Well…. I did say this year’s Great Race was to be one for the history books and……..it certainly was. The fastest boat to Tobago, winner of the A class and setting a UIM record time of 47mins 43sec….was none other than the Motul Monster, with a finishing time of 1:01:40 at an average speed of 123mph…! The record run started at the capital signal marker after they finished their circuit and ended on the second marker in Store Bay. A total of 80.5 miles. Dem fellas should operate the fast ferry…..
Before I get into the bowels of the race and who did what and who didn’t finish, let’s get something straight….
THE GREAT RACE IS A CLASS RACE. THERE IS NO OVERALL WINNER. 8 CLASSES, 8 WINNERS…and if yuh break out and incur time penalties …..doh vex……….doh make me write it in crayon. Right…leah we get into it.
The classes were staggered started for safety over a 45min period but it also lead to many boats coming into Tobago at the same time, making for some great racing for the fans in Store Bay. Crusier was 7:15am, Classes G, F, E were 7:30am, Class D and C were 7:45am and A Class was 8am.
Now a 4 times Class Champion, from the drop of the flag, the fathers and sons in Monster let the other 6 boats know that all they would see is a wake all the way to Store Bay. However…it wasn’t all smooth sailing as while racing along the north, they had a big moment after hitting a wave, the boat jumped for what mus be the length of the Savannah, landed hard on the port side and then bounce over to the starboard side……dais left to right for those who don’t speak ship. A com check was done and they were back on it. Added to that, as you would have seen in various video clips on the interweb, Paramount was never far off their stern for almost the entire race. Sadly though, a broken exhaust just before the turn to Tobago, put them out of the race. Oh what could have been. Second in class were the US boys from Lucas Oil Silver Hook, finishing in a time of 1:09:05. The first time runners, found themselves trailing early with electrical issues that had them 6th into the Bocas but once sorted, they made up the places and time when they hit the north. They caught and passed Jumbie, had an epic battle with Mr. Solo Too in, around and out of Maracas, and then set their sights on making it to Tobago. I’m pretty sure they will be back next year to try and go one better. Jumbie in a time of 1:11:20 eventually found themselves in Tobago after navigational issues and Mr. Solo Too completed the race in 1:12:05. Iron Man rounded out the finishers in the A Class in a time of 1:18:00, and for a boat that two months ago almost sank and with an almost complete rebuild, just finishing was a victory in itself. Cat Killer stopped in the Bocas, right in front of me with a damaged engine after having a superb start being right there with Monster and Paramount out of the Gulf.
The first boats into Tobago however…..were the D Class boys and with a 15 min head start, a different course, course length and calm waters. Bacchanal took the class win in a time of 1:10:58 and given the problems they had during the regattas this year, I’m very happy to see their result. Energiza claimed the second spot with a 1:17:15 time, with Chris Gone Wilder coming third in class in a time of 1:22:06 and had a broken tab issue on the way to the finish. Ultra Rush suffered steering problems and out of safety, called it just outside of Maracas. The only boat in Class C was Global Warmer, and let me tell you, when they came around Gasparee, I thought it was an A Class boat, such was their speed. Sadly, not long after, they lost drive and were out. Please let them run the boat next year…….please…!
Up next was the E Class and it was taken by 2018 National Points Champion, Mobil Outlaw in a time of 1:12:50. Those Ross boys will have to start building a big trophy cabinet for this season’s results. It wasn’t a guarantee for them though as Heatwave (1:14:48) and Papi Chulo (1:18:55) were ahead going to the north and if not for an 8min stop by Papi….the Class results could have been very different. The young guys who race only once a year in White Heat came home in 1:21:27. Hammer Time, Blue Ice and Hero V didn’t finish, Alien sadly not making the start.
F Class was won by Fire Chief II in 1:29:45, passing Rite Formula who came in second in 1:31:45. Chris Gone Wild didn’t make it to the finish and Extreme Measures never made the start. G Class and 3rd boat to Tobago last year, Limitless made the trip in 1:43:00, with Timeless….er….taking their time and graced Tobago in 2:24:55. Trident didn’t finish and Outcast never started. The Cruiser X Class was won by Ruff’n It in a time of 1:52:05 and that boat was certainly ruffed up on the way across, with Super Tuff 6min behind in 1:58:05. Jesus is Coming never came and didn’t make the finish.The Cruiser S Class was taken by none other than The Legend Ms. Apple J in 1:46:02. Can’t say how sweet it was to see her still in her livery from years ago, skippin across the Bocas.
So, that’s a warp on the 2018 Boat Racing Season. Many highs, some lows, seas were slight to moderate and hopefully come January, when we start the new season, we see more boats out on the water. To Roger Bell, Michael Clerk, Paul Gabriel, Ricardo Garcia…gentlemen, thank you for the season despite some choppy waters to keep the racing alive. Marcus Gomez and Brent Branker….for assisting where needed. All the sponsors during the year, Track, IRP, Red Stripe and Smirnoff and Mobil 1. I wonder what the 2019 season would be like…..and who will take up the challenge to run the Great Race from overseas. Only time will tell.
….till next time. (DESCRIPTION BY GERRAD WILSON)
Date – 18-08-2018
Venue – Chaguaramas
Photo By – Arnold Persad
