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Endurance Race - Day 1
Still feeling a little
battered and bruised from issues in Anzio we approached
Travemunde with trepidation wondering what else laid in wait!
Travemunde is a very pretty town on the
Baltic Sea and has a great boating fraternity. As a result the
local town go out of their way to support the powerboat racing
and P1 put on a fantastic event. Crowds for the racing exceeded
150,000 and the line up of spectator boats went on for over 2
miles, a sight I will never forget! Literally thousands of boats
had come out to watch and NOT one crossed onto the course….if
only the Solent could manage this level of control for Cowes!
For the first time in our short experience
with P1 the sea was relatively flat. At the top end of the
course (Buoys B1, B2 and C) there was a beamy chop which lurched
the boats from side to side, but other than that the course
looked like it would be fast.
We headed out towards the muster area and
mustered around the start boat. Its weird but with the boat
going so well you’d expect the nerves to ebb away but if
anything, the pressure to do well has a large bearing on the
nerves! The orange flare signalling a three minute warning was
let off and I did the usual checks before we started i.e. tabs
in the right place, comms working, engines not stalled (believe
me they do at the worst moments!). The heart rate was now
increasing and we were ready to go.
One of things I love and hate about P1 is the
starts. A mix of 20 or so large, powerful boats with adrenaline
fuelled drivers all dashing to the start. Add to the mix a very
quick start procedure and it’s chaotic…a bit like the charge of
the Light Brigade! You have one chance to get your line and
after that, if you get it wrong, it’s hard to catch up.
We got an average start, the boat got up on
the plane and we were in amongst the boats. However, we were
then stuck between two boats and the gap was getting smaller and
smaller. I realised that I needed to do something when we were
literally within an inch or so of the boats on either side. The
water we were in was messy as well so I suddenly spotted some
clean water to the right of the line and turned out of the messy
water to some clean stuff and away we went with a good start and
leading SuperSports.
We held this for two laps, but trying to keep
to the average speed lead us to some communications issues. I
misheard Mike and thought he said slow down, so I did. I
misheard, he said speed up and within the few seconds of the
mistake both the Albatro boat and Ocean Dragon who had been hot
on our heels had caught us. Sadly, we were stuck in the middle
and being squeezed and squeezed to the point where we were going
to hit one of them and we were approaching a tight turn. I had
never raced this close before and hoped the Dragon wouldn’t leap
out of control and hit one of them.
Both boats were getting closer and closer and
I knew I needed the right line for the next turn. So I opted out
(you cannot win unless you finish) and dipped out behind Ocean
Dragon giving both them and Albatro the lead but giving me a
better turn. I was furious with myself for not holding the line
but felt like I had no choice, their tactics had paid off but we
had a whole race to go yet it was just one glitch that was
fixable (I hoped). Now, through miscommunication and trying to
avoid a collision I was third….totally unacceptable!
Although letting them get in the lead, I made
sure we were hot on their heels. On the long leg of the course
heading out to sea (A2 to B1) we would catch them and then I
would lose them again on the corners (my cornering is a little
suspect!). The race that was unfolding was amazing. Because we
were racing so close every turn counted, every metre we gained
counted. Every corner I mucked up lost space, every turn I got
right we gained on them. I was trying all sorts of things to
keep us in the running and get a first.
Sensibly the other boats were playing tactics
as well. Ocean Dragon was trying to make me go wide around him.
Albatro was ahead by a few yards so whilst his wash was a pain,
he wasn’t in the way…yet!
The most entertaining moment of the race was
when we came around a tight turn with Ocean Dragon on our
inside. I turned tight and he didn’t! I saw the white of his
hull heading straight at us and thought we were going to hit.
Fortunately we just avoided each other with only the force of
the water forcing the boats over onto their sides. A lucky
escape!
The key was to stay on the inside line which
gives the boat right of way on the corners (Although you
wouldn’t think so sometimes!) My next mistake was to let Ocean
Dragon get the inside line. Coming up to the only buoy we kept
to our right, in trying to get a good turn I changed sides and
that let Ocean Dragon get inside line. I must now get it back
again.
I was desperately trying to think how I could
do it. I knew the longest leg by the spectator boats was our leg
and I could catch a lot of ground here but if I didn’t manage to
get the left side of Martin before the next turn then all would
be lost yet again.
There was nothing for it but something rather
dramatic. We came through the lap gate and I took a wider turn
coming into the A1 and A2, then I took my foot off the throttle
for a split second to slow the boat and ducked in behind Martin
changing sides before he knew what had happened. I threw the
boat so hard into what seemed like such an impossible turn, that
she literally lurched from side to side. I knew that I really
had found her limits and if I did that again we may not be so
lucky next time! However, I had the inside line and that
strategy had worked. Mike was shouting that we’d lost a lot of
speed which I knew was going to be the compromise, but I’d never
had the chance to let Mike know what I was doing. (He must have
thought I’d lost it!)
I literally stood on the throttle, trimmed
out and tried to get the Dragon to accelerate the best she
could. It worked! We had the inside line and we were passing
Ocean Dragon! The race was all about tactics, every corner you
had to plan the turn, work out a strategy for where on each lap
you had the advantage and could over take. In addition to this
the tight turns were really taking their toll on my arms and we
were being thrown around the boat like rag dolls, thank goodness
for harnesses!
Mike was making sure we took the tightest
lines and did not use any more time than necessary. He was
working incredibly hard to make sure we didn’t muck up the
navigation (with one exception but we won’t mention that!). We
still had a number of laps to go and I was afraid of mucking up
again. I could see Ocean Dragon chasing after us, any mistake
from me then the few metres I had gained would be lost.
I could also see Albatro in front…..not far
now and we were catching him. We were now fairly well past Ocean
Dragon but he was still on our case but not likely to get in the
way, now my sights were on Albatro.
Fortunately again I had the inside line and
we were racing hard to buoy C almost alongside him when all of a
sudden he swerved directly in front of me and dived across to
the left nearly taking out the front of our boat….what the hell
was he doing! He had got lost and was clearly having
navigational issues!
We took advantage and kept our line. Sadly
for Albatro, when they realised their mistake it was too late
and we were ahead, just. I still had to ensure I had his inside
line which we did and shut him out.
By now we were both tired. We turned to go
back towards the harbour towards F when I realised we could not
see the buoy and suddenly everything looked unfamiliar.
I shouted to Mike ‘where the hell is the red
buoy’ and his answer made me cringe…’I don’t know I cannot see
it’. My heart sank, all that effort to be in the lead and we
were about to get lost! Suddenly we spotted Ocean Dragon far to
our right and then Mike shouted that he’d seen the buoy and to
turn hard right. Thank goodness we had found it and still
managed to hang on to our lead…just.
By now Albatro had dropped to 3rd
place with Ocean Dragon 2nd. We were all so close
though that I was praying I didn’t make a mistake. One lap to
go and I could not afford a mistake and the boat MUST hold
together. I have never had to concentrate so hard.
At one point we caught a wash from somewhere
and the boat launched spectacularly and landed hard on the side,
then lurched to the other……my heart was in my mouth, we could
not lose first place, I just stood on that throttle to keep the
momentum going and shouted at the Dragon to behave itself and
stop mucking about….it really wasn’t funny!
I again whizzed up the favoured leg of the
course to make sure we put some more metres between us and the
others and carefully….but not too carefully, drove the boat just
wanting to finish. And finally, just ahead of us 300 metres, 200
metres, 100 metres….we were there, threw the finish gate and
we’d won!!! What a race, I can only liken it to go kart racing
with vans!
Mike and I were both exhausted and for the
first time in my life I had cramp in my hands where I had had to
hold onto the steering wheel so tight. It had been a hard race
but unbelievable!
Rally Course - Day 2
After the hard racing
from the day before we were a little stiff to say the least. The
crowds were as large as ever and the atmosphere was buzzing. The
course was slightly shorter this time with some very tight turns
and was going to prove a challenge. Not only that, but the
weather had picked up again and the flatter conditions of
yesterday had given way to a little more chop on the outer legs
but nothing we hadn’t seen before.
Once again we mustered around the start boat,
the three minute flare was lit, I did my last minute checks and
we were ready to go.
This time we had a much better start, some
great clean water and the chance to get in the lead early on
again….that is until disaster struck. We hit a wash, and the
boat went just slightly out of shape causing me to hit my elbow
on the comms cord for the intercom and out it came. So I had no
comms which is a nightmare as Mike and I work so closely
together. I had to get the blasted thing back in again. It
seemed to take forever but finally I managed to bash it back in
again but I had lost so much ground driving blind for what
seemed like forever.
The start had gone well for others though and
the Team Chaudron boat was flying along going the best I have
ever seen it. Four boats hit the front, Ocean Dragon, Albatro,
Chaudron and us. So hitting the first buoy in amongst four boats
and some Evolution boats gave us some heart stopping moments! On
my left Chaudron had taken off and gone literally sky high
nearly landing on us. I took evasive action and in doing so
nearly got hit by Ocean Dragon who was inches from my right. In
front was Albatro’s spray so to add to the foray I couldn’t see!
It was a complete nightmare and all boats had to take evasive
action.
Albatro was also now mad after being beaten
yesterday and racing with some very aggressive tactics….i.e. zig
zagging in front of me, making me turn massively wide and
generally being a complete pain, but that’s racing. He would not
let me pass and in doing so and playing these games he was
slowing himself and me up letting Chaudron and Ocean Dragon
steam away in the lead.
I was so frustrated, but fortunately on the
second lap on the A1 and A2 buoys I saw my chance, trimmed out
and just drove as hard as I could to get past him. We sped past
and managed to get away from him and avoid all the games.
Sadly though this had cost us dear and we
were a good 300-400 metres behind Chaudron who was whizzing
along and Ocean Dragon. Feeling very despondent and thinking I
was going to have to settle for third place I just drove the
boat as well as I could, trying not to let the boat get out of
shape and lose still more distance. Mike was great and focussed
on ensuring we took as short as distance as possible between the
buoys and together the plan worked.
After a couple of laps it was noticeable that
we were now gaining on both of the teams and it occurred to me
that if we were sensible and kept our heads we could in fact
catch them. We knew we were quicker on my favourite stretch but
not so good on the corners so we focussed on getting as much
advantage as possible on those longer legs. I took some wider
turns to ensure that my average speed was kept up and before we
knew it, with only two laps to go we were right behind them! I
couldn’t believe it and was amazed we’d caught up so well….it
just goes to show you should never give up.
However, the pressure was on. We only had two
short laps to go and I still had two boats to catch. We started
the penultimate lap and Chaudron was still ahead of Ocean Dragon
but only marginally. They were having a great race though. We
were about three quarters around the course when we got level
with Chaudron. We both hit a wave and were both catapulted into
the air. I kept my foot down and we slowly but surely drew ahead
of him. He was inches from the back of the boat and the next
turn was crucial. I had to keep the boat running fast but in
shape or he would take me again, he also had the inside line.
Amazingly I kept the boat together and we
rounded the turn still in front now on the last lap with only
Ocean Dragon to catch. Would we or wouldn’t we? We continued up
that long stretch and ran level with them but they had the
inside line and out cornered me. I took it back again along
another stretch but had to come wide and again they had the
advantage. I only needed 2nd to get the Grand Prix!
Did I go hell for leather and risk making a mistake and being
relegated to 3rd by Chaudron who was still pushing
hard or did I go for a win if I could
We just didn’t have the space and Ocean Dragon took an awesome
turn at the F buoy enabling him to gain enough advantage to take
the chequered flag. He had out driven me on the last lap and
deservedly won the race. I felt sorry for Chaudron, they really
had put up an amazing fight and took 3rd place in the
Grand Prix. It had been a great race and all the teams had
fought hard for their places.
Now onto Gallipoli ………
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