Offshore powerboat racing
Offshore powerboat racing is racing by large, ocean-going powerboats, typically point-to-point racing.
Probably the largest, most powerful racing machines of all, the extreme expense of the boats and the fuel required to participate make it an expensive and elite sport.
In Europe, Middle East & Asia offshore powerboat racing is led by the UIM regulated Class 1. The international circuit races round the world and is the offshore powerboat racing equivalent Formula 1 car racing.
In the USA offshore powerboat racing is split between the SBI / APBA / UIM races and the OSS races. The OSS races have a larger following.
Although there are team sponsors, the sport is still an amateur sport financed by a mixture of private funding and commercial sponsors.
There are several regional classes (e.g. the European ProVee & P1 circuits) and many national classes.
Depending on the class, speeds varies from 50mph to 170mph.
The sport is moving more to a circuit racing style, which makes for a better TV & spectator experience, though there are still old fashioned endurance offshore racing classes.
Further information:
Coverage of the sport is fairly limited. Results can be found at Startboat and specialist magazines Extreme Boats & World of Powerboats have in depth articles.
Jet Sprint Boat racing is a form of racing sport where trailerable speed boats, powered by water jet propulsion rather than by conventional propellers, race around shallow, artificial watercourses characterised by many tight turns. The racing format is usually a sequence of time trials.
While the Jetboat was invented in New Zealand, this form of boat racing is becoming more popular in Australasia, and attracts large crowds to events.
Hydroplane racing (also known as hydro racing ) is a sport involving racing hydroplanes on lakes and rivers. It is a popular spectator sport in several countries (at least the U. S., Canada, Australia and Central Europe), and one of the more commercialized sports.
Limited hydroplane racing
Limited hydroplane racing uses several size classes to ensure fair competition, similar to boxing weight classes. Within the European Union the U.I.M has goverend a wide range of classes from OSY-400 which is a stock racing class, to F-125, F-250, F-350 and F-500. These classes are affordable classes to race in which can achieve speeds of 100MPH.
Unlimited hydroplane racing
A bit of a misnomer, as the boats aren't without limits, the term originated because there are much fewer restrictions than with limited hydroplane racing. The main difference being the size of the engines. These engines were normally 750cc as opposed to the 500cc engines used in the F500 class.
Hydroplane racing safety
In the early days of hydroplane racing, accidents, and even the deaths of drivers, were considered somewhat routine. As top speeds increased, more attention was paid to driver safety, much like with auto racing. Today the U.I.M has introduced safety measures, like Carbon Kevlar Cockpits, Safety belts, and side protection making the boats safer for the driver.
Noted hydroplane drivers
Bill Muncey, Bill Brow, Dean Chenoweth, Chip Hanauer, Paul Noone, Andrew Chesman, Tiziano Trombetta, Attila Havas, Giuseppe Rossi, Danille Roda, Luigi Colombi, Michaelangelo Politi, Henryk Synoracki, Manfred Loth, Dieter Konig, Lenny Ryden, Jim Kropfelt, Jerry Hopp, Dave Villwock
Famous Unlimited Hydroplanes
Miss Budweiser, Miss Madison, Miss Bardahl, Atlas Van Lines, The Machine, Pride of Pay-N-Pak, Coopers' Express, Tempus, Miss Thriftway, Slo-Mo-Shun, Notre Dame, Miss E-Lam Plus
Noted hydroplane owners
Bernie Little, Lenny Ryden, Bill Muncey, Fran Muncey,
Inaugurated in 1981, the F1 Powerboat World Championship is similar to Formula 1 car racing and similar rules apply. Each F1 Powerboat race lasts approximately 45 minutes following a circuit marked out in a selected stretch of water, usually a lake, river, or sheltered bay.
Qualifying periods decide the formation of the grid, and timing equipment records the performance of competitors to decide the final classification and all-important allocation of championship points.
The sport is governed by the Monaco based Union Internationale Motonautique or U.I.M. (International Power Boating Association). Nicolo di San Germano has been responsible for promoting the F1 World Championship since 1993 and has expanded the sport’s geographical reach and its global stature.
Race
F1 powerboat racing is a grand prix style event, similar to Fomula 1 automobile racing, in which teams compete in 13 venues around the world each season. In the 2006 season 27 drivers compete for 12 teams, with 24 boats competing in any one race. The races take place along a track of approximately 350 meters with multiple turns, over which the boats can reach 140 miles per hour (220 km/h). The races are longer than most power boat races at approximately 45 minutes, but still shorter than most automobile races.
Boats
F1 racing uses tunnel hull catamarans that are capable of both high speed and exceptional manuverability. Overall, the boats weigh 860 pounds, including 260 pounds of engine. They are 20 feet long and seven feet wide, keeping weight low through extensive use of carbon fiber and kevlar. the tunnelhull design creates an air cushion under the hull, so that at speed only a few inches touch the water, leading to the high speed possible with these hulls.
Engines
F1 boats are powered by a Mercury V6 two stroke that burns 100LL Avgas at a rate of 120 liters per hour, generating 350 horsepower at 10,500 rpm. This engine can propell the boats to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than four seconds and to a maximum speed of over 220 km/h (136 mph).
Safety
Although F1 boats have not changed much in appearance since the start of the event the construction and safety has been dramatically improved from the original open-cockpit plywood boats.
The first major development was the hard composite cockpit capsule designed to break away from the rest of the boat in a hard crash. This also inaugurated the practice of securing the drivers to their seats with a harness. First developed by designer and racer Chris Hodges, this system was optional for a time due to the opposition of the drivers but, after it saved several drivers in major crashes, the UIM mandated it for all boats. In the early 1990s F1 boat builder Dave Burgess introduced a canopy that fully enclosed the cockpit to protect the driver from the full force of water in a nose-dive. In the late 1990s boat builder DAC introduced an airbag situated behind the driver that prevents the cockpit form completely submerging if the boat flips.
These specific changes in safety features were also accompanied by a progression ot lighter and stronger composite hulls that also reduced the hazards of racing. F1 drivers now also wear a HANS (Head and Neck Restraint) device similar to that worn by their Formula One automobile racing counterparts to combat head and neck injuries.
Future developments may include collapsable bows that would deform rather than penatrate another hull.
Drivers
Before obtaining a Super License to drive an F1 boat, drivers undergo a stringent medical and also an immersion test. This involves being strapped into a mock F1 cockpit. The cell is flipped over and the driver has to make his escape while being judged by safety officials.
Once awarded a license to race in F1, a novice then starts the long haul to stardom and there is ample evidence to show there is no easy route to the top. Too much enthusiasm spells disaster as the lightweight outfits leave little room for error. Too much caution though, and you are permanent back marker.
Although the reigning F1 World Champion Guido Cappellini can now boast a record of 9 world titles, his rise to the top has been a long and often painful process. It took him five years before he won his first F1 race. Indeed in his early years he was nicknamed Crashalini as he barrel-rolled his boats on a regular basis. However that learning curve proved invaluable, as his experience has led to him becoming one of the world’s leading builders of F1 boats.
Future
What does the future promise for F1 Powerboat racing? In terms of safety, there is always room for improvement as Nicolo di San Germano and the U.I.M. work closely to find those improvements. In 2003 the HANS (Head and Neck Safety) device was introduced to the sport to protect the driver from serious injury in the case of an accident.
“Safety is one of my key priorities,” explained di San Germano. “F1 Powerboat safety officers work closely with the U.I.M. to make the sport safer. Since the 1980s we have adopted many measures to improve safety, including: safer cockpits with flexible and shock-absorbing ‘pickle fork’ construction; air-bag crash protection systems; and the HANS (Head and Neck Safety) device.”
“The number of fatal accidents has decreased, but a risk is always present and so research for improved safety is a never-ending effort,” he added.
Talks are currently underway with motor racing engine makers with a view to introduce 4 stroke inboard engines into F1 but many problems have to be overcome before we see a Porsche or BMW engine on the start line.
When you go boating, don't forget to sport
a pair of SeaSpecs! They help block out harmful UVA and UVB rays that can
harm your eyes and reduce tons of glare off of that crystal blue water
you'll be flyin' on!
