The Great Race
08-27-2006, 02:24 PM
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The Great Race
Mr Solo goes for win No 13
WALTER ALIBEY Friday, August 25 2006
MR SOLO will chase a record 13th victory in the 2006 Great Race from Trinidad to the sister-isle of Tobago tomorrow.
But this year, the 40-foot Scism Fountain Catamaran will have an extra challenge and must adapt to the changes made by the powerboat racing officials.
Garth Marshall, former president of the Powerboat Association said yesterday that adjustments have been made to the start of the race to generate more excitement at the finish in Store Bay.
Last year Sheldon Charles and his Mr Solo of Darrin Marshall and Gino Fusco shattered the course record finishing the event in 58 minutes.
Marshall says it will be interesting to see how Mr Solo will deal with the staggered start which will begin at 7.10 am tomorrow. Mr Solo campaigns in the M-Class and will most likely get the strongest competition from by Baico III.
However Marshall feels that the finish at Store bay could feature the four most powerful boats in the race.
So apart from Mr Solo and Team Baico III in the M-Class, there are also Team Rage and Baico II in the C-Class.
Last year Rage, which is driven by Riad Shakeer gave an impressive performance that earned him the victory in the C- Class.
Team Baico III will be driven by Gary Johnson who will have his eyes set on upsetting the C-Class against a competitive Team White Heat led by Victor Tardieu.
The race is gruelling 92-miles event starting at Pier 1 in Chaguaramas past the offshore and to Store Bay.
Marshall said there were no adjustments to the race course but racers will have to be careful in the rough seas and high waves as well as strong currents.
The race is into its 38th year and is considered one of the longest consecutive powerboat race in the world.
One of the the largest fields for the race — approximately 25 boats — have reportedly confirmed their participation.
LATEST ENTRANTS:
Racing Class M — Mr Solo (H Charles, D Marshall, G Fusco); Baico III (B Branker, R Phillips, K Branker)
Racing Class C — Baico II (G Johnson, S Sheppard, B Branker);
Rage (R Shakeer, J Simmons)
Racing Class A — Intense Too (B Texeira, S Singh)
Racing Class B — White Heat (V Tardieu, R Tardieu, R Tardieu).
Racing Class SII — Castrol Extreme (R Harridan, R Wortman)
Racing Class Sports I — Mobil Motom (A Blanc, D Agostini)
Racing Class Sports II — Dynamite Rite Formula (M Farfan, I Keizer); Candy Man (P Sabga, T Mohammed, R Belmontes); Alien (D DaCosta, A de Freitas, L Pouchet)
Production I — Ricochett II (C Collier, S Charles), Matrix (J Tardieu, P Tardieu), Wolverine (C Neeman, T Sun), Liquid Assets (M Rocke, K Rooks, E Rooks)
Pirogue — Hero II (N Samaroo, H Boodram)
X Class — The Big EZ (W Nieves, R Macedo), Ambush (C Quong Sing, G Quong Sing.
WALTER ALIBEY Friday, August 25 2006
MR SOLO will chase a record 13th victory in the 2006 Great Race from Trinidad to the sister-isle of Tobago tomorrow.
But this year, the 40-foot Scism Fountain Catamaran will have an extra challenge and must adapt to the changes made by the powerboat racing officials.
Garth Marshall, former president of the Powerboat Association said yesterday that adjustments have been made to the start of the race to generate more excitement at the finish in Store Bay.
Last year Sheldon Charles and his Mr Solo of Darrin Marshall and Gino Fusco shattered the course record finishing the event in 58 minutes.
Marshall says it will be interesting to see how Mr Solo will deal with the staggered start which will begin at 7.10 am tomorrow. Mr Solo campaigns in the M-Class and will most likely get the strongest competition from by Baico III.
However Marshall feels that the finish at Store bay could feature the four most powerful boats in the race.
So apart from Mr Solo and Team Baico III in the M-Class, there are also Team Rage and Baico II in the C-Class.
Last year Rage, which is driven by Riad Shakeer gave an impressive performance that earned him the victory in the C- Class.
Team Baico III will be driven by Gary Johnson who will have his eyes set on upsetting the C-Class against a competitive Team White Heat led by Victor Tardieu.
The race is gruelling 92-miles event starting at Pier 1 in Chaguaramas past the offshore and to Store Bay.
Marshall said there were no adjustments to the race course but racers will have to be careful in the rough seas and high waves as well as strong currents.
The race is into its 38th year and is considered one of the longest consecutive powerboat race in the world.
One of the the largest fields for the race — approximately 25 boats — have reportedly confirmed their participation.
LATEST ENTRANTS:
Racing Class M — Mr Solo (H Charles, D Marshall, G Fusco); Baico III (B Branker, R Phillips, K Branker)
Racing Class C — Baico II (G Johnson, S Sheppard, B Branker);
Rage (R Shakeer, J Simmons)
Racing Class A — Intense Too (B Texeira, S Singh)
Racing Class B — White Heat (V Tardieu, R Tardieu, R Tardieu).
Racing Class SII — Castrol Extreme (R Harridan, R Wortman)
Racing Class Sports I — Mobil Motom (A Blanc, D Agostini)
Racing Class Sports II — Dynamite Rite Formula (M Farfan, I Keizer); Candy Man (P Sabga, T Mohammed, R Belmontes); Alien (D DaCosta, A de Freitas, L Pouchet)
Production I — Ricochett II (C Collier, S Charles), Matrix (J Tardieu, P Tardieu), Wolverine (C Neeman, T Sun), Liquid Assets (M Rocke, K Rooks, E Rooks)
Pirogue — Hero II (N Samaroo, H Boodram)
X Class — The Big EZ (W Nieves, R Macedo), Ambush (C Quong Sing, G Quong Sing.
08-27-2006, 02:25 PM
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Re: The Great Race
GREAT RACE CRASH
Mark Pouchet
Sunday, August 27th 2006
Intense II, the 29 ft Extreme Mono hull, was on its way to being the first boat to complete the 38th edition of the Great Race when its quest for victory came crashing to a halt.
And their collision with fellow competitor, Preditor II, left a racer with a broken left foot yesterday.
Attempting to get back on course for the final dash to the finish and with their vision impaired by his canopy-styled vessel, Intense II driver Brent Texeira and throttleman Sean Singh inadvertently broadsided their counterpart aboard Preditor II, the 28 ft Corsa Marine modelled pirogue, just after bending inside of buoy three off Crown Point.
The Preditor II starboard hull was bored by the collision and the impact sent its crew of David and Bruce McLean pitching first into the air and then into the Store Bay water.
It also left the damaged vessel taking in water and with stern submerged and bow pointed directly to the heavens.
The shock of the occurrence caused Texeira and Singh to shut off their engines and alight. The Intense II duo waited till some emergency boats came to collect the water-borne pair of McLeans before resuming their race. But their delay of some two minutes had effectively cost them the race as the 225 horse powered 23ft Formula III, Castrol Sensation and the 29ft Formula III Dynamite Rite Formula passed to take the chequered flag, in that order, to complete the 86-mile cross-island trek to Tobago. Intense II followed in third.
But there was to be no completion of this Great Race race for Preditor II. The collision was being investigated by a jury of appeal up to press time.
After their boat was towed onto the Store Bay beach and pulled ashore by some willing spectators, David McLean was visibly shaken up and Bruce suffered a broken leg in the boating accident.
McLean (B) was promptly whisked away to the Scarborough General Hospital where he was examined by doctors before being flown by helicopter to Trinidad. He was taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital.
Officials of the Trinidad and Tobago Power Boat Association, organisers of the annual event, said McLean was being "well taken care of".
The crash was the moment of high drama in an event that saw only 14 of the 23 boats starting the race actually complete it in front of a throng of enthusiastic and revelling supporters at Store Bay.
Among the casualties was perennial champion Mr Solo Too, the "speed demon" being forced to depend on the aid of the Coast Guard when the 29 ft Bob Scism Catamaran began to take in water on the port side at the Grand Riviere stage.
But, in their third year of roaring into action at the Great Race, the crew of Brent Lee and Sheldon Chin steered Castrol Sensation into position to be the first boat to Tobago in an event in which an overall winner was deliberately omitted this year.
"It is our third try and to be the first boat in after just our third try is unbelievable," driver Lee stated about the 38th edition of the Great Race that gave precedence to Class champions instead.
The Sensation team also took away the Sports I class honours. And inspite of the open water mishap, Bruce McLean, fortunately, took with him his life to fight another day.
Class Champions
Racing C-Rage 1:19.52
Racing B-White Heat 1:24.20
Racing A-Intense II 1:24.00
Sports II-Dynamite Rite Formula 1:28.45
Sports I-Castrol Sensation 1:41.40
Production 1-Liquid Assets 1:54.15
Pirogue-Hero II 2:45.36
Fastest boat to Tobago-Rage 1:19.52
First Boat To Tobago-Castrol Sensation.
Mark Pouchet
Sunday, August 27th 2006
Intense II, the 29 ft Extreme Mono hull, was on its way to being the first boat to complete the 38th edition of the Great Race when its quest for victory came crashing to a halt.
And their collision with fellow competitor, Preditor II, left a racer with a broken left foot yesterday.
Attempting to get back on course for the final dash to the finish and with their vision impaired by his canopy-styled vessel, Intense II driver Brent Texeira and throttleman Sean Singh inadvertently broadsided their counterpart aboard Preditor II, the 28 ft Corsa Marine modelled pirogue, just after bending inside of buoy three off Crown Point.
The Preditor II starboard hull was bored by the collision and the impact sent its crew of David and Bruce McLean pitching first into the air and then into the Store Bay water.
It also left the damaged vessel taking in water and with stern submerged and bow pointed directly to the heavens.
The shock of the occurrence caused Texeira and Singh to shut off their engines and alight. The Intense II duo waited till some emergency boats came to collect the water-borne pair of McLeans before resuming their race. But their delay of some two minutes had effectively cost them the race as the 225 horse powered 23ft Formula III, Castrol Sensation and the 29ft Formula III Dynamite Rite Formula passed to take the chequered flag, in that order, to complete the 86-mile cross-island trek to Tobago. Intense II followed in third.
But there was to be no completion of this Great Race race for Preditor II. The collision was being investigated by a jury of appeal up to press time.
After their boat was towed onto the Store Bay beach and pulled ashore by some willing spectators, David McLean was visibly shaken up and Bruce suffered a broken leg in the boating accident.
McLean (B) was promptly whisked away to the Scarborough General Hospital where he was examined by doctors before being flown by helicopter to Trinidad. He was taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital.
Officials of the Trinidad and Tobago Power Boat Association, organisers of the annual event, said McLean was being "well taken care of".
The crash was the moment of high drama in an event that saw only 14 of the 23 boats starting the race actually complete it in front of a throng of enthusiastic and revelling supporters at Store Bay.
Among the casualties was perennial champion Mr Solo Too, the "speed demon" being forced to depend on the aid of the Coast Guard when the 29 ft Bob Scism Catamaran began to take in water on the port side at the Grand Riviere stage.
But, in their third year of roaring into action at the Great Race, the crew of Brent Lee and Sheldon Chin steered Castrol Sensation into position to be the first boat to Tobago in an event in which an overall winner was deliberately omitted this year.
"It is our third try and to be the first boat in after just our third try is unbelievable," driver Lee stated about the 38th edition of the Great Race that gave precedence to Class champions instead.
The Sensation team also took away the Sports I class honours. And inspite of the open water mishap, Bruce McLean, fortunately, took with him his life to fight another day.
Class Champions
Racing C-Rage 1:19.52
Racing B-White Heat 1:24.20
Racing A-Intense II 1:24.00
Sports II-Dynamite Rite Formula 1:28.45
Sports I-Castrol Sensation 1:41.40
Production 1-Liquid Assets 1:54.15
Pirogue-Hero II 2:45.36
Fastest boat to Tobago-Rage 1:19.52
First Boat To Tobago-Castrol Sensation.
08-27-2006, 02:26 PM
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Re: The Great Race
Equal opportunity
No overall winners in today's Great Race
Mark Pouchet
Saturday, August 26th 2006
There will be no overall winners of the 38th edition of the Carib Great Race this year when some 20 boats roar off to start the annual 86-mile cross island trek in the waters in front of Pier 1, Chaguaramas.
Newly-elected president of the Trinidad and Tobago Power Boat Association Jean Stampfli made the declaration, adding that although there will be recognition for the first boat to reach Tobago and for the boat to do so in the fastest time, the ten class winners will take precedence this year.
"The whole purpose of last year's staggered start was so that we could get a better finish in Tobago, a much more exciting finish in Store Bay," Stampfli reasoned, "and we accomplished that with 18 boats completing the course within 20 minutes from the first to the last.
"But you can't handicap for the weather, and so we decided to revert to the old format and will be spreading the prizes across all ten classes."
Stampfli said the whole aim of the Great Race, which will offer $100,00 in prizes, is to encourage more spectators and wider participation.
"We are always trying to make it better, we want people to believe they have a chance so they will come forward.
"That is why we are spreading the prize money over the classes to encourage more people into the sport, " Stampfli stated.
Perennial Racing B Class champions and arguably the Great Race's most consistent performers, White Heat will need no encouragement to perform at their best.
Throttleman of the 750 plus horse power one-foot V Bowen, Richard Tardieu said their focus would be repeating as category champions.
"What we are looking at is to win the Class and depending on our position in the race when we are crossing the Shallows, we'll see how if we are positioned to make it to Tobago first," said Tardieu.
The crew of White Heat, that also includes Victor as driver and Robert as navigator, has installed a new drive this year to add to the two they installed last year which should give them " the extra feeling of comfort", a comfort that has been solidified by solid boat preparation.
For last year's surprise winners, Soul Rebel, preparations have not gone so smoothly.
Driver of the 23 foot Formula III, John Laquis and his crew's plans for a good defence of their title took a turn for the worse three weeks ago when they were involved in a boating accident that almost sank their vessel.
A smash into an oncoming wave resulted in Laquis and his throttleman Wayne Honnock being flung out of the boat and left Honnock with some broken ribs.
Since then and up until yesterday, the vessel was condemned to land and was to be tested for the first time in water yesterday.
And Honnock's unforeseen injury has forced him out of action and will see him being replaced by Chris Ferreira.
It is a situation that obviously renders Rebel's challenge to repeat as Class champions well, a challenge.
"We are gonna try and battle it out," Laquis said. "It is going to be tough because Wayne and I were very a good combination."
Laquis said because of Ferreira's inexperience, he will switch roles and be throttleman and allow Ferreira to drive.
"But despite this setback, there is a lot of motivation for us to perform and show that last year was no fluke, " Laquis added.
The first boats, the pirogues will power off from 6:55 a.m. while the M Class Solo II will be the last vessel to start the journey to the sister isle from 8 a.m.
Stampfli predicted a falling tide for the event, which will mean calmer waters and should translate into more speed, especially for the smaller boats.
In such a high-speed environment, the need for maximum safety procedures is overwhelming.
In trying to keep up with international standards of boat racing, there will be a greater emphasis on the safety of the drivers and one such initiative is the
Egress Training. Stampfli explained drivers who have the air bubble canopy over their cockpit had to go through this training.
He added that six helicopters will be on hand, four ambulances will be positioned in strategic points on the coast, and six diver medics along with 25 to 28 markers and patrol boats placed throughout the course will also help in keeping the time of the racers using a GPS system. All these vehicles and personnel will be coordinated from the racing command centre in Tobago with Stampfli at the helm.
No overall winners in today's Great Race
Mark Pouchet
Saturday, August 26th 2006
There will be no overall winners of the 38th edition of the Carib Great Race this year when some 20 boats roar off to start the annual 86-mile cross island trek in the waters in front of Pier 1, Chaguaramas.
Newly-elected president of the Trinidad and Tobago Power Boat Association Jean Stampfli made the declaration, adding that although there will be recognition for the first boat to reach Tobago and for the boat to do so in the fastest time, the ten class winners will take precedence this year.
"The whole purpose of last year's staggered start was so that we could get a better finish in Tobago, a much more exciting finish in Store Bay," Stampfli reasoned, "and we accomplished that with 18 boats completing the course within 20 minutes from the first to the last.
"But you can't handicap for the weather, and so we decided to revert to the old format and will be spreading the prizes across all ten classes."
Stampfli said the whole aim of the Great Race, which will offer $100,00 in prizes, is to encourage more spectators and wider participation.
"We are always trying to make it better, we want people to believe they have a chance so they will come forward.
"That is why we are spreading the prize money over the classes to encourage more people into the sport, " Stampfli stated.
Perennial Racing B Class champions and arguably the Great Race's most consistent performers, White Heat will need no encouragement to perform at their best.
Throttleman of the 750 plus horse power one-foot V Bowen, Richard Tardieu said their focus would be repeating as category champions.
"What we are looking at is to win the Class and depending on our position in the race when we are crossing the Shallows, we'll see how if we are positioned to make it to Tobago first," said Tardieu.
The crew of White Heat, that also includes Victor as driver and Robert as navigator, has installed a new drive this year to add to the two they installed last year which should give them " the extra feeling of comfort", a comfort that has been solidified by solid boat preparation.
For last year's surprise winners, Soul Rebel, preparations have not gone so smoothly.
Driver of the 23 foot Formula III, John Laquis and his crew's plans for a good defence of their title took a turn for the worse three weeks ago when they were involved in a boating accident that almost sank their vessel.
A smash into an oncoming wave resulted in Laquis and his throttleman Wayne Honnock being flung out of the boat and left Honnock with some broken ribs.
Since then and up until yesterday, the vessel was condemned to land and was to be tested for the first time in water yesterday.
And Honnock's unforeseen injury has forced him out of action and will see him being replaced by Chris Ferreira.
It is a situation that obviously renders Rebel's challenge to repeat as Class champions well, a challenge.
"We are gonna try and battle it out," Laquis said. "It is going to be tough because Wayne and I were very a good combination."
Laquis said because of Ferreira's inexperience, he will switch roles and be throttleman and allow Ferreira to drive.
"But despite this setback, there is a lot of motivation for us to perform and show that last year was no fluke, " Laquis added.
The first boats, the pirogues will power off from 6:55 a.m. while the M Class Solo II will be the last vessel to start the journey to the sister isle from 8 a.m.
Stampfli predicted a falling tide for the event, which will mean calmer waters and should translate into more speed, especially for the smaller boats.
In such a high-speed environment, the need for maximum safety procedures is overwhelming.
In trying to keep up with international standards of boat racing, there will be a greater emphasis on the safety of the drivers and one such initiative is the
Egress Training. Stampfli explained drivers who have the air bubble canopy over their cockpit had to go through this training.
He added that six helicopters will be on hand, four ambulances will be positioned in strategic points on the coast, and six diver medics along with 25 to 28 markers and patrol boats placed throughout the course will also help in keeping the time of the racers using a GPS system. All these vehicles and personnel will be coordinated from the racing command centre in Tobago with Stampfli at the helm.
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