Powerboat IRL

Powerboat IRL

UIM 88th General Assembly

Inside this issue Team Ireland Spanish Adventure ...................... 2 UIM World Championships Malta ......................................... 3 Powerboat Records..................... 4 Offshore Racing........................... 5 UIM 88th General Assembly ....... 6 Propstars Youth Development Program ..... 7

Team Ireland’s quest for UIM Medals

Winter 2015

Volume 1 , Issue 1

Classifieds ................................... 8

Team Ireland’s quest for UIM Medals “Navia” a small coastal town in the Beautiful region of Asturias in Northern Spain. saw the ‘Escudería Navia Motor Club’ host the "Grand Prix International” CATEGORY T – 850 “UIM EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP” CATEGORY HR – 850

“ Team Ireland’s Spanish Adventure” Team Ireland Will Chambers—Hr850 Oliver Haire—T850 Dick Corley—Team Mechanic Simon Haire—Crew member

“love of the Sport” Last August saw a small group of Irish Powerboat Racing enthusiasts take to the roads of Europe and travel over 5000 Kms for the love of their sport but also in a quest for International glory.

Members of North East Powerboat & Racing Club, Lisnaskea Powerboat Racing Club and the Irish Powerboat Club got together and travelled to Navia as “Team Ireland” .

Their intention to represent Ireland in both the HR850 and T850 racing classes at this UIM International event. Supported by Dick Corley and Simon Haire in the pits.

Drivers, Will Chambers and Oliver Haire took to the water and proudly flew the Irish Flag. After two days of tough competition it was a case of “When Irish eyes are smiling” as both drivers received their trophies with Will Chambers having the extra bonus of winning a UIM European Silver Medal.

2

Team Ireland’s quest for UIM Medals

Team 21 Colin Gaffney—Driver Lee Casey—Co-Driver Sean Dillon -Team Mechanic Wade Ball -Team Mechanic

Team Ireland with the Irish Ambassador in Malta

“P750 World Championships The UIM P750 (Thundercat Racing) World Championships took place in Malta in October and Ireland had a very experienced Team taking part in the Modified Class.

Team Ireland No 21 was competing in their third World Championships having been to South Africa 2010 and UK 2013 where they won the UIM Bronze Medal. Their dream was to bring home the gold medals and they have got off to a great start by winning the Surf discipline.

A P750 World Championship consists of 3 disciplines, SURF: racing in, above and below the surf. (2 days of Racing) CIRCUIT: Racing around the Buoys on a set course. (2 days of Racing) LONG HAUL: A genuine offshore race of up to 120kms.(1 day racing) The Team after winning the surf got into an early lead in the Long haul but lady Luck did not smile on them and when a gust of wind got under the Hull the boat flipped and rolled. The Team then showed their true grit and re righted the boat got the engine running and finished the long haul taken valuable points that would prove essential in the quest for medals. Going into the final discipline down on points the team fought bravely and came 2 nd overall in the Circuit which after the win in Surf and the points finish in Long haul saw them win the “UIM World Championship Bronze Medal”, This was a welldeserved result especially as the top three were divided by only 2 points.

3

Team Dreamer Philip Fitzgibbon Denis Dillon John Ryan Ronan Keys

UIM Round Ireland Record 704 Nautical Miles Over the years we have seen valiant attempts at breaking the Round Ireland Powerboat record. The most successful team to date and the only team to reclaim the record has been Philip Fitzgibbon and Mike Shanahan who are the present holders of the UIM Round Ireland Powerboat Record with a time of 18 hours 38 minutes and 50 seconds. This they achieved in their 7.5m Tornado RIB powered by a single 250hp Suzuki outboard.

Team Dreamer and Imperator Rib racing have their eyes on taking the record but lady luck has not been on their side todate but both teams are busy preparing for their next attempt.

+++++++++++++++++++ Imperator Rib Racing Team Scotland _______________________________ Gordon Wicklow

Speed Records Irish Driver sets new record.

Coniston Records Week 2014 saw Alan Power take his Hydrostream V king fitted with a Mercury 225 Promax to a new Irish and British VP 275 Class record of 92.86 mph

+++++++++++++++++++

Historic - Brothers John (driver) & Austin Gunning (co-driver) 13th July

Team Pulsar

1972, 100 mile Gold Bond Marathon Powerboat Race, Carrickfergus Castle in background. Class winner & 1st Index of Performance

_____________________________ Justin McInerney

4

OCR RACING Offshore Circuit Racing (OCR) is a recognised offshore powerboat category. The sport combines the seamanship of offshore powerboat racing with the multi-lap infighting of inshore circuit racing.

OCR is often said to be “To the world of offshore powerboat racing what saloon car racing is to motorsport�.

Although the Irish Teams are based mainly in the Dublin region, they have raced at venues throughout Ireland as well as supporting their fellow racers in the UK by traveling to UK based events.

The Irish OCR Team talking tactics before racing began at a UK event held in Plymouth.

OFFSHORE RACING

5

UIM 88th General Assembly UIM President RAFFAELE CHIULLI CONFIRMED PRESIDENT OF UIM, THE WORLD FEDERATION OF POWERBOATING His re-election was the reward for the development and innovation policies implemented over the last presidential mandate.

Dr. Raffaele Chiulli is also the president of ARISF, (organization of the 35 sports federations recognized by the International Olympic Committee ) Vice-President of SportAccord (which assembles 104 Olympic and non-Olympic international federations) he also occupies important roles in IOC committees.

6

The UIM is the international governing body of power boating.

It is recognised as such by the International Olympic Committee, and is also a member of the General Association of International Sports Federations, and the Association of the IOC Recognized International Sports Federations.

The sport governs all power boating disciplines including Aqua bike, Circuit, Offshore, Pleasure Navigation & Radio-controlled.

The ultimate authority in the sport is vested in the UIM´s General Assembly which is made up of one delegate from each sanctioned national authority and meets annually.

Responsible to the General Assembly for the management of the UIM is the Council, made up of the President, the Administrators and the Commission heads which meets as often as necessary to ensure the smooth running of the Union.

This year the 88th General Assembly was held in Monaco.

Attended by delegates from all over the world, this year was a very busy general assembly with daily meeting being held from 08.30 to 18.00 throughout the week. As well as having to discuss the many proposed rule changes a lot of time was spent on improving the sport from a safety, environmental and equality standpoint.

The Irish Delegate played his part in these discussions and ensured that views of the Irish National Authority , its Powerboat Clubs and their members were taken into consideration.

UIM PROPSTARS The principal aim of the programme is to provide specialist training for the sport of powerboat racing whilst at the same time providing an educational foundation in general boating, seamanship, environmental and water awareness skills. These key areas of marine expertise will not only help juniors to safely enjoy the sport of racing but will provide them with a greater depth of knowledge in a broad range of marine topics particularly those relating to safety and the environment. This training programme is not limited by gender as equal opportunities exist for all and there are numerous examples of mixed gender racing taking place with many of the UIM National Authorities. The ultimate goal of the UIM is to encourage its National Authorities to join the programme in a worldwide initiative to promote the interests of young people by providing an exciting educational and learning platform in the marine environment.

DREAM‌ TRAIN‌ RACE...

PROPSTARS IRELAND Irish Powerboat Clubs and their officials have been great supporters of the Propstars program since it was launched by the UIM. Conscious of the restrictions been placed on them by some of the National Marine Laws which place age limits on powerboat drivers as well as the size of the engine and craft that they can drive.

They got together and along with the National Authority have put a plan in place to see how the Youth Development program can be developed.

Like the Propstars program itself , it was broken into the 3 parts.

Dream, Train and Race.

The Dreaming has been done and a plan on how to proceed has been agreed on.

This will see elements of both the Propstars and Formula Future programs being developed around Irish needs and concerns both North and South.

Training has been carried out and the inaugural officials have been trained as ISA Powerboat Instructors and in the specifics of the two programs.

A junior training program will be rolled out nationwide in 2016.

Racing : 2016 will see competitions in sections of both programs take place and Irish attendance at a UIM international event is anticipated.

7

For Sale / Wanted From the Editor

10 Metre Excalibur Offshore Rib , Twin Suzuki 300 HP.

Welcome to the 1st edition of “Powerboat IRL” a new online newsletter for the Irish Powerboat Racing Community.

This is your newsletter so please send in articles etc.

For Details : Contact Philip at (086) 2778236 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

which you think would interest our readers.

Email

info@powerboatirl.com Offshore Race Boats for Sale, contact alan@powermarine.ie +353 (0) 86 8783735

IRISH POWERBOAT CIRCUIT RACING www.PowerboatRacing.ie

IRISH OFFSHORE POWERBOAT RACING www.OffshoreRacing.ie