Originally Posted by Bob Saccenti

While I was reading the MSV 44 La Turtuga post, I thought that there was a little more to the story that should be told.

MSV was founded in the seventies by Sonny Miller and myself. Later on John Varese came onboard and wanted to go racing. First order of business was to load the mold with a new 44’ yellow race boat. John named his boat The La Turtuga (The Turtle).

The engine package we used was a MerCruiser 496-600 h/p that was left over from another project. Being on a limited race budget, we decided to just freshen up what we had, and hope for the best. We finally put the race package together and went offshore testing. We only were able to reach speeds in the mid to upper eighties with tired engines, not exactly what we were expecting. The good news was we could run full throttle thru most any seas we came across. At that time most of the APBA open class boats, if conditions allowed will run in the upper nineties.

We entered the Big 44 in the APBA 1975 Benihana Grand Prix in Point Pleasant.

When the flag dropped we had a good start. We where in the pack making all the check points getting our kind of water on the outer leg and getting passed on the inner leg by the smaller faster boats. This was going on for a lap or two. Suddenly I noticed that we had lost oil pressure in one engine. We back off and opened the engine hatches; the compartment was full of oil. Unfortunately a rear oil seal let loose on one of the engines. John ask, are we out of the race?? I said not yet, the engine is not making any noise, lets put oil in and continue on just to accumulate some points. A short time later the 35’Cigarette Spirit passed by with the rest of the open class in hot pursuit. With one engine questionable, we decided to take it easy for the rest of the race. We kept the engines running at mid power keeping an eye on the pressure gauge. We would stop to add oil every time the oil pressure would drop.

As we were approaching the last lap, we lost pressure again. Sonny went below deck and shouted, WE ARE OUT OF OIL!!! All we have is transmission fluid; that we kept on board for power steering and trim pumps. I said lets use it; we only have a little ways to go. By now we where very determined to finish. We went back on plan heading for the finish line. Near the end the race the photographer helicopter dropped down to our port side holding up a white paper with the number one. Putting his finger up trying to tell us that we are in first place. It was our misunderstanding and thought that they where making obscene gestures at us for being the last boat. But when we passed the finished line they waved the checkered flag. My first thought was, the Start Finish boat crew probably finished a few cases of beer waiting for us to finish and were all drunk and having fun. We pulled over to boat and asked, what’s with the flag? They told us that the Spirit race boat went around the wrong side of a buoy on the south end of the cause; all the other open boats followed him and were disqualified. That puts your boat in first place.

At the awards presentation, we were presented with the first; second and third place trophies, all the prize money, and a Rolex watch. Also Rocky invited us to have dinner at any one of his restaurants. Not too bad for a days work.

HA! I’m sorry; did I forget to mention something? We also received the Turtle Award trophy for being the last boat in.

Our official average speed was 56.9 mph / 179.3-miles.

NEVER GIVE UP

Bobby Saccenti

Originally Posted by Robert Geoghegan

Great story Bob! A couple of question, was this your first "win"? Do you remember racing a 28 Cigarette "Super Toad" (open class II, single engine)? I believe Super Toad was leading for a short time (due to attrition) and broke a mile from the start finish line. What ever happened to Latortuga?
Thanks
Bob G.