Racegirl3

Amen ..... only .... I think you can lower that speed number

audacity

150

Too Stroked

Truth be told, in this and most other serious accidents, there is very little other competitiors can do other than get in the way of trained safety crews. Yes, it may have seemed like a long time, but it was actually a pretty quick response.

272bajadriver

iTrader: (1)

Well said, what I was meaning was for the race to actually stop so the safety crews don't have to worry about being hit by a another boat coming on by. The video shows other boats blowing by at high speeds which I would think it would be easier if they just stopped(not meaning stop and jumping in the water to help) so the safety boats would have a better path to the distressed boat without having to worry about being hit by the race boats.

Griff

The rescue boat was on the scene in 30 seconds and divers were in the water in 45 seconds. It seems like a long time when watching, but really it cannot get much faster than that.
I am fairly certain it was the impact and canopy destruction that caused their fatal injuries.

innerrage

iTrader: (1)

the last line sums it all up,well said.

glassdave

iTrader: (1)

Having been fished out of flipped boats as well as having had to race around them there is actually more room then it looks. There are a few things that alert drivers of caution, low hovering helicopter or orange smoke, Etc. As a rule racers will approach light on the throttle as well as giving ample room for rescue to do its job even though it may not appear like it on the video.

272bajadriver

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for giving me a better perspective guys. It was just tragic what happened this week, way too many lives lost. These guys always put on a great show when they race, I have been going to the Clearwater races these last couple of years and it's a blast to watch it just sucks what happened in Key West. I can't even imagine what their families are going through right now.

Raylar

Matt:
I have to agree in most part with Rich's commentary on this weeks very unfortunate losses and injuries. A lot of us in the performance boating industry as well as many of the racers and even race fans have been calling for unity in the world of offshore boat racing. It's not just easy to say that unification alone will solve the problems and inject new safety to the sport in short order, but as many of us have been saying for 4-5 years now unification may help prevent the ultimate demise of this sport and the furthur shrinking of performance boating.
When these deaths occur the many misinformed outside people start scrutinizing the safety of the sport. When this happens the number of participants , sponsors, funding, venues and the very future of the sport is jeprodized to what could be a point of extinction. This industry and particularly the racing organizations and individuals need to push now and move towards unification with the first and foremost goal being the better establishment of safety for the racers in these boats!
The technology, reasons and ability for instituting these new saftey measures are here and the time is no better than now!
My opinionated four word prophecy for the sport, "DO IT OR DIE!

Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar

T2x

Thanks for your comments. The only point on which we differ (and the reason I'm "obsolete") is that I have been saying this for the last 20-25 years.

T2x