Farce!

[ciao]

The P1 race today was at best disappointing.

All I can say, if you have a speed limit, for Gods sake have a smoke / read the paper/ do a crossword at the bottom of the Island and at least go through the finish line on the plane.

Today was filth.

[Boatless]

How about, WHO WON?

Know any results?

[Boatless]

Just got a phone call on the race.

Pretty pathetic as you describe.

Race like hell, then stop before the finish line and draw straws to see who was going to win the race all the while letting the timer run so they do not break out on their speed limit.

[Ben Mazur]

Great beginning followed by a ridiculous end. Not exactly a spectacle for the spectators was it.

Here's the spin from P1. My favorite quote - "the racing spectacle became somewhat confusing".

Outerlimits Secure First US Win at Cowes!

The Mercury-powered Lucas Oil Outerlimits boat of Joe Sgro and Nigel Hook took the chequered flag in today's first leg of the P1 British Grand Prix, the historic Round the Island race, followed just a half boat-length away by its arch rivals King of Shaves, with Italian's OSG in third. The result was a much-needed boost for the team whose season has been a mixture of great racing and misfortune.

With calm waters making for high speed racing around the Island, these high-speed racing craft were able to drive flat-out which, as they neared the chequered flag, put many above the average top-speed limit, implemented for safety reasons. As a result, the racing spectacle became somewhat confusing as the lead boats slowed before the chequered flag to avoid time penalties. It was probably inevitable after the fast and furious early pace.

The unusual ending just added to the drama of a race that had been intensely competitive throughout. The early series of circuit laps, before the boats embarked upon the circumnavigation of the island, had seen King of Shaves take the lead from the off with most of the field in close contention. Wettpunkt.com were forced out early with a blown turbine leaving Outerlimits, OSG and Fainplast to contest the lead, and they did in thrilling fashion. At St Katherine's, the halfway point, three boats, the British King of Shaves, American Outerlimits and Italian OSG passed almost in a dead heat - a stunning sight by the World's fastest mono-hulls and further proof of the competitiveness of the Evolution class.

Italians Fainplast were first to take the chequered flag but a time penalty, imposed for exceeding the top average speed limit demoted them to fourth. King of Shaves Fountain Worldwide still lead the Evolution class by 90 points.

2007 UIM Powerboat P1 World Championship
British Grand Prix of the Sea - Round One - Evolution Result

Pos. - No. - Boat Name - Pts.

1. - 97 â€" Lucas Oil Outerlimits - 100
2. - 99 â€" King of Shaves - 80
3. - 88 â€" OSG - 60
4. - 64 - Fainplast â€" 50
5. - 90 - Kiton - 40

57 - Limmi - DNF
59 â€" Way to Happiness - DNF
81 â€" Wettpunkt.com - DNF
76 - Searex - DSQ

[Ben Mazur]

They even used the same insipid paragraph about calm water and safety in the Super Sport results.

Three Way Tie for World Championship in Cowes!

It looked to the large crowds lining the Cowes Esplanade that the Sunseeker Challenger of Andy Wilby and Gavin Brown had taken its first win when the FPT-powered craft crossed the line in the first leg of the P1 British Grand Prix but the win was denied by a subsequent time penalty. The winner, timing its race to perfection, was ExtemeBoat piloted by Jackie Hunt and Mike Shelton with a photo finish for second, third and fourth places.

The unusually calm waters had made for high speed racing around the Island, with the boats able to drive flat out, putting many above the average top-speed limit, implemented for safety reasons. As a result, the racing spectacle became somewhat confusing as the lead boats slowed before the chequered flag to avoid time penalties. It was probably inevitable after the fast and furious early pace.

The race for the coveted production class win was typically intense and competitive with Southampton based VoomVoom.com, the Yanmar-powered Hustler of Vee Gangavian and Charles Williams-Hawkes the first to show. VoomVoom led throughout the circuit laps before the boats embarked on their 'Round the Island challenge'.

The impressive performance would eventually lead to a photo finish for second place with SunLik Beer and Buzzi Bullet, SunLik being awarded second, with Voom Voom third and Buzzi Bullet fourth. Buzzi now lead the world standings, closely followed by Extremeboat with the season's dominant boat, Roscioli Hotels Roma, disqualified for missing a marker.

Now three teams jointly lead the championship standings ahead of Sunday's eagerly awaited second leg to be contested over the short circuit course off Cowes, providing one of the most exciting arenas in world motorsport.

2007 UIM Powerboat P1 World Championship
British Grand Prix of the Sea - Round One - SuperSport Result

PROVISIONAL

Pos. - No. - Boat Name - Pts.

1. - 01 - Extremeboat - 100
2. - 08 - Sun Lik Beer - 80
3. - 07 - VoomVoom â€" 60
4. - 47 - Buzzi Bullet - 50
5. - 11 - Team Sunseeker - 40

44 - Roscioli Hotels Roma - DSQ
46 â€" Chaudron 2 â€" DNF

[THUNDERBOLT]

Gorgeous weather, good crowds, brilliant sounds of V8's filling the air but did someone say there was Racing? could have fooled me!
The Round the Island race /BOLLINGER used to be the Highlight of the old CT days fastest round scooped the prize! now it is just an absolute farce what a way to present a sport to the general public who we are fighting to bring back and support us.As for Sundays P1 did my eyes deceive me or was a certain leading boat suddenly overtaken after setting a fantastic pace then went hell for leather again or maybe I just lost interest? For god sake someone get a grip on this quickly or there will be nowt left! We at COPOC are fighting to bring the original races but do not stand a hope in hell if this is allowed to continue.Is it any wonder people are leaving the sport when they cannot race!

Mike

[Jon fuller]

Fridays race-end was indeed ridiculous, but, after a decision to change the way things were timed, Sundays race didn't suffer that indignity and was excellent racing, right to the line. amazing average speeds, nice weather, virtualy flat conditions, I loved it.

All that said, I'd much rather see greater leg/lap distances running properly offshore, as that feels like 'Offshore'. However, we mustn't forget last year, when even in the confines of the Solent, the sea kicked up as we all know it can and really sorted the men from the boys, or should I say, the Men from the Women!
So it can still be a spectacle.

[Dragon]

Fridays race-end was indeed ridiculous, but, after a decision to change the way things were timed, Sundays race didn't suffer that indignity and was excellent racing, right to the line. amazing average speeds, nice weather, virtualy flat conditions, I loved it.

All that said, I'd much rather see greater leg/lap distances running properly offshore, as that feels like 'Offshore'. However, we mustn't forget last year, when even in the confines of the Solent, the sea kicked up as we all know it can and really sorted the men from the boys, or should I say, the Men from the Women!
So it can still be a spectacle.

The intent of P1 was never to run "offshore" ... and thus runs under pleasure navigation. The intent was to turn Powerboating into a spectator sport and bring the crowds and TV to a long neglected sport. This requires shorter inshore legs. We all knew that, so don't expect anything different. If people want long offshore legs, don't do P1 ... do ... oh sorry ... there isn't anything!!

For that (including RB) everyone has P1 to thank for reviving the sport and by watching over this weekend, it is clear (sadly) that there are only two classes of racing properly supported ... Honda and P1. Honda has also adopted the same spectator friendly series approach. With 36 boats, they have by far the largest fleet.

Sadly, as with everything, "Health and Safety" gets in the way of everything fun, and that is what defines how "far" offshore the harbour master lets us race and how "fast" the UIM allows us to race.

The average speed is a joke, and in flat conditions over a long course ruined what should have been a great spectacle and the first round the Island race for some time :mad:

P1 responded to that, and fixed the problem for the Sunday race. Let's hope they use the same treatment for the rest of the season... either that or order rough weather :D

In the longer term, I think the rules will evolve to accomodate the latest powerboat technology and therefore the speeds they are now capable of.

[ciao]

Thought the P1 Sunday race was fantastic entertainment!

Good work to the P1 people for getting a "quick fix" to the average speed issue.

As I discussed with "Thunderbolt" over lunch on Sunday, my veiws differ to his with regards to "Offshore Racing", as an ex competitor and now a fan of the sport, I can't think of many powerboat events in the past 25 years where the hospitality, publicity, promotion and actual veiw of the race from the shore could even compare to what P1 is doing now.

[Jon fuller]

My post was intended as a compliment to Jackie, not a critisism, to the organising, or planning by P1.

The intent of P1 was never to run "offshore" ... and thus runs under pleasure navigation. The intent was to turn Powerboating into a spectator sport and bring the crowds and TV to a long neglected sport. This requires shorter inshore legs. We all knew that, so don't expect anything different. If people want long offshore legs, don't do P1 ... do ... oh sorry ... there isn't anything!!

For that (including RB) everyone has P1 to thank for reviving the sport and by watching over this weekend, it is clear (sadly) that there are only two classes of racing properly supported ... Honda and P1. Honda has also adopted the same spectator friendly series approach. With 36 boats, they have by far the largest fleet.

Sadly, as with everything, "Health and Safety" gets in the way of everything fun, and that is what defines how "far" offshore the harbour master lets us race and how "fast" the UIM allows us to race.

The average speed is a joke, and in flat conditions over a long course ruined what should have been a great spectacle and the first round the Island race for some time :mad:

P1 responded to that, and fixed the problem for the Sunday race. Let's hope they use the same treatment for the rest of the season... either that or order rough weather :D

In the longer term, I think the rules will evolve to accomodate the latest powerboat technology and therefore the speeds they are now capable of.

[Dragon]

My post was intended as a compliment to Jackie, not a critisism, to the organising, or planning by P1.

It was taken that way Jon :) I was reacting to all the comments regarding offshore in the thread ... not giving you a hard time

[Cookee]

P1 responded to that, and fixed the problem for the Sunday race. Let's hope they use the same treatment for the rest of the season... either that or order rough weather :D

In the longer term, I think the rules will evolve to accomodate the latest powerboat technology and therefore the speeds they are now capable of.


How did they fix it? Slower clock?