Powerboat P1 2007 Series Goes Big With Malta Season-Opener
Powerboat P1 season kicks off with hot competition in heavy seas.
May 15, 2007
Extremeboat, a 39-foot long Dragon piloted by Jackie Hunt and Mike Shelton, prevailed in wild conditions of Malta to win the 2007 Powerboat P1 season opener. (All photos courtesy/copyright Powerboat P1.)
Not soon to be forgotten thanks to the roughest water in recent offshore history, the 2007 Powerboat P1 six-stop series, which campaigns in Europe and England, kicked off in Valletta, Malta, May 4-6. So wild were the sea conditions, which featured swells from 10- to 20-feet for Saturday's around-the island leg, that Sunday's race had to be cancelled.
"That's the biggest water I've ever been in," said Jackie Hunt, who drove-and-throttled Extremeboat, a 39' Dragon, to the SuperSport class victory in Malta with her husband, Mike Shelton, handling the navigation chores. "There were some waves that must have been-I don't know how big they were, maybe 25 feet high."
Throttleman Mike Fiore, the owner of Outerlimits Powerboats, who joined the P1 tour this season in a 40-footer with driver Joe Sgro, agreed. "It was huge," he said after the race, during which the Outerlimits led before breaking down. "That was definitely the biggest stuff I've ever seen."
The Outerlimits wasn't the only United States-built boat in the Powerboat P1 field. Defending its 2006 Evolution-class championship was OSG, a Donzi 38 ZR Comp. The 38-footer prevailed in the Malta event.
"We had to stay with the Outerlimits, and it was very difficult," said Giancarlo Cangiano, who throttled the Donzi with Giovanni Carpitella driving. "That is a fantastic boat-very fast."
On its way to defending the title it earned last season, the OSG Donzi 38 ZR Comp triumphed in Evolution class.
Other U.S.-manufactured boats that competed in Malta-in addition to the Donzi, Dragon and Outerlimits-were a Formula and Hustler, both 38-footers. Reportedly joining the fleet for next tour stop, May 26-27, in Naples, Italy, will be two Fountains and a pair of Skater V-bottoms. (For the complete schedule and more information on Powerboat P1, visit www.powerboatp1.com.)
After the circumnavigating Malta, a 40.4-nautical-mile journey, the boats had to complete 5.6-nautical-mile laps (six for Evolution class and four for SuperSport class) between Valletta and Sliema. Though the conditions weren't on the epic scale of those encountered near the end of the island, they were tough enough with confused 3- to 5-footers. The race ended with no less than three broken boats and injuries, none serious, to three competitors.
Winds from the northwest kicked up during the night and continued through Sunday. That made the waters outside Valletta harbor, where another lap-race was scheduled for both classes, too dangerous for racing. Union Internationale Motonautique officials monitored the seas conditions and forecasts throughout the morning and afternoon, and it became clear that conditions would not improve.
Before breaking down, the Outerlimits 40-footer manned by Mike Fiore and Joe Sgro lead the race around Malta.
Rather than completely canceling Sunday's event, which has not happened in Powerboat P1's five-year history, P1 and U.I.M. officials decided to have one-kilometer speed runs in Valletta Harbor. With cooperation from the harbormaster, the runs began at approximately 5 p.m. Taking top honors in Evolution class was Outerlimits. In SuperSport class, defending 2006 champion Extremeboat, proved to be the fastest boat of the day.
"We'd rather be racing, but doing kilo runs is great for the crowds," said Shelton of the Extremeboat Dragon.
Editor's Note: For the complete story on the Powerboat P1 Maltese Grand Prix of the Sea, see "Fortified" in the July 2007 issue of Powerboat magazine available on newsstands in early June.
2007 Maltese Grand Prix of the Sea Results
Evolution Class
1. OSG Racing (Italian)
2. Wettpunkt.com (Austrian)
3. Trident Corse (Italian)
SuperSport Class
1. Extremeboat (British)
2. Racing Project (Italian)
3. Bullet Racing (British)
