88 Kiton Outerlimits boat, the 99 Fountain Worldwide boat and the sole remaining survivor, the 53 Pignolo 53 entry. If such tough conditions and unpredictable results continue for the Sprint race, we could well have some significant changes at the top of the Evolution class points standings.

The Evolution Sprint race round of the Tunisian Grand Prix of the Sea proved as much of a test of stamina of man and machine as Saturday’s Endurance race, with the 10 Fantastic 1 Cigarette Racing Team Europe squad, the 76 Italcraft boat and the 88 Kiton Outerlimits emerging the top-three survivors from an attrition-marked race. The first few laps provided some of the closest racing of the season so far as the 10 Fantastic 1, the 60 GFN Gibellato, the 88 Kiton Outerlimits and the 99 Fountain Worldwide 1st4boats.com crews battled fiercely for position. By the end of the first lap, though the 99 Fountain Worldwide crew were slowing with broken steering, and the 60 GFN Gibellato boat was surging ahead into a dominant lead. As the 88 Kiton Outerlimits boat slowed with an engine problem, the four-way battle turned into a two-way scrap that in the closing laps soon became a solo performance as the 60 GFN Gibellato boat followed the lead of the midfield runners and crawled to a halt. That put the 10 Fantastic 1 boat back ahead, with the US-backed Italian-run team scoring their first Powerboat P1 victory on a weekend when regular throttleman Lino Di Biase was replaced with Class 1 racer Matteo Nicolini. The only joy for the 60 GFN Gibellato team was that the high rate of attrition meant they were able to score third place, and secure the overall Tunisian Grand Prix of the Sea honours from the 10 Fantastic 1 boat and Max Ferrari’s 53 Pignolo53 entry.

Supersport

The reigning champion 44 Conam Yachts team took their sixth win of the 2008 Powerboat P1 season in Saturday’s Tunisian Grand Prix of the Sea Endurance race, but the Italian-based outfit was nearly beaten on the track for the first time this year. The 07 VoomVoom.com boat took the initial lead on the run through the first corner, they were passed on the back straight by the 59 Saho Offshore Ranas boat. The twin-canopy boat then powered into a comfortable lead that they held for the first half of the race. On lap seven, though, the 59 Saho boat fell off plane on the far side of the course, and despite a concerted effort to restart the race, they were forced to pull into the harbour. That gave the lead back to the 44 Conam Yachts crew, who had quickly worked their way past the 07 VoomVoom.com boat and chased 59 Saho as they opened up a clear gap over 07 VoomVoom.com and the rest of the field. Ultimately, the 07 VoomVoom.com crew took second, but it was a close run thing. The 38 Baia High Performance mechanics had worked all through the night to make their Donzi hull seaworthy after it was inadvertently dropped on the dock while being craned out of the wet pits on Friday afternoon. After just making the start of the race, they powered their way through the field to a well-deserved podium finish. The 05 Team Tullio Abbate Wild Card entry, the 22 Big Sergio Al & Al boat and the 11 Team Sunseeker crew rounded out the top six finishers. There was disappointment for the 47 Silverline Buzzi Bullet crew as they were forced to miss the race after suffering a seized engine in final practice, while the 08 Phoenix TV and the 46 Spirit of Portomaso boats retired.

The SuperSport title-leading 44 Conam Yachts crew took their seventh win of the year in the Tunisian Grand Prix of the Sea Sprint race, securing overall Grand Prix of the Sea honours at the same time. The double win allied to their 50-point bonus for completing the first half of the year without an engine change gives them a 190 point advantage in the championship points table. The 07 VoomVoom.com squad currently 44 Conam Yachts closest challenges were the only team to stay within touching distance of the Italian reigning champions at the start of the race, but Tedeschi and Ciantar once again quickly pulled out a comfortable lead that proved impossible to beat. A second second place of the weekend for the 07 VoomVoom.com squad gave them runner-up spoils in the Grand Prix of the Sea trophy chase. 08 Phoenix TV took the final podium spoils of the Sprint race, while fourth place was a superb result for the returning 11 Team Sunseeker. After a two-race sabbatical following the sinking of their boat in Marseilles, France, this was a fantastic comeback weekend by the British squad. The 05 Team Tullio Abbate Wild Card entry edged the 47 Silverline Buzzi Bullet boat and the 22 Big Sergio crew in the final race finishers to take the final Grand Prix of the Sea podium spot. It was double jeopardy for the Donzi crews, though, as the 38 Baia High Performance OSG team failed to complete the first lap and the 59 Saho boat failed to start with a transmission problem.

Evolution Class Sprint Results

1 10 The Fantastic 1 46m38.77s

2 76 Italcraft 48m59.84s

3 60 GFN Gibellato 57m16.46s

4 66 Cranefields Wine 49m38.35s - 2 laps

5 53 Pignolo 53 1h00m32.32s - 2 laps

6 88 Kiton Outerlimits 52m25.54s - 3 laps

7 99 Fountain Worldwide 1st4boats.com RET

8 57 Centaurian Yachts RET

9 77 Lucas Oil RET

10 69 honeyparty.com DNS

Evolution Class Endurance Results

1 60 GFN Gibellato

2 88 Kiton Outerlimits

3 99 Fountain Worldwide 1st4boats.com

4 53 Pignolo 53 - 1 lap

5 77 Lucas Oil RET

6 69 honeyparty.com RET

7 10 The Fantastic 1 RET

8 66 Cranefields Wine RET

9 76 Italcraft RET

10 57 Centaurian Yachts RET

SuperSport Class Sprint Results

1 44 Conam Yachts 45m36.53s

2 07 VoomVoom.com 47m10.20s

3 08 Phoenix TV 48m24.84

4 11 Sunseeker Challenger 48m25.05s

5 05 Special Team Guido Abbate 49m52.34s

6 47 Silverline Buzzi Bullet 51m05.99s

7 22 The Big Sergio 48m15.15s - 1 lap

8 38 Baia High Performance RET

9 46 The Spirit of Portomaso DNS

10 59 Saho DNS

SuperSport Class Endurance Results
1 44 Conam Yachts 1h13m43.57s
2 07 VoomVoom.com 1h15m14.96s
3 38 Baia High Performance 1h15m16.28s
4 05 Special Team Guido Abbate 1h18m31.20s
5 11 Sunseeker Challenger 1h17m22.23s - 1 lap
6 22 The Big Sergio 1h117m47.80s - 1 lap + 4 min penalty
7 59 Saho RET
8 08 Phoenix TV RET
9 46 The Spirit of Portomaso RET
10 47 Silverline Buzzi Bullet DNS

www.powerboatp1.com

New Model: Itama Seventy Five

The new white-and-blue flagship is here! A craft that is the most advanced combination of comfort, technology and prestige that the shipyard has ever produced. The Itama SeventyFive is the epitomy of innovation, right from its original design featuring high bows, a spectacular curved profile and a distinctively sleek structure created by a slim central roof. Here, innovation is taken to its foremost frontier with a record-breaking carbon fibre and glass windshield and avantop that are the largest in the sector. The use of carbon fibre signifies a saving of no less than 60% over the weight of steel, a factor that boosts performance incredibly in terms of speed and fuel consumption. The cockpit is truly extraordinary too. Measuring almost 60 square metres, it has been divided into four distinct areas to enhance efficiency. The prestige LED and optic fibre light fittings are of particular note here, as well as the large sliding sofas that can be joined to form a vast horseshoe seating 12 people. The standard layout includes 3 cabins and 3 bathrooms, as well as a twin crew cabin with its own bathroom. The splendid interiors include a spacious, full beam Master Cabin in the centre of the boat with low furniture, two “open view” windows on both walls, a comfortable chaise lounge and modern, elegant materials for the tops and fittings, including natural teak with steel or lacquered white trims for the furniture, wengè parquet and woollen carpets for the floors, linen or white lacquered wall panelling and ash and Biscazza mosaic tiling for the bathrooms. With its twin 1823hp MTU engines combined with Arneson surface drives, the Itama flagship boasts peak speeds of up to 43 knots. And a limited VHP (Very High Performance) series reaches even an incredible 60 knots. The new SeventyFive, therefore, promises even the most demanding of open yacht aficionados an experience that has never been so rich and intense.

Technical Data:

LOA - 23.54 m (77ft)

Length - 21.53 m

Beam - 5.92 m

Draft - 1.44 m

Weight - 44.50 t empty and dry, 52.20 t loaded

Fuel Capacity - 5500 l

Water Capacity - 1000 l

Max Persons - 16

Accommodation - 3 cabins, 3 heads standard, 4 cabins 4 heads optional, 1 crew cabin for 2

Engines - 2 x MTU 1823hp

Propulsion - Arneson ASD14 surface drives

Speed - 43 knots max light 1/3 load

Certification - CE A

www.itama-yacht.com

Project: Di Donna 38 Serapo

Family Di Donna continues to upgrade it's range of fast planning traditional style Gozzo cruisers, presenting the project of the new 38 Serapo, standing between 33 and 42 model. To be available in both Open and Cabin version, the upcoming Gozzo build in South of Rome, Italy proves itself a versatile cruiser, giving strong run for the money not only to other similar traditional builds but also to same sized sports cruisers, thanks to the space provided in the 2 well sized cabins. The numbers for the 38 Serapo are also very encouraging, with the builder estimating 33 knots of top speed with 2 x 370 hp engines, and a high capacity fuel tank of 1200 litres offering a range of 10 hours before refuelling. It will be curious to see if the 38 Serapo will stay with conventional shafts or as the 42 Serapo flagship will also be available with the more efficient IPS drives. Cantieri di Donna founded in 1960 constructs the new Serapo to CE B rating, and follows the successful cross over formula offering a Gozzo with the traditional lines expected from this type of boat but added with modern hull design, and clever layout planning above and below decks.

www.cantierinavalididonna.it

New Model: Airon Marine 4300 Sport

Based on the lines of the successful 4300 T-Top Model, the new 4300 Sport is the full open version with the same hull lines, great interior space and unbeatable outside accommodation for a boat measuring just over thirteen metres in length. The interior layout follows the concept also of the T-Top offering a three double cabins or two cabin versions, with six or five berth options. The three cabins six berth option is something rare to see nowadays in this size, as most builders today focus for a more couples orientated two suites layout.  This is not the case for Airon Marine it seems with the 4300 having more a family orientated layout plan in the lower deck accommodation. As for the engines powering the new 4300 Sport it is offered with five optionss and three different propulsions; stern drives from Volvo and Mercruiser up to 370hp, Volvo IPS in 370 and 435hp, and traditional inboard shafts with Volvo and or Yanmar 480hp. 

Technical Data:

LOA - 13.50 m (44.3ft)

Length - 12.98 m

Beam - 3.80 m

Weight - 11.000 kg

Fuel Capacity - 880 l

Water Capacity - 300 l

Max Persons Onboard - twelve

Berths - six berths in three cabins, plus one berth in convertible dinette

Engines - 2 x Volvo D6 330hp, D6 370hp, D6 435hp, Mercruiser 4.2 ES 320hp, Yanmar 480hp

Propulsion - Volvo DPH or Mercruiser Bravo three sterndrives, Volvo forward looking IPS pod drives, and or line shaft integrated U-drive

Certification - CE B

www.aironmarine.it

Powerboat P1 - Hammamet, Tunisia Preview

Powerboat P1 swaps Morocco for the majestic waters of Tunisia this year. Hosting the Tunisian Grand Prix of the Sea for the second time, Africa’s northernmost nation will provide a unique stop in the 2008 calendar, with the race weekend being held in the coastal resort of Hammamet. The 4th round in the North African continent will prove a vital stop before an official 2 month break for the season.

The Tunisian Grand Prix is finally here and after a hectic start of the season for the boats, this was a much wanted longer 5 weeks break from the shore crew of all teams, so it will be interesting to see if any of the teams will have upped there game to be in more challenging form to the firsts of the class. Apart all the usual P1 action, Tunisia will also add the extreme heat which is expected to hit the North African Med race course with temperatures of 4o plus degrees Celsius. Time table has also been revised for a late afternoon, early evening race. In Evolution it will be curious to see if the dominating form shown by 88 Kiton Outerlimits in Malta, was a luck of many factors or if this is the boat to beat for the 2008 season. My gut tell me it's the later one, tough more friendly waters could prove a bonus to the smaller Evolution boats like the Fountain and the Skater V-399. SuperSport Class 44 Conam Yachts seem so far unstoppable, but teams like 38 Baia High Performance say that if weather conditions prove smoother they can be a match for the Italian Maltese pairing.

The Tunisian Grand Prix will also mark the return of 11 Sunseeker Challenger in Supersport Class, after the accident in Marseilles in pre-race testing. Meanwhile 76 Italcraft Inrizzardi Evolution Class team will still be using the old Metamarine as in Malta, with the shore crew continue on updating and preparing the new alloy hulled Diesel Seatek powered Binautica, which should go for a record challenge to the Venezia Montecarlo race in the coming weeks, before racing in the next official round scheduled for Vigo in Spain.

www.powerboatp1.com