RB Report
Homecoming Gallery
Copyright-free photos for editorial use only, courtesy of Peta Stuart-Hunt
Please click on the images to see a larger view.
A very warm welcome to Scorpion's Round Britain Report.
This is the place to visit for regular snippets of news and views, fed back direct from those teams competing in a Scorpion RIB in the Round Britain Powerboat Race starting in Portsmouth tomorrow, Saturday 21st June.
The Teams will be leaving Gunwharf Quays at around 08.30 to 09.00hrs to muster off Southsea Pier.
All Teams in Race Start 1 will begin their run to the Start Line at Southsea Castle at 09.30hrs and head off West down the Solent.
All Teams in Race Start 2 will begin their run up to the start line and off West down the Solent at 10.00hrs.
The Fleet will return to Portsmouth on Monday 30th June and can be seen coming back over the line opposite Southsea Castle in Portsmouth from approximately 12.00 noon.
03/07/2008
AND THE SILVERWARE WENT TO....
The Round Britain Powerboat Race trophies were handed out on Monday evening at the official post-race dinner.
Race director Tim Powell was master of ceremonies, with Lady Aitken and Lord Beaverbrook present.
The list is as follows:
Perseverance
TFO
Outstanding Support
Jim Fry
Brand-Crombie Family Perpetual Trophy for Outstanding Effort
Ocean Pirate
Outstanding Sportsmanship
Gee
Full circumnavigation
Buro
Smallest power/ highest place
Blood, Sweat and Tears
Duke of York Trophy for First British Boat
Braveheart III
Historic Class
1. Gee
2. 747
3. Xanthus.
MC2
1. Power Products Marine
2. TFO
3. Fugitive
MC1
1. Blue FPT
2. Braveheart III
3. SeaHound
RB4
1. SeaBay
2. SwipeWipes
3. My Pleasure
RB3
1. LionHead
2. Vilda
3. Hot Lemon
RB2
1. Bandit
2. Racing Silverline
3. Garmin Racing
FPT Trophy for Most Improved Performance
Venturer
Concourse Cup
Braveheart III
Raymarine Trophy for the Spirit of the Event
Gee
Mermaid Trophy for Historic Class Winner
Gee
John Fuller/ Boatmad Trophy for RB3
LionHeart
Cookies Bananashark Trophy for First RIB
Venturer
MBY Trophy for First Motorcruiser
Blue FPT
RB1
1. Venturer
2. Wettpunkt.com
British Powerboat Racing Club Trophy for RB2
Bandit
Round Britain Trophy
Blue FPT
Beaverbrook Trophy for Overall Winner
Blue FPT
02/07/2008
...AND FINALLY... A WORD FROM TEAM SCORPION-DUBOIS!
"A wonderful welcome home from all the guys at Scorpion. We are SO grateful to have been lent this wonderful RIB that safely (and quickly) got us the whole way around Britain without any hitches. Even through rough waters off the Mull of Kintyre and in the Forth of Firth, we always felt safe.
Special thanks to Patrick (for lending us the boat), to Graham (for designing the boat), to Bruce, Joy and Sara (for offering huge amounts of encouragement) and to Ben and Jamie (who came up to Scotland and serviced the engines, checked all the systems and spent hours driving around Britain). They are a great team. THANK YOU xxx
Big kiss to the Greek boys racing in their Scorpion RIB and fantastic to have brought your RIB all the way from Greece for this event. Good fun going through the Caledonian Canal with you. Congratulations to Mike and his team in Hot Lemon for coming 5th overall and 3rd in class, to Chris and his team in SeaHound for coming 10th overall and 3rd in class, John and his team in Mystic Dragon, Jeremy and Tim in Tequila for coming 13th overall (Have you got any bottles left?) and Gavin and Roger in Black Gold. A great honour to race against you gentlemen."
EVERYONE CELEBRATING SAFE RETURNS HOME - PHOTO: JOE McCARTHY
02/07/2008
GAVIN SAYS THANKS!
Despite our Mercury problems and the resulting Lifeboat tow in the Irish Sea we had a great race. A recalculation of the results based on our completed leg race pace showed that without the problem and the two missed legs for which we got a maximum time penalty we would have finished with a race time of 27 hours 9 minutes. This would have put us 2nd in RB4, and 15th overall. Of course, this is a hypothesis and anyone can eliminate their problems in this way!
Still it left us feeling that despite not having the speed of the 380hp Goldfish and some of the twin engined race boats in our class, we weren't that far away given the mix of weather...
As we didn't have a support crew or sponsors a few thanks are due to people and companies who provided us with help for the race:
Scorpion. A great boat and very capable in the seas. I didn't open the tool box all the way round and Ben and Jamie were quick to help us with a power socket and a few loose screws in Scotland. A credit to the company that nothing broke or needed attention. We'd also like like to thank Joy for looking after all out needs so well and Graham for his wise advice and commitment to high standards.
E P Barrus. We didn't buy our motor from E P Barrus but Mike Williams and Mark provided us with full support and advice. It was Mike who told us to look for the alternator/water pump belt when we broke down in the Irish Sea. They didn't have an answer for the frothing oil, but they think there may be a special oil product which doesn't froth...
Henri Lloyd. We paid for our clothes/bags but felt they were very good. The Shadow Smocks with rubber necks, cuffs and waist combined with the salopettes worked very well in all the conditions we faced. As we were carrying most of our clothes on board we particularly liked the waterproof bags.
Ullman Seats. Roger and I finished the race in good shape. I'm not sure that would have been the case without suspension seating. While I wouldn't describe our Ullman seats as comfortable, the combination of shock absorbing seats and toe straps worked well. I would use them again.
The Race Organisers. I am still not sure how Mike Lloyd's organisation works but it is obviously and enormous project to pull off. We had particular help from John Moore, the Scrutineers and the race office team under Annie Beakhurst.
And last but not least, our Web Master, Paul Rodgers who competed against me in in the 1978 Round Britain Sailing Race. Paul managed to keep the information flowing - even after my Blackberry stopped working.
Gavin, July 1st, 2008
Our thanks must also go to Gavin and his web master Paul Rodgers as as the Black Gold blogs helped me in my job for Scorpion and were superb reading – thanks all. Peta/Scorpion’s RB Web Editor
30/06/2008
SCORPION FINAL RESULTS
Hot Lemon, Mike and Dave Deacon and Graham Firmin, posted the best Scorpion result coming in 5th overall – what an extraordinarily talented team.
Seahound V came in 10th place overall, Team Scorpion-Dubois was 12th overall and Jeremy Bennett’s Tequila was in 13th overall.
Seafarer, the Greek Scorpion entry, came in 16th overall and Mystic Dragon was 23rd overall. Gavin Howe’s Black Gold lies at 34th out of 45 listed entries.
This has been an arduous and exciting event culminating in a fabulous homecoming today. Team supporters, friends and families were out in their droves down at Gunwharf Quays to welcome the boats home in the sunshine.
WELL DONE ALL.
Photo: Peta Stuart-Hunt
THE FULL RESULTS CAN BE FOUND HERE:
http://www.roundbritainrace.co.uk/overall.htm
30/06/2008
CELEBRATIONS TO THE FORE
It was celebration all the way to Portsmouth today (Monday) when the end of The 2008 Round Britain Offshore Powerboat Race arrived in Portsmouth. Flat seas under a sunny sky was just reward on the final leg for an event that took competitors on a 1500 statue mile high speed voyage up the West coast and down the East. But the boat that led race on elapsed time was not the first to finish.
Andy Macateer and Nick Wilner aboard Venturer that lay 8th overall on elapsed time at Lowestoft creamed down to Portsmouth averaging 70.80mph for the 216 mile course but it had little bearing on the overall result. In fact it was later observed this team failed to pass a finishing line marker on the correct side and were penalised 60 minutes for their mistake.
The second to arrive was yet another Goldfish RIB, this time Gutta Boyz driven by Norwegian father and son, Nick and Ivar Tollefsen that crossed the line correctly a mere 60 seconds later. Unfortunately while, this boat held the lead on the early stages up the west coast, it began to suffer transmission problems which cost it dearly. Gutta Boyz lay 33rd overall on the eve of the final leg proving that had she had a trouble free run would almost certainly have won this classic event.
The overall elapsed time winner was third at Portsmouth after averaging 67.94 mph. This was the Greek entered Blue FPT driven by Vassilis Pateras and navigated by Britain’s Dag Pike, at 75 years of age the oldest competitor in the event. They returned a constant performance throughout always finishing among the leaders but never overall. It was a tactic that paid off and they celebrated in fine style on the Portsmouth podium. Vassilis was also the first Greek competitor to take part in a British Offshore event and the first to feature in this major marathon.
Among the many heroes finishing further down the fleet was the all women’s Team Scorpion-Dubios driven by Sarah Jane Fraser and Miranda Knowles. The pair are experienced yachtswomen but here were racing powerboats for the first time while raising money for CLIC Sargant, the children’s cancer charity. They finished 12th at Portsmouth, 12th overall and fourth in their class.
The Garmin Racing boat of Top Gear cameraman Iain May also suffered mechanical problems throughout the event and even on this final leg were forced to stop to make further repairs.
Photo: Peta Stuart-Hunt
PR is the name of the game! Here is Team Scorpion-Dubois being interviewed two minutes after climbing off the Sting, by Tony Husband, BBC South - a terrific piece that went out last night in the 6.30pm South Today programme.
30/06/2008
TEAM SCORPION-DUBOIS - TAKING ON THE BEST
Today sees the final 190 nautical miles of this extraordinary marathon event when the fleet starts from Lowestoft at 08.30 and with Force 3-4 predicted from the south sou’west, the passage across the Thames Estuary and around the North Foreland will not be particularly easy for man, woman or machine.
It is likely that the leading boats could make the Portsmouth finish line off Southsea Common between noon and 14.00 and the battle for Historic Class honours, though slightly more slowly, will continue to the wire.
Meanwhile Sarah Fraser reports from Lowestoft last night:
"What a cracking day! This is a photo of our start and we are the boat at the bottom of the picture. You can see the wash of the start boat going across the line just before we all head off. We had a good start with clear water and we stayed in close to the land pretty much the whole way to Lowestoft to keep out of the chop. Boats that took a straight line hit 3 metre waves and found it tough going. We in contrast probably did an additional 15 miles but maintained a good speed of 50 to 52 knots all the way apart from going across the Wash which was lumpy. We feel all the better for it now. A really interesting coastline and amazing wind farms out at sea and dotted along the coast.
Wildlife today - we saw puffins!
We had an excellent race against the 2 other Scorpion RIBs in our class Seahound and Mystic Dragon - neck and neck all the way! At the finish, there was 20 seconds between the three boats. Unfortunately, we were pipped to the post but it was a great race. Looks like we came in 16th today and our overall position is still 12. Not bad for a couple of novices!
Scrutineering and re-fuelling went well and we had a jolly party at the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club with our fellow competitors and race organisers. It feels very strange that tomorrow evening it will all be over.
There is a good regatta atmosphere here. We are always greeted by a huge smile from Peter who runs the re-fuelling, the girls at race control are so positive and full of encouragement and the race officer has been very helpful at showing us the ropes.
We are really looking forward to tomorrow. The wind is dropping to 10 knots from the West going around to South West so should be fine all the way to Dover and then might be a bit of a bump on the final leg to Portsmouth. The wave hights across the Thames estuary are less than 0.5metres so we will take a straight line at full pelt! We are only 20 minutes behind the boat in front so it would be great to catch up.
Can't wait to see my family and looking forward to a glass of Bollinger on arrival at Portsmouth! (Hint hint!)”
Photo of the Newcastle start, courtesy of Event Website
29/06/2008
TWO AMAZING WOMEN ARE LYING 12TH OVERALL
As of last night (Saturday 28th June) and after 1000 miles and six days of racing, Blue FPT is leading the Round Britain Offshore Powerboat Race.
There are seven Lymington-built Scorpion RIBs in this Race and Hot Lemon (Mike and Dave Deacon) is currently lying 2nd overall but it’s the story of two incredible women – the only all-female crew participating, that is capturing the imagination. They are currently lying 12th overall – in a fleet of 47 - with only two stages left to the end of the competition. They have high praise for their sturdy steed a Scorpion 10m Sting, for getting them to this point.
The Round Britain is a real test of strength and speed that even in this edition is showing how the best results can be reached by boats that are able to maintain consistently high performance level, thanks to their technical equipment.
The fleet is now en route from Newcastle to Lowestoft, Suffolk, a distance of 205 n.m. and the penultimate leg, No.7. Tomorrow we welcome them home to Portsmouth.
This is Team Scorpion-Dubois's - Sarah Fraser's - latest report filed late last night:
“This was a short leg and with an offshore wind, the sea was flat - at least that's what we were hoping for. Instead, we had a horrible following sea out of Edinburgh with a strong tide against us. WE HATE FOLLOWING SEAS!!!! We battled for about 45 minutes until we could get around the corner and start heading South. I have a bruised rib so every hard landing, really hurts. We later heard that 4 boats turned back! Going down the coast of Scotland was really beautiful and really felt like a race as boats all bunched up at the headlands. We were right in close to the beach and Miranda was brilliant at navigating us through some very narrow channels between rocks at 52 knots! (Just as well you weren't onboard Patrick (the boat’s owner)!)
“We had a very exciting finish against another Scorpion RIB, Black Gold and just managed to beat them by 20 seconds. We have found out that our overall position is 12 out of 48 which is amazing and we are 4th in class. We never expected to do this well and were just hoping to get around. We have 2 very long legs left. Tomorrow we go to Lowestoft and have to cross the Wash which has nasty sand banks, tides and can be quite rough and on Monday we cross the Thames Estuary which is very tidal. The good news is that the wind is dying so less bumps. WE HATE BUMPS!!!
“We have seen lots of wildlife on the way round. Miranda saw a whale in the Irish Sea, we saw lots of dolphins coming out of Milford Haven and today we saw a seal.”
TEAM SUPPORT
“We could not have done this race without the fantastic support of Team Scorpion Dubois. With us we have Richard who is our driver (car not boat) who not only gets us from A to B, sorts out our accommodation but also was fantastic at arranging the lorry to get the boat from Plymouth to Milford Haven. He brings us refreshments on arrival, sorts out supplies for onboard, liaises with the Scorpion guys and is generally brilliant. We also have Gino who is trained at sports massages. He works his magic and brings us back to life. I had no idea that we would get so bashed around so Gino is a Godsend. Ben and Jamie are the Scorpion boys who check the boat out and fix anything that needs tweaking. They gave the engines a good service when we were in Inverness and checked all the systems. The boat is amazing. We feel totally safe all the time and feel we could go through any sea - perhaps not at 50 knots!
“Miranda is the perfect team mate. We have lots of laughs and we are very similar in many ways. She is an excellent navigator and keeps her cool in tricky moments. She doesn't even complain when I completely mis-judge a wave and smash the boat into the next wave. She has a great competitive spirit and is game on for anything. Thank you Miranda.
“We are feeling very upbeat about the next couple of days. We are gaining confidence at the starts and understand the form better. Consistancy and reliability are pushing us up the results table and we just have to keep steady.
“Unfortunately, the iPod still doesn't work but Terry Wogan gives us lots of inspiration on the way to the start line. We love those oldies!
I can't believe that this great adventure will all be over in 2 days. It is the most amazing thing to have done. There is great cameraderie with our fellow competitors and a very special bond with them.
“Nearly Midnight and we are up at 6a.m. with a long day ahead so that's it for now.”
Photo courtesy of Round Britain Website: In good company with Scorpion Mystic Dragon en route from Edinburgh to Newcastle
28/06/2008
STORM FORCE BANG ON THE NOSE
Gavin and Roger and Black Gold have arrived in Newcastle after a stormy passage from Edinburgh - in 19th place again. Where they lie in their class is not obvious, but it looks as if Black Gold was not in the vanguard.
The penultimate leg from Newcastle to Lowestoft (Haven Marina, Lowestoft, NR33 9NB) will start on Sunday (29 June) at 9.30a.m with boats arriving in Lowestoft from midday onwards. The final leg will start at 7.30/8.00a.m from Lowestoft on Monday (30th June) arriving into Portsmouth (Gun Wharf Quays) from 11.30a.m (in a change to the time published in our intro above -Ed).
28/06/2008
FIRST RESULTS IN FROM NEWCASTLE
It was all change in the 2008 Round Britain Race today(Saturday). Rough conditions in the Firth of Forth at the start of the sixth leg to Newcastle took its toll, completely upsetting the result table. While the elapsed time leader at Edinburgh lost out, Blue FPT, the Greek entered Fiat Powertrain Rib of Vassilis Pateras, Panos Tsikopoulos and British navigator Dag Pike reaped the benefit. Now Blue FPT not only lead the MC1 class they also head the fleet on overall elapsed time.
It was problems suffered by the Norwegian entered Lionhead; the Max Diesel powered Goldfish Rib driven by Pal Sollie, that changed the pattern. Setting off in contention she suddenly slowed when one of its sterndrive legs failed ten miles after the start. Although the on-board mechanic managed to make repairs, the stoppage erased their elapsed time lead.
"It was a great disappointment," said navigator James Sydenham. "Instead of an eleven minute lead we're now 60 minutes behind but with over 500 miles to go we will do our best to catch up."
Today's finishing places by boat number
81,111,333,7,9,47,471,55,2,96,45,4,343,77,80,6,43,16,10,88,8
See the overall race standings at http://www.roundbritainrace.co.uk/overall.htm
Photo: Team Scorpion-Dubois heads South to Newcastle on Leg 6. Photo courtesy of Round Britain Website
28/06/2008
SARAH REPORTS FROM EDINBURGH - SHATTERED BUT PROUD
"Miranda and I are beginning to take a more competitive approach to the race. We were delighted to have made it half way and have gained lots of experience on the way up but now we feel the race is beginning. We checked the forecast, tides and wave heights and decided we were really going to go for it today. Despite yet another 5.30 am start, we were well prepared. Our tactic to stay in close to the coast, out of the tide and in the lee of the land really paid off and we managed to maintain 50 knots most of the way to Edinburgh (210 miles!). We were dead chuffed to have finished the race in 4 hours 3 minutes and well ahead of several of our direct competitors.
"There were parts of the race where we took a real hammering and both Miranda and I are shattered. The slamming takes its toll on our ankles, back, shoulders and neck and despite a fantastic massage and hot bath, we can hardly move. God knows how we are going to move tomorrow. That Red Bull and Neurofen cocktail might come in handy!
"Toooo tired to write, speak or move!"
Photo courtesy: Sarah Fraser
28/06/2008
GAVIN COMES 2ND IN CLASS
Gavin and Roger, and the good ship Black Gold arrived in Edinburgh second in their class and 19th boat over the finish line.
'You did brilliantly!' a well-wisher called to the rib. 'Not really,' Gavin shouted back. But modesty overruled, it was a stunning show by Black Gold in one of the longest runs in the race - and certainly Black Gold's longest leg. And what's more it was the first leg that Black Gold began with ALL boats on the start line together - the very big boys alongside modest but determined racers, like Black Gold. There were incidents along the very gruelling leg, including the engine alarm ringing till they stopped the flight. It was the old problem of the oil reserve getting too shook up and filling with bubbles. For techies, the two stroke engine doesn't have the oil mixed in beforehand. Instead the mixing is done automatically underway. It's the aerating of the oil in wild conditions that upsets progress. 'It was rough enough to make hard work for five hours,' Gavin said from a very different location last night, out for a meal with Niki in Edinburgh. 'But it went well. And the alarm sounded pretty well, too, when the oil got aerated. 'It's very noisy underway, but the alarm certainly makes itself heard. 'We stopped, of course, found the trouble, managed to get the bubbles out of the oil, and got going again. 'Coincidentally, it isn't just Black Gold that has this trouble, because we passed Carbon Neutral suffering the same way.' In a way, it was an encouragement for Black Gold, because Carbon Neutral, Number 343, is in the more powerful class of Sports/Rib, RB3, skippered by none other than John Caulcutt, a very experienced rib racer. And with John, suffering in the rough conditions was his co-driver, David Allenby. Shaken and stirred Even though 343 is a much more powerful machine, Gavin and Roger stayed ahead of them all the way to Edinburgh Once our racers arrived on terra firma, they took their shaken and stirred bodies off to the physiotherapist. Apart from the physical damage to the crew, the North Sea passage claimed 383 litres of fuel from the boat. It was very close to Gavin's estimate.
27/06/2008
SCORPION TEAMS - OVERALL POSITIONS AT END OF LEG 5
Leg Five of The Round Britain Race Powers into Edinburgh
First: Wettpunkt.com
Second: Venturer
Third: Blue FPT
Overall leader: Lionhead
Scorpion positions (based on 47 entries) are as follows:
4th Hot Lemon No. 2
8th Seahound No.80
19th Team Scorpion-Dubois No. 16
20th Seafarer No.110
23rd Tequila No. 8
34th Mystic Dragon No. 6
37th Black Gold No. 10
The sixth leg starts from Edinburgh tomorrow (Saturday 28 June) at 9.30a.m with boats departing from Edgar Marina from 8.30.am. Boats will arrive in Newcastle (Royal Quays Marina, Newcastle, NE29 6DU) from midday onwards. The penultimate leg from Newcastle to Lowestoft (Haven Marina, Lowestoft, NR33 9NB) will start on Sunday (29 June) at 9.30a.m with boats arriving in Lowestoft from midday onwards. The final leg will start at 7.30a.m/8.00a.m from Lowestoft on Monday (30th June) arriving into Portsmouth (Gun Wharf Quays) from 11.30a.m.
See the overall race standings at http://www.roundbritainrace.co.uk/overall.htm
Photo: courtesy of Round Britain Website
27/06/2008
SOME RESULTS - INVERNESS TO EDINBURGH
Boats into Edinburgh – full results later
111, 333, 22, 471, 9, 7, 55, 2, 4, 16, 77, 110, 88, 6, 8, 80, 130, 17, 10.
Good to see that all the Scorpions are in the front half of the fleet!
Hot Lemon No. 2 = 8th
Team Scorpion-Dubois No. 16 = 10th
Seafarer No.110 = 12th
Mystic Dragon No. 6 = 14th
Tequila No. 8 = 15th
Seahound No.80 = 16th
Black Gold No. 10 = 19th
27/06/2008
LET'S STOP FOR TEA AND BISCUITS!
Stories came in thick and fast at Inverness on Thursday, some tall others short. It was yarning time among crews competing in the Round Britain Powerboat Race. It's known in powerboat racing circles as lay day but few had time to relax.
Several were still licking wounds suffered by their machinery or hulls on the way up from Portsmouth. It's now the halfway stage but the excitement of the forthcoming fifth leg to Edinburgh tomorrow (Friday) was just the ingredient needed to reminisce.
It all came out while Sarah Jane Fraser and Miranda Knowles were entertaining a group of child cancer sufferers from the fund raising charity CLIC Sargent. They happened to mention their experiences while crossing the very rough Lyme Bay off the Dorset coast last Saturday and had no idea they had made a powerboating first.
It seems concentration of driving Team Scorpion Dubois at full throttle, plus a little salt spray, conjured a thirst but trying to guzzle from a bouncing bottle was neigh impossible so they came to a stop. There as Team Scorpion Dubois rolled in the swell the girls enjoyed tea and biscuits.
"It was quite civilised," said Sarah "And certainly not breaking the rules." It is this laid back attitude which is being reflected in the performance of Team Scorpion Dubois up the West Coast to Scotland and one likely to move them even higher up the finishing table when they finish at Portsmouth on Monday.
26/06/2008
BLACK GOLD THURSDAY BLOG - IT'S BRILLIANT!
Big problem lies in the hands of the gods
... the performance at cruising speed is so good, it makes you think that the breakdown in the race leg after Milford Haven must have been part of a dream, a nightmare.
Black Gold and her crew are as far North as the race goes, so after this it's all down hill, all the way to the Channel and along to Pompey on Monday.
Surely there can't be any worries left, can there? Gavin speaks of a number one doubt. Unfortunately it's as vital to the project as one's heart is to each of us.
'We've done a lot of miles now,' Gavin said on the phone from Inverness today, 'so everything is very well tested.
'The helmets and the clothing and the seats are very good. The rib is excellent. And although the engine has put in a lot of miles and goes very well, it remains the main worry.'
The problem has been diagnosed by Mercury engineers. The weak link is the alternator belt. Más o menos, if the belt comes off, the engine stops. After the latest adjustments, it shouldn't come off. Shouldn't.
And Mercury have devised a cure for this infuriating idiosyncasy, so you might think that's the end of the problem. However - there always seems to be lots of howevers in sea racing - the answer to the major doubt and threat to success can't be fitted in Scotland.
And that's not just a Scottish deficiency. It can't be done anywhere but back at base. And the conundrum is: to get back to base, the boat needs the engine going full pelt all the way.
And that can't be guaranteed till the device is fitted.
Gavin doesn't dwell much on the problem simply because there is no answer. Well, no sensible answer. The ultra-cautious might fly the engine to Mercury's workbenches for the change and fly it back. But, there isn't time, let alone creasing the brow severely by estimating the cost.
In the meantime, the engine - the magic that means Black Gold doing well or being an also-ran - is like the girl with the curl.
'When it's going well, it goes marvellously,' Gavin said. 'But when it stops like that, way out to sea, and you can't see anything wrong ...'
It isn't really necessary to end the sentence, even if Gavin dared to.
'But we have to be positive. It has worked really well from Wales to Ireland and Ireland to Scotland, and along the beautiful Caledonian Canal. But, of course, you have to add that it wasn't being pushed exactly as in a race.
Part of a dream, a nightmare
After a pause, Gavin adds, 'We have to be realistic. We can't do much more than hope it behaves.'
Depending on the weather, of course, (and that other worrying question mark) the 210 miles of bad sea to Edinbugh should take about five or six hours. Given reasonable conditions, Gavin adds.
Is that five or six hours of gorgeous motoring, a Schubert piano sonata with Alfred Brendel soothing in glorious stereo inside the helmet, taking calls from friends and family on the satellite phone, perhaps fishing for Scots salmon over the transom?
Surprisingly there'll be none of these.
'You can do nothing but keep the rib going,' Gavin said. 'The noise is so dominant, you can hear nothing at all but the cacophony of speed on water.
'And the jolting is so violent that you daren't use your hands for anything but holding on - and keeping the boat going.
'The violence of the motion is so great you couldn't hold onto a mobile without smashing yourself with it. You can't even have a drink because you fear you would break your teeth because of the lurching all over the place.
'Under way, the race is a full-time job from the start gun to the glorious peace when you bring the throttles back to zero at the other end.'
26/06/2008
TEAM SCORPION-DUBOIS MEETS CLIC SARGENT FAMILIES IN INVERNESS
Sarah Fraser and Miranda Knowles, otherwise known as Team Scorpion-Dubois, are the first all-women crew to compete in the iconic Round Britain Offshore Powerboat Race and, as such, have created a media following that we all hope is helping them in their goal to raise £50,000 for the children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent.
To further help the cause and to raise awareness of the charity's work, the Team has today met up with families being supported by CLIC Sargent, at Muirtown Basin in Inverness and as well as using this as a media opportunity, Sarah and Miranda took some of the children being helped by the charity out on the Scorpion Sting for a fun trip.
Whilst they are in Scotland, Fraser, a mother of four and
To make your donation please go to either www.justgiving.com/sarahfraser or www.justgiving.com/mirandaknowles
26/06/2008
SCORPION UNITED ON LOCH NESS
What a beautiful sight! All’s that’s missing is some Tequila (No. 8 Jeremy Bennett), some Greeks (Seafarer No. 110 Grigoris Oikonomou) and our all-girl Team Scorpion-Dubois (No 16 Sarah Fraser/Miranda Knowles) who missed being included in a fabulous heli-shoot over Loch Ness courtesy of the organisers. More of the same and of the race fleet traversing the beautiful Caledonian Canal at the event's website
No. 6 Mystic Dragon – John Puddifoot
No. 2 Hot Lemon – Mike Deacon
No. 10 Black Gold – Gavin Howe
No. 80 Seahound - Chris Strickland
Photo: courtesy of the Round Britain Offshore Powerboat Race
25/06/2008
A TIME FOR WISE HEADS AND RELIABLE MACHINERY
With the racing fleet making its way along the Caledonian Canal to Inverness today and the teams having a lay day to recover and regroup on Thursday, their thoughts must now be turning to the home run, beginning with a 210 mile haul from Inverness to Edinburgh on Friday.
Past races have shown that this leg and the east coast in general can show some very difficult conditions. This is a time for the fleet of Scorpions to really come into their own. It’ll be interesting to see how they respond.
PLEASE DONATE TO CLIC SARGENT- IT IS JUST A CLICK AWAY
Meanwhile, there’s little rest for Sarah and Miranda, the Scorpion-Dubois team, as they're busy fundraising for CLIC Sargent tomorrow morning, holding press and photo calls and TV interviews with CLIC Sargent in Inverness. They are desperate to reach their target of £50,000 by the end of this race.
The M.D. of Scorpion is donating leg by leg and urges everyone to do the same and get these plucky ladies to their goal. To make your donation please go to either www.justgiving.com/sarahfraser orwww.justgiving.com/mirandaknowles
25/06/2008
A PLEASANT CRUISE FROM WALES TO SCOTLAND IT WASN'T!
The famous Irish rain fell on them throughout the day, and in very generous amounts. The winds blew up to Force 7 and churned the Irish Sea into a worrying state of agitation.
Some of the waves were so pronounced that Black Gold was awash on two separate rather nervy occasions.
'It was my doing both times,' said Gavin on a not very good line from Oban. 'The North Channel at the top of Ireland sent across some big combers and I managed to engage with them two of them.
'We were awash. The sea landed on and filled the rib. I looked at Roger ready to apologise, but there isn't much you can do in that sort of seaway.'
Black Gold left Fishguard repaired and ready for the good voyage at 0430 on Tuesday morning, almost beating dawn's arrival on the Irish Sea. They didn't plan to use racing speed to reach Scotland because, after all, they were out of that leg of the Round Britain Powerboat Race.
They were knocked out on Wednesday when the engine which had been going really very well, suddenly died, as if it thought it might be a Windows computer. And like seeking instant answers for Vista crashes, none were to be found.
Despite the size of sea running, Gavin and Roger quickly had the housing off the engine, and every reachable part of the Mercury well and truly studied. But there were no apparent faults.
Up until that moment, Black Gold had been doing incredibly well. The rib and crew stuck to the vanguard all the way from Milford Sound. It was as if they had the fast lane to themselves, and Black Gold passed racer after racer, until there were only three ahead of them.
Bruised and seasick
'I had no doubt that the big boys would catch us up eventually,' Gavin said, 'but we were going fabulously. The engine sounded so good, and we were catching the waves so well, and tracking on the smoothest parts brilliantly.
'It was such a change from Saturday when we were really given a terrible shaking by the sea. We were bruised and seasick.
'But on Monday we were repaired and feeling great, and Black Gold was in her element.
'When the engine suddenly stopped, well, it was hard to believe it had happened. We checked everything, but there was no fault to be seen. The engine simply refused to start.'
They put the emergency outboard onto the transom and began a modest put-put towards the nearest oasis, Fishguard. Before long, the Fishguard lifeboat came out to give them a friendly tow in.
The fault was traced to an alternator belt and with that repaired, the 'boys from the boat' as Fishguarders termed Gavin and Roger, were ready to fly to Scotland, to join up with the race.
But unsteady weather kept the Irish Sea churning. The demand on fuel was such that they had to divert to Ireland after all, and made the landfall at Bangor for a refill. By then, of course, all the racers were high-tailing it for Oban in Scotland.
It was after Oban that Gavin appeared determined to turn Black Gold into a submarine. But the rib was determined, too, and kept going filled with what seemed like half the Irish Sea.
'But she struggled to maintain her speed,' Gavin said. 'And she definitely can't keep on the plane when filled up.'
They made Scotland in good time - by 1730. Although Oban is not exactly the world's easiest harbour to enter, it turned out to be an old haunt of Roger's, and they were able to make an impressive entrance.
Nicki Howe was there to meet them - 'It is much easier to make destinations by land' - and all of the boat was given a thorough examination. Scorpion, the manufacturers, had two concerned experts waiting for them, and a Mercury engineer is promised for a proper revision in Inverness.
A sedate pace
Disappointingly, the transponder that signals to the plotter couldn't be repaired, but it is near the top of the to-do list for Inverness. And today's leg through the Caledonian Canal is not a race. There are some open waters en route where the racers will be able to open wide throttles. Mostly, though, a more sedate pace will prevail.
People with strong green feelings needn't worry about the powerboats crossing Scotland. Gavin said, 'We respect wildlife wherever we go. And I believe everyone in the race is very conservation aware.'
Frustrations so far have really honed up Gavin and Roger's desire to get Black Gold to the front of the race fleet. But tomorrow is a lay-day in Inverness. The race gets going again on Friday, from Inverness to Edinburgh.
Unlikely as it seems, the end of the race is not so far away. The winners are expected to arrive at Portsmouth on Monday.
25/06/2008
A CELTIC GHOST (WRITER) REPORTS ON BLACK GOLD
Excerpt from the Black Gold blog at rib-racers.com
We’re delighted to report that Black Gold did indeed eventually arrive in Oban last night (see story filed earlier):
" ‘Ah’, said the lovely Welsh accent on the line from the Hope and Anchor Inn this morning, 'the boys from the boat now.
'I let them out the door at 6 this morning with their sandwiches and bananas.
'They went down to the jetty but I am not sure if they set sail. But they were determined to go - very determined.'
Gavin warned last night that they may not get the plotter going, and that was the case this morning, with the Round Britain Powerboat Race interface showing yesterday's path at almost 60 knots and then down to a dramatic standstill, followed by a dawdling passage to Fishguard.
Gavin said that today they would cruise up to Oban to meet up with the rest of the race fleet. Gavin used the word cruise, but it wouldn't be the word most might choose for the jaunt northwards in the Irish Sea today.
Heavy rain is pouring on them as it does so effectively in Ireland, and the sea is not exactly flat.
Fortunately, our heroes have the latest in deep sea clothing, Henri-Lloyd no less, so at least they should stay as dry as its possible to be in an open boat in a sea notorious for wet and wind.
Text messages to Gavin didn't reach his mobile, so it seems the website and supporters will have to wait till the intrepid pair reaches mobile phone range again.
They plan to be back in the race tomorrow morning when it leaves Oban for a 'transit' through the Caledonian Canal. But first, with their Welsh sandwiches and bananas, they have to cross the Irish Sea to Scotland."
25/06/2008
NEWS FROM THE EARLY BIRD SCORPION SUPPORT TEAM
The Scorpion RIBs Support Team, Ben and Jamie who are up in Scotland looking after our fleet of entries, have been watching the RB race participants charge off to the Caledonian Canal since 04:30!
Tequila (no. 8/Jeremy Bennett) was having a lie in and is not due to leave for the Canal until 09:00 – chatted to Tim Kary this morning and no notable information – but yes, we can confirm that they did pick up the crew that were sinking on the first leg, hence their slow time. Their boat is holding together remarkably well after their initial mishap on the day before the race started – when they knocked half the console off and destroyed all their electronics. They now have a small problem with the transom and Jamie and Ben are due to fix this when they arrive in Inverness.
DIVINE OIL
Ben spotted Boat No. 96, Mr. Mako on a trailer in Oban car park and who Ben knew would also would be using two stroke oil. The driver, Jamie Edwards, was tracked down and he very obligingly let Ben have access to the trailer and they found oil. Black Gold was able to continue her journey this morning.
Ben and Jamie had even offered to drive to Inverness and back to pick up the oil, so they were relieved and very appreciative!
BBC BREAKFAST - SCORPION-DUBOIS TEAM 'CURRY'S' FAVOUR!
Declan Curry does a regular report on the BBC1 at 06:17 07:17 and 08:17 – he regularly features and mentions the Scorpion-Dubois team. You can read his Blog at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7448435.stm
24/06/2008
TEAM SCORPION-DUBOIS 'WE HAD A GOOD BLAST' REPORTS SARAH!
"We made it to Oban so half way there! Yippee.
A very dramatic start as both fleets set off together. Flatish seas so full pelt at 52 knots. Great to be in the running with some of the big boys and up to Mull of Kintyre were alongside Neil McGrigor and Tony Jenvey. This didn't last for long when we hit a huge sea and plunged into very large waves which knocked the radar off its support 2 ft above our heads.
A good soaking followed by lots of unmentionable words. It was a very difficult leg for us as we just haven't had enough experience in following seas and as you fly off the top of a big wave, we just headed straight into the one in front. We tried to keep up our speed but ended up only managing about 40 knots. The sea improved as soon as we went through the stretch of water between Jura and Islay, then it was 52 knots all the way to the finish.
We made a big tactical error staying too far away from the rocks. All the other boats went in close and were out of the large seas and took a more straight line approach. Still, we had a good blast, past lots of beautiful scenery, really stunning and great to be in Oban in time for a late lunch.
No flying pigs today!
Really looking forward to our trip through the Caladonian Canal tomorrow and a day off in Inverness - we really need it!!
FUND-RAISING UPDATE
Miranda and I have raised just over £10,000.00 for CLIC Sargent. If you would like to make a donation please go to either www.justgiving.com/sarahfraser or www.justgiving.com/mirandaknowles
Our target is £50,000.00 so please spread the news to your friends."
24/06/2008
SCOTLAND WELCOMES THE BRAVE
Although Austrian Hannes Bohinc maintains his place among the leaders of the 2008 Round Britain Off Shore Power Boat Race, others are snapping at his stern, reports the Event HQ round-up news at the end of Leg 4. Driving his 1700hp Wettpunkt.com (class RB1) the Austrian was first to cream into the port at the end of the fourth leg between Bangor NI and the Scottish town of Oban. He covered the 128 statue mile course in one hour forty three minutes representing an average speed of 75.69 mph.
Crossing the line in sixth place, and winning their class MC1, was the Greek entered triple engine Blue FPT driven by Vassilis Pateras and Panos Tsikopoulos. Although a great performance for today, it is her performance overall which will count. The Greek boat has finished high up the ladder on all legs of the race where as Wettpunkt.com failed to finish the opening leg last Saturday between Portsmouth and Plymouth. When the scores are finally calculated Blue FPT is likely to have a better elapsed time overall.
Today was a benefit for the visitors with the second finishing slot filled by yet another international team, this time Norwegian. Lionhead, a Norwegian RIB (RB3 class), driven by Pal Solle, took only three minutes longer than the winner Wettpunkt.com to cross the Irish Sea averaging an impressive 73.58mph. She was followed a little over two minutes later by Andy MaCateer in Venturer at 72.10mph.
Other class winners today were Silverline/Original Style (RB2) and Sealbay (RB4).
The all- female Team Scorpion Dubois finished fifth in their class (MC1) and the historic boat Gee finished second in their class (HC1). Ten boats did not start the leg including Garmin Racing and the 1984 winner Fabio Buzzi in his Red FPT.
The section of the course between Oban and Inverness will be covered tomorrow (Wednesday) at a much slower pace. Craft will transverse either via the Caledonian Canal or by road trailer in readiness for the 5th leg between Inverness and Edinburgh taking place on Friday.
Please visit the Official Event website for results from Leg 4 so you can actually read them!
24/06/2008
IT’S RAINING IN OBAN BUT ALL IS CALM ON THE SCORPION FRONT!
The 8.5m Scorpion, Tequila 88 with Jeremy Bennett and Tim Kary on board, had been concerning the Scorpion team back at Lymington’s HQ as we had heard nothing from or about them for ages.
They have in fact arrived in Oban with nothing more serious than a trim tab problem and a loose bolt on their transom! However, they had forgotten to turn on their tracking device which is why we couldn’t find them!
Scorpion Mystic Dragon and Team Scorpion-Dubois have also arrived safe and sound. The biggest hassle for the girls is that their iPod has broken so they’re apparently getting a well-deserved massage to help them feel better.
24/06/2008
RESULTS FROM LEG 3 MILFORD HAVEN TO BANGOR POSTED ON RB WEBSITE
Please visit the Official Event website for results:
http://www.roundbritainrace.co.uk/resultsjune23.htm
Two Scorpion entries are currently highlighted as having a one hour time penalty 'under protest' - possibly something to do with going somewhere they shouldn't have!
Team Scorpion-Dubois and Hot Lemon are on the naughty list.
24/06/2008
HOT NEWS-HOT LEMON, SEAHOUND V & SEAFARER REACH OBAN
The wonders of technology! Chris Strickland, Jim Fry and Phil Boarer photographed aboard Scorpion Seahound V leaving Bangor this morning.
We've also just heard that Seahound V has finished the leg to Oban as well as Hot Lemon, driven brilliantly by Mike and Dave Deacon and the gorgeous Greeks on board Seafarer.
....