Craig,

Your co-pilot had a different opinion.

Here is his quote from an interview:

"The flat waters of Naples were our kind of conditions so we thought we would be competitive and our mission was to get a podium." James Sheppard

I hope to see more rough races so that we can see how that boat really runs !

Now who is not being nice Sharkey?
Hollywood is going to be rough it a couple of weeks and you can see at least 2 of those boats run. I'll even give you a ride if you want to come down.
Brett

Guess what
I heard another fountain (yellow 42 Fountain) was sold and is headed over to P1 and the previous owner is building a new 40 for the worlds here???????

I don't see where I was not being nice. 2 racers 2 different opinions. Craig felt the swells were large and James called the water flat.

James apparently feels that the calm water is to the Fountain's advantage. I happen to agree with him.
Pad bottoms always run faster in calm water over a true vee.

I appreciate the offer and hope to get the opportunity another time. I am already booked to shoot photos at the NPBA Poker Run on Saturday and the Ocean City Race on Sunday. There just isn't enough time in a weekend to make it to Hollywood.

That's great to hear their is a market for the old Fountains overseas.
I have a question though. Why is so many people in the states saying the old Fountains are not competitive in the states ,but yet they are being bought to be raced over seas ?
Are they just hoping you don't cross the pond one day?

Sharkey....dont always believe what you read!!! Just go to gallery, look at sundays pics and you'll see the skater about 5 foot out of the water crank on its side, and a 16000 lbs 46 metamarine about 4 foot out!!! The swells were from the cruise ships! Let me know what you think!!!!!!

Pictures are worth a 1000 words....

For the most part with winds only being in the single digits and looking at the pics, it still looks relatively calm compared to what P1 has had in its past races. I do understand rogue waves or a rolling swell, but majority of the 330 pics on the site show the boats running with their props or skegs in the water.

It doesn't always take a swell for a boat to get huge air. Obviously if a boat is over trimmed, or the CG is too far back in the boat, and just being light, anything will make it stand up...

It's hard to tell, but if I were to guess, the Skater must have been making a turn...

I also won't deny that pics cannot always capture the true size of the seas. That is why I judged it not by what the seas looked like, but how all the other boats looked in their photos.

Either way, your boat is smokin!

I wish I could have seen what it would have done in Malta. With many races left in the season, I am sure the water will be just as rough as Malta if not close to it.

My hat is off to all of you guys to be able to race in such conditions. I think here in the states, if the seas are over 8 feet the race is usally canceled due to our safety boats not being able to stay out in those conditions.

Good luck in Germany.

Sharkey