24 Zapcat teams brave the surf conditions Watergate Bay’s Extreme Academy provided us with today in the first Round of the 2009 King of the Surf competition.
Racers were faced with the some of the best surf the venue has seen in recent weeks, conditions started in the morning at 3.5ft building to 5ft rolling swells in the afternoon.
Expectations and apprehensions were high as the days racing got underway with a couple of the teams feeling the force of the waves as they read the waves wrong and went for early swims.
As the heats got underway local boys Nine Lives Zapcat 35, Charlie Brickle and Adam Bushrod looked set to make a good start in Division 2 and claw back some all important championship points after missing the first two rounds in Bournemouth and Royal Marines Commando Spirit Zapcat 41 Pete Royston and Andy Farmer piling on the pressure with strong consistent results.
Whilst Blue Sheets Racing 1 Zapcat 03, Craig Davis and Rob Martin were maintaining their winning streak from Bournemouth with 5 heat wins although Rana Park Zapcat 25 and Speedy Hire Zapcat 38 were hot on their heels and putting up a formidable fight.
Flip of the day went to Royal Marines, Contact Wait Out Zapcat 14 who were flipped on the inshore leg and catapulted through the air; both uninjured apart from their prides.
The division 2 final took it’s casualties as only 3 teams finishing the race after the second restart with Gold medal glory going to Commando Spirit Zapcat 41 Pilot Pete Royston and Co-pilot Andy Farmer. Second went to Blue Sheets Racing II Zapcat 11 Dan Smith and Nathan Parker, With the Bronze medal going to Nine Lives Zapcat 35 Charlie Brickle and Adam Bushrod.
In the Division 1 Final Rana Park Zapcat 25 Pilot Neil Fraser and Co-pilot Jeremy Nazarin got off to a flying start taking the lead in the second lap a lead they maintained until the last 200yds when Blue Sheets Racing 1 Davis and Martin just pipped them into the Gold medal position. The Bronze Medal position was also a tightly fought contest between team mates Randall & Payne Zapcat 49, Justin Whithorn and Chris Baldwin and Marin Subsea/Delta Jets Zapcats 09 Ash Chappell and Chris Rex with Randall & Payne just easing the lead from them.
Podium presentations were made by the Mayor of Newquay John Fitter and Division winners saw themselves receive prizes from Series sponsors Waterproof AV and Forcefield Body Armour.
With more promising surf conditions for Sundays racing teams have headed to the bar to nurse their bruises and share stories over a cold beer before a guaranteed action packed day tomorrow.