The Zapcat season kicked off in style when 28 teams lined up for the first green flag of the season to drop. A mixture of seasoned racers and rookies were met by a warm welcome from new organisers ZCR Ltd. With perfect blue skies and choppy conditions the scene was set.
Thousands flocked to Bournemouth’s beaches to see if Reigning champion Mick Pritchard’s predictions for the season would be correct. In division 2 Zapcat 09 Delta Jets/Marin Subsea got off to a dominating start in their heats with Westgate Zapcat 28 also proving their place at the top of the division. Also racing strong were Zapcat 39 Cat in the Hat and Royal Marine Team Commando Spirit in Zapcat 41 returning from last year.
Meanwhile in division 1 under new sponsorship Craig Davis and Rob Martin were showing why they finished 3rd in the championship year, storming into lead in Div 1 with Neil Fraser and new co-pilot Jeremy Nazarin taking the bit between the teeth in team Rana Park.
The 4th heat of the day saw cobwebs showing in some of the Division 1 teams when a collision between Team Suffolk (98), RM Go Commando (42), Seavation (10) and Blue Sheets Racing 2 (11) saw damage to two of the boats and three of them heading back to the beach not allowed to re-start.
Racing continued with frantic action entertaining the thousands lining the beach. And as we went into the days finals. Ex Huntzpill Boyz Ash and new co-pilot Chris were leading the scoreboard in div 2 making Marin Subsea/ Delta jets pole position. With Westgate and Cat in the Hat hot on their heels. Ash and Chris got a great start off the flag drop and lead the whole way round. With the battle close for third, second and fourth.
Tactical Manoeuvres saw Cat in the Hat (39) Jim Crooks and new co-pilot Matt Clemmow securing second position, just in front of Commando Spirit (41) Pete Royston and Andy Farmer Securing the bronze medal position.
The division one final got off to a flying start with Blue Sheets Racing 1 in pole position but team Speedy Hire and Rana park piling on the pressure. Tactical pit laps saw Randall & Payne Zapcat (49) and Rana Park (25) securing second and third respectively from Speedy Hire.
Ecstatic that he’d got off to a fantastic start to the season Craig Davis of Blue Sheets Racing paid tribute to co-pilot Rob Martin and the hard work over winter paid off “To start the season off with a win at Bournemouth’s fantastic, the conditions were challenging but racing was awesome, Rob and I have put a lot of work in over the winter and it seems to have paid off. I wouldn’t want to race with anyone else at the front of the boat, it’s all about team work and Robbie and are work really well together.”
Winners of division 2 Marin Subsea/ Delta Jets have only been training for the last month in the boat, but hours of time spent on set ups and testing saw Chris Rex looking like a Cheshire Cat when he came off the water. “I only got in the boat about a month ago, Ash’s co-pilot Ryan’s torn a tendon in his shoulder and I was asked to stand in. We’ve spent some time in the boat and it’s paid off, we smashed it! I’m really overwhelmed and can’t wait for tomorrow.” Giggling like a girl.
Presentations were made by Bournemouth’s newly Elected Mayor, The Worshipful Mayor of Bournemouth Councillor Beryl Baxter, who was thrilled so many people were involved in the exhilarating sport, entertaining the crowds.
Reigning Champion Mick Commented “The day was a success, you can see which boats have put the time and preparation into training over the winter. The racing was really close and tomorrow will be fantastic to watch, the lines have been drawn and the battle has definitely begun”