Evolution-class Centaurian Yachts back on track

by PowerBoat P1 media on 5 Jun 2008
Nico Huybens, team boss and throttleman of the #57 Centaurian Yachts entry, has said the outfit’s Mercury-powered Outerlimits Evolution-class boat is back on track to be competing in Malta this weekend, following a dramatic race incident in France.

The #57 Centaurian Yachts boat and the #66 Cranfields Wine boat collided on the first lap of Sunday’s shortened Endurance race in the Grand Prix de Marseille, leaving the #57 Centaurian Yachts boat with a nasty, metre-wide gash on the port rear quarter. Thanks to a frantic dash back to the harbour, Huybens and pilot Frank Hemelaer were able prevent the boat sinking.

The team is currently making repairs to the hull, and expects to be competing in Malta this weekend – albeit with a temporary paint job to hide the battle scars from France.

'We’ve got four people from Outerlimits in America, who came over with the parts and are repairing the hull right now, so we should be ready for Malta,' said Huybens. 'I’m glad we were able to save the boat, because it was a big hit and it was just a few centimetres above the waterline, in very rough seas. It certainly looked serious, but luckily there’s no major structural damage. We’re likely to have a temporary paint job for Malta and we’ll be looking to make full repairs for Tunisia.'

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