Back to newspaper black and white pictures today (apologies about the poor quality).
The action comes from the 1974 Deauville Trophy. Postponed 24 hours because of severe bad weather, the race took place on Sunday, albeit on a reduced and (slightly) more sheltered course.
In spite of the bad weather the race was a success with spectators who enjoyed a better view of the proceedings with the bad weather triangular course.

The race was held in brutal conditions and masterly won by Carlo Bonomi who became World Champion for the second year in a row.

Unfortunately, this was the last running of the event.

Phil.

By the way also Bonomi detested to being beat by those rowdies south italian guys like Balestrieri and De Angelis.
Bonomi was the first one to carry in offshore the sponsor and a serious concept of team in a world of gentleman drivers a little improvised.
In the first place he obtained the support total of Karl kiekhaefer in 1972, becoming the official driver for Europe. Unfortunately when in the 1975 Kiekhaefer preferred to Bonomi the Brazilian Franz, the Italian champion lost the chance to become the only one with three world title.
When in the 1973 the Mercruiser's drivers like Balestrieri, Mondadori and De Angelis decided to buy the Kiekhaefer engines did not come deal to them well and their engines often ended in smoke. From here born the dissatisfaction between they and the idea that Bonomi had of the powerful and irregular engines.
Unfortunately often in those years the world titles was decided in Florida in the respective centers of Mercruiser and Kiekhaefer before that began the contests itself.
I would like to hear the personal opinion of Richie about it.

BT

Phil, Thanks for posting. Wonderful to see. And Marco - getting controversial!!!

I do not want to be controversial. Simply I say my personal opinion on basing to me on facts, as an example the strange ones and repeated problems for some drivers and not for others although both did have engines came out from the same company and that they came simply mounts on board without modifications.
I think that the World Titles of 1970-1971-1972-1973 and 1975 are in discussion.

Phil,that image wasn't taken in the Baleares Trophy because in that race Bonomi was in the old 36' Dry Martini former Aeromarine IX,and the 36' showed in that photo we can see that it's the new and lighter 36' that made it first race in the Viareggio-Bastia-Viareggio,according to Richie Powers.
I think that photo was taken in Viareggio or in the Dauphin D'Or 1973.

BT

Can you say A REAL BOAT RACE !!!

Now look at that -- Great Boats, Great water, and Great Coverage

Oh for the old days Only thing missing was some cats to go with the V hulls

We used to promote a couple of races here a few years ago and we are talking about doing it again in 2008 (Maybe)

but our vision is more a point A to Point B and back race

This would be run in potentialy rough water

If we do this it will seperate the men from the boys in a hurry and test the boats and drivers skill It will be a true offshore race

Will they come ??? will they run???What do ya think ????

Hi Marco,

Nothing passes your eagle eye. In this case, the location is more likely to be the Dauphin d'Or. The French magazine where I got the photo from had a comment referring to Dry Martini's newly achieved average speed record, it obviously doesn't match the picture.

Maybe Richie could tell us when did Dry Martini got its distinctive windshield during the 1973 season?

I think was in the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes.
Maybe Richie talk about that windshield in another thread somewhere in the forum. I remember that Richie wrote that windshield didn't like too much to him,but Bonomi wanted to put it.

I think that Richie mentioned the windshield he fabricated out of blue plexiglass and installed on the 35'. It seems that the windshield of the 36' was slghtly different. There doesn't appear to have any plexiglass involved in its fabrication.
What I don't understand is if you wish to race a lighter boat, why add more weight with a bulky windshield?
Was the protection gained as a result worth it?
Mind you, it did give the boat an unmistakeable look.

Phil.

Phil,you are right. Richie spoke about the windshield of the 35'.
I remember that me and my friends criticized that windshield because it destroied the shape of the 36',but now to my eyes that Dry Martini instead assumes a very particular fascination.
About the add of more weight only Richie can explain to us something.