Zapcat racers were again faced with perfect racing conditions today as they lined up on Bournemouth’s glorious beach for round 6 of 14 of the Zapcat National Championship.
Sun worshippers and powerboat racing fans flocked to the beach to catch all the action as the first green flag of the day dropped at 12noon. The onshore wins that had provided choppy swells for the racers to contend with in Saturdays racing had dropped and racing was not faltered by any red flag incidents as the racers showed their skills and team work that’s vital in Zapcat Racing.
Picking up where they left off in Saturday’s heats Cornish team Nine Lives, Zapcat 35 Charlie Brickle and Adam Bushrod were a formidable opposition in Division 2 heats securing 4 out of 5 heat wins. Meanwhile the Dangerous Brothers, Zapcat 74 Andy Foster and Ben Eldridge were battling hard to produce outstanding results after an incident in practice saw them collide with a mark and puncture their hull, Relentless Team mates The Exe Jets volunteered the use of their Zapcat 77 to ensure their team maintained maximum achievable points.
Meanwhile in the day’s division 1 heats the teams were piling the pressure on Blue Sheets Racing 1 in the hope of a slip up and a change in the championship lead. Chartered accountants Randall and Payne, Zapcat 49 Justin Whithorn and Chris Baldwin disappointed with their Saturdays result were pulling out all the stops in the bid for the top spot, but local teams Rana Park, Zapcat 25 and Speedy Hire, Zapcat 38’s Daren Ford and Sam Hunka were putting up a daunting challenge in the process.
The eight Zapcat division 2 final was a hotly contested affair with the Zapcat pilots relying on speed and tactics in search of the coveted gold medal position. Nine Lives, Zapcat 35 got of to a soaring start and took a long first lap as several of their rivals opted for the short pit lap on the first lap in the bid for clean water. The Dangerous Brothers were in the lead by the second lap but the lead was short lived as Nine lives pitted on the second lap and re-established their lead, and held the Brothers off to take the gold medal. Seavation, Zapcat 10 Alex Jordan and Dave Pay completed the podium line up just sneaking in, in front of Royal Marines Go Commando in Zapcat 42.
Attentions then moved to the Division 1 final, with Blue Sheets Racing 1, Zapcat 03 ready for the battle with the racing elite. Everyone had everything to play for and with the championship table standing to tight tactics were to be the name of the game. Blue Sheets Racing 1 got an exceptional start off the beach with Co-pilot Rob Martin launching himself into the boat as the green flag dropped but Rana Park, Zapcat 25 and Cat in the Hat, Zapcat 39 were hot on their wake. Blue Sheets Racing 1 took an early pit lap making the most of the clean water to extend their lead as Rana Park opted to take the clean water on the longer leg of the course to attempt to make up some ground on the leaders.
Championship leaders Blue Sheets Racing 1 Craig Davis and Rob Martin’s quick start paid off and they soared home to take a hat trick of Grand Prix titles so far this season as they secured their 6th Gold medal. Not giving up on the fight Rana Park Neil Fraser and Jeremy Nazarin stole silver from Cat in the Hat’s father and son team Jim and CJ Crooks as Saturday’s div 1 results were repeated.
Congratulations and champagne were a plenty as the prizes were awarded with RYA Powerboat Racing manager John Puddifoot bestowing the medals and leading the applause at the days Prize giving before being taken for a buzz with the championship leaders.
The championship next heads to Devon on its championship campaign as Plymouth plays host to Zapcats for the first time ever on the 11th & 12th July.