Sunday’s racing was met by cloudy blue skies with gusting winds of around 28mph, creating a whole different obstacle for the Zapcat teams to contend with. The winds were lifting the noses of these light weight (150kg including engine) inflatable catamarans meaning the co-pilots had their work cut out for them distributing the weight in the boat to avoid being flipped over.
Division 2 got off to a flying start with returning racers in Smart ABC, Zapcat 07, Dave Paget and Tony Cooper, fixing engine gremlins they had during Saturday’s racing and leading the way in the division 2 heats. Also enjoying the feisty conditions, were Contact Wait Out, Zapcat 14 piloted by Paul Holt with Co-pilot Helen Redwood.
Mean while in the division 1 fleet Randall & Payne, Zapcat 49 again launched an attack on the championship leaders, Blue Sheets Racing, Zapcat 03 assisted by Team Speedy Hire, Zapcat 38’s Daren Ford and Mark Surrey. Following a disappointing result in Saturday’s racing local boys The Exe Jets, Zapcat 77, pilot Rob Wickham and Graham Hay were determined to up their game for Sunday’s racing. Pilot Rob commented “We were disqualified yesterday and it due to that we didn’t make it into the final, which was really disappointing for us, but the weather’s improved today although the wind’s picked up but we like the conditions a little bit rougher so we’ll see what today hold’s in store.”
Smart ABC, Zapcat 07 dominated the Division 2 heats to take pole position in the days final. With a tactical short pit lap timing would be vital to the racers on this tight course if they were to take the finals podium top spot.
As the 8 Zapcat teams lined up for the start of the final the wind was increasing and as the green flags dropped officials were unhappy with the holding of lines and red flagged the race for a re-start. On the way back out to muster Team Scaredy Cat, Zapcat 40 Russell & Sandra Sidney stalled and failed to re-start their engine. The disappointed husband and wife team from Gosport were towed ashore for safety to a rousing round of applause from hundreds of spectators at the Waterfront Bar.
The flags were dropped for the second start and the race was underway Smart ABC, Zapcat 07 making the most of their pole position and taking a tight line to the first buoy. Nine Lives, Zapcat 35 opted for an early pit lap to make the most of the clean water on the short section of the course whilst the rest of the fleet battled it out on the longer section with Zapcat 07 extending their lead from the trailing field. Contact Wait Out, Zapcat 14 opted to pit next and stole the lead from Nine Lives as they rejoined the main race course. Smart ABC, took a late pit lap that pulled off to take them home in the Gold Medal position. With Contact Wait Out Securing Silver and Nine Lives taking the Bronze.
The Division 1 final was soon underway and Blue Sheets Racing, Zapcat 03 seemed to hold back as the rest of the teams took off the line, with Randall & Payne, Zapcat 49 leading the way, the lead was short lived as Blue Sheets Racing opened up their throttle and powered through the fleet. With clean water in front of them they took the option of an early pit lap to maintain their lead, Randall & Payne followed hotly on their heals, with The Exe Jets, Zapcat 77 also racing strong. Blue Sheets Racing, Zapcat 03 held their lead to the chequered flag Taking Craig Davis and Rob Martin’s total of Gold medals this season to 8. Randall & Payne followed them in, in the Silver Spot with Team Speedy Hire, Zapcat 38’s Daren Ford and Mark Surrey completing the line up.
Accolades were presented to the Zapcat Racers by Plymouth’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport & Leisure, and Councillor Glenn Jordan and obligatory champagne was sprayed before the racers headed home to prepare for the next Grand Prix in Barry Island, Glamorgan on the 1st & 2nd August