We all set off at the start and immediately the RIBS took the lead, able to handle the rough seas better than the more regular solid hulls. We started in the lead and were flying along, unfortunately this did not last. We hit a huge wave wrong and went flying into the air landing very badly and nearly came out. I immediately tried to regain control of the boat and managed to then hook out to the right just in front of another boat which then just missed us, this was scary to say the least. Mike shouted to say he was and OK was I? I announced that no I wasn’t and I was hating it! So we totally lost our lead and for the first time I felt that I did not have the strength to drive the boat and we were all over the place.
We still managed to reach 70mph but were off the pace and although not vastly behind the three boats in front we would never have caught them. However, as I struggled with the boat I started to learn the difference in the handling and gradually started to increase the pace and with that the confidence. We did however get very wet at one point when a wave on a turn quite literally crashed over the top of use flooding the boat with water. Oh well, cooled us down a bit!
The one comforting factor after the race was that practically every other driver was apparently going through the same feelings as they drove around the course and a lot of the other boats retired on the first lap. This made us feel much better.
The sea continued to grow mountainous and on one particular point of the course we were unable to sea over the waves. The boat kept landing badly on its side and threatened to launch us out at any time and on numerous occasions the steering wheel was quite literally ripped from my hands. I can honestly say that for the first time I wanted to retire as I feared we would have an accident. But we’re not quitters and despite thinking it, neither of us said anything and continued to race.
Other boats also suffered, Drew Langdon and Jan Falkowski suffered a misfortune when their boat’s bow line came undone. Drew stopped and Jan leant over the side to try to retrieve it, as he did so a huge wave caught the boat and Jan found himself in the water! This not a good place to be in such conditions. The safety fleet once again proved their worth and professionalism and rushed over to get Jan back in the boat and let them continue. The second incident was a lot more serious. A crew from Littlehampton who only do basic races were bravely continuing in their 18 foot Phantom in seas bigger than the boat. It slammed hard into one of these ‘walls of water’ knocking out the co-driver. The boat had to be beached on Bournemouth beach whilst he was taken to hospital unconscious with suspected neck and head injuries. Fortunately, he was back on his feet again later and managed to return for prize giving but this highlighted the dangers of powerboat racing in adverse conditions.
So after all this, the race was curtailed after 6 out of 10 laps, deemed as too dangerous to continue. I was relieved! We finished 4th overall at the time it was curtailed which whilst disappointing was not too bad. But its one race I would like to choose to put down to experience!