KW in the News
11-07-2006 | 07:38 AM
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From: Lake Murray, SC
KW in the News
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Fort Lauderdale offshore powerboat racer Michel Karsenti is eyeing a second consecutive world title in the Super Vee class at the Key West World Championship.
The first race of the three-race series to crown the 2006 world champions in Super Boat International/American Power Boat Association-sanctioned classes, begins Wednesday.
Karsenti, who moved to South Florida from Cannes, France, about 14 months ago, races with fellow Frenchman Serge Allegre in Yachts Fountain, a 38-foot Fountain powered by two 525-horsepower engines. They won a Super Vee national championship last month in Deerfield Beach.
"Key West is always the matter of finding top-end speed and good handling in rough seas," Karsenti said. "It's always flat in the harbor, but once you get outside it's like being in a washing machine."
But Karsenti and Allegre will have more to worry about than sea conditions. Nigel Hook, a British transplant who lives in San Diego and races Lucas Oil, will be breathing down their necks.
Hook has endeavored to win a world championship in Key West for years, but something always went awry.
In 1990, spectators at Mallory Square gasped when his boat rolled over in front of them. In 2004, Hook's boat was struck by another boat at the first turn buoy during the first race. The impact resulted in a large gash in the side of the boat and a temporary repair was only durable enough for Hook to cross the start line in the final race.
In 1995, Hook missed a world title by just a few seconds.
"After taking three first places in 2006, we're hoping this year will be our number," said Hook, who finished second behind Yachts Fountain in the national points. "We've been testing different set-ups recently with Key West specifically as our target."
Special correspondent Andy Newman contributed to this report.
Fort Lauderdale offshore powerboat racer Michel Karsenti is eyeing a second consecutive world title in the Super Vee class at the Key West World Championship.
The first race of the three-race series to crown the 2006 world champions in Super Boat International/American Power Boat Association-sanctioned classes, begins Wednesday.
Karsenti, who moved to South Florida from Cannes, France, about 14 months ago, races with fellow Frenchman Serge Allegre in Yachts Fountain, a 38-foot Fountain powered by two 525-horsepower engines. They won a Super Vee national championship last month in Deerfield Beach.
"Key West is always the matter of finding top-end speed and good handling in rough seas," Karsenti said. "It's always flat in the harbor, but once you get outside it's like being in a washing machine."
But Karsenti and Allegre will have more to worry about than sea conditions. Nigel Hook, a British transplant who lives in San Diego and races Lucas Oil, will be breathing down their necks.
Hook has endeavored to win a world championship in Key West for years, but something always went awry.
In 1990, spectators at Mallory Square gasped when his boat rolled over in front of them. In 2004, Hook's boat was struck by another boat at the first turn buoy during the first race. The impact resulted in a large gash in the side of the boat and a temporary repair was only durable enough for Hook to cross the start line in the final race.
In 1995, Hook missed a world title by just a few seconds.
"After taking three first places in 2006, we're hoping this year will be our number," said Hook, who finished second behind Yachts Fountain in the national points. "We've been testing different set-ups recently with Key West specifically as our target."
Special correspondent Andy Newman contributed to this report.
11-09-2006 | 06:35 AM
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Re: KW in the News
Posted on Thu, Nov. 09,
POWERBOATING | KEY WEST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Hook, Sheppard win Super Vee class
From Miami Herald Wire Services
Offshore powerboat racers Nigel Hook and James Sheppard overcame a slow start Wednesday to win the Super Vee class during the first day of the Key West World Championship.
Racing in Lucas Oil, Hook from San Diego and Sheppard of Surrey, England, took the lead in the fifth lap with an inside maneuver at Turn Buoy I. They overtook Joe Boxer Patron, piloted by Chivas James and William McComb, both of Sarasota.
''This guy [Sheppard] is a four-time world champion in Vee bottoms, so he knows how to steer the boat,'' said Hook, the boat's owner and throttleman. ``It was a brilliant turn, and that's what won the race for us.''
Hook has raced in the event for more than 15 years, but never has won a world championship.
James and McComb finished second, followed by Shogren Performance Marine, with Wyatt Fountain of Washington as throttleman.
Last year's world champion in the Super Vee class, Yachts Fountain, which was piloted by Serge Allegre of Cannes, France, and Michel Karsenti, of Fort Lauderdale, suffered a mechanical breakdown during the first lap.
''The two shafts from the steering pump broke at the same time,'' Karsenti said.
"Now we're having a Bloody Mary, waiting for spare parts to come, and we need to win the next two races.''
The next two races are Friday and Sunday
POWERBOATING | KEY WEST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Hook, Sheppard win Super Vee class
From Miami Herald Wire Services
Offshore powerboat racers Nigel Hook and James Sheppard overcame a slow start Wednesday to win the Super Vee class during the first day of the Key West World Championship.
Racing in Lucas Oil, Hook from San Diego and Sheppard of Surrey, England, took the lead in the fifth lap with an inside maneuver at Turn Buoy I. They overtook Joe Boxer Patron, piloted by Chivas James and William McComb, both of Sarasota.
''This guy [Sheppard] is a four-time world champion in Vee bottoms, so he knows how to steer the boat,'' said Hook, the boat's owner and throttleman. ``It was a brilliant turn, and that's what won the race for us.''
Hook has raced in the event for more than 15 years, but never has won a world championship.
James and McComb finished second, followed by Shogren Performance Marine, with Wyatt Fountain of Washington as throttleman.
Last year's world champion in the Super Vee class, Yachts Fountain, which was piloted by Serge Allegre of Cannes, France, and Michel Karsenti, of Fort Lauderdale, suffered a mechanical breakdown during the first lap.
''The two shafts from the steering pump broke at the same time,'' Karsenti said.
"Now we're having a Bloody Mary, waiting for spare parts to come, and we need to win the next two races.''
The next two races are Friday and Sunday
11-13-2006 | 08:00 AM
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Re: KW in the News
Hook, Sheppard win Super Vee powerboat title in Key West
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
KEY WEST, Fla. -- Nigel Hook and James Sheppard won the Super Vee class title Sunday at the Key West World Championship, despite limping around the 83-mile course after one of their powerboat's engines malfunctioned.
Racing in Lucas Oil, Hook of San Diego and Sheppard of Sussex, England, finished second on the final day of the three-race series to Joe Boxer Patron, owned by William McComb of Sarasota. Lucas Oil had the highest cumulative point total after winning the first two races Wednesday and Friday.
Hook and Sheppard decided to keep going around the 12.6-lap course on one engine after a cooling hose popped off the second motor in the ninth lap.
Their strategy paid off, because defending champion Yachts Fountain, piloted by French natives Serge Allegre and Michel Karsenti, broke down with two overheated engines. Another Super Vee boat, Shogren Performance Marine, piloted by Wyatt Fountain of Washington, N.C., dropped out early in the race.
Troy Hannon of Davie and Daren Schwartz of North Miami, racing in Miccosukee Indian Gaming, won the Superboat Stock class title despite stopping to extinguish an engine fire.
David Knight of Washington, N.C., and Mike Seebold of Marco Island picked up a Superboat Vee Class world title in Panasonic/Seminole Hard Rock Casino.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
KEY WEST, Fla. -- Nigel Hook and James Sheppard won the Super Vee class title Sunday at the Key West World Championship, despite limping around the 83-mile course after one of their powerboat's engines malfunctioned.
Racing in Lucas Oil, Hook of San Diego and Sheppard of Sussex, England, finished second on the final day of the three-race series to Joe Boxer Patron, owned by William McComb of Sarasota. Lucas Oil had the highest cumulative point total after winning the first two races Wednesday and Friday.
Hook and Sheppard decided to keep going around the 12.6-lap course on one engine after a cooling hose popped off the second motor in the ninth lap.
Their strategy paid off, because defending champion Yachts Fountain, piloted by French natives Serge Allegre and Michel Karsenti, broke down with two overheated engines. Another Super Vee boat, Shogren Performance Marine, piloted by Wyatt Fountain of Washington, N.C., dropped out early in the race.
Troy Hannon of Davie and Daren Schwartz of North Miami, racing in Miccosukee Indian Gaming, won the Superboat Stock class title despite stopping to extinguish an engine fire.
David Knight of Washington, N.C., and Mike Seebold of Marco Island picked up a Superboat Vee Class world title in Panasonic/Seminole Hard Rock Casino.
