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Launchbar changed quickly to pitstop after Saturday race |
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 The German team Searex from Hamburg as well as the Sunseeker team unfortunately were not the only ones with serious damages to repair. As the available space for servicing all the boats became an issue and because all works had to be finished last night, some boats simply "entered" the launch bar using the stage lighting as maintainance lighting...
At the same time the weather has changed here completely: much cooler, with stronger windforce 5, heavy rain showers... not easy to refurbish and renew the complete back right side of the boat, which team Searex lost...
Incredible team spirit however - everrybody helped everybody completely regardless which teams they belong too - one goal only: to have all boats in the water today for the last round of the season.
We were very lucky with our Osprey to face such serious damages as otherboats. We heard from many gearboxes and engines completely crashed - team OSG worked whole night to exchange engines etc.
Some pictures in the gallery
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 Powerboat P1 Management, after consultation with safety crews and team members, have this afternoon announced that the second leg of the Portuguese Grand Prix of the Sea has been cancelled. Adverse weather conditions, with force 4 to 5 winds and high waves outside of the Marina de Portimao, were sufficient enough for organisers to be unable to provide adequate safety measures should a racing incident occur and considered that this decision was the most appropriate course of action.
The inclement weather may have put paid to the second leg of the Powerboat P1 Portuguese Grand Prix of the Sea but nothing could dampen the celebrations of the newly crowned world champions in SuperSport and Evolution. read more on P1 Powerboat ...
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 Saturday was even a much tougher race our own impression just after the race. Many boats had technical problems - some had serious damages. The sea was not really high (just 1.5m), but the long Atlantic waves have obviously almost destroyed some of the boats... Anyway, some teams had to work the whole night, to get the boats at least ready to start...
However the conditions this morning are much much worse - rain and heavy winds out in the ocean results in at least another 1.5m higher waves than yesterday - also heavy rain does it not make a very pleasant event for the spectators - we will see, whether race control will start at 15h00 the last round of the 2007 season as planned.
In the meantime enjoy some photos from Saturday's race in the gallery
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Saturday racing in Portimao |
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Today after a short warming up in the racing area for final testing the first serious racing day begun with a time trial little more than a nautical mile - many spectators joined the coast line at the river in Portimao.
We quickly changed props to optimize the boat for best accelleration on this very short distance on real flat waters (not an offshore race, but nice for spectators) . Unfortunately we already FOR team was hit by Murphy, as a problem with the compressor forced Kris and Gino not to go for full speed. One of the 2 stroke engines tend to overdrive very easily, so it was very impossible for driver and throttleman to prove the speed performance.
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Read more...
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Bladerun organizers to see Osprey Condor |
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 Bladerun ralley organizers visit Powerboat P1 racing site in Portimao, coming from Ibiza, where they held their latest event of Bladerun Ralley. Unfortunately the schedule for Bladerun was too tight with Portimao, so Flanders Offshore Racing had to choose for Portimao to launch the new Osprey Condor Rib.
They were very exited of the boat - Flanders Offshore Racing already won the Bladerun Ralley from London to Ostende in spectecular conditions of windforce 9 recently with the 2006 with the previous race boat FOR one (Ring 10.5)
Certainly the new Osprey Condor will further increase performance and possibilities for us - and we are happy to see other racing organizes realising the "Belgian approach" to proof the performance of Ribs in serious offshore racing competitions.
Some foto of meeting and boat visits here
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Osprey Condor in Portugese waters |
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 Osprey Condor is taken into the water for first test runs. Although Kris Deraedt will join us later today ( he could not leave Brugge Marine Center unattended) Gino Passchier tested the boat today. Weather conditions are still calm (but rising! ) We expect 1-1.5m waves on Saturday and up to spectacular 3m on Sunday... our dream conditions!
Props have been chosen accordingly for todays calm conditions, but probably we will change it on last occasion, if the weather conditions indeed change.
It is another advantage to use outboard engines, as it is very easy to make latest changes in props. Flanders Offshore Racing is the only team using outboard engines in the Powerboat P1 competition.
Fotos here
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Team Lucas Oil/outerlimits already winner in media attraction |
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 You need a professional team a spectacular boat, lots of FERRARI red colours and lots of noise .... and you will attract the media for sure. Additional to that, team Lucas Oil/Outerlimits have also skillful pilots and generally very smart people in their team. when they put their boat in the water joined by local officials from Portugal they certainly have won the media race already for the most fotographs taken and the most interviews given...
Certainly Powerboat P1 is already not only sports but also a great opprotunity for branding of superior products and services. The racing events are really organized as a true marketing machine...
Fortunately Outerlimit team members are also great sportsmen and the competition will be very challenging even or probable because it is the last Powerboat P1 race of the 2007 season.
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