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Issue 02 • February 29th 2008
MALTESE CHAMPIONSHIP ANNOUNCHED Malta Powerboat Association Formed Malta Association
CHAUDRON TEAMS UP WITH P1 SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONS With the run-up to the 2008 Powerboat P1 season going strong, Greta Pace talks to Maltese P1 Pilot Aaron Ciantar about Chaudron’s involvement this year, both as a team and as boatbuilders with their increasingly popular high powered boats. The 2007 season was an eventful one for you, both as a team and as manufacturers; how did you feel about being part of two teams? Being part of two teams was not easy as at the end of the day the two Chaudrons were competitors and both teams wanted to win. However the 41 footer was also ours and naturally was more competitive than our 33 footer. We offered our support as if Racing Project was our own team, we are obviously extremely proud of what we built ourselves. With Chaudron 2, your 33 footer, did you feel that you had a good shot at the championship last year? We started the season in Malta with rough seas; just as in previous years and so the Chaudron 41 and other large boats had an advantage over our 33. The power potential
was still there and we probably would have had a good shot at the championship if not for the technical problems that plagued us. In the UK Z-Drive problems kept us back in two races and we never really recovered from that. We always knew the title was a little difficult to achieve as we could never overtake the 41. What sort of support did you offer Angelo Tedeschi’s team throughout the 2007 championship apart from selling him his 41-foot Chaudron? Since we had built the boat, it was in our interest to see that everything worked well throughout the season. I tested the boat myself before the season started and later on we were always there to solve any small technical problems that his mechanics could not figure out. In Malta for example, we
had to take apart the Z-Drive for repairs and wherever we raced we always parked next to each other to make sure that we were always there. Even with regards to keeping to rules and regulations, we always discussed things with Angelo to make sure he was in check; in fact he admitted that he received excellent support from us during a recent interview. How did it feel when Tedeschi’s team won the championship? Our boat winning was extremely prestigious for the Chaudron brand, especially when considering that this was a brand new, recently created boat that did so well. Personally you always wish it was you on the podium as a driver but we definitely celebrated Tedeschi’s win as it cemented the success of our boats in P1. Continued on Page 2...
In September last year a group of individuals sharing a love for powerboat racing managed to put together the first ever national powerboat race on the Maltese shores in St.Pauls Bay. With the help of the RYA a major international organisation, one of the top in the field, the race was run over two days and was both very well organised and well attended. On the back of this success, in January this year the organising committee of this race decided to set up The MPA National Powerboat Championship for 2008 and therefore formed the Malta Powerboat Association. The association’s members wanted to make it very clear that their primary aim is to promote powerboat racing in Malta. Their other objectives, though, also include encouraging, promoting and assisting Maltese nationals to race; to encourage and train all powerboat users in Malta to use their boats safely and finally to promote the Maltese islands and show what they can offer to powerboat users. Even though not explicitly stated, we have come to understand that the Association is also helping to promote
local boats, in fact most competitors shall be participating with Chaudrons, Speedcrafts and other local powerboats. The Malta Powerboat Association’s first major activity is organising a MPA National Powerboat Championship in the form of a series of 6 races. Boats shall be grouped in classes depending on their length and power and at time to going to print around 26 teams had registered their interest in participating. The races will be run under the professional guidance and under international safely rules of the RYA. The RYA officials will in turn train MPA race officials. The Association has amassed over 120 members and counting. The 6 races shall be spread over the warm months, starting in March and ending in September and will all be held off St. Paul’s Bay. The MPA is also affiliated with the MPF, UIM and RYA The MPA is kindly using Beachaven in Xemxija as their clubhouse, and anyone wanting more info can contact Francis on franciscc50@ hotmail.com or 9949 6758, beachaven87@hotmail.com or visit www.mpa.com.mt.