Cromer proved a fantastic new venue for the Zapcat National Championship when Rounds 7 and 8 of the 2008 series took place in Cromer on 26 and 27 July, the first time the world's largest one design powerboat series has visited Norfolk. Glorious sunshine and a variety of sea conditions on the two days proved a hit with the racers, as did the obvious interest of the crowds who lined the sea front and pier to watch the action.
The almost mirror-like sea when the racing got underway on Saturday allowed the racers to hit some of their top speeds this season, and Mick Pritchard and Baz Minns in 01 Pegasus Vortex Racing showed how much more they can wring from their boat than the competition, regularly finishing well ahead of the rest of the pack. Competition in Division 1 was fierce, though, with the another of the boats in the Vortex stable, 02 Vortex Racing, driven by Craig Davis and Rob Martin, battling it out with Bligh Julius and Simon Butters in 03 Commandos Predator for a place on the podium. Zapcats veterans Russell and Sandra Sidney in 40 Scaredy Cat also had an excellent day.
The Division 2 catfight between the 66 BS Marine Sport/Shock Doctor pairing of Neil Bainbridge and Phil Brown and rookies Dan Smith and Nathan Parker in 10 SeaVation Vortex continued all weekend. Dan and Nathan took the spoils of victory in Round 7 after Neil and Phil caught a Cromer crab on the penultimate lap and 10 SeaVation Vortex snuck past to take the chequered flag first.
Charlie Brickle and Adam Bushrod in 35 Nine Lives performed consistently in Round 7 to earn themselves a place on the Division 2 final starting grid and took third place.
Sunday dawned hot and sunny with not a cloud in the sky for Round 8 and as the crowds gathered racing got underway at midday on an ambitious double-M course with a short pit lap. This one would test the racers’ tactics as well as their speed. As the heats progressed racing had to stop to allow an inquisitive seal to clear the course and by 1.30pm a sea fret had began rolling in, prompting the OOD to postpone the lunch break in a bid to complete the heats before visibility became too low.
Mother Nature had other ideas though, and half way through Heat 14 the call was made to halt racing while everyone waited with baited breath for the fog to clear. A nail biting two hours passed before the safety team decided visibility on the course was good enough to continue. The race team had pulled the back markers of the course closer to shore to prevent them being as affected by the fog.
The clearing fog allowed the completion of Heat 14 and the final two heats of the day and by the time the two finals took place the sun was blazing down again on the Zapcatters.
66 BS Marinesports/Shockdoctor and 10 SeaVation Vortex lined up on the Division 2 final starting grid ready to do battle again but Dan and Nathan pushed a little too hard, colliding with James and Niall Hoddinott in 73 Blue Sheets/Boat Register resulting in a capsizing for Boat 73 and disqualification for Boat 10.
A first ever podium-topping finish for Neil and Phil, Charlie and Adam in 35 Nine Lives bettered their placing the previous day to finish second and father and son team Steve and Robert Pidsley in 44 Blue Sheets 2 earned themselves a third place overall.
The crowds who’d waited patiently to see the top flight racers in action in the Division 1 final weren’t disappointed – Mick and Baz proved once again why they are running away with the title – although it’s not over yet by any means and there is still a chance for them to be caught with Grand Prix still to come at Littlehampton, Bournemouth and the final surf event at Watergate Bay.
Justin Whithorn and Chris Baldwin in 49 Randall & Payne pushed hard for a podium place battling it out with 59 Team 59 Bladerun and local favourites, 98 Team Suffolk.
A case of déjà vu where the 1-2-3 in Round 8 was concerned... It was a carbon copy of Round 7: 01 Pegasus Vortex Racing, 03 Commandos Predator and 02 Vortex Racing. And the Cromer Grand Prix winners were 01 Pegasus Vortex Racing.
Cromer’s Mayor, Hillary Thompson, who had experienced the exhilaration of the 340bhp Zapcat for herself on Friday presented the prizes on both days. “An event like this is without a doubt good for Cromer,” she said. “The crowds have been lining the pier on both days and we hope we’ll see you back next year.”
Local resident Peter Stibbons was equally enthusiastic about the visit of the world’s largest one design powerboat series to the Norfolk Coast. “We’ve been sitting watching from our beach hut all weekend – it’s been marvellous!” he said.