Scary moment in Key West
 

Did anyone else $hit in there pants when the Mafia boat flipped in turn one in Super Boat class? If any of you didn't know that is the boat that Joey Gratten lost his life in at the same turn 4 yeas ago. I was so glad to see the helmets on the boat when they got out.

Holy sh!t, everyone ok?

I saw it. Didn't know it was the same boat... WOW!

They all got out of the boat.

Hi Randy I almost did! That was a bad one! Glad to see they were ok.

double post

That was a crazy bad circumstance. When the tips of the sponsons started to point skywards, it was tough to see where they were going to end up. For a moment or two, it looks like they were heading for the big marker boat in turn 1.

I hope they guys stay in the game and come back strong next year - that was a tough week on the team to bounce back time and time again. Considering only two boats were immediately in front of them at the pin - they were in it to win it and the boat showed som amazing speed.

I am still shocked it's back racing. Glad there ok

Does anyone actually know what happened? I only saw what was on live stream. They had to be running fast to be close to the front boats.

There is a video going around on facebook, I dont think I can link it in this post. Really violent roll. Glad they're okay!

This link may or may not work.

https://www.facebook.com/OffshoreLak...9463200177146/

Link worked fine. Thank you.

WHY is everyone shocked I don't think they ever raced did they?? they should have made them start in the back

I don't get what happened. What would make that boat react like that? Was the steering still in tack? I get that it was ****ty water in a turn but looked like it came from no where.

Looked like it hit a big roller just right and kicked it over on its side violently.

any idea whether they were spinning in or out? Spinning in causes a cat to react looser and more violently when pushed where spinning out will help pull the boat back down. Tell ya what it looked ruff in that clip. You know as well as i do if it looks ruff on video it was RUFF. Glad all are ok, any boat going over is scary . . . .



that looked like a trip/stuff/roll in a turn

I watched the video about 10 times, to try to figure out a logical and engineeering response to your question, which I think is a great question.

My assumption?

1. The drives were turned and not straight, in combination with catching part or all off of WHM rooster tail, which may have created some addtional lift on the starboard side of the HP mafia boat. The hydrodynamic force of the rooster tail, in combination with the drives turned, exiting WHM wake, plus the addition wakes created a kettle of trouble water for the boat as it tried to turn.

2. I have never driven a catamaran, but after hearing the drivers talk through the years, that is what my assumption, not fact, bu tmy assumption would be based on.

I am glad to hear no one was hurt, learn from mistakes, keep racing.

I hope to hear in this thread from some of the experienced cat racers, ie Geico guys chime in, to help educate me and others on why the boat did react like that.

looked like he got in over his head and prop wash from boat in front of him and lack of experience

Here come the keyboard commandos:

http://mygaming.co.za/news/wp-conten..._149146207.jpg

Do you not want participants on OSO ? I am confused, I like learning from this site, who specifically offends you (I think I know) ? I have 2100 posts in 15 years on this site.

Tell us (OSO) exactly, be specific who is the keyboard commando and why? This is going to get interesting

BTW, that's a terrible way to remove vinyl graphics from the side if your boat. :D

https://click.email.vimeo.com/?qs=89...dd22db17c2fcab This was first turn after the crash.

...

I've driven Cats but nothing even remotely similar to the magnitude of these things. The rough water and tight pack of boats and the speed everything went from cool to poop, I can't even imagine you'd have time to know what happened to you, much less react and correct. One second it's adrenaline and the next second your holding your breath!
Hope all are ok and continue on!

No a cat racer. But many years of "V" racing. The water is always very confused during a start. Looks to me like there was a nasty hole there and on top of that they were right behind WHM. With all that and getting dowsed down by all the spray they were lucky to see all but shadows around them. They dipped in the hole came out high and alittle crossways. Then the prop wash from WHM finished it off.
Glad to see they were ok. live to fight another day.

Lastly these short course races are great for the spectators but help on equipment. They need to spread things out on a 7 mile min. course length starting one class at a time to spread things out. Lots of repair work this week.

https://www.facebook.com/howfastboats

I think he misjudged his closing speed coming in and then tried to turn the boat but caught that big roller at the worst time. The back end kicked around and he was a passenger from there. Look how fast he comes in compared to WHM ahead.

That was ironic last time that boat raced four years ago it flipped in the same turn and this was the boats first lap and first turn since that crash. RIP Joey

Well it's evident you have no idea what your talking about since we have both raced before so I won't respond to you again.

[IMG]http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/...psfy36mjgy.jpg[/IMG]We ended up on the inside because of bad position in the milling area had two choices run inside or get out all together. We're here to see how my power stands up against industry greats and I can say we did alright with my power.
When we got to the pin we were in fine position and at the same speed as Billy but a slightly steeper angle but ok. We wasn't in Billys tail by any means
The drives were very slightly turned as you can see in any of a hundred pics no more then any other boats running through that corner. The wave just had a high side to it I could see my guess is from a vacuum off the large turn boat or the wave just picked us to put a smack down on.

Just one pic to show drives are straight. You can find all the other pics for tunnel tab up ,tabs up drives set perfect for yourselves.
The picture is one of Shoot2Thrills. A awesome picture set.

We'll be back and ready again shortly :cool::cool::cool:

The real blessing is that non of the boats behind them hit them...Glad all are safe.

Thanks for your input. Getting info from the team in the boat carries more validity than just pictures. Glad you are both ok and coming back out next year. It just looks so easy from the shore is what I normally hear LOL

I am so happy that you and your son are safe! I have a question about your post. What do you mean by the turn boat made a vacuum that caused you to flip?

Glad they are OK!:eek:Yes he did race before that time his mom drained the bath tub he was running 1st place winning:hitfan:That boat gives me the spooks!:(

How many races have you raced together?

Don't take the bait on unnecessary questions, f*ck that nonsense, accidents happen, keep racing, keep racing, keep racing.

I apologize if you think my question wasn't necessary and will not ask another one. I was just trying to figure out how the turn boat made a vacuum that caused them to flip. After reading the racer's interview I will make sure I stay away from large boats and weird shaped waves that are greenish-yellow in color.

My response was not directed at you, but I was responding to the post#33 which seemed to be a follow-up question to post #12, post from two different OSO memebers.The inference in #12 was that the accident was soley due to lack of seat time-racing experience, I disagree. I also subscribe to the premise that anyone and everyone should post whatever is on thier mind with regards to boats, I am not against asking tough questions or insulting anyone within reason, but expect blow-back if someone disagrees.

Staggered, I have been on this site since its inception, your question is a good question, and please keep asking, that is how we can all learn, from other's mistakes, so maybe we don't have to experience the same mistake-accident. Sorry for the confusion, I should have been more specific.

Stephen

I made post #33. just wondering what experience the team had. The Speed on the Water article left me to believe they did not have much racing experience. The Superbaot class is a very rough class to race in and has some of the best racers on the face of the planet in it. I applaud the team and hope they stay with it. I have heard many different stories about the team and wanted to ask them themselves. Not tying to start $hit.

Thanks for the clarification Stephen! I asked the question because I had never heard of a boat creating a vacuum in the water and since the owner of the team responded to this thread, I thought I could learn something new from a professional racer.

We have raced twice together
I have pics and videos of my son running one of my cats at 135 mph when he was 12 I could post. He has more seat time in cats then 99% of the people on here.
I raced SBI SuperCat 2006. Been running / Rigging 160+ mph cat boats for 10 yrs.

Vacuum may not be the right word but when a wave moves around a object of large size it alters the shape of the wave. Which is what I think must have caused the odd shape of the wave when we entered the corner so much closer then anyone else. Not sure the cause of that ride and I can say I've asked a lot of people who would have a real good guess.
Counterclockwise roll on a left hand corner?? Real odd.

Oh and yes it was yellowish green. Don't know why he added that and left out some of the good things I said. Lol

Thanks for the response! Hopefully you guys can get your boat fixed and be ready for next year!