ItsPeanut

Warpath got screwed. I guess this is what happens when a race organizer is part of the race.

goatskin

Nah, not this time, anyhow. The Brits try to run a pretty straight-up event, and I think they are still getting definitions and penalties sorted out. This was a 'test race' for the main event next year: London-to-Montecarlo.

Both the DQ and time penalty today, belonged to Warpath, and to them only: both were on-boat navigation errors/insufficiencies.
- The first instance was entering an exclusion zone on plane - a 1st order romper-room no-no.
- Today's 1hr hickey was for putting a 'neighborhood play' on a mark and not rounding it. Err ... ding-ding-ding.

Chief had some on/off/reset/trust issues early with their GPS/Chartplotter, and those may/may not have been resolved, plus the navigation and waypoints were pretty precise, and you just don't get that kind of experience in the states (any more).

Chief done good, and Cinzano ain't exactly chopped liver. It turned out to be class racing at it's very best.

goatskin

Nah. That was tacky and short sighted on the part of both the individual and the VC committee to allow the conflict (real or imagined), it was Warpath, theirownselves who committed the navigation errors that invoked the penalties. If, yanno, the race mark is AROUND a buoy to your port, well, if you short-cut it, ...

Nobody stepped on Chief's shoelaces, except they-selves.

Waterdogs

Sounds like an awesome run for the first time out. Congradulations!

goatskin

Yeah. Chief had the faster boat, pretty clearly, but Markus ran the better race, and who won was supposed to win.

D Class, the two Scorpion ribs was pretty interesting too ... lots of rubber left on the ocean between them .... 500-odd miles and a couple of minutes separation? awesome.

The two boats that WEREN'T there: Vee Ganjazian's's 40' Phantom Microlink who kinda-sorta wins most everything in that neck of the woods (self-scratch due to safety concerns at the parade) and (our) Cookee's E-Class 37' Bananashark E-Lites (blown motor 10mi into the start) would have made the race a lot better, but, oh well ... it was first class!

Rik

I agree, would have love'd to have seen V race and John race further than he did.

It all came down to preparation and planning. Fuel, GPS and Navigation solely were the problems that kept Warpath from achieving an absolute wonderful feet. Hat's off and a big Congratulations to them though as the boat arrived I believe less than a week before the race and they had no mechanical problemsthat prevented them from winning the race.

Panther

Well, if the winning team takes pride in winning by a technicality that's just swell. However, most understand who crossed the finish line(s) first.

Cheers

Comanche3Six

A tremendous effort by everyone involved with Warpath. The crew, powerboat, rigging, drives, props, engines etc all set a sterling example. A tip of the hat to all!

goatskin

you're being silly, yes?

or you've not raced? nor read race rules?

I think APBA, OPA and SBI award 'no time' for missing a mark.
Getting tagged an hour was tough, but racing 'for practice' is tougher.

I know of no racer who would agree with you.

Rik

Absolutely, however, I think this race was much ado about the details as it was the racing itself. Kinda like the old school racing in the US. While I don't really understand the penalties, I get that it's kinda a scavenger hunt sort of race. Go to point "A" then go to point "B" and round back to point "C" who ever does it first wins sort of racing. This is where the preparation comes in and I think the team gained some valuable lessons and knowledge they can apply towards next year b/c it's going to be a lot longer, just as technical and very demanding to hit the points 100% and still go as fast as possible.

They still have the Cowes to Torquay race later in the year to look forward to.