Gosport residents and one of the longest serving Zapcat teams, Russell & Sandra Sidney said before the weekend, "We may be slightly biased but with easy boat launching and beach access as well as perfect viewing for spectators and the very variable conditions even in summer, Stokes Bay is a great venue; from flat calm seas giving quick and close up racing to a heavy chop producing a very hard and physical challenge, often with very unpredictable results."

They were spot on except they omitted the driving rain on Sunday contrasting the sunshine of Saturday. 

Round 3 of the Zapcat National Championships kicked off with calm and sunny conditions, with a couple more Rookie teams joining the competition as well as three mixed (male & female) teams for 16 heats and two finals.

The fleet is now divided by crew weights so the lighter teams compete against each other with the heavier crews battling it out amongst themselves, a new format for this year and with equal points now available it is all about heat wins and consistency to gain a place in the finals and their importance is now heightened in deciding ties for the weekend Grand Prix results.

The course laid out under the watchful eye of the Assistant QHM Roger Davis was a standard M shape with an extended compulsory pit lap at the back, compact enough to make the racing very tactical with some tight turns and very tricky with increasing onshore winds and choppy seas.

Early heats saw a few teams including championship contenders Exe Jets, Angry Hornet and Speedy Hire struggle with minor engine and fuel problems with several yellow safety flags being raised to caution other boats.

Both Bluesheets teams were showing early form as were rookies Team Essence and Go Commando, whilst stand in team Live Wire were very consistent.

 

The six teams from the ZCR50X class qualified for their final including three rookie teams and two Royal Marines teams with Paul Holt and Jason Peacock finishing in second place. 

Round 3 Results:

1     77   Exe Jets
2    14    Contact Wait Out
3    13    Live Wire
4    26    Team Essence (R)
5    33    Fools Gould (R) (M)
6    42    Go Commando (R)

In the lightweight ZCR50 class eight boats qualified after their heats and it was a very close run thing until Bluesheets II hooked a turn whilst running second at the time, disconnecting their kill cord and coming to a stop, all trailing boats safely negotiated the now stationary Zapcat taking advantage of an instant place gain.

Current National Champions Bluesheets I Craig Davis & Rob Martin lead from the front with father & son combo of Greg & Kieron Richardson in Team Suffolk trying everything they could to catch whilst fighting off the chasing pack including a rejuvenated Hayling Island based Speedy Hire.

1    01    Bluesheets 1
2    03    Team Suffolk
3     38    Speedy Hire (M)
4    44    Who the Hell
5    40    Scaredy Cat (M)
6    73    Bluesheets II
7    12    Crest of a Wave
8    25    Angry Hornet

Round 4 a complete contrast in the weather, driving rain and strong winds greeted all the competitors and several found the conditions very physically challenging, in both classes as the afternoon progressed teams dropped out despite reducing the number of laps in each race.

A few hardy souls tried to take shelter as well as enjoy some very compelling heats and surprisingly there was only one flip as Speedy Hire hit the inner buoy.

After heat 12 and an extended lunch break for the Safety and Race teams to try and warm up a decision was made to drop the final four heats and run with the finals which was welcomed by all.

After a red flag for the start the ZCR50X class restarted and resumed with a thrilling battle between rookies Team Essence and championship leader Exe Jets, Go Commando had lost their crew in the aborted start and the other Marines team Contact Wait Out with Brothers Paul and Mark Holt lost their original lead which they fought hard to regain. 

The in to wind leg was proving very difficult and was a complete lottery whether boats were stopped or allowed to accelerate across the tops of the waves.

The outcome of this final would also have a bearing as to who could still win the weekend GP title too.  In the end it was Hayling Island based rookies Jamie Stickler and Craig Elsdon who held on to secure their first Round win and to maintain their lead in the Rookie Championship and with Live Wire stealing second place on the finish line.

1    26    Team Essence (R)
2    13    Live Wire
3    77    Exe Jets
4    14    Contact Wait Out
5    42    Go Commando (R)

The last race of the weekend would see who was going to take Round 4 and also the Fareham Reach Zapcat Grand Prix for 2011.

Very much like the preceding race it was neck and neck with the in to wind leg and the extended pit lap causing all the problems for the teams, too much lift whilst jumping over waves slows the boats down whereas punching through it allows a great overtaking opportunity.  Team Suffolk and Bluesheets I were trading places with Speedy Hire hot on their heels throughout the entire race.

On the second to last leg Suffolk passed Bluesheets for the last time and held their nerve through the M to take the win.

1    03    Team Suffolk
2    01    Bluesheets 1
3    38    Speedy Hire (M)  Â
4    25    Angry Hornet
5    40    Scaredy Cat (M)

A tie for points over the weekend between Bluesheets I & Team Suffolk and with a round win a piece it was down to heat wins to determine the Fareham Reach Zapcat Grand Prix winners who were.... Southampton based current National Champions Craig Davis & Rob Martin in Bluesheets I

Final Fareham Reach Zapcat Grand Prix places:

1    01    Bluesheets 1            190
2    03    Team Suffolk            190
3    77    Exe Jets                     180
4    26    Team Essence (R)  175
5    13    Live Wire                    170

Medals & Trophies were presented by the Mayor of Gosport and our thanks must go to the Gosport Borough Council and Fareham Reach in their support of the event and Zapcat Racing hopes to return next year but not with a date clash of the Isle of Wight festival where many competitors were sloshing around in the mud!
 
The Zapcat Championships move on to Leith Docks in Edinburgh next month for Rounds 5 & 6, with the former Royal Yacht Britannia as a back drop.

For photos and full results please go to www.zapcat-racing.com