Um.... - Jerry DeHeanu - and Rocky - were testing the boat - in San Francisco - actually - we were about to take off to film them during the test - but were delayed. It was then the accident happened - and the boat stuffed and broke off the first 1/3 of the boat - It was in 1979 - am almost positive - and late in the season -

I dont remember what happened to the boat - but long ago - had some photo of it in inside storage. Memories again - they start to fade at my age !

Hope i brought some light to your questions -

PHL

The accident was in 1979 - as I was fliming then on Super 8 sound film - and I converted to Umatic 3/4 inch Tape in 1980 - and filmed Jerry at a race and interviewd him about the accident the year before !

Hope this settles when the accident happned - it was in 1979 - unless i am terribly mistaken ! PHIL

The picture is definitely from 1979. Both Mollewood and Dry Martini are on Phil Lewis's NNRT video of that 1979 race. I guess the question is "who was driving Dry Martini in the '79 Benihana - it sure wasn't Carlo Bonomi...???"

It was John Amato - and Sal Scafidi and Wayne Zaycek - John Amato had purhased it from Carlo Bonomi - but then at the last moment - a English guy named David ...... - leased the boat for the Benihana - it was a profitable deal for John Amato - many years later - it was sold to Kurt Berger - who owns it now -

Years ago - when I had my Bertram delivered from Florida - by a guy named Mike Gillivan - who did many offshore racing transports at the time - told me - the Dry Martini - had the hook sanded off - at the rear of the boat - while doing that - they broke thru the glass - it was that thin - Mike told me then - tell your friends not to push the boat too hard - as it was extremely thin back there ! an interesting side note !

PHI

That could explain this ??

Sand marks from removing a hook in the bottom ?

Guys This is the 36' not the 35'. It's so clear!

One of the most famous photoīs of all time!!

Charlie whatīs the deal with the pic from your Banana Boat site of the transom of Dry Martini?? I figure itīs a the 35 rather than wide body 36, but when was this taken?? And the hand grab rail behind the cockpit - was that on the raceboat originally?? Almost looks like it was undergoing a (gulp) conversion to pleasure!!

And the dark area on the underside of the hull?

(Trying desparately to upload it from here but my pc wonīt let me!!)

I am sure- all his boats had the hook sanded out - was common practice those days !

Nige, that was in the spring of '76.... and it was the 35.

The grab rail?? Whatever is in the photo was on the boat.

The area on the botom was being sanded or had been sanded to smooth it.